Flooding Southern Style

Chuck Zimmerman April 30, 2014

Good morning from ZimmComm World Headquarters. Home of more than 22 inches of rain overnight. That doesn’t count yesterday morning. According to reports I’ve seen we had over 7,000 lightning strikes in a 15 minute period too. We had more rain in one hour between 9-10pm than all of Hurricane Ivan which was our last severe one. I have not ventured out yet because I don’t have a boat :). Here’s a video clip that gives you an idea of what things were like.

So, there you have it. We’ve been using our phone hotspots for internet since we had no cable until just now.

I hope everyone has turned off their sprinkler systems!

Weather

Ag&#8729ri&#8729li&#8729cious – All Things Local Food

Jamie Johansen April 29, 2014

Agrilicious launches today. A website that is at the heart of the food movement, providing an exciting way to participate in the local food experience while expanding the family-and-farmer connection. They want to be the go-to source for all things local food – families, farmers, restaurants, grocery delivery and meal kit services, distributers, educators and food industry advocates and experts all come together through Agrilicious to share ideas, connect, and make a difference. Based in Seattle, WA, Agrilicious SPC is a Social Purpose Corporation.

Celebrating the best of food, farms and family – Agrilicious is not just for the foodies, Locavores and farmers, it’s for all those working with farmers to help get local food to the community. Most of all it’s for those of us who are becoming increasingly curious and concerned about the food we eat…where it’s from…and what is actually in it.

In a recent study by Sullivan Higdon & Sink’s FoodThink:
– 70% of consumers would like to know more about where food actually comes from
– 92% think local and organic just tastes better than conventional food
– 79% would like to buy more local food

CEO Duane Dahl says, “Making good food choices has become a priority for all of us, and we wanted to use our team’s expertise to help advance the local food movement. Agrilicious brings together families, farmers and the food industry to share, connect and to make a difference. We are pleased to provide direct access and quality information about local food that is important to the mainstream consumer.”

Agrilicious launch features include:
– Over 100,000 listings and enhanced profiles of all things local food – the most available in one place online today
– Search tools allowing individuals, Agripreneurs and B2B food suppliers to connect online and offline
– Informative, engaging content – food, farming and agriculture news, independent reviews and analysis, columns, education, a blog and featured farms and businesses
– AnswerVille – Have a question related to food, farming or gardening? Get them answered here!
– Agrilicious-TV features informative videos from industry experts, food-related documentaries, and exclusive programming including “In Search of Food.”

Agribusiness, Farming, Food

Walmart Highlights Ag Sustainability Pledges

Cindy Zimmerman April 29, 2014

Kicking off a new Sustainable Product Expo this week, the CEOs from more than a dozen global companies gathered at Walmart headquarters in Arkansas Tuesday to pledge to increase sustainable food production.

Eight of the largest food companies announced pledges to help ensure that tomorrow’s food supply is affordable and sustainable for the nine billion people projected to inhabit the planet by 2050. The commitments aim to drive more collaboration and efficiency across the current food system. In total, this work is expected to bring eight million acres of farmland into sustainable agriculture programs and eliminate six million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

Among the agricultural companies participating in the event Tuesday was Dairy Farmers of America and DFA CEO Rick Smith offered his pledge to “have more than 90 percent of our nearly 9,000 member farms participating in our Gold Standard Dairy program, or similar efforts toward optimization, by 2020.” This on-farm audit assesses areas including animal care and wellness, environmental stewardship, employee training, and milk safety and quality.

Monsanto chairman and CEO Hugh Grant announced two commitments at the event to help address challenges in the areas of water and nutrient efficiency. First, the company will work to increase water-use efficiency in irrigation across its own global seed production operations by 25 percent by 2020. Grant also pledged that the company “will continue to innovate and advance smarter seeds and precision management tools that enable farmers to use nutrients more efficiently and curb greenhouse gas emissions on one million acres in the United States by 2020.”

Grant held a telephone press conference following Tuesday’s event together with Illinois farmer and former National Corn Growers Association president Leon Corzine. Monsanto Sustainability Commitments

Audio, Dairy, Sustainability

Farm Bureau Urges Ditching of EPA Water Rule

Cindy Zimmerman April 29, 2014

The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed “Waters of the US” rule was published in the Federal Register last week – all 111,000 words of it. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) responded with just three words – “Ditch the Rule”.

AFBF Public Policy Director Dale Moore says the “ditch” part comes from the fact that a reading of the rule indicates it would greatly expand EPA’s authority. “Even things as small as ditches and wet spots in a field could fall under their jurisdiction the way they have this defined,” he said.

