BCS Communications Celebrates Ten Years

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 419In this week’s program we’ll help celebrate BCS Communications ten year anniversary. They actually celebrated quite a bit last night but I couldn’t be there. It was their annual holiday open house.

BCS Communications and Robert De NiroHowever, a lot of people were there including surprise guest Robert De Niro (red jacket). So, congratulations to the agency for this milestone celebration. We’ve got a few months to go until we can celebrate ours.

I just got off the phone with Kelly Schwalbe who brought me up to speed on what’s new with BCS. He says they continue to grow with new accounts and new staff. Some of those accounts are outside their core of agriculture but that’s just good business sense. A little diversification is a good thing.

Listen to this week’s program to learn more: BCS Ten Year Old Party

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

Agencies, Audio, ZimmCast

U.S. Ag Export Development Council Names Chair

Jamie Johansen

image001The U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) has named a new Chair at their annual workshop in November. United States Potato Board’s (USPB) John Toaspern, International Marketing Vice President, has been a member of the Executive Committee and an officer of USAEDC for the past six year. He move’s from serving as Vice Chair to taking over the reins from Betsy Ward of the USA Rice Federation. Toaspern will serve a two year term as USAEDC Chair.

USAEDC is a non-profit, private-sector trade association. It is made up of agricultural groups who receive Market Access Program (MAP) funding and/or Foreign Market Development (FMD) funding from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The purpose of this organization is to give its membership a unified voice in working with FAS on the administration of the MAP and FMD programs in the most effective ways possible. USAEDC and its members also assist FAS in demonstrating to Congress the effectiveness of the programs to help ensure continued government funding.

For more information on the USPB as the nation’s potato marketing organization, positioned as the “catalyst for positive change,” and the central organizing force in implementing programs that will increase demand for potatoes, please visit uspotatoes.com.

Ag Groups, Marketing

Year-End Equipment Purchases on Your List?

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What are you thankful for?”

Our poll results:

· All of the above – 37%
· Friends and family – 15%
· Good health – 12%
· Freedom – 8%
· Affordable food – 8%
· Rewarding work – 7%
· Our great nation – 7%
· Other – 7%

There are so many things for us to be thankful for that it’s no wonder an “All of the above” would be the top choice. We hope your families had a wonderful holiday and are now preparing for the Christmas season with full hearts as well!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Do you plan to make any year-end equipment purchases?” Is your farm expanding? Maybe it’s out with the old, in with the new? Maybe for tax purposes? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

Ryan Goodman Receives Inaugural Comm Award

Chuck Zimmerman

Ryan GoodmanHe’s Agriculture Proud. He’s Ryan Goodman, Manager of Communications for the Montana Stockgrowers Association. The photo is from when Ryan was teaching a blogging class at the 2011 Agvocacy 2.0 Conference.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association is proud to announce that Ryan Goodman, MSGA Manager of Communications, is the inaugural recipient of the 2013 Communicator of the Year award, presented by Alliance to Feed the Future and CropLife America. The award recognizes effective and innovative new voices that are enhancing the public dialogue about modern food production through multi-channel communications, including social media.

“Montana Stockgrowers knows how lucky we are to have Ryan Goodman on the team,” say Errol Rice, MSGA Executive Vice President. “His accomplishments in the agriculture communications world are outstanding and he brings that innovation to MSGA and Montana’s ranching community.”

“The simple truth is that I have a passion for the cattle industry and the community of folks involved in producing our food,” says Goodman. “America’s farmers and ranchers have a compelling story to tell. Whether it is our hard work, resilience, sense of community, or passion to keep improving upon our skills, I am proud to be a part of a community focused on agriculture, and I am proud to receive this award.”

Further, Goodman, author of the blog Agriculture Proud says, “Blogging and using social media is a way to continuously tell the story of agriculture. The heart of social media is about building relationships with individuals, not only of our like mind, but to branch out to other circles.” Goodman also offers a farmer’s perspective through video vignettes he posts to his blog and on YouTube, and he has contributed several blog posts to CNN’s Eatocracy blog.

