BASF’s Gator Intern

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb14-basf-markWe met Mark Kaplan when he was working for BASF at the Farm Progress show, but we did not realize he was an intern at the time, and certainly did not know he was a University of Florida Gator! When I saw Mark running around getting BASF set up in the NAFB Broadcaster Center last week wearing a Gator sweatshirt, I had to get an interview with him and find out his story.

“I’m still a student at the University of Florida,” Mark says. “I’m actually a marketing major and I’m minoring in German, so BASF being a German chemical company seemed like a natural fit.”

When Mark signed up for the internship and he got his assignment in agriculture, the suburban kid from New Jersey said, “What the heck is agriculture?!” But he has learned quite a bit over the last few months and he loves it. “It’s been a great learning opportunity, flown me out to the Midwest a couple of times, got to go on some herbicide plot tours, visit some growers,” said Mark. “It’s really opened my eyes.”

Mark says he chose the University of Florida because “why not?” and because it was actually more affordable than attending college in New Jersey. When he graduates next year, Mark already has a job with BASF and he hopes to see us all more down the road in his career.Interview with Mark Kaplan, BASF intern
2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey

Cindy Zimmerman

thanksgiving-dinnerYour turkey dinner this year with all the fixings is just a little bit higher this year, but still under $5 per person – something to be thankful for, indeed!

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 29th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.41, a 37-cent increase from last year’s average of $49.04.

The big ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – came in at $21.65 this year. That’s roughly $1.35 per pound, a decrease of less than 1 cent per pound, or a total of 11 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2013.

“Turkey production has been somewhat lower this year and wholesale prices are a little higher, but consumers should find an adequate supply of birds at their local grocery store,” AFBF Deputy Chief Economist John Anderson said. Some grocers may use turkeys as “loss leaders,” a common strategy deployed to entice shoppers to come through the doors and buy other popular Thanksgiving foods.

Farm Bureau’s shopping list included turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk. Foods showing the largest increases this year were sweet potatoes, dairy products and pumpkin pie mix.

Read more here.

AFBF, Food

Oh, the irony!

Melissa Sandfort

shoesWhen ZimmComm gave me the creative liberty back in 2010 to write a weekly column on AgWired, I began to brainstorm ideas for a “category title” for my posts. I knew I wanted it to be about agriculture and the life of a farm girl, back on the farm. That day, I took a walk … and thus the brainchild for my AgWalks.

Little did I know that four years later, “walking” would be such an important aspect of my life. For those of you who don’t know, a couple of years ago I started walking almost every day. I needed a change, a release, a reprieve from work, some fresh air, and some solitude alone with my thoughts. That turned into a walk/jog and to this day, I still try to get out about three to four times per week. I even took running shoes to a trade show for work, and actually USED them!

The irony? My Aunt Jeanette, another critically acclaimed AgWalk-er, also walks. She will email or text me during the week and report back about her 5.5 mile walk around the grain elevator while waiting on trucks.

Together, we’ve put a lot of miles on the gravel roads of Nebraska. And I’d like to think that just as important as a good pair of walking shoes, this AgWalk column has been a hidden treasure as it has taught me lessons about my family history, brought me closer to my grandparents, and allowed me to share the love of writing (and walking!) with my Aunt.

So, until we walk again …

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AFBF Talks Policy Issues at NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb14-afbf-mooreNew congress, WOTUS, second beef checkoff, and what to do about COOL were a few of the topics that American Farm Bureau Federation executive director for public policy Dale Moore discusses at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting last week.

“We are excited that we have a lot of new leaders – seasoned leaders – coming in,” said Moore of the new Congress, mentioning Mike Conaway from Texas as the new chair of the House Agriculture Committee, just officially named yesterday. “What we’re looking for is those friends of Farm Bureau outside the ag committees that can work on issues like Waters of the U.S., immigration reform, tax reform…these issues are the kinds of things that can put farmers and ranchers out of business.”

When it comes to WOTUS, Moore says he does not expect any further action from Congress in the lame duck session, but he also does not expect EPA to back off on the proposed rule. “It’s going to take legislation to push them back, it may take litigation,” he said. “They don’t ditch the rule on their own, we’re going figure out a way to help them do it.”

Listen to my interview with Dale here: Interview with Dale Moore, AFBF
2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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Slovakian Journalist Wins IFAJ Star for Ag Journalism

John Davis

ifaj-star-deere1Slovakian journalist Jozef Sedlák was recently named the winner of the coveted IFAJ Star Prize in Agricultural Journalism for his story, “Food Does not Come from Supermarket Shelves,” which was published in the weekend edition of the Pravda daily newspaper.