There are exemptions in the rule for farming operations, but Moore notes there are limitations that could impact beginning farmers and ranchers. “Most of these exemptions apply to farms and practices on those farms that were in place since 1977 forward,” he said, implying that new farmers and ranchers “may find themselves not having access to any of these exemptions.”

Because of the complexity and the length of the rule – more than 370 printed pages – Moore says the usual 90 day comment period is insufficient so part of the “Ditch the Rule” initiative is to get the administration to at least double that time period to 180 days. “This is a very complicated rule – it’s a massive rule,” said Moore.

That’s why Farm Bureau is calling on its members to bring the rule to the attention of local, state and federal lawmakers. “At a certain point this quits being about regulating navigable waters and becomes basically about EPA becoming the federal land use planning in the nation,” Moore added.

Interview with Dale Moore, American Farm Bureau

AFBF, Audio, Farming

IFAJ Signs Agreement with FAO

Chuck Zimmerman April 29, 2014

Hey AAEA members. What do you think about this new agreement between the IFAJ and FAO? Interested to hear your thoughts. Including from any NAFB, NAAJ or LPC members.

Many people know that I’m not a big fan of the FAO but I do believe that agreements like this are worthwhile so that the main goal of IFAJ on behalf of its membership is accomplished. Taking it as an example should organizations like the AAEA be creating contractual type agreements here in the USA? Listen to IFAJ President Marcus Rediger talk about the agreement below.

FAO and the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) are joining forces to promote wider global sharing of agricultural information and better highlight FAO’s activities in specialized agricultural media worldwide.

An agreement signed today by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and IFAJ President Markus Rediger outlines various joint activities to be undertaken by FAO and the 3,000+ journalists represented by the 32 national associations that form the IFAJ.

The partnership aims at enhancing knowledge exchange and content publishing related to global hunger and food security, nutrition, sustainable development and the responsible management of fishery and forestry resources, among other issues.

“Partnering with specialized agricultural media can play a critical role in informing the general public and target audiences that together, we can transform the lives of those who suffer from chronic hunger and food insecurity – and that it can be done in our lifetime,” said Graziano da Silva at the signing ceremony.

Under the terms of the agreement, FAO information – including press releases, reports and editorial articles – will be disseminated among IFAJ members to help journalists create public awareness on the necessary actions to end hunger.

This agreement also will feature jointly-organized events and the opening of a FAO news section on IFAJ’s website with extensive information on food and agriculture issues and trends.

A joint FAO/IFAJ award will be created to recognize the work of journalists who significantly contribute to raising awareness on the crucial importance of fighting hunger. “This project will inspire our colleagues to write about these themes that are basic for world agriculture,” Rediger said.

The new partnership also foresees advocacy events related to the International Year of Family Farming (2014) and other UN International Years related to FAO’s mandate.

ACN, IFAJ, International, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes April 28, 2014

Martinez Creative Group has hired Megan Johnson of Sycamore, Ill., in the newly created position of digital strategist.
CAST Issue Paper 54 and its companion Ag quickCAST are available online at the CAST website along with many of CAST’s other scientific publications.
The Diesel Technology Forum (DTF) is pleased to announce that CNH Industrial, a global leader in the capital goods sector, has joined the Forum.
Mikaela Wieland of Princeville, Ill., has been named the Illinois state winner of the 2014 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members.

Zimfo Bytes

Vote for 2014 American’s Farmers Mom of the Year

Jamie Johansen April 28, 2014

Monsanto and the American Agri-Women are pleased to announce the regional winners in the 2014 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year Contest. These amazing farm moms have significantly and positively impacted their communities. Now they need America’s support through online voting to determine who will be named “National Farm Mom of the Year.”

“There are so many tremendous stories of strength, perseverance, dedication and leadership that it makes it difficult to narrow it down to just a few winners,” says Jessica Simmons, Corporate Marketing for Monsanto. “Every farm mom deserves to be recognized for the work she does. But with the help of the American Agri-Women, we are proud to present this year’s five regional winners.”

The 2014 regional winners of the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year contest, include:

– Northwest Region: Jennifer Holle (Mandan, N.D.)
– Southwest Region: Heather Dineen (Waxahachie, Texas)
– Midwest Region: Stephanie Essick (Dickens, Iowa)
– Northeast Region: Kristen Nickerson (Worton, Md.)
– Southeast Region: Bethany Pugh (Engelhard, N.C.)

Each regional winner will receive a $5,000 award. Their biographical information and original nomination is currently posted online at AmericasFarmers.com, where visitors can click to vote for their favorite farm mom. The woman, who receives the most votes between April 25 and May 6, will be named the “National Farm Mom of the Year” — just in time for Mother’s Day. As a bonus, she will also receive an additional $5,000 prize.

