NAFB Hall of Fame and Meritorious Service

Cindy Zimmerman November 14, 2014

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) bestowed honors on many deserving individuals during the convention’s Night of Honors Banquet.

Longtime NAFB member and radio advocate Bill Farmakis was awarded the Dix Harper Meritorious Service Award last night during the Night of Honors Celebration. The Award recognizes outstanding support and leadership to the broadcasting industry and association by a member of the Management & Sales Council or the Allied Industry Council. Bill speaks loudly and proudly to advertisers and agencies emphasizing the importance of placing agriculture commercials within agriculture programming. Bill works tirelessly behind the scenes to enhance the profile for farm broadcasting and serves as President of J.L. Farmakis, Inc, and is a 20-year member of NAFB.

2014 Hall of Fame Inductee Ken Root was born into an Oklahoma farm family. His career spans more than four decades, including teaching, radio, television, corporate communications and association management. Ken taught for two years at Union City High School in Union City, Oklahoma before moving into radio and television with his mentor, Russell Pierson. From radio and TV he moved to corporate communications and then from there, Ken started his own business, Root Environmental Services and Root Communications. In 1994 Ken became host of AgriTalk. Ken served the NAFB as executive director from 2002-2005. He, and partners, started the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network. He also became the National Farm Broadcaster for WGFA Radio in Watseka, Illinois.

The second Hall of Fame recipient is Royce Lee Bodiford who hails from Texas. He married his childhood sweetheart, Helen Hayes while serving as the National FFA Southern Regional Vice President. Royce graduated from West Texas State University with a B.S. in agriculture, while working at KGNC Radio/TV in Amarillo, Texas. In 1977, Royce was named General Manager at KGNC and strongly supported farm broadcasting and NAFB. In the 1990’s Royce moved to public broadcasting and became General Manager of KOCV-TV/Radio at Odessa College in Odessa, Texas. Currently Royce serves as Vice President of the Odessa College Board of Trustees. The NAFB played an important role in Royce’s career as well.

Photos from the Night of Honors and the convention can be found here:
2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

Ag Groups, NAFB

BASF Support of NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman November 14, 2014

It would be a lot harder for working broadcasters to get their jobs done while attending the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention if not for the generous sponsorship of our friends at BASF.

“We support the broadcast center and the email center because we know that’s an important resource for farm broadcasters to get their stories out,” said BASF Communications Manager Sandi Wilson.

Another way BASF has supported NAFB in the past year is by the service of our friend Pat Morrow as an Allied Industry representative on the NAFB Board. “She was really happy to be able to do that,” Sandi says. Pat was unable to attend convention this year because she has been on a long term assignment for BASF in Japan, but she sends her best wishes to all.

And, BASF is also the sponsor of our NAFB convention coverage on AgWired for at least the 4th year in a row now, and that means we can bring you all the sights and sounds of the meeting – I’m sure Pat is watching from Japan! Thanks to BASF for all you do for NAFB!

Listen to my interview with Sandi here: Interview with Sandi Wilson, BASF

You can find photos from the event here:
2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

Audio, BASF, NAFB

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes November 14, 2014

The National Pork Producers Council has named Dr. Daniel Kovich as assistant director of science and technology, focusing on food and feed safety and animal handling issues.
Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC (Verdesian) is bolstering its sales force to further enhance customer focus and service.
Pinnacle Agriculture Holdings, LLC has successfully acquired Reck Aviation, Inc.
Sarah Miller, a National Sales Account Executive with Meredith Agrimedia, has been named the MACA (Mid America Croplife Association) Ambassador of the Year.

Zimfo Bytes

Will Big Data Privacy Agreement Ease Grower Concerns?

Jamie Johansen November 13, 2014

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How do you feel about election results?”

It looks like the majority polled are very happy with our recent election results. And many are optimistic. Time will tell.

Here are the poll results:

Very happy – 47%
Very unhappy – 20%
Cautiously optimistic – 22%
Don’t care – 11%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Do you think the new coalition agreement addresses ag data privacy concerns?

A coalition of major farm organizations and agriculture technology providers have announced an agreement on data privacy and security principles. The agreement was designed to encourage producers to use the full range of innovative, technology-driven tools and services to boost productivity, efficiency and profitability of agriculture with more assurance that personal data will be protected. Do you think this will ease grower concerns?

ZimmPoll

Big Data Privacy Agreement

Cindy Zimmerman November 13, 2014

A coalition of major farm organizations and agriculture technology providers today announced an agreement on data privacy and security principles.

The agreement was designed to encourage producers to use the full range of innovative, technology-driven tools and services to boost productivity, efficiency and profitability of agriculture with more assurance that personal data will be protected.

The organizations and companies that make up the coalition include: the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), American Soybean Association, Beck’s Hybrids, Dow AgroSciences LLC, DuPont Pioneer, John Deere, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, Raven Industries, The Climate Corporation – a division of Monsanto, and USA Rice Federation. Nearly all of these entities were represented at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Trade Talk on Thursday when the announcement was released.

