ARA Names AGCO Operator of the Year

Cindy ZimmermanAgribusiness, ARA, Equipment, Machinery

Brent KleinThe winner of a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Convention last week was Brent Klein, Simplot Grower Solutions, who beat out 4 finalists for the AGCO Application Equipment Operator of the Year Award.

This is the ninth consecutive year the company has recognized North America’s top custom applicators who consistently bring outstanding skill, dedication and passion to their jobs. Brent is pictured receiving his plaque from AGCO’s Mark Sharitz.

Listen to an interview with Brent here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ara/ara-14-agco.mp3″ text=”Interview with Brent Klein, Simplot”]

2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo Album

Ag Retailers Public Policy Update

Cindy ZimmermanARA, Audio, Fertilizer, Government

ara14-guptonTransportation issues are at the top of the list of public policy concerns for ag retailers meeting in New Orleans this week.

“We plan to make it a priority going into the new Congress,” said Agricultural Retailers Association senior VP for public policy Richard Gupton who updated the membership this morning. “Senator Thune is going to be the new chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and he has legislation to reform the Surface Transportation Board and make it more accountable and have a forum that shippers can take their case to.”

Another important issue for the ARA is a pesticide permit fix. “We think the opportunity now with the change in the Senate will allow that to take place,” said Gupton. “It’s got bi-partisan, bicameral support, it should have been done in the farm bill but we hope to get it taken care of.”

Like everyone else in agriculture, the ag retailers are also concerned about EPA’s proposed Waters of the United States rule. “Again, with the new Congress, there’s legislation to have EPA basically come back to the drawing board on the Waters of the US proposal,” Gupton said. “There’s confusion about what they proposed and they keep changing what the proposal is as you’re supposed to be commenting on the rule.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Richard here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ara/ara-14-gupton.mp3″ text=”Interview with Richard Gupton, ARA”]

2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo Album

Pinnacle Announces Investment in Meridian Ag

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Company Announcement

Pinnacle Ag HoldingsPinnacle Agriculture Holdings, LLC announces its investment in a new Midwestern wholesale business, Meridian Agriculture Distribution. Pinnacle is pleased to announce that Tom Hart, a veteran in the agriculture wholesale business with over 30 years of experience, will lead the development and day-to-day operation of the brand.

“I am excited about the process of building Meridian. When retailers see the breadth of products, services and knowledge that Meridian can provide, they will recognize that we understand and are here to serve their businesses. The building process begins with quality people. We have already hired sales representatives in several territories and will be actively seeking good people to fill the rest of the business,” notes Hart.

In addition to providing retailers with supplier-branded products at service levels retailers expect, Meridian will offer retailers numerous opportunities to differentiate themselves from their competitors including:
– Altitude Crop InnovationsTM, LLC, Meridian’s wholesale products company, solely dedicated to independent retailers and cooperatives.
– Opti-Gro®, Pinnacle’s robust and unbiased precision ag platform. Technology optimized in Pinnacle’s southern geography, Meridian will now offer this service and technology to its customers throughout the Midwest.
– Retailer financing packages.
– Private labeling opportunities for retailers. Retailers will have the opportunity to market their own brands of products selected from Altitude Crop Innovation’s library of formulas and technologies.
– AgOne Application ServicesTM, Pinnacle’s aerial application division, that may be called on during heavy pest or disease outbreaks.
– Marketing assurance programs.

“Our first priority will be to efficiently and cost effectively distribute supplier brands. R&D companies are critical to production agriculture and Meridian will be a strong supporter and distributor for those companies. However, it is the full package of products, tools and services that we provide that will set us apart.”

Hick Chick Chat with Case IH at NAFB

Leah GuffeyAudio, Case IH, Hick Chick Chat, NAFB, Planting, Tractor

leahpro250At the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk I had a chance to visit with the fine folks from Case IH. What I learned was they are making more improvements for 2015 to better serve their customers.

