RFA Ethanol Podcast

Typo Keyboard for iPhone 5/S – AgNerds Rejoice

Chuck Zimmerman

Typo Keyboard for iPhone 5My agnerd order has been placed for a Typo Keyboard for my iPhone 5S. I am eagerly waiting for it. Why? Because I like typing on real keys. I’ve become “better” at typing on the virtual keyboard but . . .

Typo has apparently pissed off Blackberry though. For some reason they think they “own” the physical keyboard. Last week a judge ordered a preliminary injunction to restrict sales of Typo keyboards but they are still for sale ($99).

I’ll write a review of the device after I have a chance to use.

Here is what the claims are:

Type Faster w/Less Typos – Users report typing 50% faster and with less Typos – Touch keyboard brings back 40% more screen space for typing

Full Backlit Keyboard – Backlit Keyboard for typing in low light environments

Battery Indicator – See how much battery you have at any time

Quick Currency Keys Access – Quick access to all your most necessary currency keys

TYPO smart Typing – Custom TYPO Smart Auto-Correct Enabled

You can order one here.

Equipment, Technology

Hot Dogs Remain Top Dog For MLB Fans

Jamie Johansen

79543It’s a love affair that has spanned generations and baseball fans will once again make hot dogs their number one choice at the ballparks this summer. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) estimates that fans will eat a whopping 21,357,316 hot dogs and 5,508,887 sausages during the 2014 Major League season, enough hot dogs to stretch from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to Wrigley Field in Chicago.

“When it comes to the food of choice at baseball games nothing cuts the mustard quite like hot dogs and sausages,” said Eric Mittenthal, NHDSC vice president of public affairs. “It’s a tradition that fans relish, and despite growing options at concessions, they keep coming back for their old favorite.”

This year’s total includes a new single season record for most hot dogs at one stadium as the Los Angeles Dodgers anticipate fans will consume 3,077,537 hot dogs, a jump of more than 800,000 hot dogs from last year. That is enough to round the bases at Dodger Stadium 4,274 times and based on last year’s attendance, means if everyone had just one, 82 percent of fans at every Dodger home game will eat a hot dog.Read More

Ag Groups, Food, Pork

Snow Day Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman

Capitol SnowI had to walk in it a lot on National Ag Day in Washington, DC. But the snow made for a pretty picture around the nation’s Capitol.

It snowed most of the day on Tuesday so walking between activity appointments was a little cool and “humid.”

I’ve got lots of good photos from this week’s National Agriculture Day activities online including some of the late snow.

2014 Ag Day Photo Album

Coverage of National Ag Day is sponsored by BCS Communications

Ag Day, Ag Groups

New President for World Farmers’ Organisation

Jamie Johansen

Kendall copyPeter Kendall of the National Farmers’ Union UK was elected as the new President of the World Farmers’ Organisation. After the US national Robert Carlson, he will be at the guide of the WFO for the next two years with a board of six members from six different continents: Mr. Ismail Ab Rahman Bin (Asia), Dr Evelyn Nguleka (Africa), Mr. Brent Finlay, (Oceania), Mr Luis Miguel Etchevehere (Latin America), Mr Piet Vanthemsche (Europe), Mr Ron Bonnet (North America).

Peter Kendall, Former President of the National Farmers’ Union in England and Wales, took a degree in Agricultural Economics at Nottingham University, before returning to the family business in 1984. He was NFU President for eight years from 2006 to February 2014.

“Feeding the world’s rapidly growing population is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today, and it is vital that the world farmers have a strong and united voice as we seek the best solutions to meeting this demand,” said WFO president Peter Kendall. “As President of the World Farmers Organization (WFO) I look forward to continuing the excellent work of Robert Carlson and inclusive who has led the organization since its formation three years ago in August in that time has agriculture continued to climb the political agenda around the world and with the realization that increasing climate change and extreme weather events make our futures uncertain, the WFO has a vital and central role to play. My priority will be to continue to raise the profile of the WFO so it is seen as the lead and most respected organization for global agriculture. To be elected at this critical time is both a great honor and responsibility.”

The vote for the new president and the board has involved all the confederations member of the World Farmers’ Organisation during the General Assembly in Buenos Aires. The event that is going to end brought together about 100 agricultural confederations, coming from 80 different countries in Buenos Aires at the Sociedad Rural Argentina (SRA) from March 26 to 29.

Ag Groups, International

Outstanding Young Farmer at Ag Day Lunch

Chuck Zimmerman

Greg WegisA member of the Outstanding Farmers of America Fraternity, Greg Wegis, Bakersfield, CA, was a mix & mingle lunch speaker during National Ag Day activities this week. He was introduced by Orion Samuelson. There were several other members in attendance too. Greg and his wife Gina were part of the 2013 Outstanding Young Farmers Program group. You can see who is in the 2014 group on their website.

The Outstanding Farmers of America Fraternity is made up of past nominees of the Outstanding Young Farmer Program. The fraternity is designed to facilitate an exchange of ideas and friendship that encourages excellence and involvement in agriculture and the local, state, and national community.

There are approximately 1,500 members of the fraternity across the nation who utilize their connections with each other in a strong networking format to assist farmers and promote the importance of America’s farming community.