Judges said they were captivated by the entrepreneurial story of a young Slovak farmer Pavel Petránek, a turkey breeder from Čremošné village, and by the journalistic mastery of the author.

The Star Prize was presented to Sedlák by IFAJ Executive Committee member Dana Večeřová, and Arpád Szabo of John Deere, the company that sponsors the worldwide competition. Sedlák, through the course of his professional journalistic career has “never changed his jersey“ and has remained loyal to the prestigious Slovak daily Pravda, where he is one of the last Slovak agriculture-minded journalists dedicated to agriculture, nutrition, wine and gardening.

IFAJ, International, John Deere, Journalism

NAFB President Elect and Vice President

Leah Guffey

15796729405_41f483b1bc_mBrian Winnekins is the 2015 president-elect for National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Brian hails from Wisconsin and is not only a farm broadcaster, but also the owner of Reel Country 1430AM in Durand. Brian and his wife Karla put the station back on the air in 2011 and he says things are going well there.

Brian’s job for 2015 with NAFB is planning next year’s convention and I had a chance to sit down and talk with him Friday night after the presidential banquet about what the future holds for him.Interview with Brian Winnekins, NAFB President-elect

15176777854_f81e582a0b_mTony St. James is a 32-year broadcasting veteran & farm broadcaster on All Ag, All Day (900AM Lubbock-Floydada, TX & 800AM Amarillo-Dumas, TX) and the new NAFB vice-president for 2015. Tony threw his hat in the ring as a contender later in the game and was nominated from the floor. He’s been a member of NAFB for the last 10 years and says things are changing in the way that we communicate with our audience and he’s very excited about the opportunity to represent farm broadcasters moving into the future.

Tony’s been involved as a farm broadcaster for many years but it wasn’t until a rule change ten years ago that he was accepted into broadcast council as an owner. He had to leave the convention early to get back to work, but I caught up with him back home in his Texas studios. Interview with Tony St. James, NAFB Vice-President


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by BASF
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USFRA Charts Course into the Future

Cindy Zimmerman

ZimmCast 454The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) was officially launched four years ago at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention and this year the organization announced a new chair.

nafb14-usfra-nancyNancy Kavazanjian takes the seat following in the footsteps of American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. Nancy hails from Wisconsin where she is a corn and soybean farmer, also serves as a director of the United Soybean Board, and has been communications director for the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.

nafb14-usfra-robertsIn our ZimmCast this week, we also hear from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Forrest Roberts, who has served on the USFRA board representing his organization since the alliance started in 2010. Roberts introduced the new Faces of Farming and Ranching at the NAFB convention, and he talked with our intern Taylor Truckey about that successful program as well as what he has seen USFRA accomplish in the last four years and what he is looking forward to in the future.

ZimmCast with USFRA Chair and board member


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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Why RFA Loves Farm Broadcasters

Cindy Zimmerman

nafb14-rfa-dinneenRenewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen loves coming to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk event each year, but not for the reason you might think.

“It’s not just because you get to do 25-30 interviews in a day,” said Dinneen, pictured here with DeLoss Jahnke of WMBD/WIRL in Peoria. “It’s because you’re interacting with REAL journalists!”

Dinneen says farm broadcasters are very unlike the “coastal elite media” he deals with on a day-to-day basis in Washington DC. “I come from a long line of journalists and my forefathers are rolling in their graves today at just how lazy journalists have become,” he said. “But farm broadcasters, they get out in the field, they’re talking to farmers, they’re talking to policy makers … that’s why I enjoy this so much – it restores my faith in the Fourth Estate.”

Thanks, Bob – we love you too!

In my interview with Bob from NAFB, he talks about a variety of issues impacting the ethanol industry – from the need for tax extenders for biofuels, first cellulosic ethanol plants going on line this year, how lower oil could be impacting domestic oil production, rail transportation issues, and of course, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Interview with Bob Dinneen, RFA


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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ASTA CSS 2014 and Seed Expo Coming Up

Leah Guffey

15780475251_1292a426f4_mI had a chance to catch up with American Seed Trade Association president and CEO Andy LaVigne at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention last week and talk about the upcoming CSS 2014 & Seed Expo coming up just around the corner.

The event, being held December 8-12 in Chicago, is America’s largest seed industry conference. Over 2,600 attendees representing the U.S. and 20 countries come to CSS for a week of collaboration and networking. The CSS schedule has been expanded and includes programming to fit any interest, offering more focused educational opportunities. Andy tells me that seed treatment will dominate this year’s conference and attendees can check out new products and equipment in the seed expo.

If you can’t make it to the event, no worries – Cindy and I will be there to bring it to you!

You can listen to my interview with Andy here: Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA President and CEO


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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