Photo courtesy of NAFB

Photo courtesy of NAFB

Zach Hetterick, center in the photo, is the High Horsepower Marketing Manager, says their high horse power has come up with a new tractor this year in the MAGNUM™ ROWTRAC™ tractor. Zach says no one tractor solution can fit every grower’s needs. But if you’re a row crop producer in a region with challenging soil types, putting tracks on the ground could be an option for in-field power. He goes on to add that if you farm in a region where soil conditions can make short planting and harvesting windows even shorter, Magnum Rowtrac can help start sooner, work longer and enjoy better yield potential.

Dan Klein, pictured right, is the Crop Production Marketing Manager, talks about precision planting with the new Case IH early riser planter for next spring. Case IH Early Riser Planters are designed based on sound agronomic principles and extensive customer input. Dan tells me this will offer the accuracy and flexibility the grower wants, providing season after season better stands, more uniform emergence, accurate populations, and in the end, higher yields.

You can listen to my chat here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/podcast/hickchickchat-14-caseih.mp3″ text=”Hick Chick Chat with Case IH at NAFB”]

Join in the conversation on Twitter and on Facebook


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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

How to ‘Crack the Code’ on Consumer Food Confidence

John Davisbiotechnology, Food

CFINew research gives food producers and sellers some insight into how to gain consumer confidence in the food system. “Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies,” a consumer trust research report from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), helps those in the food system do a better overcoming consumer skepticism over issues, such as genetically modified foods and antibiotic resistance in livestock.

“This research provides guidance to the food system for overcoming the many communication barriers that keep consumers from integrating science-based information into their decisions,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. “The food system can use CFI’s new models developed through this research as a guide to connect with consumers, especially moms, millennials and foodies, but it will require communicators to embrace a new approach.”

A key takeaway from the research is how important food issues are to moms, millennials and foodies. They help define who they are as people and shape their cultural identities. Foodies, in particular, express a higher level of concern about food-related topics than any other segment. Because these issues are meaningful and relevant to each of these groups, how technical and scientific information is introduced to them is crucial. By following the approach outlined in the research, we can find new ways to encourage informed decision-making.

“I hope all of those who dedicate their lives to technology and innovation that benefits society will incorporate these strategies from CFI’s latest research to assure that the value of their work will be recognized and given
proper consideration by those whose welfare it can improve,” said Dan Kahan, Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology at Yale Law School and member of the Yale Cultural Cognition Project, which focuses
on how cultural values shape public risk perceptions and related policy beliefs.

The survey is based on answers by more than 2,000 respondents who reflect the general U.S. consumer population.

Cotton LEADS Cotton Receives Biobased Certification

John DavisAg Group, Cotton, USDA

cotton1Cotton grown in Australia and the U.S. under the Cotton LEADS program, which promotes the responsible production practices, has received the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 100 percent biobased designation. This news release from Cotton LEADS says that puts the textile in USDA’s online BioPreferred Catalog.

Cotton LEADS™ cotton easily met the BioPreferred program’s new stipulation for innovation, due to the manner in which cotton growers in Australia and the United States approach and operate their businesses. The cotton industries of both countries are well established, well-regulated, transparent and committed to improvement. But it is the growers’ self-investment into research programs and the willingness to embrace new technologies and techniques that continues to yield high volumes of quality cotton; and significant and measurable environmental gains.

The goal of the BioPreferred program is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products while spurring economic development, creating new jobs and providing new markets for farm commodities. Additionally, the increased development, purchase, and use of biobased products is intended to reduce reliance on petroleum, increase the use of renewable agricultural resources, and contribute to reducing adverse environmental and health impacts.

The 2014 Farm Bill expanded the initial scope of the USDA BioPreferred program to “promote biobased products that apply an innovative approach to growing, harvesting, sourcing, procuring, processing, manufacturing, or application of biobased products regardless of the date of entry into the marketplace.”

More information on the USDA’s BioPreferred Program can be found at: www.biopreferred.gov.

Update on Alltech Crop Science

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Alltech, Audio, Crop Protection

alltech cropAlltech Crop Science provides growers worldwide with natural solutions to reduce harmful effects of abiotic stress in plants. Their soil health products offer root support development and contribute to a healthy soil agribiome. Danielle Palmer, North American PR Coordinator talked Alltech’s crop science program at NAFB’s recent Trade Talk with Chuck.

“Crop science is a huge part of the business. We get to use technologies that Alltech started 30 years ago with natural yeast base fermentation on animal health. We are also getting to apply those technologies on the crop side. For example, this year a lot of farmers have had to deal with severe drought. We have to have technologies patented that can help feed the good bugs in the soil and also increase the organic matter so these plants can better withstand conditions like a drought or flooding.”

Danielle also shared what questions they get form row crop farmers who have never considered this as an option for operation’s crop protection plan. Once the farmers see the results first hand they are easily convinced it works. For those wanting more information on Alltech’s crop science solutions, email cropscience@alltech.com. They will then hook growers up with a representative in their area and find out how Alltech products can best fit each operation.

Listen Chuck’s complete interview with Danielle: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-14-alltech-palmer.mp3″ text=”Interview with Danielle Palmer, Alltech”]


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

NRCS Talks Programs at NAFB

Leah GuffeyAudio, Conservation, environment, Government, NAFB, USDA

nafb14-nrcsSoils, climate change, pollinators, and the 2014 Farm Bill conservation programs were among the topics addressed at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention by James Tillman, southeast regional conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Tillman says NRCS has been very active in protecting pollinators, and honeybees in particular. “NRCS is working with five states – South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin – working with private landowners and helping them increase pollinator habitat and thus increase their production,” he said during an interview at Trade Talk.

Because of the impacts of climate change, Tillman says NRCS is actively engaged in maintaining and improving soil health. “A healthy soil increases water holding capacity,” he said. “As a result, less water flows downstream, less flooding.”

Tillman stressed the importance of the agricultural media to get information out to farmers and other landowners about conservation programs that are available. “It was really made a positive impact on getting folks through the door, our numbers have really gone up,” he said.

You can listen to my interview with James here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb14-nrcs.mp3″ text=”Interview with James Tillman, USDA-NRCS”]


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

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

Alta Seeds Expands Sorghum Product Line

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, Forage, NAFB, seed, Sorghum

alta_seedsAlta Seeds, the U.S. brand for exclusive genetics and forage and grain sorghum hybrids from Advanta, was present during NAFB’s Trade Talk in Kansas City, MO. Barry Lubbers is with Alta Seeds and shared more about the sorghum industry and the new products we will see from them in the coming year in an interview with Chuck.

“In the sorghum business, we are continuing to bring on new forage products that offer solutions to growers. In the grain sorghum market we are bringing on herbicide tolerance, which is new and exciting for the sorghum industry. We anticipate to introduce three new products this next year that are herbicide tolerant and quickly follow that with another in the next two to three years.”

Barry shared more about how durable a plant sorghum is. He said with the drought in many areas over the past couple of years, farmers have turned to sorghum because of it’s unique traits and the solutions Alta Seeds provides. Sorghum is no stranger to fields, but because of technology it has been reinvented. Beyond its tolerance, sorghum has become recently popular in the biofuels industry and a substitute for gluten.

Listen Chuck’s complete interview with Barry: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nafb/nafb-14-alta-seeds-lubbers.mp3″ text=”Interview with Barry Lubbers, Alta Seeds from Advanta”]


2014 NAFB Convention Photos

Tax Breaks – How Should Congress Handle?

Jamie JohansenZimmPoll

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?”

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with plates piled high of your favorites. I know I am still stuffed. It looks like our Zimmpollers prefer sweet potatoes, but only slightly. We did have quite an array of Others including oysters and some Pinot Noir.

Here are the poll results:

  • Dressing – 19%
  • Mashed potatoes & gravy – 13%
  • Greenbean casserole – 11%
  • Cranberries – 12%
  • Sweet potatoes – 20%
  • Does pumpkin pie count? – 16%
  • Other – 9%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How should Congress handle tax breaks?

Congress is once again considering a package of tax breaks for businesses and individuals that include everything from section 179 deductions to renewable energy tax credits. In typically Washington fashion, these tax provisions expired at the end of last year and will have to be renewed retroactively before the end of this year to be applied to 2014 tax returns. An effort to make them permanent was ditched when the White House threatened a veto – but what do you think Congress should do?