Mark Your Calendars for New LPC Event

Jamie Johansen

lpc logoThe Livestock Publications Council is hosting their first ever event designed to celebrate the livestock industry through education and honor those who have made an impact in it. Vision – An Industry Celebration, will take place November 11, 2014 at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

There they will honor the 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 and consultant to National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council
Moderator, Mike Adams – Host of syndicated radio show AgriTalk

Ag Groups, Livestock, LPC

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Talia Goes

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  • Don Norton, Boelte-Hall, Roeland Park, Kansas, was elected to serve the Livestock Publications Council (LPC) as its president for 2014-2015.
  • The Scoular Company is pleased to announce the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Winona Feed and Grain, Inc. of Winona, Kan.
  • ADAMA, a world leader in customer-focused agricultural solutions, announced today that NIMITZ, a novel, non-fumigant nematicide with simplified application features and unmatched user safety, has received federal registration from the EPA.
  • Paulsen announces three agency leadership changes that, along with a redesigned brand and website, signal a new era for one of the nation’s top 10 agrimarketing firms.
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USFRA Names Finalist for Faces of Farming & Ranching

Jamie Johansen

USFRAU.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA®) announced the finalists of its next class of Faces of Farming and Ranching, a nationwide search to help put real faces on agriculture.

The following farmers and ranchers were named finalists:
Erin Brenneman, Iowa
Jay Hill, N.M.
Carrie Mess, Wis.
Thomas Titus, Ill.
Darrell Glaser, Texas
Brian Jones, Texas
Jessica Potter, Colo.
Carla Wardin, Mich.

Applications were received from dedicated farmers and ranchers from across the nation. Winners will share their stories and experiences about how food is grown and raised in the U.S. on a national stage through media interviews, consumer-facing public appearances and events. This is the second time USFRA has sought farmers and ranchers to speak on behalf of the industry in this capacity.

“These finalists are truly passionate about the work they do every day to grow food for our nation,” said Randy Krotz, chief executive officer of USFRA. “These exceptional farmers and ranchers will bring consumers, media and influencers a first-hand perspective of how food gets from the farm or ranch to the dinner table.”

Beginning October 24 through November 2, people can visit USFRA’s Facebook Page and/or website to learn more about each of the finalists and the work they do, including short videos highlighting their operation. From there, the public can vote for whom they believe best represents the breadth of farmers and ranchers across the country who work to bring food to our tables. These votes will be factored into the final decision to determine the next Faces of Farming and Ranching.

Winners will be announced on November 12, 2014, during a press conference at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention (NAFB) in Kansas City.

Ag Groups, USFRA

Our Amy Roady at IFAJ-Alltech Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

Amy RoadyThanks once again to Alltech for supporting young agricultural journalists via the IFAJ-Alltech Congress Boot Camp. During their camp they took a look at how agribusiness can implement new technologies and increase on-farm efficiencies to feed an ever increasing global population as well as their role in communicating these advances. Amy is pictured with Owen Roberts, vice president of IFAJ and Ann Hess, North America Field PR manager for Alltech. You can find more photos of “Amy in Action” in my Congress photo album (link below).

Held prior to the IFAJ congress in Scotland and jointly with the IFAJ/Agriterra Master Class, the intensive journalistic boot camp-style workshop focused on the theme of innovation with recipients of the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders Award discussing agribusiness issues from around the world and further developing their skills through social media applications, a news conference with the United Kingdom minister of agriculture and guest farm, news and industry panels.

Fergal McAdam, sales manager for Alltech Ireland, presented “An Alltech Perspective on Innovation and Sustainability” where he led a discussion on how consolidation, efficiency and innovation are key factors in feeding nine billion people by 2050. McAdam also shared the results of Alltech’s latest initiative, the EPS program, launched with more than 14,000 cows on 58 farms in 19 countries in Europe last year. The program uses a number of tools to measure each farm’s efficiency levels, and then gives customized nutrition and management recommendations for that farm to increase profitability and improve sustainability.

2014 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Ag Groups, IFAJ

Got Bekina Boots?

Chuck Zimmerman

Bekina AgriLite BootsLooking for some great work boots? Try out Bekina AgriLites. I won a pair of size 10 boots in a Twitter giveaway in advance of the IFAJ Congress. I accepted the prize and have decided to donate them to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation silent auction which will be conducted during their convention in November. Besides supporting NAFB and youth interested in agricultural communications careers I hope this will provide some exposure to NAFB members about IFAJ and the annual Congress!

The lightweight work boot for the agricultural sector

Agrilite has become synonymous with comfort and durability. These hard-wearing PU boots with their elegant fit are feather-light, feel supple and give your feet energy throughout the day. This PU boot is resistant to oil, fat, manure and various cleaning products!

Safety also comes first in the agricultural sector. That’s why these boots can also be supplied with a steel toecap and sole. Thanks to their improved and SRC-tested sole profile, you can wear them when you’re working in the milking parlours or on the land.

Bekina® is always looking for innovative ways to maximise your comfort. These agricultural boots have a handy release button so you can take them off easily. – See more at: http://www.bekina.be/en/boots/agrilite-1#sthash.Wilidbr5.dpuf

2014 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

IFAJ

New Anhydrous Applicator from John Deere

Leah Guffey

_DSC0139The recent increase in continuous corn acres requires rugged nutrient application equipment that keeps pace with today’s intensive crop production. The tough new John Deere 2410C Anhydrous Applicator gives customers in the anhydrous ammonia applicator business exactly what they need.

