Introducing USFRA 2.0

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In Kansas City last week, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) introduced its refined focus, the new Farmer Ambassador network, and 2019 projects that connect food and agriculture stakeholders to enable better decision making.

Speaking to affiliate members and media attending the NAFB Convention were USFRA chairman Brad Greenway of South Dakota, USFRA Chief Executive Officer Erin Fitzgerald, and USFRA Communications Committee Chair Mace Thornton, who is American Farm Bureau Federation’s Executive Director for Communications.

Listen here:
USFRA 2.0 press conference

GROWMARK Simulator Aids Training

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Using a sprayer simulator for training is not new to members of GROWMARK and FS System companies, but a virtual reality (VR) component is a recent addition.

“It’s helped out our training quite a bit because you can move around and look up and down, but you can also lean forward and see your tires and everything, so the realistic feeling is definitely coming through with the new goggles that we have out,” said Erik Wilcox, equipment manager for crop protection.

Wilcox said there is a need to fill a gap between operators with 30 or more years of experience who are near retirement, and those coming in with little or no experience. It can be costly to find a machine and ground to use for training, and weather is also a factor. The simulator allows for continuous training as new regulations and new operators come in, no matter the season.

GROWMARK is working to obtain more simulators that will be shared across the area where its member companies are located that would be available to train employees or to rent to others needing access to this type of training. Wilcox was at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Erik here: Interview with Erik Wilcox, GROWMARK

2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album

ASTA Talks Seed and Trade at #NAFB18

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The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) team attended the NAFB Trade Talk last week and discussed what their name is all about – seed and trade.

ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne says trade is critical for the seed industry and acceptance of new plant breeding methods is important on a global scale, so the recent signing of the International Statement on Agricultural Applications of Precision Biotechnology by the U.S. and 13 other countries is welcome news. “This is a strong showing of support by governments around the world in recognition of the necessity of continued evolution in plant breeding, and the critical role that it will play in ensuring a more sustainable and secure global food production system,” said LaVigne.

In this interview, LaVigne also talked about the federal Food and Drug Administration’s new Action Plan on biotechnology innovation, the impact of recent mergers on the industry, and the ASTA CSS 2018 and Seed Expo, coming up December 3-6 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. NAFB18 Interview with Andy LaVigne, ASTA

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC

Precision Ag Bytes 11/14

AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture

  • The Weed Science Society of America and its affiliated scientific societies have scheduled information-packed annual meetings over the coming months. Registration details for this year’s annual meeting of the Canadian Weed Science Society are available at www.weedscience.ca. Registration details for the annual meeting of the North Central Weed Science Society are available at http://ncwss.org.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ October U.S. Ag Tractor and Combine Report shows overall sales remained positive year-to-date, although a few categories recorded October declines. Here is link to the full report online: https://www.aem.org/AEM/media/docs/Statistics/18-10-USAG.pdf.
  • The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN announced the forthcoming availability of Field to Market’s sustainability metrics within the new Truterra™ Insights Engine from Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN in mid-December. Land O’Lakes is the first partner that will integrate fully with the latest version of Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform released this month.
  • Midwest farmers and row crop advisers can learn valuable take-home precision solutions to increase return on investment on every acre at the Farm Progress Tech Forum on Nov. 27-28 in Coralville, Iowa. Check out all the details and register to attend at FarmProgressTechForum.com.

John Deere and Pheasants Forever Working Together

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A new partnership between John Deere and Pheasants Forever will promote conservation on the farm.

“John Deere and Pheasants Forever just announced a new joint effort that will improve wildlife habitat across the country and provide discounts on select models of new John Deere equipment to Pheasants Forever members,” said Lyle McMillan, tractor marketing manager for John Deere.

McMillan said John Deere will now become the “Official Habitat Tractor” for Pheasants Forever and the company also plans to sponsor a Conservation Farmer of the Year award to promote conservation practices. John Deere will also host workshops on how to maximize those returns on investment for every acre on the farm. McMillan was at the 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk event in Kansas City, where he also shared information about new features added to existing models this year including technology updates to 5R and 6R Series tractors.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Lyle here: Interview with Lyle McMillan, John Deere

2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Photo Album

FMC Proud to Be Part of NAFB

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FMC Corporation was once again a sponsor of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk, a unique event that provides the chance for agribusiness companies and organizations to be interviewed by dozens of agricultural reporters in one place.

In this interview, FMC Senior Communications Manager Lisa Homer (now a proud member of the Golden Mic Club!) says the event is a great opportunity to connect with the people who tell the story of agriculture, and she talks about the exciting FMC product pipeline.

