Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes August 14, 2014

The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Sara Neagu, who joins the organization as the legislative assistant for the Washington office.
broadhead, a leading marketing communications agency connecting the interests of urban and rural consumers, has announced the hiring of Elizabeth Holum and the promotions of Karen Johnson and Natalie Hoover.
Douglas L. Edgeton, a veteran of the healthcare and economic development sectors, will be the next president and chief executive officer of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the Board of Directors
Amid excellent crop growing conditions and lower grain prices, farmland values in the Midwest and Mid-South continued to decline during the second quarter of 2014, according to the latest Agricultural Finance Monitor published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Special Showing of The Great American Wheat Harvest

Chuck Zimmerman August 14, 2014

I’ll be off to Bismarck at the end of next week to watch a special showing of The Great American Wheat Harvest. You can find it at the Grand 22 movie theatre at 7pm on the 22nd.

The screening of this important documentary is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture, one of the many companies and agricultural organizations who provided support for the production of the film.

“New Holland is pleased to sponsor the showing of this important documentary film in North Dakota, the state that leads the nation in hard red spring wheat and durum production,” says Mark Hooper, New Holland Director of Marketing, North America. “As an advocate for agriculture, we feel this film is a smart way to connect consumers with the North American wheat growers and custom harvesters who produce their food.”

AgWired is also a sponsor of this great movie. Have you seen it yet?

Agribusiness, Harvest, Wheat

It’s a bird. No, it IS a plane!

Melissa Sandfort August 14, 2014

As I was driving home from my morning childcare drop-off routine, I snapped this picture of a crop duster flying right next to me. I’ve probably seen a thousand of them, but each time one is this close, a sense of thrill runs through my blood and I can understand why children are enthralled with planes.

I will recount a story for you, but I’m removing names and locations to “protect the innocent”. Back in 2005, I took an ag tour in the south. We explored cotton gins and almond groves and drove cotton pickers. The highlight of the trip was when we interviewed a crop duster and in passing, I mentioned that I’d like to go for a ride in one. He said, “Hop in!” It only had one seat and me being 5’10”, it was a snug ride on his lap. I had to be careful not to move my foot and trip the cable because it would open the door. Nerve-wracking!

We skimmed 20 feet over a cotton field … up and over a shed … and up to the sky again. It was thrilling.

This was certainly a story I shared with my mother AFTER the fact or she would’ve made me quit my job right then and there.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Farmers Using Propane for More than Traditional Jobs

John Davis August 14, 2014

Farmers across the country are turning more and more to propane for their operations. A new study sponsored by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) shows that farmers looking to cut fuel costs, increase efficiencies, and meet strict emissions standards are turning to the clean-burning fuel.

 Propane is currently used by more than 40 percent of farms in the U.S. According to a survey conducted by PERC and Artemis Strategy Group, the most common uses for propane among farmers are building heating (47 percent) and grain drying (35 percent).

The survey also showed that the role of propane on farms is changing, as more farmers are choosing propane to fuel vehicles and irrigation systems over other alternative fuels such as natural gas. According to the survey, 14 percent are using propane to fuel a vehicle on the farm (compared with natural gas at one percent) and five percent are using propane for irrigation (compared with natural gas at two percent).

“The results show that farmers trust propane as a reliable, convenient, American-made fuel,” Cinch Munson, PERC director of agriculture business development, said. “Every year, new, fuel-efficient propane-powered irrigation engines, grain dryers, work trucks, and forklifts are hitting the market. As more options become available, more farmers will turn to propane for greater efficiency and fuel savings.”

The survey also shows that farmers like using propane, as favorability ratings hit about 84 percent for propane, compared with 61 percent for natural gas and 33 percent for heating oil. PERC also touted its partnerships with equipment manufacturers with research and development investments to commercialize new propane-powered products or advance the energy efficiency of existing applications.

Agribusiness, Propane

Bob Treadway Reports on Factors Affecting Recruitment

Joanna Schroeder August 13, 2014

Bob Treadway with Treadway & Associates is a forecaster, strategy consultant and a “futurist”. He was brought to the 2014 AgCareers.com HR & Food Roundtable to discuss some of the forecasted needs the agriculture industry is going to have in the next 5-15 years. He said that many clients are not very good at looking at the environment in which they will be operating versus the environment they are currently in.

Many companies have said there is not enough talent coming in to the industry but they are looking at agriculture schools as their primary supplier of talent. Treadway advises ag companies to think more broadly and to start thinking about students from the business sector and students from the tech/IT sectors because this is where business is going. (For example, Paul Jindrich with ISU is getting his degree in Supply Chain Management and he was not being recruited by ag companies until he reached out.)

Treadway forecasts (he has a great explanation of forecasting in his interview) that there will be a great need for individuals to work in predictive analytics, often referred to as big data. There are several forecasts that show companies will have a tremendous shortage of this expertise in about five years and probably continuing for another decade beyond that.

“If I was a agricultural company, one of the things I would be doing is trying to find that talent and ensure its retention or I would be taking some of my best people and training them to learn this particular field,” said Treadway. “And its my feeling that not only what is important is to be able to forecast what the organization needs in the future, it is also important to forecast those areas that will be affected by technology and replaced by technology.”

Learn more about what the jobs are forecasted for the ag industry in my interview with Bob Treadway: Interview With Bob Treadway

View the 2014 AgCareers.com HR & Food Roundtable photo album.