You can listen to Greg’s remarks here:Greg Wegis Remarks

2014 Ag Day Photo Album

Coverage of National Ag Day is sponsored by BCS Communications

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio

Farm Movie Screenings Scheduled

Chuck Zimmerman

Great American Wheat Harvest at Ag DayMovie screenings for The Great American Wheat Harvest have been scheduled and more will be.

The first one is April 2, 2014 in Lincoln, NE from 7-9pm which will be the kickoff of the “Heart of America Tour.” The location is The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 313 N. 13th Street. An RSVP is required. Register at https://gawh-lincolnpremiere.eventbrite.com.

The second one will be held on Friday, April 4th in Scottsbluff, NE. This is a *Special Event* with the Nebraska Wheat Board Mobile Baking Unit. The location is The Midwest Theater, 1707 Broadway.

Friday Night Doors Open at 6:45 p.m. (MST). Come early for treats provided by the Nebraska Wheat Board; Special Introductions; Meet the Filmmaker, Conrad Weaver; and pick up your Free Movie Poster! Film begins about 8 p.m. (MST). Tickets are $5 for Members/Students, $7 for Non-members and may be purchased at the Midwest Theater box office.

Other showings include:
Sat., April 5: 7:30 p.m.
Sun., April 6: 1:30 p.m.

Farming, Harvest, Media, USFRA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

ZimmGlass for Agricultural Journalism?

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmGlassThe ZimmGlass Project is all about using this new wearable technology to see how it can fit into the work flow of an agricultural journalist. I’ve been using it for this purpose in the field since early January. I’ve published many videos using ZimmGlass (the name for my Glass) that include face to face interviews, in the cab tractor demonstrations and trade show walk-throughs. I anticipate many more that will include in the field crop tours and precision ag demonstrations. The feedback has been very positive. I’ve also published many photos I’ve taken with the device. What I will try next is a live video stream when I’m on location.

So, do I think Glass has a role to play in agricultural journalism? Absolutely. As a Glass Explorer I’m providing feedback to Google that includes things like improvements in camera and microphone quality, easier sharing with more social media channels, a way to compose text to go with a photo tweet and more. If there are ag journalism schools or professional ag journalism organizations (you know who you are) that would like to have me make a presentation please get in touch to see how we could make that work. You can also come by our booth at the April Agri-Marketing Conference for a demo. More on that later.

Thanks to our AgWired App sponsor, Aaron Hutchinson, iCropTrak, I just learned that the Anneburg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California will be offering a new course this fall called, Glass Journalism, to be taught by Robert Hernandez. Robert was interviewed by the American Journalism Review about his Glass Explorer experience and thoughts on using it as a story telling tool. I’m in agreement with everything he says about his experience so far.

Media, Video

Spring 2014 Pre-Planting Checklist

Melissa Sandfort

Insights WeeklyAlthough spring hasn’t fully arrived in many parts of the country, the polar vortex days are thankfully behind us. That means we’re all getting antsy for the warm, sunny days of May. Until then, this would be the ideal time for pulling the planter out of the shed to ensure your planting setup is ready for trouble-free field operation.

The first step will in getting ready for spring will be powering on your display to manage data, update firmware and create a backup. Nick Ritland, Ag Leader hardware tech support representative, gives a high-level check-list of some things to keep in mind before you get to the planting season.

Listen to Ritland explain

Current display firmware can be found here and should be updated prior to the start of the season. Guidance firmware can be found here.

Once your display is ready, move to the components located on the planter. Each of the links below will give you a step by step guide to confirm your clutches, population monitoring, hydraulic drives and Hydraulic Down Force are working as they should.
• SeedCommand Pre-Season Checklist
• Planter Task Controller Quick Reference Sheet
• Clutch Control Module Quick Reference Sheet
• Seed Tube Monitoring Module Quick Reference Sheet
• Planter Population Monitoring for Kinze PMM
• Hydraulic Seed Control Quick Reference Sheet
• Hydraulic Down Force Quick Reference Sheet

Ag Leader also recommends looking over the physical components and setup of the planter. Ritland reviews some of the key “to-do” list items.

Listen to Ritland explain

Read More

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

Ag & Energy Highlight Next Farm Foundation Forum

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo3Our friends at Farm Foundation will host another one of their thought-provoking discussions, this time, talking about the energy and agricultural markets and their relationship. Titled, “Geopolitical Uncertainty in Agriculture and Energy Markets,” the April 9 Forum will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT.

Current political unrest in numerous locations across the world is having a profound effect across agricultural and energy markets and generating supply chain uncertainties.

The April 9 Farm Foundation® Forum will examine the potential consequences of sudden policy changes, production issues, and unforeseen price fluctuations in a turbulent global marketplace. Panelists for this Forum will include:

Former U.S.Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman will moderate the panel.
Vincent Smith, scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and professor at Montana State University.
Gary Blumenthal of World Perspectives, Inc.
Brian Oleson, professor at the University of Manitoba.
Charles Doran, professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

There’s no charge for the forum, and you can register to attend here. In addition, a webcast, including audio and slides, is available here.

Farm Foundation