“Although these women come from vastly different parts of the country and specialize in varied types of farming, it’s clear they have many more common interests that bind them together — their love of family, community and agriculture,” says Kris Zilliox, of American Agri-Women. “Each one of them represent today’s women in agriculture so well, we have no doubt that we’ll have a fantastic 2014 national farm mom, no matter who America chooses.”

For a list of winners, past or present winner profiles or official contest rules, visit AmericasFarmers.com. Interested parties may also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America’s Farmers Mom of the Year, Attn: Sue Dillon, 349 Marshall Ave., Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63119.

Agribusiness

Helping People Understand Nutritional Benefits of Meat

Chuck Zimmerman April 28, 2014

Because they just don’t know. That’s why the American Meat Institute has a dietician approved brochure available for free download.

Most consumers don’t fully recognize the unique nutrition benefits that meat and poultry offer, according to a recent survey conducted online by Harris Poll for the American Meat Institute.

Only 12 percent of consumers correctly identified animal products like meat and poultry as the only natural source of Vitamin B12, which keeps the nervous system healthy. Twenty percent said cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower were the natural source of B12 and 13 percent thought the correct answer was citrus fruit. Neither of these foods contain Vitamin B12.

The Harvard Health Blog reports that “Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common, especially among older people. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimated that 3.2% of adults over age 50 have a seriously low B12 level, and up to 20% may have a borderline deficiency.”

AMI’s survey also showed consumers don’t know that the body absorbs more iron from meat and poultry than from other foods. Meat and poultry contain “heme” iron, the most absorbable form, but 52 percent of consumers incorrectly thought the body absorbed the most iron from spinach, kale and other leafy greens, which are high in iron, but contain the less absorbable “non-heme” form. Only 17 percent correctly named meat, poultry and fish. Adequate iron intake is important because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies iron deficiency anemia as the most common nutritional deficiency in the United States.

The American Meat Institute Foundation has released a dietitian-authored brochure “Meat: A Key Player on Your Wellness Team,” that details meat and poultry’s nutrition benefits and how it can be part of healthy, balanced diet. The brochure may be downloaded or requested by sending a 4 x6 self-addressed envelope with .69 cents postage to Nutrition Brochure/AMI, 1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC, 20036.

Ag Groups, Food, Meat

Philippine Agricultural Journalists Elects New Leaders

Chuck Zimmerman April 28, 2014

Thanks to IFAJ for sharing the fact that the Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. or PAJ recently elected a new set of officers. This followed its recent general assembly, held at the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Auditorium, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

Elected president for the sixth time is Roman Floresca, business editor of The Philippine Star. Other elected officers include Noel Reyes of the Department of Agriculture (DA), vice president for internal affairs; Matilde Maunahan of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, vice president for external affairs; Ma. Ruby Lumongsod of QUEDANCOR, secretary; Charisma Love Gado of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, assistant secretary; Inez Magbual of Best Media Source Corporation, treasurer; Thelma Tolentino of the PCA, auditor; Ray Eñano of Manila Standard Today, press relations officer (PRO) for print media; and Rolando Gonzalo of UNTV and DWIZ, PRO for broadcast media.

Elected directors are Rex Navarro of CGIAR-CCAFS-SEA; Melba Wee, DA-Zamboanga; Corazon Abio, National Food Authority; Francisco de Guzman, Opinyon; Melody Aguiba, Manila Bulletin; Ma. Aileen Garcia, International Rice Research Institute; and Angelina Resurreccion, Business Mirror.

According to PAJ President Floresca, the new leadership will revive such projects as the PAJ Forum and the BINHI Awards for Agricultural Journalism.

International, Media

Utilizing UAV Imagery with SMS Advanced

Melissa Sandfort April 25, 2014

The production ag community has envisioned the many benefits of utilizing UAV technology since its inception. With many affordable solutions on the market today, ag professionals have begun offering services, and growers have realized the opportunity of using their own UAVs in their operations. While UAVs have become more affordable, often this technology has required the purchase of additional software programs to stitch, process and analyze captured imagery. While SMS doesn’t currently offer image stitching tools, the software is capable of processing and analyzing the raw NIR imagery.

SMS Advanced features an NDVI Analysis tool that allows customers the ability to convert captured NIR imagery into manageable spatial layers. Images captured from UAVs, planes and satellites can be converted into mappable NDVI and Crop Vigor values by simply identifying the near-infrared and visible red bands. In addition, the Equation Analysis in SMS Advanced has the ability to reference individual color bands and insert those values into a user-defined formula for creating a custom map. These new maps can then be used for identifying problem areas, generating prescriptions, creating management zones and further data analysis. To learn more and download a free trial version of the SMS Advanced software, please visit agleader.com. (Photo at left is Processed Image using SMS NDVI Analysis.)

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

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