AgCareers, Audio

The Voice of Students: How to Hire Us

Joanna Schroeder August 13, 2014

With a great need for talent in the agriculture industry, the human resources industry is looking to students at two and four-year college campuses. But what is the best way to reach them? This question was explored during the panel: “The Voice of Students- Effective Student Recruitment,” during the 2014 AgCareers.com HR & Food Roundtable.

The panel was moderated by Paula Beecher with Clemson University and featured Ashley Heil, University of Wisconsin- River Falls; Paul Jindrick, Iowa State University; and Dylan Vanboxtel, University of Minnesota.

The students noted that while companies are doing fairly well coming to campuses for job fairs, they could do a better job of reaching them where they are: online. Via places like Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat but maybe not so much on LinkedIn according to Jindrich who says he doesn’t use it to look for jobs. Although, the students acknowledged this would be a good tool for them.

To learn more I spoke with Ashley Heil who has spent her whole life around agriculture. She noted that companies are reaching out and coming to club meetings and getting on campus and doing things directly with students such as job fairs. She also said when looking for jobs she searches websites such as AgCareers.com, company websites and invites them to participate in campus clubs of which she is a member.

The best thing recruiters are doing now, said Ashley, are getting out to campuses and engaging one-on-one with students. She noted they could do better in that more organizations should become involved in campus clubs. Ashley is graduating soon and I’m sure she’ll be scooped up before graduation as she seems to be in all the right places for success.

Learn more about ways to recruit students in my interview with Ashley Heil: Interview With Ashley Heil

View the 2014 AgCareers.com HR & Food Roundtable photo album.

AgCareers, Audio

ZimmGlass Livestream Test at AgWorks Conf.

Chuck Zimmerman August 13, 2014

This was a test and only a test. I’ve been waiting for a chance to live stream from my ZimmGlass. That opportunity came this morning here at the AgWorks User Conference. It’s not a great video because I was actually doing this the first time so I was streaming and trying to figure a few things out on my computer while doing it.

Your thoughts? I think the video and audio were very acceptable in this classroom setting. But . . . Glass got too hot at about ten minutes and shut the broadcast down. Which was fine with me for the purposes of doing this as a test demo. I’ve had that same issue with Glass recording video too.

So, for you agnerds out there, take a look. Let me know what you think and how you could see this as a Glass feature to help you and your business or farm.

By the way. I was using the Livestream Glass App connected via wifi to my AT&T Netgear hotspot.

2014 AgWorks User Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Apps, Video

AgWorks User Conference

Chuck Zimmerman August 13, 2014

The 2014 AgWorks User Conference is underway in Davenport, IA. Welcoming us this morning is Greg Duhachek, President. I spoke with him during last night’s reception to get a preview of what this conference is all about. It’s an annual conference to bring customer users together to show new features of their software and share the vision of the company. Speaking of new features, a big topic of training here will be the new AgWorks AgOS Software which was just announced recently. As Greg describes it, “It’s an agricultural operating system.” I’m sure I’ll be learning and sharing more about it during the conference.

You can listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Duhachek

You can listen to Greg’s welcoming remarks here: Greg Duhachek Opening Remarks

Photos from the conference can be found here: 2014 AgWorks User Conference Photo Album

Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

What do you think about Right to Farm laws?

Jamie Johansen August 13, 2014

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your favorite way to eat peanut butter?”

It’s official…you can put peanut butter on anything. We had votes all over the board with this poll. But it is clear people like peanut butter. Some of the top ‘others’ we got included apples and toast.

Here are the poll results:

PB & J – 19%
Crackers – 8%
On a spoon – 11%
With celery – 8%
Cookies – 14%
Candy – 3%
Pie – 3%
Ice Cream – 6%
Pancakes/waffles – 6%
Other – 22%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, What do you think of Right to Farm laws?

Missouri just narrowly passed a constitutional amendment on the right to farm and North Dakota has had one for two years. Is this necessary or is agriculture over-reacting?

ZimmPoll

New Documentary Chronicles Dry Times in Colorado

Jamie Johansen August 13, 2014

Host of Colorado’s 850 KOA Morning Show, Steffan Tubbs, and producer/director of Droughtland the documentary, spoke to attendees of this year’s Cattle Industry Summer Conference. Steffan grew up with a great appreciation for farmers and ranchers and as he moved through his career in journalism, he has continued to express a passion for the ag community and has spent the last year gathering footage of Coloradans who have been hit by the most recent drought.

“I kept hearing so many stories last year that we would read on our station about the severe drought in Colorado. I convinced my management and I went down there and met with people impacted by the drought they had been dealing with the drought since 2002.”

Steffan said they started sharing stories of their families from the 50’s and how dry it was then. He then knew there was a true story to be told. He was surprised at the number of people who were willing to open their homes and hearts so he could share their determination and passion with the world.

Visit Droughtland.com if you are interested in helping to sponsor this story. Steffan is looking for a fall 2014 release date so stay tuned for where you can learn more about how the drought has impacted so many lives. These heros are still doing what they love, providing for their families and helping put food on tables nationwide.

Listen to my interview with Steffan here: Interview with Steffan Tubbs, Droughtland

View and download photos from the event here: Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Coverage of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference is sponsored by

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Farming, NCBA, Video, Weather

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