John Deere Alliance with Dawn Equipment Company

Jamie Johansen May 28, 2014

John Deere has announced an alliance with Dawn Equipment Company, Inc. a manufacturer specializing in ground engaging tools and active control systems for planters. The alliance allows John Deere to sell and support Dawn hydraulic-controlled down-force systems, row cleaners, and closing wheels for planters.

Customers will also be able to purchase Dawn’s complete line of M Series closing wheels and other products through the John Deere dealer channel.

“We’re very excited about this alliance with John Deere,” says Joseph Bassett, president, Dawn Equipment Company. “Our line of planter attachments, ground engaging tools, and hydraulic control down force systems lead the industry in performance and will be even more customizable through this relationship with John Deere.”

Current offerings from Dawn will focus on retrofitting the current line of John Deere 1770, 1770NT, and DB Planters. These products will also be compatible with the recently introduced MaxEmerge™ 5 and ExactEmerge™ 1775 and 1775NT Planters.

“This is another example of how we’re offering producers additional solutions to help them maximize machinery performance and, ultimately, crop yields. Our industry-leading portfolio of planting solutions will deliver even more options in the future to improve planter performance,” says Aaron Wetzel, vice president of the global crop care platform.

Agribusiness, Equipment, John Deere

“New Era in Conservation” Launch

Cindy Zimmerman May 28, 2014

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) this week launched “a new era in American conservation efforts with an historic focus on public-private partnership.”

Vilsack and Stabenow announced the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Tuesday during a visit to the Saginaw Bay watershed of the Great Lakes agricultural region. “This is an entirely new approach to conservation,” said Vilsack. “We’re giving private companies, local communities, and other non-government partners a way to invest in what are essentially clean water start-up operations. By establishing new public-private partnerships, we can have an impact that’s well beyond what the Federal government could accomplish on its own.”

“Partnering businesses and non-profits with our farmers and conservation leaders will bring greater focus and additional resources to the Great Lakes region and critical areas across the country,” said Sen. Stabenow.

In addition to the Great Lakes region, the critical conservation areas included in the initiative make up the majority of the nation with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Mississippi River Basin, Longleaf Pine Range, Columbia River Basin, California Bay Delta, Prairie Grasslands, and the Colorado River Basin.

Also participating in the announcement yesterday were Chief Sustainability Officer at The Kellogg Company Diane Holdorf and North American Agriculture Program Director at The Nature Conservancy Sean McMahon.

USDA Conservation Program Vilsack/Stabenow Q and A

Audio, Conservation, USDA

Oregon GMO Bans Hurt All Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman May 28, 2014

Last week, two Oregon counties voted overwhelmingly to ban the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops. The initiatives in Josephine County and Jackson County, which border California, passed by as much as a two to one margin.

“This isn’t Monsanto or Syngenta, these are local farms that have been farming the way they have chosen here in the valley for generations,” said Ian Tolleson of the Oregon Farm Bureau. “Regrettably ideology has won over sound science and common sense.”

Oregon has a right-to-farm law and last year the state legislature passed a law preempting local governments from regulating genetically engineered crops. However, since Jackson County’s GMO measure was already approved for the ballot, it was exempted from that bill. And supporters of the ban say it is “well crafted” to withstand a legal challenge to the right-to-farm law and Oregon’s constitution.

“It’s important to know that the Josephine county measure is actually unenforceable, where the Jackson County is,” said Tolleson. “Farm Bureau’s stance is that it should be up to the land owner to decide how to grow crops.”

Tolleson says the Oregon Farm Bureau is unhappy with the “farmer vs. farmer” attitude between organic and traditional farmers that have colored the county votes. “We really value everyone’s decision to choose how they farm and if this were a bill banning organic farming, for instance … we would be opposed to that as well.”

He adds that “having this debate at the ballot box really hurts the industry.”
Interview with Ian Tolleson, Oregon Farm Bureau

Audio, Biotech, Farming

YoBloCo Awards Announces Top 12 Bloggers

Chuck Zimmerman May 28, 2014

The YoBloCo Awards, the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition, have announced the top twelve bloggers.

The jury has made its decision and the winners of the YoBloCo Awards have been selected. We are excited to unveil the Top 12 Bloggers of the Awards! The actual 9 Winners will be announced at the Prize Giving Ceremony of the competition, which will take place during CTA’s 2014 International Conference “Fin4Ag” www.fin4ag.org, in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 – 18 July 2014. All the 12 best participants will be invited to take part in the conference.

Check out the page that has links to the winning bloggers.

The theme for the Fin4Ag conference is “Revolutionising finance for agri-value chains.”

Agricultural finance institutions, and the policies, rules and regulations under which they operate, are lagging behind changes in the “real economy”. Recent years have seen significant innovations in certain countries but these are slow in spreading across borders or, for that matter, across institutions. In these circumstances, decision-makers in farmers’ organisations, financial institutions, government bodies and other institutions interested in agricultural finance should shift their approach from incrementally trying to improve on their existing models to reinventing their business or regulatory models in order to capitalize on all these new possibilities. It is time for a paradigm shift in agricultural finance.

International

A Timely New Holland True Blue Salute

Chuck Zimmerman May 28, 2014

Get your fingers in gear to tweet or post a #ThankYou along with #TrueBlueSalute and make a donation to the Fisher House Foundation courtesy of New Holland. The company will make a $1 donation for each one up to $10,000!

In grateful recognition of the bravery, service and sacrifice of the nation’s military and first responders, New Holland has announced the True Blue Salute program (pdf). During the program period from Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, and continuing through the celebration of Independence Day on July 5, 2014, New Holland will make charitable donations to Fisher House Foundation and extend a special equipment offer to active, reserve and retired military, first responders, and their immediate family members. The non-profit Fisher House Foundation provides a “home away from home” for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness or injury.

“New Holland is honored to show our appreciation and support of our military and their families through the True Blue Salute program and to contribute to the exceptional work being done by Fisher House Foundation. It’s our way of saying thanks to our nation’s heroes who serve and protect us,” says Mark Hooper, Director Marketing for New Holland in North America. Since January 2012, New Holland has raised over $1.2 million for Fisher House Foundation through True Blue Salute programs.

New Holland is inviting everyone to show their appreciation to our nation’s heroes by tweeting a “thank you” at #truebluesalute or posting a “thank you” on the New Holland Facebook page. For each “thank you” tweeted or posted, New Holland will donate $1, up to $10,000, to Fisher House Foundation.

Donations to Fisher House Foundation can also be made by texting “salute” to 20222. By doing so, a one-time donation of $5.00 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message and data rates may apply.*
Read More

Agribusiness, New Holland

DC Lamb Jam Competition Announces Best of Show

Jamie Johansen May 28, 2014

Last week, Executive Chef Rodney Scruggs, along with Chef de Cuisine Matt Baker and the team at Occidental Grill, earned “Best in Show” with their winning lamb “dagwood” sandwich at the annual D.C. Lamb Jam, besting 20 other top chefs from the region. Sponsored by the American Lamb Board, the event drew more than 500 hungry fans to Eastern Market on May 19.

A panel of judges taste-tested more than 20 lamb dishes across five categories and pronounced the following category winners:
– People’s Choice/Best Shoulder: Chef Dimitri Moshovitis, Cava Mezze – Lamb benedict
– Best in Leg: Chef Victor Albisu, Del Campo – Lamb empanadas
– Best in Shank: Chef Erik Bruner-Yang, Maketto – Cumin lamb shank chow fun
– Best Ground: Chef Wes Morton, Art & Soul – Curried lamb sausage

Chef Scruggs, along with Lamb Jam winners from Seattle, Boston and San Francisco will convene in fall 2014 to compete for the title of “Master” at the Lamb Jam Finale in San Luis Obispo County.

Ag Groups, Food, Meat

Grant Contest to Support The Good Growth Plan

Jamie Johansen May 28, 2014

Syngenta announced a contest for creative ideas that will support one or more of the six measurable commitments of The Good Growth Plan. The Good Growth Plan Grant Contest will award one Grand Prize of $20,000 to help the winner implement the idea. Also, three runners-up will receive $10,000 each for the same purpose. Deadline for submissions is July 14, 2014. For contest details, official rules and to submit an idea, visit www.GoodGrowthPlanGrant.com.

“Last fall, Syngenta launched around the world The Good Growth Plan, agriculture’s most ambitious and comprehensive program to help sustainably address the global food security challenge,” said Jill Wheeler, Syngenta head of sustainable productivity in North America. “As part of this effort, we have been asking others to be involved. Now we are reaching out broadly in North America with this contest to find truly innovative ideas.”

The Good Growth Plan addresses the overall food security challenge with six measurable objectives to boost resource efficiency, rejuvenate ecosystems and strengthen rural communities. One planet. Six commitments.

Agribusiness, Food, Sustainability, Syngenta

Africa: Land of Opportunity

Chuck Zimmerman May 27, 2014

Africa: Land of Opportunity was a very popular session during the Alltech International Symposium. The session was chaired by Aidan Connolly, Alltech, who opened the session with some remarks about the African marketplace.Comments from Aidan Connolly

Following that opening the session included multiple panel discussions like this one featuring, Fu Wenge, Chinese Ministry of Agriculture; Mark Lyons, Alltech; Julie Borlaug Larson, Texas A&M and Nick Smit, Alltech. This session was titled, “The New Africa: A panorama of seismic changes.” The first question posed by Aidan focused on China’s intentions and interests in Africa. The question was answered by Mark Lyons and Fu Wenge. Comments about China Interest in Africa

2014 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, International, Uncategorized

Fun in the Sun

Chuck Zimmerman May 27, 2014

This is what a holiday weekend timeout looks like for the AgriBlogger. Along with buddy, Gary Cooper, AgNet Media, we re-stocked our freezers with two days of Gulf of Mexico fishing. Just think big red snapper, amberjack, mingos, triggerfish. Fun in the sun with the best water conditions we’ve had this year.

So, now it’s back to work for the ZimmComm team. We’ve been working on a little project that we hope to announce shortly.

Gary and I extend a Florida welcome to any of our clients/sponsors who would like us to help put together a custom Fun in the Sun trip. Just let us know.

ZimmComm Announcement

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes May 23, 2014

The Senate Thursday evening passed by unanimous consent a bill designed to help California and other Western states through one of the region’s worst droughts on record.
The American Soybean Association welcomed the passage by the Senate of the conference report of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA).
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced a collaboration with Smithfield Foods and its livestock production subsidiary, Murphy-Brown LLC, that will help farmers optimize fertilizer application to grain grown for animal feed.
Oklahoma farmers and ranchers now have one more highly-respected NAFB member delivering their news and information, as 2012 Horizon Award honoree Leslie Smith joined the Radio Oklahoma Network May 15.

Zimfo Bytes

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