“We’re very excited and proud to be one of the members bringing this out to help address those concerns,” said Ryan Molitor with Raven, who said there are two key components to the agreement. “Educating growers on what they can do with their data and when they grant access to somebody what that person can do with their data, and that the companies participating in this need to be transparent.” Interview with Ryan Molitor, Raven Industries

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says privacy issues were a major topic at the annual meeting earlier this year and he believes the principals agreed to by the coalition provide a measure of needed certainty to farmers regarding the protection of their data. “What we’re asking now is for any ag technology provider or any other producer groups to come on board,” said Stallman. “There will be a grower education effort with this and we’ll have a transparency tool developed to help them assess and make decisions.” Interview with AFBF President Bob Stallman

The principles promise to greatly accelerate the move to the next generation of agricultural data technology, which includes in-cab displays, mobile devices and wireless-enabled precision agriculture that has already begun to boost farm productivity across the United States.

Click here to read about all of the principles in the agreement.

2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

AFBF, Audio, NAFB

NAFB Panel Focuses on Integrating Tech in Ag

Taylor Truckey November 13, 2014

The 71st Annual NAFB Convention brought together a panel of industry members to discuss integrating technology into the agriculture industry. Sitting on the panel were Dave Rhylander, IFS Lead – Monsanto, Matt Waits, CEO – SST Technologies, Rachelle Thibert, Integrated Solutions Manager – John Deere, and Ron LeMay, Founder and CEO – FarmLink.

The consensus was that data-driven performance tools are here to stay; many current industry products are focused on providing farmers with applicable information that is based purely on the collection, aggregation and distribution of data.

“There are enormous opportunities and needs to improve productivity through better management of data.” Ron Lemay continued, “The benefits to farmers associated with big data include the ability to aggregate data from a number of farmers and to turn that information or data into knowledge, and then into tools that can improve the productivity of the farmer.”

Listen to my complete interview with Ron here: Ron LeMay, FarmLink

Cindy spoke with Matt Waits about some of the key points he wanted to make to farm broadcasters in attendance. “We wanted to talk about how we integrate technology into the ag market. But the thing we are most excited about it the ability to improve decision making on the farm.”

Listen to Cindy’s complete interview with Matt here: Matt Waits, SST

You can find photos from the event here:
2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

Audio, NAFB, Precision Agriculture

Unforeseen Surprises

Melissa Sandfort November 13, 2014

Paperwork. Files. Back up your computer. Organize. Folders. Record retention.

Any of these things sounding familiar? It’s what we all do – we keep things around, just in case if we need them again in the future. As I was doing that a couple of weeks ago – digging back through old files to repurpose something for a #TBT (throw-back-Thursday) – I came across this picture.

How coincidental too, because as you’re reading this, I’m at the same trade show in Kansas City a few years later. So what was the surprise? Teresa Scanlan, American beauty pageant titleholder from Gering, Neb., who was named Miss Nebraska 2010, a subsequently won Miss America 2011, stopped by the beef booth at the trade show!

Now, I’ve admittedly never watched the pageant, but will say that as the sparkling crown came walking down our aisle, I knew who she was and knew she was from my great state. And admittedly, I thought that was pretty cool…to see Miss America at one of my work functions!

She paused for a photo opp with Beef Board Past Chairman Weldon Wynn from Arkansas. What man wouldn’t smile this big with Miss America’s arm around his waist?

Maybe some year Channing Tatum will make a surprise visit? Ah, the ladies in the room could only hope. You KNOW that would be a picture I’d save in my files.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Young Farmers & Ranchers to EPA: ‘Ditch the Rule!”

John Davis November 13, 2014

Producers who will be the future of agriculture are telling the federal government to keep an unpopular water rule from having a future of its own. This news release from Farm Bureau says the group’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee wants the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to ditch the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule.

“EPA keeps grasping for control over our farms and ranches,” AFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chair Jake Carter said. “Young farmers and ranchers are the future of American agriculture, and we take our role of protecting the land seriously. This proposal puts serious roadblocks in our way without any material improvements in water quality.”

Young farmers and ranchers are especially vulnerable to increased costs in farming. Since the already narrow “normal farming and ranching” exemption in the Clean Water Act excludes farms and ranches that started operating after 1977, farmers and ranchers with newer businesses will need permits for basic farming activities, including simply moving dirt.

Farm Bureau officials say the proposed rule will make it more difficult to farm and ranch or make changes to the land – even if those changes would benefit the environment.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Environment, EPA

Meet the New USFRA Faces

Cindy Zimmerman November 12, 2014

At the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) convention on Wednesday, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA®) announced the winners of its second class of the Faces of Farming and Ranching program.

The new “Faces” are (pictured left to right) Thomas Titus of Illinois, Jay Hill of New Mexico, Erin Brenneman of Iowa, Carla Wardin of Michigan, and Darrell Glaser of Texas. The class will be active participants in the national dialogue about food production to set the record straight. These farmers and ranchers will share their personal stories and experiences through consumer-facing public appearances, events, media interviews and social media.

Listen to Forrest Roberts of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) introduce the new faces and hear them talk about their farming operations and why they wanted to be part of this program to help educate the public about agriculture: New USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching

2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

Audio, Farming, NAFB, USFRA

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