Verdicts in on the Co-existence of Organic & GMO Crops

Jamie Johansen June 4, 2014

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Can organic & GMO crops co-exist?”

It’s clear everyone has their own opinion on this topic. And it’s important that farmers are able to voice their opinions and farm the way they see fit. Many pollers believe that organic and GMO crops can live harmoniously on the same or neighboring farms. But cross pollination is still a fear of many. Believe what you want, but let’s not put farmers against farmers.

Our poll results:

Yes – without legal regulation – 25%
Yes – with legal regulation – 7%
Yes – farmers choice to grow – 26%
No – due to cross pollination – 30%
No – it’s one or the other – 3%
Don’t know – 3%
Don’t care – 2%
Other – 4%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What do you think about the new AgWired look?”

As you can tell the ZimmComm Team has been busy changing things up a bit. Don’t worry, we are still covering everything agriculture. AgWired.com has just undergone a complete transformation on the back end and now incorporates WorldDairyDiary.com as Animal.AgWired.com and PrecisionPays.com as Precision.AgWired.com. And new features including a built in mobile app that you create on your device when you browse to AgWired.com.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes June 4, 2014

Meredian Inc., a privately held biopolymer manufacturer and the world’s largest producer of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), is pleased to announce the launching of their new website, meredianinc.com.
The USDA announced the 15 members of the 2014 class of the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program.
Kubota Tractor Corporation has introduced three new models to its B50-Series compact tractors, adding the newly designed B2650 and B3350 ROPS tractors and the new B3350SU Special Utility tractor to its lineup.
Bigham Ag announced the appointment of Norm Burgeson to the position of Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Zimfo Bytes

View IFAJ Photo Contest Entries

Chuck Zimmerman June 4, 2014

If you like farm photography then check out the entries in this year’s International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Star Photography competition.

Entries to the IFAJ Star Prize for Photography, sponsored by DeLaval, are now posted on this IFAJ website. This year, we had 86 entries – 32 in the Production category; 28 in the People category and 26 in the Nature-Landscape category.

The entries are now in the hands of three judges from IFAJ member countries — Canada, Germany and Australia — and winners will be announced at the IFAJ Congress in Scotland in September. In the meantime, you can check out the entries for yourself here.

I’m looking forward to seeing the winners announced later this year!

IFAJ, International, Media

All About Bees

Chuck Zimmerman June 4, 2014

How much do you know about bees? Want to know more? Then listen to this excerpt from Becky Timmons closing session presentation at the Alltech International Symposium. She gave us some very interesting statistics.

For example, the average honeybee will live about one month. A hive of bees must fly about 55,000 miles to make a pound of honey. Just in China there about 6 million colonies of bees and about 200,000 beekeepers. Very interesting stuff. Bees are critical to agriculture and a lot of work is being done to understand the pests and factors that harm bee and beehive health.

All About Bees

2014 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

Donate to the AMS/ARC Silent Auction

Jamie Johansen June 4, 2014

Ag Media Summit attendees in 2014 hope to “Rev it Up!” in Indianapolis July 26-30 as Agricultural Relations Council collaborates with AMS friends on this year’s Silent Auction. The goal is to exceed last year’s revenue of more than $3,500.

A record 50 items were available at last year’s meeting in Buffalo. Funds raised through the auction are used to fund various youth programs of AMS, and are shared equally with ARC. This will be the fifth year ARC will collaborate with AMS on the Silent Auction.

Items can be delivered or shipped directly to the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 350 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225 (for arrival between July 22 and July 24, Attn: Diane Johnson – Ag Media Summit). For larger items, you may take pictures to go along with the bid sheet and wait to ship to the winning bidder after the auction. Please e-mail completed bid sheet/item photo(s) to Barb Ulschmid at barbulschmid@gandgcomm.com.

Wondering what to donate? Here is a list of items from last year’s silent auction. Organizers say jewelry, local artisan items, regional food/product baskets and vacations are always good sellers.

Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, ARC

Obligatory AgriTalk Photo

Chuck Zimmerman June 3, 2014

Why? Why do we do it? I don’t know. But what do you think about the “obligatory AgriTalk photo?”

