Second Year for NCGA-DuPont New Leaders Program

Cindy ZimmermanAg Group, Corn, Dupont Pioneer, NCGA

ncga-dupontThe National Corn Growers Association and DuPont have announced the second year of the NCGA DuPont New Leaders Program, designed for corn growers interested in building skills to better serve local, state and national stakeholders.

“It’s important that farmers become strong leaders and spokespersons for American agriculture,” said NCGA President Martin Barbre, a corn grower from Illinois. “We’re grateful to DuPont for its support, and we’re proud of the men and women who joined this program for the first class, and we’ve already seen them doing some great things. Now, we’re actively looking for more couples and individuals to get involved in this dynamic new program.”

Ideal participants will be farming couples or individuals from NCGA’s affiliated states, or may be considering a board position. Those interested must be at least 21 years of age, active in corn farming, NCGA members and not currently serving in a state affiliate board officer position or as a Corn Congress delegate or alternate.

“We are proud to sponsor the NCGA DuPont New Leaders Program,” said Jim Hay, regional business director, North America, DuPont Crop Protection. “These participants symbolize the future of agriculture in the United States and this program will teach them skills to benefit their careers and help feed our growing population.”

One couple or up to two single persons per NCGA-affiliated state will be chosen to participate in this hands-on communications and leadership training. The program will be implemented in three phases, with two plenary sessions: Iowa, January 2015; Washington July 2015, respectively.

The application deadline is Sept. 30, 2014 and participants accepted for the program will be notified in November. Find out more here.

USDA Invests New Conservation Funds for Lake Erie

Cindy ZimmermanConservation, USDA, water

lake-erieThe U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating $2 million in conservation funds for Ohio to help implement conservation techniques designed to improve water quality.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made that announcement this week and said USDA is also partnering with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to expand “boots-on-the-ground” capacity in the area and will be contributing an additional $1 million in technical assistance which will in turn be leveraged by the NFWF along with other public and private entities. Earlier this month, water service in Toledo, Ohio was disrupted by algae blooms in Lake Erie.

“The voluntary conservation efforts supported by this new funding will help improve water quality in Lake Erie,” Vilsack said. “Many farmers have consistently stepped up to the plate on efforts to protect our water and we want to provide support and incentives for continued action. Along with these resources, we will be offering technical and financial assistance through our direct relationships with farmers, and by partnering with private and public groups on continuing conservation efforts in the Great Lakes basin.”

The Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is accepting applications from farmers this week for resources that will help with the planting of cover crops, which experts agree offer the best protection to prevent soil and nutrient erosion in the next season. The funding will be allocated to the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) to help farmers and partners accelerate water quality conservation activities to benefit Lake Erie. NRCS will be providing up to $2 million in Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funds in Ohio for a targeted, one-week signup. This signup will be focused on planting cover crops on vulnerable soils this fall in order to reduce soil and nutrient loss from farm fields.

Hick Chick Chat One Week to Farm Progress Show

Leah GuffeyAudio, Events, Farm Progress Show

11326519286_c9a07ae0bf_oIt’s starting next week. The Farm Progress Show will be back in Boone, Iowa August 26-28. ZimmComm has a full staff that will be on the grounds bringing you all the coverage from the 2014 Show. I spoke with Matt Jungmann a few weeks ago, but thought we’d remind you that in case you were considering checking out the 2014 show there’s a few things to remember.

FPS14-flagGates open at 8am each day, bring your walking shoes and be prepared to see the latest and greatest in agriculture. This will be my 14th show and I’m always impressed at the number of folks who attend each year, how far they travel and what they walk away from the show with as far as knowledge and checking out the latest and greatest agricultural equipment as well as more information. The show has expanded again this year just like it did in Decatur last year and Matt is expecting to see the field demos happen this year despite the cooler weather this summer, but he expects a great show.

If you’re planning to attend the show, the gates open at 8AM each day, they close at 5PM on Tuesday and Wednesday and 4PM on Thursday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for youngsters 13-17. You can get more information at farmprogresshow.com

[wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/podcast/hickchickchat-14-fps-jungmann2.mp3″ text=”Hick Chick Chat with Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress Show”]

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Coverage of the 2014 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by
Coverage of the 2014 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the 2014 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the 2014 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience

John Deere Introduces New Commercial Series of Tractors

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere, Machinery, Tractor

jd-product-14-dave-guettermanBesides having the media in for John Deere’s product launch, dealers and others came for information and training on all their new equipment rolling out. Chuck’s first interview for the event was with Dave Guetterman who specializes in John Deere’s 9R and 9RT.