Ag Groups, Farming, Social Media, Social Networking, Video

GROWMARK Becomes NAMA Sustaining Sponsor

Chuck Zimmerman

GrowmarkWe welcome GROWMARK as a fellow Sustaining Partner of the National Agri-Marketing Association!

“GROWMARK is one of the cooperatives in agri-marketing,” said Jenny Pickett, NAMA Executive Vice President/CEO, in announcing the partnership. “Their support is not only an endorsement of the industry and the Association today, but also a pledge to help us, and our members, continue to be at the forefront of agricultural marketing in the years to come. We are delighted with this statement of support.”

As a Sustaining Partner, GROWMARK will receive additional exposure at upcoming NAMA events and on the Association’s website, Pickett explained.

“GROWMARK has supported NAMA in a variety of ways for more than 15 years,” according to Amy Bradford, GROWMARK corporate relations manager. “To be able to expand this support with a Sustaining Partnership is an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. NAMA conferences and leader opportunities play a direct role in the professional and personal development of GROWMARK staff.”

Thanks Amy and GROWMARK. ZimmComm also thanks you for your support of our work!

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, GROWMARK, NAMA

Happy World Soil Day

Chuck Zimmerman

World Soil DayGot soil? Go outside and dig your fingers in it. It’s World Soil Day!

Here’s a message from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service on how important healthy soil is and how using conservation practices like no-till can help farmers take better care of their land.

When soil is heavily tilled, the stalks from the previous crop are chopped, and the top several inches of soil structure are disturbed. Conventional thought suggests this fluffing action allows for better seed placement, but Ray Archuleta, NRCS conservation agronomist, said that no-till systems, especially when combined with cover crops, are better – and lead to healthier, more drought-resistant soil.

Archuleta, who works at the agency’s East National Technology Center in Greensboro, N.C., said no-till has significant financial benefits for producers, too.

“No-tillage can save thousands of dollars every year in fuel, labor and equipment maintenance,” Archuleta said. “The key is to let the soil organisms do the work.”

Here’s a message from the FAO and the Global Soil Partnership.

Ag Groups, Conservation, Farming, International, Soil, Video

Sittin’ on the Front Porch

Melissa Sandfort

There are two parts to today’s story. First, as a child my mother always left a daily “to do” chores list. For my brother, that usually consisted of what I called FUN things – burning the trash, raking the leaves (so you could jump in them, of course, and waste at least a few hours), picking up sticks – you’re getting the picture. All the while, I was left inside to dust, vacuum, do laundry and help with dinner. I guess mom didn’t know I was itching to get outside with the boys where I belonged. Girls need fresh air too. (That’s why my dusting never passed the white glove test – I was too busy skimping on cleaning so I could go outside!)

These chores were a little different than the things my grandfather had to help with when he was younger. On old farm houses, there were storm windows that needed changed out and something else I learned about from his most recent tale: glass cloth a.k.a. muslin that had to be hung over the porch screens during the winter.

Onto the second part of the story … and I’ll keep this part short. Ever misunderstood someone or walked in on the tail-end of a conversation and what you heard just didn’t compute? My grandfather recounts the experience of one traveling salesman, and a conversation he overheard while my great-grandfather was hanging the muslin.

Listen to Grandpa explain

Kind of reminds me of a father sitting on the front porch with a shotgun when the daughter’s date shows up!

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

EPA Hearing on Biofuels to Draw Big Crowd

Cindy Zimmerman

epa-logoA huge turnout is expected Thursday at a public hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations for 2014. Literally busloads of stakeholders, both opposed to and in favor of cutting the requirements, are attending the hearing at the Hyatt in Crystal City, Virginia.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will be attending with several Iowa livestock producers, farmers and renewable fuels leaders. Branstad fears the EPA proposal could lead to another farm crisis. “I was governor during the farm crisis of the ‘80s when land values dropped 63 percent,” he said during a conference call on Wednesday. “I know what can happen when you have an agriculture depression, and we don’t want to go back and revisit that.” Comments on RFS Proposal Negative Impacts

Also attending the hearing will be corn farmers from a dozen other states in addition to Iowa. “It’s great to see so many people willing to leave their farms at this time of year for an important opportunity to give the EPA a piece of their mind,” said National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Chip Bowling of Maryland.

