The Chicago Farmers Rebrands Farmland Fair

Cindy Zimmerman

chi-farmThe Chicago Farmers annual Farmland Investment Fair has been rebranded for 2014 as simply “The Farmland Fair” with a continued focus on the connection of social media and farmland investment.

The Chicago Farmers 2014 Farmland Fair – “Where People Come To Learn, Connect and Understand Farmland” – will be held on February 1, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Joliet Junior College’s Weitendorf Ag Facility. The Fair will feature social media expert Jeff Korhan, author of “Built-In Social: Essential Social Marketing Practices for Every Small Business,” which delivers proven methods for converting social marketing best practices into profitable outcomes. Korhan is a small business marketing specialist who helps businesses use social media and internet marketing to create exceptional customer experiences that accelerate business growth.

Farmland Fair co-chairman Jeff Martin notes that The Chicago Farmers organization has been helping people with an interest in farmland connect face-to-face with each other since 1935. “This year we’re going to teach people how to connect and learn about farmland on-line and further increase their business opportunities on the farm,” said Martin, who is a past president of The Chicago Farmers, a farmer from Mount Pulaski, Illinois and nationally-recognized expert on conservation practices. Interview with Jeff Martin, The Chicago Farmers

Read more here and watch one of Jeff’s videos from The Chicago Farmers website below where he talks about the fair.

Audio, Events, Farming, Video

Giving Thanks for Affordable Food

Cindy Zimmerman

turkeyWhen we sit down this week to tables heaping with delicious food, we should all take a moment to reflect upon how blessed we are to live in a land of abundant and affordable food.

We have seen stories this year about food costs being higher, often blaming last year’s drought and ethanol production, but in fact our Thanksgiving meal this year is cheaper than it was last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 28th annual price survey.

Adding up the classic items on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table, AFBF found the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.04 – 44 cents less than a year ago. That means the average American’s feast of turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk costs less than a popcorn at the movie theater these days!

“The cost of this year’s meal, at less than $5 per serving, remains an excellent value for consumers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from Texas. “America’s farm and ranch families are honored to produce the food from our nation’s land for family Thanksgiving celebrations.”

On Thanksgiving and every day of the year, let’s remember to celebrate, enjoy and be grateful for the abundance of our great nation! #FoodThanks!

AFBF, Ag Groups, Food

Discussing Future of Fed Conservation Programs

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo3The Farm Bill is still up in the air on Capitol Hill, and that’s why the folks at Farm Foundation have set up another of their free forums not too far from where Congress will be discussing the legislation’s future. In this next forum on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C., the group has invited a host of experts to talk about the future of federal conservation programs and what those programs mean to land owners and conservation work on the land.

Moderating the panel will be former Texas Congressman Charlie Stenholm. Five panelists will present perspectives on the legislation:

Bruce Knight of Strategic Conservation Solutions and former Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, will provide an overview of federal conservation policies and the role of federal programs in conservation work.
Eric Lindstrom, who works on wetlands and water conservation at Ducks Unlimited, will discuss that organizations’ migratory bird program, including the federal duck stamp program.
North Dakota farmer Don Bauman will explain the role of conservation in his farming operation.
Marcus Maier of the Indian Creek Watershed Project, will discuss the role of federal programs in this farmer-led project.

To sign up, click here. Also, if you can’t make it to the event, the audio will be archived on the Farm Foundation website.

Conservation, Farm Bill, Farm Foundation

Getting Ready for New John Deere 2014 Tractors

Cindy Zimmerman

With the new year will come newly redesigned John Deere tractors for 2014 that offer updates that farmers will really appreciate.

_DSC2637Jarrod McGinnis, division manager of the 7 and 8 series tractors with John Deere, was talking about the new tractors during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) meeting in Kansas City. You might recall that Jarrod gave us a preview of the new rides back in August.

McGinnis says the tractors meet the final tier 4 emissions standards, but farmers are likely to most appreciate the creature comforts such as a new command center. To help eliminate fatigue in the cab, refrigerators are available as an option, extra swivel in the seat to take a look behind and see how things are tracking, and the new laminated glass makes for a quieter ride. The new 8R line has much bigger tires, Jarrod tells me that this is so there is more power to the ground.

You can listen to Leah’s interview with Jarrod here Interview with Jarrod McGinnis, John Deere

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere, NAFB, Tractor

Georgia Peanut Farmers Appreciated

Cindy Zimmerman

ga-pnuts-signThe Georgia Peanut Commission and the National Peanut Buying Points Association celebrated Thanksgiving a little early on Monday by hosting the 2013 Farmer Appreciation Day to thank area farmers. The event featured country-fried peanuts, boiled peanuts, grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other refreshments provided by the National Peanut Board, Georgia Farm Bureau, M&M Mars, Snyders Lance, Mckee Foods and Hershey Foods.

ga-pnuts-saxby“It’s harvest time in Georgia, and what a better time to celebrate and honor the men and women who feed and clothe us than the week of Thanksgiving,” said Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Armond Morris, who noted they had over 100 visitors to the event, including Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). “America’s farmers deserve our thanks every day,” said the senator. “As a member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will continue to work hard on behalf of farmers and agribusiness to keep this vital sector thriving and contributing to Georgia’s economic health. Ultimately, the reason I am in Washington is to represent those who work the land each and every day to provide the highest quality agricultural products in the world.”