“The new 9 family of tractors was designed around three customer values: performance, up-time and cost of operation. The way we have addressed those needs is with increased horsepower, increased comfort and increased capability to the customer through these machines.”

Dave shared that the target market for the 9 series of tractors is the commercial ag grower and producer. This event marks the first time the public has seen this new machine and it will hit the marketplace later this fall. Each class Dave is teaching consists of a 40-minute presentation including video, animations, graphics and demonstrations.

You can listen to my interview with Dave here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-product-14-dave-guetterman.mp3″ text=”Interview with Dave Guetterman”]

AgGateway Leadership Transition

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Company Announcement

aggatewayAgGateway announced that President and CEO Rod Conner is resigning effective January 1, 2015, in order to lead the newly formed AgGateway Global Network; and that current Executive Vice President and COO Wendy Smith will move into the role of AgGateway President and CEO beginning in 2015.

Conner has served as president since 2009 and has been in AgGateway leadership for the past decade, through a period marked by significant year-to-year growth in both the association’s membership and productivity. Membership has grown in that time from fewer than a dozen companies to more than 200, and from eBusiness projects in two industry segments to current work under eight active Councils – for crop nutrition, crop protection, seed, feed, grain, precision agriculture and ag retail, as well as for the allied providers that support the industry.

Smith has worked closely with Conner through most of this growth. She has served in her current role since 2010, and before that time was an active volunteer in the organization while working as Regional Commercial Manager at BASF. Smith has over 30 years of work experience in the agricultural industry in a diverse set of roles, from research scientist and technical service training manager to new business development manager. She holds a B.S. in Plant and Soils Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a PhD in Botany from the University of California, Riverside.

“This is the best of all possible leadership transitions, with Rod Conner moving on to a new, affiliate organization to expand the AgGateway vision internationally, and with Wendy Smith moving in to take the reins. She is a talented and trusted leader who has already proven many times over her devotion to the AgGateway vision and mission,” said Randy Beard, Agronomy Input Manager at River Valley Cooperative and acting AgGateway Board Chairman.

The new non-profit AgGateway Global Network (AGN), a separate organization with its own board of directors, will expand the use of eBusiness and the collaborative efforts that AgGateway has begun in North America to other regions of the world. Through AGN, regional organizations will share and contribute to the AgGateway Open Standards and Implementation Guidelines, and will work to promote, enable and expand eBusiness in agriculture globally.

WSSA Updates Popular Herbicide Handbook

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Weed control

Screen Shot 2014-08-19 at 7.42.21 PMThe Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) announced the availability of the 10th edition of its popular Herbicide Handbook – a trusted resource used by educators, researchers, growers, extension agents, government officials, students and others interested in weed management.

First published more than three decades ago, the handbook offers comprehensive information on the more than 230 herbicides currently available in the U.S. It includes physical properties, mode of action, environmental fate, solubility, toxicity to humans and wildlife, binding properties and much more.

The new edition has been completely updated and reorganized in an easy-to-navigate alphabetical format. It also includes approximately 20 new herbicide compounds introduced since the last edition was published.

A handy glossary includes definitions of technical terms and acronyms, a conversion table for measurements, lists of adjuvants that improve herbicide performance, and an updated genealogy of agrichemical companies that reflects how the industry has changed through the years.

“Dozens of weed scientists volunteered their time in support of the project,” says Dale Shaner, a past president of WSSA and editor of the new edition. “They’ve helped us bring together a comprehensive body of information that should be useful to anyone who uses or studies herbicides.”

DuPont Pioneer to Build $35 million Soybean Research Facility

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Dupont Pioneer, Research, Soybeans

Screen Shot 2014-08-19 at 2.43.37 PMDuPont Pioneer announced plans to build a $35 million soybean research facility at its Stine Haskell Research Center in Newark, Del. The nearly 134,000 square foot facility will include two state-of-the-art automated greenhouses and is expected to be completed in 2016, with room for future expansion.

“The new DuPont Pioneer Delaware Soybean Research Facility will advance our research and development pipeline and enhance the value of Pioneer® brand soybean varieties for our grower customers by protecting yield and increasing oil and protein content,” said Neal Gutterson, vice president of Agricultural Biotechnology, DuPont Pioneer. “This research is an important part of the DuPont strategic focus on agriculture and nutrition against the backdrop of an increasing world population and demand for more food.”

The DuPont Pioneer Delaware Soybean Research Facility is strategically located near its agricultural biotechnology trait research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Del. The new facility will be home to experts in advanced genetic discovery to develop and test the newest products and traits in the company’s growing research and development pipeline. The new, automated greenhouses include a soybean plant movement system that will increase research efficiency. Built with sustainability in mind, the greenhouses will feature three 60,000 gallon rain water cisterns to harvest, filter and re-use run-off.

