Meet New ZimmComm Intern

Jamie Johansen February 3, 2014

Our internship program has been a huge success. Not only have the young college students who have taken advantage of the opportunity gained skills in all aspects of the ag media industry, but have also added so much to our team.

The ZimmComm Team is proud to announce our spring intern. Join us in welcoming Kristin Liska from Nebraska. She is a senior at Iowa State, but is proud to say she is still a Husker fan. This May she will be wrapping up her degree in animal science and journalism. Kristin has had a busy college career with her involvement in numerous clubs, including Block and Bridle and Bacon Expo. Twitter seems to be her number one hobby, along with reading and taking pictures. Be sure and follow her on Twitter at @KristinLiska1.

The ZimmComm Team have a full schedule of events this spring and you will have the opportunity to meet Kristin at Commodity Classic and NAMA Convention. So, don’t be shy when she comes up to you with a mic in hand.

Ag Groups, Education, ZimmComm Announcement

Climate Corp Adopts Data Privacy Standards

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2014

The Climate Corporation today announced principles and commitments related to data use and privacy published on-line in a Guiding Principles on Data and Privacy statement.

“The application of data science in agriculture is relatively new, and with the development of new technologies comes some level of uncertainty about its potential implications. In our experience, farmers are more likely to embrace new technologies that will drive the evolution of agricultural production when they have certainty about the use, privacy and control of the data they personally generate on their own farms,” said David Friedberg, CEO of The Climate Corporation.

The Climate Corporation, which was acquired by Monsanto in October 2013, also announced the formation of an Open Agriculture Data Alliance (OADA). The alliance will be comprised of “providers and farmers to act as an independent body that will ensure that different platforms share common interoperability, common data formats, and security and privacy standards.”

Climate Corporation held a call with reporters on Friday to talk about the announcement: Climate Corporation media call

Since privacy of agricultural data is becoming a big concern for farmers and ranchers, the American Farm Bureau Federation adopted specific policies this year on that issue. AFBF president Bob Stallman issued a statement on the Climate Corporation announcement saying they are “encouraged that agribusinesses are taking our clear policy position into consideration” noting that “the company is working to address some of the concerns about data privacy, security and ownership expressed by our members.”

AFBF, Audio, Precision Agriculture

Why One Democrat Voted for Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2014

More Democrats than Republicans voted against the conference committee farm bill this week in the U.S. House, mostly because of the nutrition program reforms, but 89 did vote in favor despite that and one was Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), former mayor of Kansas City.

In an interview today, Rep. Cleaver said it’s not a perfect bill, but it’s the best bill they could get. “I’ve been pushing compromise since I went to Congress ten years ago and this was an opportunity for me to practice what I preach,” said Cleaver, who is a United Methodist pastor by profession.

Rep. Cleaver, who has both rural and urban interests in his district, says he was heavily lobbied by Democratic groups, including the Progressive Caucus, to vote against the bill. “Because I represent almost four rural counties where I have a large number of farms and where I operate with a farmers’ advisory committee, I believed that in spite of some of the deficiencies, this was the best chance we had of getting a sound farm bill,” he said. “After all, it’s been two years trying to get a bill approved.”

Cleaver is hopeful Congress will make progress this year in other legislation important to agriculture, such as transportation and immigration. Interview with Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)

Audio, Farm Bill

New Farm Podcaster Tools

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2014

Okay farm podcasters. Here’s some news you can use. Zoom just announced a new audio recorder. From B&H Photo:

Zoom turned the pro audio world upside down last year with their acclaimed H6 portable recorder, and now they complete the “one-two punch” with the introduction of their new, smaller H5 Handy Recorder. Following in its big brother’s footsteps, the H5 features an interchangeable microphone system and is compatible with the existing line of H6 mic modules.

Appealing to those who are looking for the functionality of the H6, but don’t need all of its inputs or bells and whistles, the H5 has a black-and-white screen (as opposed to the H6’s color screen) and features 2 inputs for external sources, in addition to its swappable stereo mic capabilities. The H5 will record to external SD cards.

But that’s not all. For you iPhone 5 people they now make the iQ5. And yes, I did order one. Wish they had it in gold though . . .

The Zoom iQ5 is a high-quality mid-side stereo condenser mic, perfect for recording music and compact enough to be slipped into your pocket. Simply connect it to the Lightning connector of your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and get ready to do some serious stereo recording any time, any place.

The iQ5 employs a unique rotating mechanism that enables audio recording with correct left-right stereo orientation whether used vertically or horizontally. Use it in standard “audio” position or simply rotate it to the “video” position in order to record video with the attached iPhone, iPad or iPod touch held horizontally.

And finally, consider their Handy Recorder App for iOS.

