Livestock Publications Council Vision

Chuck Zimmerman

Livestock Publications Council VisionHere’s a reminder about next week’s Livestock Publication Council “Vision – An Industry Celebration.” You can find information in the latest LPC newsletter about it. Contact Diane Johnson at the LPC office to make your reservation.

The event will take place November 11, 2014 at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

LPC will honor their Headliner and Hall of Fame winners at a fine dinner and celebrate the announcement of the 2015 honorees. A panel of experts will also explore the importance of animal welfare issues in today’s world of agriculture and look into critical issues ranging from social concerns to economics and marketing.

Panelists will include:

Dr. Hans Coetzee – Professor of Vet Clinical Pharmacology, Iowa State University
Debbie Lyons-Blythe – Rancher, wife & mom
Steve Meyer – President of Paragon Economics
Moderator, Mike Adams – Host of syndicated radio show AgriTalk

LPC, Media

Catch Green Fever with John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere Green FeverIt’s that time of the year when people are getting their flu shots. If you haven’t had your shot yet and wind up with a fever I hope it’s a Green Fever.

As John Deere kicks off its annual Green Fever sales event to start its 2015 product marketing year, the company is launching a new $35,000 Green Fever Giveaway program, which includes a $25,000 landscape makeover. Also during Green Fever sales event, customers can get major discounts and financing incentives on select models of equipment purchased from November 1, 2014, to February 2, 2015.

As part of the Green Fever Giveaway, John Deere is offering a grand prize package of a $25,000 landscape makeover and choice of either a John Deere Gator, ZTrak Mower, 1 Family Tractor or Signature Series Lawn Tractor (total approximate retail value up to $36,748, depending on selected equipment).

The Green Fever Giveaway Sweepstakes runs from Nov. 3, 2014, to Feb. 27, 2015 and is open to U.S. residents only. Enter using the form at www.JohnDeere.com/GreenFever. Participants will receive coupons for free John Deere merchandise, redeemable at their local dealership, when they enter the giveaway.

Agribusiness, John Deere, Tractor

Digital Storytelling from Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

Than HartsockDuring the Bayer CropScience Corn and Soybean Future Forum, Than Hartsock, John Deere, did some digital storytelling. In fact, his presentation was titled, “Digitalization – next level of corn and soybean cropping.”

Than talked about how John Deere is developing new tools to deal with ways for farmers to make more money from their crop. This includes all the things we lump under the category of precision agriculture. He used a lot of agnerd language like open data transfer. He says most of the large equipment the company ships now, like combines, come with wifi included. They are leveraging consumer hardware like smartphones and tablets that are making technology adoption easier. Speaking of easier, during his question and answer period one of the questions dealt with how easy this technology is for older farmers to adopt.

By the way, I’m leaving tomorrow for Kansas City and the 2014 Develop with Deere conference and will be sharing more specifics about new John Deere solutions from there!

Listen to Than’s remarks here: Than Hartsock Presentation

2014 Bayer CropScience Corn & Soybean Future Forum Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Make Your Voice Count – VOTE!

Cindy Zimmerman

It’s Election Day and we all have a lot at stake with current issues facing the industry, including farmers and ranchers. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says voting is not only a right but a duty for America’s farmers. If you haven’t voted yet, make sure you do – if you have, good for you!!!


AFBF, Video

Farm Bureau Opens Online Registration for Convention

John Davis

afbf-logoThe American Farm Bureau Federation has opened online registration for its 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 10-14, 2015, in San Diego.

“The 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show offers a preview of the future of agriculture,” said John Hawkins, AFBF’s senior director of conventions and events. “The IDEAg Connect Conference, thought-provoking educational workshops, and precision agriculture and technology displays will provide exciting opportunities for attendees to get a sneak peek at what’s next in agriculture.”

About 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to gather for the convention, where they will hear from distinguished leaders and participate in a grassroots policy setting process that will guide the American Farm Bureau Federation through 2015.

AFBF President Bob Stallman will give his annual “State of Farm Bureau” address to members at the opening general session of the convention on Jan. 11. On Jan. 12, Commander Rorke Denver will give the general session keynote address, and acclaimed late night TV host Jay Leno will give the closing session keynote address.

AFBF officials recommend that farmer and rancher members check with their state Farm Bureau office to see if they have already been registered. The full Farm Bureau member registration fee is $100 and includes the IDEAg Trade Show and Young Farmer & Rancher competitive events (Saturday, Jan. 10 through Monday, Jan. 12), general sessions, workshops and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Silent Auction.

AFBF, Ag Groups, Agribusiness

2014 National Agricultural Proficiency Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

Winners of the 2014 National Agricultural Proficiency Awards were announced during the sixth general session at the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo on Friday. Awards were given in 49 categories from agricultural communications and education to veterinary science and wildlife management.

ffa-14-cadleAmong the talented winners was Jordan Cadle of the Paoli Indiana FFA Chapter in Indiana in the category of Agriscience Research—Plant Systems, sponsored by FMC Corporation and Monsanto.