“Delaware is proud of this investment by DuPont in the future of agriculture and that it is occurring in our state,” said Ed Kee, secretary of the Delaware Department of Agriculture. “Delaware farmers have a 200-year history of agricultural progress and innovation and all of us connected with our state’s agriculture look forward to the results of DuPont’s commitment to helping feed the world.”

“This new facility represents a merger of three key economic entities from Delaware’s past, present and future. Agriculture, our oldest economic strength, will be used in the fields of innovation and biotechnology, which have been developing as a future economic base,” said Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office. “This is all being done by one of our signature companies, DuPont, which has been a leading innovator here for more than two centuries and continues to be one today.”

Pioneer began soybean operations in 1973 and is a world leader in agricultural biotechnology. The new Stine Haskell facility will support the business’s expanded suite of insect resistant, herbicide tolerant and increased output trait soybean products. This year, U.S. growers planted more than 84 million acres of soybeans, an 11 percent increase from the 76.5 million acres planted in 2013.

Join ZimmComm Team This Fall

Jamie JohansenEducation, Intern, ZimmComm

zimmcomZimmComm New Media is now taking applications for a fall intern. Students in the agricultural communications field interested in attending and learning how to “agri-blog” some of the most important industry events held every year should apply.

The opportunities will include all-expense paid trips to one or more industry events where students will assist in the compiling of photos, audio, video and posting of activities on pertinent websites. Interns will learn and develop communication tools, techniques and technology to gather and distribute information through various social media channels. Per-diem and college credits may also be available.

Right now we are looking for an intern to travel with us to World Dairy Expo, National FFA Convention and/or National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention.

YES! I’m interested in learning how to do some agri-blogging. Apply Below.
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Farm Progress Show Keeps Growing

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Events, Farm Progress Show

2014-fpsFor the 9th consecutive year the ZimmComm Team will be at Farm Progress Show to cover all the happenings. A special thanks goes out to our generous sponsors New Holland, FMC, GROWMARK, Ag Leader, John Deere and Bayer CropScience for making all the news we bring you possible.

Growth projections for the Farm Progress Show site in Boone, Iowa, continue to exceed the original site development plans. Visitors at the 2014 show to be held next week Aug. 26, 27 and 28 will find the largest show held on this site to date, including an annex created in the north visitor parking lot, immediately outside Gate #1 to satisfy this increased need for more display area.

“The exhibitors with lots in the annex did not participate in the 2012 show,” says Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress national events manager. “Plus, some companies who have not exhibited for a while, such as McCormick and Caterpillar, are coming back.”

“A brand new exhibitor at the Iowa show is Beck’s Hybrids, from Atlanta, IN. Until now the company did not market in Iowa or exhibit at the Iowa show,” adds Jungmann. “Beck’s has announced a territory expansion into two crop reporting districts in eastern Iowa and three crop reporting districts in Missouri. We’re happy to have them at the show.”

This additional Annex space brings the permanent show site to Boone to 3.68 million square feet of exhibit area, nearly 85 acres. Since the Farm Progress Show held in Boone in 2008, the exhibitor count has grown by more than 100, now with more than 600 exhibitors. Additionally, the show occupies 300 acres for field demonstrations and test drive areas, plus an additional 150 acres for visitor parking.

A New FR Harvester from New Holland

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Equipment, Forage, Harvesting, New Holland, Video

New Holland FR HarvesterHere is one serious looking machine. Looking at the New Holland FR Self-Propelled Forage Harvester from the business end it looks like it’s ready to chomp through just about anything you can imagine. During the New Holland Media Day Doug Otto did a walk around for us to explain what’s new in this model.

New Holland has been at the forefront of the forage harvesting world since it introduced its first Self-Propelled Forage Harvester in 1961. The new FR Forage Cruiser line follows in its predecessor’s footsteps by showcasing more than 50 years of innovations. Decorated for its performance, the FR Forage Harvester has received numerous awards for its developments including gold medals for its advanced precision farming technology and a Machine of the Year award from Agritechnica.

These units feature the largest crop channel and cutting components of any forage harvester to date. The only thing that will stop an FR Forage Harvester is the end of the field. The FR can cut in a variety of different conditions and have the ability to process up to twelve rows of corn at the time. We invite you to take a look around at all that the FR Forage Cruiser has to offer. We think you will be pleasantly surprised. We know our customers are.

For those of you who are looking for precision options in all your new machinery this one has plenty for you to consider. Watch Doug explain more.

2014 New Holland Media Day Photo Album