Equipment, Media, Podcasts

Truthful Food-Chain Communications

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2014

How about a little Truth in Food? Wouldn’t that be nice. Kevin Murphy, Food-Chain Communications, is trying to make it so.

I visited with Kevin by phone today to learn more about his business. Kevin is passionate about the need for education of the public who ultimately consume products that pass through what we call the food chain. Many might know Kevin from his time with Vance Publishing. He started his own company with a vision “to form a marketing organization that understands the complex chain of food production and delivery from beginning to end.” We also talked about why he created Truth in Food and what he thinks of the agribusiness industry attempts to reach out to the consuming public today. I think you’ll find it very interesting.

You can listen to this week’s program here. Food-Chain Communications

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

Agribusiness, Food, ZimmCast

Novus International Connects at IPPE

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2014

Despite inclement weather conditions, the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) this week had more than 24,000 poultry, meat and feed industry attendees from all over the world and 1,148 exhibitors, including our show coverage sponsor Novus International.

The theme for Novus at the expo was “Understanding the Connections” according to Samson Li, vice president for global business. “We understand the challenges of the processing industry and we bring solutions to our customers,” Samson said.

Those solutions include ALIMET, which optimizes amino acid utilization for better performance during high growth and stress periods; MINTREX, which maximizes shell quality and strength, promotes fertility and hatchability and improves chick quality; and CIBENZA, which increases performance through digestion and absorbtion of nutrients.

“It’s always been the mission of Novus to help the world have affordable and wholesome food and have quality of life,” said Samson. “By bringing our solutions and technology to the industry, we help improve the quality of meat and lower the cost.”

Samson explains more about how Novus helps connect the producer, processor and consumer in this interview: Interview with Samson Li, Novus International

International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, IPPE, Meat, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Propane Worries for Poultry Producers

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2014

With feed prices lower now than they were in 2012, there is a lot of optimism in the U.S. poultry industry, but now producers are contending with another high input cost – energy.

U.S. Poultry and Egg Association president John Starkey says the propane shortage and resulting higher prices are having a great impact on the poultry industry nationwide. “Particularly in the broiler and turkey sector, the majority of houses are heated by propane,” said Starkey during an interview at the IPPE this week. “The bitter cold weather we’ve had throughout the poultry belt has caused shortages … so that means it’s very difficult for some folks to find propane gas right now.”

Starkey said one of his members in Indiana had to go to Texas to find propane and “gas that he bought a few weeks ago at $1.09 he was going to Texas to pay $5.00 for.” Interview with John Starkey, U.S. Poultry and Egg

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is the world’s largest and most active poultry organization, formed in 1947 with affiliations in 26 states and member companies worldwide.

International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, IPPE, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Great American Wheat Harvest Documentary Premiere

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2014

It’s almost time for the world wide premiere of the documentary, the Great American Wheat Harvest. The screening will take place during national Ag Day activities in Washington, DC.

In collaboration with the Agriculture Council of America, independent filmmaker, Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC., announces that the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film will make its national premiere screening at the 41st Annual National Agriculture Day on Tuesday, March 25, in Washington, D.C.

The film’s GAWH National Premiere Screening & Breakfast Reception will kick off the National Ag Days activities from 8:30 to 11 a.m., at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, which is located on the National Mall between the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum and the U.S. Capitol Building. Seats are limited and you must RSVP for this event at: https://gawhpremiere.eventbrite.com

The Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film focuses on connecting consumers to those who produce their food and will feature stories of North America’s wheat growers and custom harvesters.
Read More

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Wheat

Ag Leader’s AgFiniti Connects Via the Cloud

Melissa Sandfort January 31, 2014

At this week’s 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show, ZimmComm’s Joanna Schroeder caught up with Ag Leader’s Kaleb Lindquist, member of the software sales team, about the new AgFiniti cloud-based platform which allows growers to send and receive data files wirelessly from the cab. Guidance lines, prescriptions, as-applied maps and other data files can be sent and received wirelessly and backed up on a secure AgFiniti account. Files also can be accessed from a grower’s smartphone or tablet in the field or at the office and shared with trusted advisors such as dealers, coops or farm managers.

Learn more about this new product offering from Ag Leader in Joanna’s full interview with Kaleb.

Listen to Lindquist explain

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.

Click here to view the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show photo album.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes January 31, 2014

MANA announced that it will operate under the new corporate brand name, ADAMA, as of second quarter 2014.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations for the National Peanut Board, due by May 1, 2014.
The National FFA Organization Board of Directors and National FFA Foundation Board of Trustees have approved a new consolidated management structure that unifies both organizations’ executive management through a joint governance committee of the two boards, a common chief executive officer and a common chief financial officer.
Ram Trucks will be promoting youth in agriculture and the National FFA Organization (FFA) with the first ever FFA Day at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show on Thursday Feb. 6, during the Cattle Industry Convention.

Zimfo Bytes

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