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  • The University of Illinois announced it has achieved the $2 million fund raising goal for the Dr. James F. Evans Endowment in Agricultural Communications that will extend the contributions of the program into the future.
  • Seed World Media is excited to announce the launch of American Seed Magazine – a publication aimed directly at America’s top crop producers.
  • Farm Journal Media announced the acquisition of “American Countryside” from its founder, producer and well-known journalist, Andrew McCrea.
  • Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2013 National Corn Yield Contest.
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Students and Industry Leaders Program Launched

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo3A new program looks to bring university students together with agricultural and food system industry leaders. Farm Foundation is launching the program that will allow six undergraduate and graduate students to spend two days at the January Farm Foundation Round Table, with some help in the form of an $8,800 grant from CHS Foundation.

“The opportunity to meet and visit with agricultural leaders is a valuable opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to gain insights into the industry,” says William Nelson, CHS vice president for corporate citizenship and President of the CHS Foundation. “This program is a good fit with the CHS Foundation focus on education and leadership development to build a strong rural America.”

The grant funds provided will cover expenses for six students to participate in the Farm Foundation® Round Table in Houston, Texas, in early January 2014. A Round Table member will serve as a mentor to each student, introducing them to other leaders and encouraging their participation in discussions. The students’ work will be highlight at a reception during the meeting.

“The Cultivators’ Program provides a link for students about to enter the work force to connect with the men and women leading agriculture and food businesses across the value chain,” explains Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin. “This academic-to-real world linkage allows students to see their potential role in the industry, and the opportunities ahead.”

The students picked for next month’s meeting in Houston, Texas are: E.M. Sajeev, a graduate student at Purdue University; Maci Lienemann and Ryan Hanousek, both undergraduate students at the University of Nebraska; Duminda A. Gunawardena and Luis Enrique Secaira, both graduate students at Texas A&M University; and Garrett Lister, a graduate student at Kansas State University.

Farm Foundation, University

Cow That Stole Christmas 10 Years Later

Cindy Zimmerman

grinch-cowThis week marks the tenth anniversary of the “cow that stole Christmas” – a day that will live in infamy for the U.S. cattle industry and one that Kendal Frazier with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association remembers well.

Kendal recalls that NCBA received a phone call from USDA at 1:30 pm on December 23, 2003. “We immediately started to implement a crisis management plan that we had worked on for nearly 10 years in anticipation of that moment,” he said.

ncba-frazierBy taking action to get accurate information out to the public, the beef industry was able to calm American consumers’ fears about so-called mad cow disease, but the international market was a different story. “Countries around the world … immediately closed their borders to U.S. beef, and that was a tremendous fallout for our industry,” said Kendal. “We just now this year, ten years later, have reached the levels from a volume standpoint of beef exports that we had. It’s been a long road back.”

Two major milestones were reached just this year with Japan now allowing imports of beef from cattle less than 30 months of age and the approval of a final BSE rule by USDA in November, but the cow of Christmas past still haunts us. “The market is still not fully open although we are selling a lot of beef products into Japan,” said Kendal, adding that they have high hopes for the future where beef trade will no longer be impacted by BSE. “This is a dying disease,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have wide open markets regarding BSE in the not too distant future.”

Listen to or download my interview with Kendal here: Interview with Kendal Frazier, NCBA

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, NCBA

Weed Control for Soybean Growers

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fmcFMC Agricultural Solutions announces a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) crop registration of its Anthem SE herbicide now for use on soybeans. Anthem herbicide offers both corn and soybean growers control of broadleaf weeds and grasses with flexible application timing up to 45 days preplant, preemergence and early postemergence.

Introduced for corn in fall of 2012, Anthem herbicide provides powerful control of broadleaf weeds and grasses. Now available for soybeans, Anthem offers growers a soybean application window up to 45 days preplant through V3 with 4-8 weeks of residual activity. Applied in-season, growers can easily combine the concentrated liquid formulation of Anthem with tank mixes of companion herbicides with effective rates as low as 4 to 11 ounces per acre.

With preemergence and postemergence application flexibility, Anthem provides growers with a residual herbicide that also has postemergence activity on several broadleaf weeds including pigweed species, like waterhemp and Palmer amaranth, before or after soybean emergence. Anthem also is an excellent tool as part of an OverlapSM system when used postemergence in conjunction with Authority® herbicides preemergence as part of a sequential program for outstanding, season-long residual on key grasses and broadleaf weeds that challenge growers’ ability to maximize yield potential.

Agribusiness, FMC, weed management

National Corn Yield Contest Winners for 2013

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NCGA color logoAdvanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2013 National Corn Yield Contest. Entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, setting a contest record with a new all-time high yield of 454 bushels per acre. Additionally, a record five national entries surpassed the 400-plus bushel per acre mark.

The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 49th year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members, setting a new participation record this year with 8,827 entries. This surpasses the previous record of 8,431 entries, set in 2011, and far outstrips the 8,263 entries received in 2012.

The 18 winners in six production categories had verified yields averaging more than 354.6 bushels per acre, compared to the projected national average of 160.4 bushels per acre in 2013. While there is no overall contest winner, yields from first, second and third place farmers overall production categories topped out at 454.9837.

Agribusiness, Corn, NCGA

Farm Journal Media Acquires American Countryside

Jamie Johansen

FarmJournalMedia-LogoToday Farm Journal Media announced the acquisition of ‘American Countryside’ from it’s founder, producer and well-known, ANdrew McCrea.

‘American Countryside’ is a nationally syndicated daily radio program featuring the “people and place unique to rural American.” Don’t worry, Andrew will continue to host the program, plus join Farm Journal Media as a multimedia contributor.

The three-minute, short-form radio vignette has been on the air since 1996 and airs on more than 100 stations across the Midwest, including several of the nation’s leading farm radio stations.

“Broadcasting from his large grain and livestock farm in northwest Missouri, McCrea is the real deal, fully embodying the ‘muddy boots’ tradition at Farm Journal Media,” said Brian Conrady, Senior Vice President of Farm Journal Broadcast. “This real-world perspective gives Andrew a distinct ability to find and tell stories that showcase the true spirit of life in rural America.”

Farm Journal Broadcast will also be launching a television version of ‘American Countryside’ to air on “US Farm Report,” a weekend news report produced and distributed by Farm Journal Media.The radio program will also see expanded reach on the company’s web portal, AgWeb.com. “American Countryside’s” editorial, production, distribution and advertising sales efforts will also be integrated into Farm Journal’s multimedia business.

“I am excited to join Farm Journal Media,” McCrea noted. “Our new partnership provides the opportunity to bring ‘American Countryside’ to more listeners in more ways, with expanded radio coverage, as well as new features on television and promotion in print and on the web.”

The addition of ‘American Countryside’ comes just one year after Farm Journal Media’s launch into farm radio with the acquisition of “AgriTalk” in December 2012.

Ag Groups, Media

What’s on Your Christmas Table?

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zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “ Which winter farm shows/events are you planning to attend?”

Our poll results:
· National – 29%
· None – 24%
· All of the above – 19%
· State – 10%
· Other – 10%
· Regional – 5%
· Local – 5%

Looks like quite a few of you will be traveling to shows this winter. Be careful and we hope you find what you’re looking for.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “ What is your traditional Christmas dinner?” Will there be a big bird in the middle of your family dinner table or a mouthwatering roast beef? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

Happy Holidays from Farm Progress

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Progress Happy HolidayHere’s a Happy Holidays from Farm Progress.

Celebrate the Season – Insight, Authority, Engagement

Wishing you peace, happiness and joy this holiday season. From all of us at Penton Farm Progress Group, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

All the best to you and yours . . .

Click on the image to view it the video.

Media