See more photos from the event here.

Agribusiness, Farming, Peanuts

Help Bayer CropScience be Thankful4Ag

Chuck Zimmerman

Bayer Be Thankful for AgBayer CropScience is giving thanks to people in agriculture who help feed us this holiday season. You can help them with their big goal.

Bayer CropScience is donating 20,000 meals to World Food Program USA to help feed hungry Americans. Help us reach our goal of donating 40,000 meals by December 20th by sharing educational facts with your friends and family. We’ll donate $1 for each item you share on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook and $1=4 donated meals. Join the conversation on Twitter with #Thankful4Ag and @Bayer4CropsUS.

Agribusiness, Bayer

Looking Ahead to ASFMRA Agronomics Vision 2015

Chuck Zimmerman

With the conclusion of the Agronomics Vision 2014 conference and American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers annual meeting, it is time to look forward to next year. To do that I sat down with Fred Hepler, President-Elect, AFM, AAC of Cottonwood Management in Edmond, Oklahoma. Next year it will be Fred’s meeting and he’s excited about it already. The conference will be in Tucson, AZ, October 27 – November 1, 2014.

Fred told me that although new technology was on the program at this year’s conference it will be even more prevalent next year with an expanded look at unmanned aerial vehicles and their use as a tool for managers, consultants and appraisers. You can learn more about his plans for next year’s program in our interview.

You can listen to my interview with Fred here: Interview with Fred Hepler

Agronomics Vision 2014 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • American Meat Science Association is excited to announce that Deidrea Mabry, M.S., has been appointed Director of Scientific Communications and Technical Programs.
  • Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden announced the appointment of 20 members to serve on the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers during a trip to the University of Delaware.
  • The Maschhoffs, LLC, the largest family-owned pork production company in North America, and GNP Company announced they have signed a definitive agreement whereby The Maschhoffs will acquire GNP Company and its subsidiaries.
  • The U.S. Grains Council is pleased to announce registration is now open for its 11th International Marketing Conference and 54th Annual Membership Meeting Feb. 10-12, 2014.
Zimfo Bytes

Ram Truck Farmer Photography Book Available

Chuck Zimmerman

Ram Truck Farmer BookYou loved the commercial, you’ll love the book. It’s a new photography book launched by Ram Trucks with National Geographic titled, “The Farmer in All of Us: An American Portrait.” The book is available for purchase now for $45 at www.ramtrucks.com/outfitter and will be in retail stores beginning late spring 2014.

The 300-page coffee table book is a beautiful and comprehensive collection of original agriculture and farming photography, including many of the images commissioned by the Ram Truck brand for its “Farmer” Super Bowl commercial inspired by Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” essay. Every book purchase backs a minimum contribution of $25,000 by the Ram Truck brand to the National FFA Organization’s “Give the Gift of Blue” program, which donates traditional FFA blue corduroy jackets to members who would not otherwise be able to own one.

“Supporting farmers isn’t just about those who till the soil, it’s about reminding America who we are and where our greatness comes from,” said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler Group, LLC. “This book truly brings the ‘Farmer’ story to life, and continues to give back in support of the amazing students of the FFA who embody this spirit every day.”

nafb-13-45-editedTo create the book, ten world-class photographers were tasked with traveling throughout America’s heartland over the course of three weeks to capture the essence of the farmer. Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” speech served as their inspiration. The photographers’ original goal was to create the visual backdrop for a television commercial celebrating the “Year of the Farmer.” The two-minute tribute aired during Super Bowl XLVII, stopping the nation in its tracks.

The Ram Truck crew was present during the recent NAFB Convention and Jamie caught an interview with David Sowers, who is head of Ram’s marketing team. He discusses the book along with what’s new for Ram Truck. Interview with David Sowers, Ram Truck

2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, Farming, NAFB

Surviving an Undercover Video

Chuck Zimmerman

The Center For Food IntegrityWe live in a world of anarchists/activists and they’ll stop at nothing to create mayhem. Farmers are not exempt. These wackos are really nothing more than criminals but unfortunately their shenanigans can have devastating impacts on a business. The Center for Food Integrity is conducting a webinar to present ideas for how to deal with the situation from some recent research they conducted. Register here.

The recent flurry of undercover videos is a painful reminder of just how damaging these graphic images can be to a company, a brand and an industry. There is no substitute for reliable animal well-being programs, but an effective response to an undercover video can be the difference between staying in business and seeing a lifetime of work destroyed. Recent research by The Center for Food Integrity explored consumer reaction to “good actor and bad actor” responses to on-farm undercover video. The results could not be more clear. In this webinar we will share the research results, our strategic insight and a step by step plan for not just surviving, but restoring public trust after an undercover video. Please join us.

How to Survive an Undercover Video

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Agribusiness, Animal Activists, Food, Wackos