National Turkey Federation president Joel Brandenberger will testify in favor of reducing biofuels requirements under the RFS citing “the forced diversion of corn to ethanol that reduced the available share of the feed supply for poultry and livestock from 55 percent to just less than 41 percent of the corn supply, causing market volatility and higher feed prices.” The turkey producers and the National Chicken Council will continue to work toward legislation in Congress to reform or repeal the RFS.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am Eastern time and “end when all parties present who wish to speak have had the opportunity to do so.” Domestic Fuel/AgWired reporter John Davis will be there to provide coverage here.

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA, Poultry

Enter to Win Bayer’s 2013 Cotton Belt Challenge

Jamie Johansen

Metallic_Cotton_Belt_LogoThe Cotton Belt Challenge is in its second year, and Bayer CropScience is encouraging FiberMax and Stoneville cotton growers to enter to win great prizes. Growers with the highest yields and highest overall loan values in 12 regions will be recognized for both irrigated and dryland cotton. In addition to regional awards, there will be two grand prize drawings for a custom 4WD Bad Boy Buggies Ambush vehicle.

“FiberMax and Stoneville cotton varieties have the germplasm and trait technologies to help growers produce profitable cotton yields and fiber quality,” said Jeff Brehmer, U.S. product manager for FiberMax and Stoneville cotton. “Cotton production varies across the United States, depending on weather, irrigation, soil type, pest pressure and other factors. We want to recognize successful cotton production in diverse regional scenarios, and the Bayer CropScience Cotton Belt Challenge gives growers a chance to be rewarded by region for producing high-yielding and high-quality cotton.”

Growers enter by filling out an official entry form and submitting their gin receipts. All regional irrigated and dryland winners in the yield and fiber quality categories will receive 10,000 Innovation Plus™ points – a $500 value.

To qualify, growers must submit their yield and quality results from a minimum of 50 acres and verify their production through gin receipts. Yield is based on ginned lint yield, and quality is based on USDA loan value. If any portion of a field is irrigated, then the entry must be in the irrigated category.

Agribusiness, Bayer, Cotton

Lowering Biofuels Targets Could Hurt Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

Protect the RFSRepresentatives from state government, the agriculture community, and the ethanol industry all say the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) biofuels requirements would have a negative impact on agriculture and rural economies.

During a telephone press discussion today about the proposal Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said he was proud of his state’s leadership in biofuels production and he believes lowering the volume obligations would be detrimental for jobs and land values in rural America. “I’m concerned that this would be devastating to what has been a robust economic recovery” in the agricultural heartland of America, said Branstad. “I think the president’s made a terrible mistake caving in to Big Oil on this issue.” The governor launched a new website in response to the EPA proposal – ProtectTheRFS.com – which is collects commenting from citizens about the proposed changes and sending them to the EPA.

american-farm-bureau-logoAmerican Farm Bureau economist Matt Erickson noted that the proposal has already led to lower futures prices for corn, which could mean 2014 will see prices below the cost of production. “Looking at USDA’s cost of production forecast, the breakeven for corn for 2014 is forecasted to be over $4 a bushel,” Erickson said, explaining that if it drops much lower than that, farmers will be losing money. “This would really be the first time we’d seen this on a national scale since 2005.”

Reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil was the primary objective of the RFS, but “revitalizing rural communities, boosting farm income and reducing farm program costs were also important policy objectives,” said Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen. “The RFS has certainly helped to do that and this proposal will reverse that policy as well.”

Listen to comments from Branstad, Erickson and Dinneen with questions from the media here: Comments on RFS Proposal Negative Impacts

AFBF, Audio, Ethanol, RFA