I mean, we show up working out of the media room at events from coast to coast. Then Mike and John show up, set up out in front of everyone, and proceed to talk agri. You could say we’ve helped make them into the megastars of ag media they are today. Of course, you could not say that too.

Let us know what you think. Continue the obligatory or . . .

This one is at the Corn Utilization Technology Conference in Louisville, KY.

2014 CUTC Photo Album

CUTC, Media

Special Award at CUTC

Chuck Zimmerman June 3, 2014

During the 2014 Corn Utilization Technology Conference a special presentation was made by Tom Mueller, Chairman of the NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team. Tom is a corn grower from Illinois.

He presented a plaque to the Indiana Corn Marketing Council for their significant support of the newly named Gary Lamie Graduate Student Poster Competition. Accepting was Dean Eppley who is a director for Indiana Corn and member of the RBD Action Team.

The action team chose to name the competition for Gary Lamie since he was so passionate about helping students. Gary was president of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council but passed away last year. His wife Kathleen was on hand to accept a memorial plaque in his name as well.

2014 CUTC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Corn, Education, NCGA

Pork Urges Trade Deal Without Japan

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2014

Pending trade deals, particularly the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), will be among the topics on the plate – along with lots of barbequed pork! – at the World Pork Expo this week.

Just last week, the National Pork Producers Council joined with dairy, wheat and rice organizations in calling on the Obama administration to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations without Japan unless that nation agrees to provide significant market access for the United States.

NPPC Vice President for International Affairs Nick Giordano says for U.S. pork that means elimination of Japan’s gate price system and all tariffs. “The TPP is the most important trade negotiation ever for our sector,” said Nick in an interview with our last semester intern Kristin Liska, who is interning with NPPC this summer. “Producers frankly can’t allow Japan to steal their bacon.”

The TPP is a regional negotiation that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. However, Japan is unwilling to abolish tariffs in a number of agricultural sectors including dairy, sugar, rice, beef, pork, wheat and barley.

“This is unprecedented,” says Giordano. “It opens the door to potentially leaving agriculture out of FTAs – it’s bad, bad, bad.” Interview with NPPC's Nick Giordano

We can expect to hear more about trade issues at World Pork Expo this week, especially when Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits on Thursday.

Check out the 2014 World Pork Expo photo album.

Ag Groups, Audio, Pork, Trade, World Pork Expo

NCGA President Kicks off CUTC

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2014

The 2014 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference is underway today in Louisville, Kentucky and last night National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Martin Barbre welcomed attendees to the semi-annual event that this year focuses on wet and dry milling technologies and new uses.

Barbre says the event brings together researchers with the common goal of facilitating the next ground-breaking technologies and corn-based products of the future. “It’s a great place for researchers to see what others are doing,” he said. “We also have a very good international focus with visitors and attendees from all four corners of the world.”

Chuck had chance to chat with Martin this morning about CUTC as well as some other important issues of interest to corn farmers, such as the newly passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), the EPA’s proposed Waters of the United States rule, and exports. Interview with NCGA president Martin Barbre

2014 CUTC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, CUTC, NCGA, Research

Promoting Kentucky Bourbon

Chuck Zimmerman June 3, 2014

If you’re going to have a Corn Utilization Conference why not start with America’s Native Spirit – Bourbon? That’s what got us kicked off for the 2014 CUTC.

Our keynote speaker, Kristin Meadors, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for the Kentucky Distillers Association, told us all about bourbon and how important it is to the Kentucky economy. She brought along her “little friends” to give away to people who asked a question after her presentation.

Some interesting facts include that there are more barrels of bourbon aging in Kentucky right now, 4.9 million, than there are people and horses in the state. Nearly 60% of every bottle of spirits in Kentucky goes to taxes. Talk about high taxation! I spoke with Kristin before her presentation.

Interview with Kristin Meadors

Learn more about the Kentucky bourbon industry from Kristin’s speech.

Kristin Meadors Keynote Address

After the keynote session we attended a reception featuring a bourbon tasting.

2014 CUTC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, CUTC, NCGA

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