Jordan began conducting scientific research in the sixth grade as an extra credit assignment when he studied nitrogen application rates on corn seedling growth. Eventually these research interests led him to look at other agricultural production practices such as no-tillage and foliar fertilizing. “In recent years, I looked at the front end of a double crop system – alternative fertilizers on wheat plants,” said Jordan.

Jordan is supported by parents Kathryn and Danny Cadle and FFA advisors Kerry Wyatt and Cory Scott, and he appreciates the support of companies like FMC as well. “It’s nice to have an agriscience company support our agriscience program,” he added. Interview with Jordan Cadle, FFA Proficiency Award Winner

87th National FFA Convention Photos

Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by FMC
Audio, Education, FFA, FMC

New FFA Officer Team

Cindy Zimmerman

ffa-14-new-teamStudents from Georgia, Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky and New Mexico were elected to serve on the 2014-15 National FFA Officer team.

From left to right they are:

Andy Paul of Georgia, an agricultural education major at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, was elected president.
Caleb Gustin of New Mexico, an agricultural business and agricultural economics major at New Mexico State University, will serve as western region vice president.
Stephen McBride of Tennessee, an agricultural business major at University of Tennessee at Martin, will serve as southern region vice president.
Ruth Ann Myers, an agricultural education major at University of Kentucky, was elected eastern region vice president.
Victoria Maloch of Arkansas, an agricultural business and pre-law major at University of Arkansas, will serve as secretary.
Kristen Schmidt of Colorado, an animal science and agricultural business major at Colorado State University, was elected central region vice president.

National officers commit to a year of service to the National FFA Organization. Each travels more than 100,000 national and international miles to interact with business and industry leaders, thousands of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state FFA leaders, the general public and more.

87th National FFA Convention Photos

Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by FMC
FFA, FMC

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • New Century FS, Grinnell, Iowa, was named the Environmental Respect Award winner for the state of Iowa.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA) will present its Soy Champion Award to Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas.
  • MGEX has concluded the 2nd-best October in its long history.
  • The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) has partnered with BASF to give away four scholarships for students with connections to the wheat industry.
Zimfo Bytes

30 Days of Agvocacy and Social Media

Chuck Zimmerman

30 Days of AdvocacySpeaking of the AgChat Foundation . . .

Thanks to a heads up from Charleston Orwig, I see that the AgChat Foundation has started their first “30 Days” series. This is inspired by a series started by Holly Spangler of Farm Progress.


For our first series, we’ll be talking about 30 Days of Agvocacy and Social Media – Join us on AgChat.org for different topics or issues related to agvocacy and social media with some outstanding contributors. The goal of this series is to provide you with instruction and how-to help when you are advocating for agriculture and making connections to non-agriculture friends, family and even strangers.

We will offer topics which appeal to both advanced agriculture advocates and for those who are new to sharing their stories with eaters of all kinds. These topics will include trainings which are often requested by the community such as the basics of Twitter, resources for free photos, how to become a better writer, photo tips, blog post ideas and more. More advanced topics will include increasing your followers on Instagram, WordPress widgets, strategies for starting conversations in public and the use of LinkedIn. We’ll also address concerns such as bad bloggers, what do consumers really want to know, tips for promoting a pro-foodchoice view, advocating without undermining other farmers and ranchers and more.

A way you can participate is not only to read but share using the #AgChat and #30DaysAgSoMe hashtags.

Ag Groups, Social Media, Social Networking

2015 AgChat Foundation National Collegiate Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

AgChat FoundationThe AgChat Foundation has announced the 2015 National Collegiate Congress. This social media and agvocacy workshop is scheduled for January 17, 2015 at the Dow AgroSciences headquarters in Indianapolis. There will be an optional tour of Fair Oaks Farms on January 18. Approximately 165 students are expected to attend. The goal of the workshop is to challenge college students who are passionate about agriculture to expand their social media experience and help bridge the gap between consumers and their food.

“Social media is always fun for learning about new ways to connect, but in the long run finding the right
balance is what determines success,” says Lela Perez, a Texas A&M senior studying Animal Science. “I
would try to inform those needing to connect with consumers of what to actually say, rather than just
teaching them how.“

“I have been to many social media seminars, but most, if not every, teaches to an older audience. They
come off as elementary to a person in my demographic that uses and grew up with social media,” says
Clayton Glazik, a University of Illinois senior studying Agricultural Communications and Advertising.
“It’s refreshing to find a conference focusing on agriculture advocacy geared to my age group.”
“The collegiate demographic is an integral part of the agriculture industry. They are firmly tied to digital connections and when compared to all other demographics, are leading the way in social media. It is only natural that the AgChat Foundation offer an inaugural event targeting college, agriculture students across the U.S.,” replied AgChat Foundation’s Executive Director Jenny Schweigert. “Our training will focus on translating their current social media experiences to an understanding of how to tell agriculture’s story. Essentially, we are taking a proactive approach by fostering the future of the agvocacy community while connecting partners with the best and brightest recruits.”

The Congress is receiving support from Dow AgroSciences, National FFA and Animal Agriculture Alliance. Additional sponsors are needed to help make this event a big success. If you or your company is interested please contact the AgChat Foundation asap!

Ag Groups