Listen here – Interview with Lisa Homer, FMC, at 2018 NAFB Convention

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Pork, Soy and Corn Groups Unite for Sustainability Research

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The National Pork Board (NPB), United Soybean Board (USB) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are joining together on a sustainability research platform that will benefit all three organizations and their producers.

The CEOs and farmer leaders of all three organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the 2018 NAFB Convention Wednesday in Kansas City, MO. The research program will include the sharing of completed research, coordination on current and planned research and define ways to share and communicate results with each organization’s members.

Pictured at the signing are NPB communications Cindy Cunningham; NPB CEO Bill Even; NPB President Steve Rommereim, South Dakota; USB CEO Polly Ruhland; USB chairman Lewis Bainbridge, South Dakota; NCGA CEO Jon Doggett, and NCGA president Lynn Chrisp of Nebraska.

A task force of farmer representatives from NPB, USB and NCGA will be formed and, with support from each organization, will be responsible for managing and evaluating the activities outlined in the MOU. Additionally, the task force will track progress and evaluate the value and impact of the MOU upon completion of all activities.

Listen to the group announcement here – Pork, Soy and Corn sustainability agreement

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

NAFB is 75 Years Strong

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The 2018 National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention is marking the diamond anniversary of the meeting, which has been held in Kansas City for about 45 of those 75 years.

NAFB president Tom Cassidy, Ag Radio Network, says this year’s convention is the largest ever in the organization’s history, with many retired members who have been away from the business for years coming in for the celebration.

In this interview, Cassidy talks about this year’s meeting and the state of farm broadcasting.Interview with NAFB president Tom Cassidy, Ag Radio Network

PHOTOS

2018 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Precision Ag Bytes 11/7

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

  • CNH Industrial N.V. and Farmers Edge announced that they have entered into a strategic digital agriculture agreement that will make available a portfolio of connectivity and agronomic solutions to Case IH and New Holland customers. Through this agreement, Case IH and New Holland Agriculture, the global agricultural brands of CNH Industrial, will provide their customers with access to FarmCommand.
  • Four new agtech startups entered AgLaunch365 Phase I programming in Memphis. AgLaunch365 integrates startups with farmers in the AgLaunch Farmer Network to create and implement sophisticated field trial protocols and prepare for funding by aligned capital sources. This 6-week program, delivered through remote programming and in-person sessions held in Memphis, will culminate at the Farm Journal AgTech Expo in Indianapolis December 3-5, 2018.
  • Ag Leader unveiled new guidance and steering solutions including a dual-antenna automated steering system and the latest in GNSS technology to be added to its already high-end precision agriculture guidance and steering line.
  • S&W Seed Company announced that it has acquired certain assets and assigned contracts of Chromatin, a U.S.-based sorghum operator which entered into receivership earlier this year. The purchase price was $26.5 million.
  • Agrellus has added aerial and ground custom application services to its mobile and online ag input marketplace. Grower members can customize requests by crop; choose targets like insect, weed, seeding or defoliation; select rate per acre or get advice on correct rates or best product for their needs.
  • Almost 200 scientists and organization leaders engaged with 41 researchers and subject matter experts during a two-day Conference on Connections Between Soil Health and Human Health offered by the Soil Health Institute on October 16–17, 2018.
  • Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach will discuss the future of plant breeding innovation, including federal policies around gene editing, at ASTA’s CSS 2018 & Seed Expo, Dec. 3-6 in Chicago. Ibach will take part in a panel discussion during the Plant Breeding Innovation session on Thursday, Dec. 6.
  • HELM Agro US, Inc. announced the hiring of Adam Hensley as the company’s new Marketing and Business Development Leader.

Kansas City Here We Come

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ZimmComm is headed out today to the 75th annual NAFB convention at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. We first started attending NAFB in the mid-1980s and have been there every year since 1987. But there are lots of NAFB members who have been faithfully attending the annual meeting since before it started being held in Kansas City. This year will be different for us since we’re bringing our fur baby with us because the Westin is so dog friendly and we will be seeing the grandbabies later this week!

The NAFB was founded in 1944 as the National Association of Radio Farm Directors (NARFD). Television was added to the name in 1955 to become NATRFD. The next name change came in 1964 to the more inclusive National Association of Farm Broadcasters and NAFB. In 2005, the name was changed from Broadcasters to Broadcasting.

There is a lot of history in the NAFB and we’ll be sharing some of it this week, thanks to the support of FMC – which has been a proud sponsor of Trade Talk for many years. Stay tuned for lots of photos and interviews!

Meanwhile, take a walk down memory lane from the past decade or so of NAFB meetings in the ZimmComm Flickr collection. See you in Kansas City to make new memories this week!

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC