Farm Bureau’s Women in Ag Survey to Gauge Goals, Needs

John Davis

afbf-logoFarm Bureau wants to know more about the goals, aspirations, achievements and needs of women in American agriculture. That’s why the group’s Women’s Leadership Program has launched the “Women in Ag” survey for all women who are farmers, ranchers, farm/ranch employees, employed in agricultural businesses, pursuing ag-related higher education or supportive of agriculture in other ways.

“This comprehensive survey is the first of its kind to ask women in-depth questions about how they are connected to agriculture and what leadership skills they think are most important today, as well as the top business challenges they’re facing,” said Terry Gilbert, a Kentucky farmer and chair of the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. “All women involved in agriculture – not just Farm Bureau members – are invited to participate in the survey,” Gilbert emphasized.

Data collected from respondents will be used to gauge trends related to the achievements of women in agriculture, including leadership positions, business successes and election to public office.

You don’t have to be a Farm Bureau member to take the survey, and participants will be eligible to win one of five $100 gift cards after the survey closes. Preliminary findings from the survey will be released in February 2015 at AFBF’s FUSION Conference in Nashville, Tennessee; the full report will be released in late spring.

AFBF

Soybean Farming Challenges

Cindy Zimmerman

bayer-future-14-wilkinsDuring the recent Bayer CropScience Corn and Soybean Future Forum in Germany, soybean producers talked about the challenges ahead for farmers.

American Soybean Association board member Richard Wilkins of Delaware believes that the most pressing challenges facing farmers right now include the need for deregulation of new technologies, public perception, and trade disruptions.

At the same time, Wilkins believes that farmers basically have the same goals as society as a whole when it comes to sustainability. “From a farmer’s perspective, remaining in business over the long term is number one when it comes to sustainability,” he said. “But I’m convinced that employing best management practices, being good stewards, and doing all the other things society is asking is the answer to long term sustainability.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Richard here: Interview with Delaware farmer Richard Wilkins

2014 Bayer CropScience Corn & Soybean Future Forum Photos

ASA, Audio, Bayer, Soybean, Sustainability

Go Farmobile

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 454We’re living in a mobile technology society and that’s so true of farmers today. Now farmers have a new technology to look at that will allow them to take advantage of all the data they’re creating in a new way.

Jason Tatge FarmobileDuring the Develop with Deere conference this week I met Jason Tatge, Farmobile. Here’s Jason giving me a live demonstration on his tablet of what Farmobile can do. Basically, Jason’s startup company allows live, real time, monitoring/viewing of farm equipment in the field. For example, we were looking at a Farmobile beta tester who was harvesting last night. We could “see” him move across his field, where he had been and even as he stopped to unload. Lots of information is included in the Farmobile app display like machine statistics (speed, rpms, etc) and crop moisture, yield and more.

FarmobileFarmobile builds hardware that goes into the customer’s machine, regardless of color, connects and then sends data via local cellular networks via the cloud. It’s fast. And the best part is that Farmobile is setting up the system to allow farmers to sell their data! That’s right. And why not? That’s valuable information that many companies will pay to get.

Learn more about what Farmobile is doing in this week’s AgNerd ZimmCast.

Listen in to this week’s program here: Go Farmobile

Develop with Deere Photo Album

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Agribusiness, Apps, Audio, Precision Agriculture, ZimmCast

USDA Seeks Input on New Beef Checkoff

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA_logoThe USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking input on the development of a new industry-funded promotion, research and information order for beef.

The new order would be in addition to the existing beef checkoff program, providing American beef producers with more resources for the marketing of their products and research to help strengthen the country’s beef industry. “Beef industry representatives agree that this important program needs more resources. USDA is stepping up at a critical juncture to help achieve the industry’s goal,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “With this action we can boost research investments, increase beef exports, and encourage folks here at home to support American beef producers.”

Beef industry leaders agree that the current fee of $1 per-head-of-cattle per producer is too little. The $1 assessment has remained the same since 1985 when Congress first created the beef checkoff program, and the amount can only be changed through Congressional action. This assessment provides resources for marketing to promote beef sales, research, and many other benefits for producers. An additional supplemental program like the one USDA is proposing would enhance available resources, which would help the beef industry address important issues including improving and enhancing nutritional and consumer information through initiatives such as consumer advertising, education, research and new-product development.

Comments on how a new beef checkoff would be structure are being accepted until December 10, 2014. Find out more information on what USDA is seeking input on and how to submit comments here.

Beef, Beef Checkoff, USDA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • National Farmers Union (NFU) announced the opening of registration for the 2015 NFU Women’s Conference, a conference for farm and rural women.
  • One of the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) MVPs, Heather Cox, is back with a new lineup of weekly videos and contests that are scoring big points with college football and Idaho® potato fans across the country.
  • Filament Marketing, LLC is seeking an enthusiastic, passionate candidate with hands-on beef cattle experience for a marketing coordinator position.
  • Merck Animal Health announced the Food and Drug Administration approved of a second feeding method for the beta agonist Zilmax and has made significant progress on its Five-Step Plan to Ensuring Responsible Beef.
Zimfo Bytes

Listening Sessions Planned on Pollinator Strategy

Cindy Zimmerman

honeybee100429The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA are hosting two public listening sessions this month for stakeholders to provide input to assist the Pollinator Health Task Force in development of a federal strategy to protect honey bees and other pollinators.

The Task Force is asking for input on the types of activities that could be part of the strategy, including public private partnerships, research, educational opportunities, pollinator habitat improvements and pesticide risk mitigation.

On June 20, 2014, President Obama issued a directive to federal agencies to create a federal strategy to promote honey bee and other pollinator health. The President’s directive created a Pollinator Health Task Force, co-chaired by EPA and USDA, and charged federal agencies with expanding efforts to take new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy levels.

The listening sessions will be held on Wednesday, November 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in Arlington, Virginia and Monday, November 17, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in Riverdale, Maryland. For those not able to attend the sessions, there is a webinar available. Additional information is available here.

Bees, Farming, USDA

ADAMA Wins Agrow Award

Cindy Zimmerman

adamaADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd. (formerly Makhteshim Agan Industries) was recognized this week for its global brand launch, winning the international Agrow Award for Best Marketing Campaign.

Earlier this year, the crop protection company launched the new name and uniform global brand for all of products, including MANA. Adama, which is the Hebrew word for “earth”, was chosen to signify the company’s commitment to agriculture, farmers and the land.

agrow-awardsThe Agrow awards, presented by Agrow World Crop Protection News, a leading global source for news and business intelligence about crop protection, provide the industry with the opportunity to showcase its new and innovative solutions. The awards feature 12 categories, plus a lifetime achievement award, with entries being judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

Crop Protection, Marketing

Farm Foundation to Talk Rural Transportation Issues

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo3News of too few rail cars to move this year’s grain harvest from farming areas to consumers has grabbed the headlines most recently, but agriculture and rural America are facing several other transportation issues this year. Farm Foundation will look to address some key issues, including the nation’s aging transportation infrastructure–roads, bridges and waterways, during its next free forum, Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 9 to 11 a.m. EST at the National Press Club, 529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C. with a live audiocast being made available for those unable to attend in person.

The Forum will begin with presentations by four industry leaders:

Eric Jessup, Vice President, Transportation, Industrials & Energy Services, Informa Economics;
John H. Miller, Group Vice President, Agricultural Products, BNSF Railroad;
Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition; and
Jon Samson, Executive Director of the American Trucking Associations’ Agriculture and Food Transporters Conference.

Moderating the session will be grain farmer Mark Scholl of J&M Scholl, Inc. Mr. Scholl and Mr. Miller are both Trustees of Farm Foundation.

More information and sign-up is available here.

Farm Foundation, transportation

John Deere Reaches Out to Developers

Chuck Zimmerman

Pat Pinkston John DeereThis morning John Deere kicked off what’s becoming an annual conference for developers. The 2014 Develop with Deere conference brings together dealers, independent agricultural software application developers and John Deere staff primarily from their Intelligent Solutions Group.

Kicking things off was a keynote presentation by Pat Pinkston, Vice President, Technology and Information Solutions, Agriculture and Turf Division. Pat talked about the challenges and opportunities of new technology in the precision area. Challenges include the difficulty to prove returns, complex mgt. of data & operations and that it may challenge intuition/experience. He says precision ag needs a consistent and accurate flow of data, expert decision making and the ability to execute and monitor.

To learn more about what John Deere is doing in today’s precision ag arena listen in to Pat’s remarks or watch my interview with him afterward via my ZimmGlass.

Listen to Pat here: Pat Pinkston Remarks


Develop with Deere Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere, Precision Agriculture, Video

USFRA to Participate in NY Times Event

Cindy Zimmerman

USFRAThe U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) is bringing the voices of farmers and ranchers to the New York Times “Food for Tomorrow” conference next week.

USFRA will host a breakfast and panel discussion entitled “Big Ag, Big Food: How Being Good for the Environment Is Not about Size” at 8:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, November 12 at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, NY.

“USFRA is excited to have the opportunity to add the perspectives of farmers and ranchers on our panels to this important gathering of food minds,” said Randy Krotz, chief executive officer of USFRA. “During the discussion, panelists will have the opportunity to share their point of view on the role sustainability plays in today’s production practices.” The panel will include Illinois hog producer Julie Maschhoff, California farmer Bruce Rominger, and Nebraska cattle feeder Joan Ruskamp.

The first annual New York Times Food for Tomorrow conference will explore two of the most important food challenges facing the world in the 21st century: how to feed a growing population of the world’s poor and how to reverse poor eating habits in the developed world.

Farming, Food, USFRA