John Deere engineers designed the 2410C Applicator from a field-proven frame design to meet the specific needs of operators, including 44 inches of underframe clearance. These machines are available in wider 19-, 21-, 23-, 24 and 25-row (47.5 ft. to 62.5 ft.) widths and feature an innovative chisel option that gives applicators the opportunity to increase revenues and reduce costs by completing nutrient application and tillage in one pass. In addition, the deeper frame design with floating hitch improves applicator flexibility over rolling terrain by providing more-uniform depth integrity from front to back, especially in challenging field conditions. The hitch provides consistent knife depth, ensuring thorough anhydrous application through the entire width and length of the applicator.

During the 2014 Farm Progress Show in Boone, I had a chance to catch up with Doug Felter, product marketing manager for sprayers and tillage with John Deere.

You can listen to my interview with Doug here: Interview with Doug Felter, John Deere

Audio, Farm Machinery, Farm Progress Show, John Deere

What’s New with Bayer Stratego YLD

Jamie Johansen

fps14-bayer-schwindtBayer CropScience’s Thorsten Schwindt and Randy Myers both work in the company’s fungicide department. They shared with us during the Farm Progress Show what was going on with Stratego YLD, how growers can utilize it to get greater return on investment and what we can see coming out of Bayer’s research and development labs when it comes to fungicides.

“Stratego YLD is our most important brand in corn and soybean. It is one of the biggest products being sold at tassel timing. What we are doing with the product is positioning it at an earlier application with the big advantage being you bring it out with a herbicide. What growers don’t always know is it is also great for soybeans too. In a year like this where the corn prices are down there is a lot more soybean acres and Stratego YLD has a must higher interest in getting a yield boost in your soybean and also protect it from disease,” stated Thorsten.

fps14-bayer-myersThorsten said that right now growers are concerned about getting a good return on investment. Because of many farmers’ economic state, they are hesitant to apply a fungicide. He said the message they try and share with growers is to look at the yield figures and see the return on investment when a fungicide is applied to a crop. Interview with Thorsten Schwindt, Bayer CropScience

Randy goes on to explain why an earlier application of Stratego YLD can really give growers an upper hand. “There are two different things that you are dealing with. You are trying to protect the middle part of the plant from disease. A lot of those diseases survive in the residue in the soil. Another thing is protecting the stalk integrity. A lot of those diseases come in early and we want to keep pathogens out of the stalk.”

Randy also shares with Cindy examples using this past year’s growing season of where Stratego YLD has really paid off. Interview with Randy Myers, Bayer CropScience

2014 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Crop Protection, Fungicide

Farming in Scotland

Chuck Zimmerman

Nigel MillerThe President of the National Farmers Union in Scotland is Nigel Miller. farms 550 hectares in partnership with two of his sons in the Scottish Borders. His upland hill farm supports 175 cows and 950 breeding ewes. He was one of speakers at the IFAJ Congress in Aberdeen. Nigel is not shy about expressing his opinion and shared some statistics with us in a very entertaining manner.

In the photo Nigel is being interviewed by some of the ag media attendees. I visited with him briefly during that morning session where he was on the program. He shares how information about how agriculture is doing in Scotland.

Listen in to my interview with Nigel here: Interview with Nigel Miller

2014 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Audio, Farming, IFAJ

Big Crops Getting Bigger

Cindy Zimmerman

usda-logoUSDA has increased its estimate of both the corn and soybean crops this month, building on already forecast record highs.

Corn production is forecast at 14.4 billion bushels, up 3 percent from both the August forecast and from 2013. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 171.7 bushels per acre, up 4.3 bushels from the August forecast and 12.9 bushels above the 2013 average. If realized, this will be the highest yield and production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.8 million acres, unchanged from the August forecast but down 4 percent from 2013.

Soybean production is forecast at a record 3.91 billion bushels, up 3 percent from August and up 19 percent from last year. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 46.6 bushels per acre, up 1.2 bushels from last month and up 3.3 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record 84.1 million acres, unchanged from August but up 11 percent from last year.

NCGA-Logo“It will be the fifth record crop that we’ve had in the last 12 years,” says National Corn Growers Association Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett, who noted that prices are falling as the bushels are rising. “We are selling corn today at about 35% of what we did just a couple of years ago, certainly below the cost of production for many of our growers.”

Doggett commented on the crop during a during a press call today discussing the importance of EPA keeping the ethanol requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) going forward. “When the energy bill was passed in 2008, there was a challenge to the corn industry to produce the corn, and we have produced the corn,” he said. Jon Doggett, NCGA comments on corn crop

Audio, Corn, NCGA, USDA

A 9/11 Husker Harvest Memory

Chuck Zimmerman

Husker Harvest DaysI did not got to this week’s Husker Harvest Days but I did go on 9/11/2001. That was during my very short gig with DTN and I drove out from Omaha with my boss, Kim Lang, to attend the show. We were talking and not really listening to the radio news which was on but very low. Cindy called us with the news and our whole attitude of excitement to get out of the show lot vanished. However, we did attend the show that day.

One of the first images I remember was a group of people gathered around a small tv at one of the exhibits. I don’t remember which one. I joined them as we watched events unfold. It was hard to believe this was real and right here in America.

We returned to Omaha listening to the news this time and learning that President Bush would be flown into Omaha. I think he actually did arrive and depart before we got back to town. I drove home to Missouri the next day and kept watching the sky, especially when I drove past KC airport. No planes anywhere. That was an eerie feeling.

So that’s where I was and I will never forget it or the people who died that day. May God grant them eternal peace.

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