May 25, 2012

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

With the help of new ZimmComm editor, Jamie Johansen, Chuck attended the 2012 Alltech International Symposium this week. You can find all their photos online and scroll through the story posts here. They've still got several stories to post. Next week Chuck will be back on the road to the Mississippi Delta Region for the 2012 Conservation in Action Tour with the support of the Conservation Technology Center and AGROTAIN.

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, "Who should be responsible for child nutrition?" We're all for good food nutrition for our children. But who is responsible? It seems like the government thinks it should have some control. We''ve heard and read lots of people saying we need more nutrition education. But don't we have more than enough of that? How long has USDA made good nutrition information available? But we still see the problem of overeating. So, here's what our poll found. 72% said Parents! Amen to that. Of course then you might ask why aren't parents doing a better job of controlling what their kids eat. 24% said All of the above and 4% said Schools and no one chose specifically Government or Nutritionists. Interesting results.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, "Which group should restaurants consider experts on animal care?" This past weekend many folks in agriculture participated in an online thank you campaign for Domino's Pizza. Why? Because the restaurant chain made a decision based on good humane animal practices and did not give in to the demands of the animal activist group HSUS. So, let us know your thoughts on this question. We appreciate it.

We hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend as we honor all the men and women who lost their lives in service to our country.

Here are some interviews/audio from this week you might have missed:

Now for some news from the ZimmComm News Network:

AgWired

The New Holland Field Smart Blog

New Holland has a new blog called Field Smart. It's part of the New Holland Field Smart campaign. MORE

Podcast

Dr. Pearse Lyons Wraps Up Alltech Symposium

The 2012 Alltech International Symposium has concluded. The "Magic Man" as he was called more than once during the event is Dr. Pearse Lyons. Here he is on stage during the closing session this morning. MORE

Podcast

2012 Alltech Smart Debate

This year the Alltech debate session is titled Smart Debate. Topics include: feeding 9 billion people; is Africa now Brazil? What's next for biofuels and more. Our panelists include Tom Arnold, CEO, Concern, Ireland; Sean Richard, Senior Lecturer in Business Economics, Cranfield University, UK; Dr. Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Moraes, Former Minister of Agriculture and Food Supply of Brazil and Tom Dorr, CEO, U.S. Grains Council. Our moderator again this year is Aidan Conolly, Alltech. MORE

Podcast

Podcast 2

Podcast 3

Podcast 4

Podcast 5

Domestic Fuel

IRFA Asks President Obama to Take Action on Biodiesel

President Obama will visit TPI Composites, a wind manufacturer, in Newton, Iowa today as he urges Congress to act on the "To Do List," specifically highlighting the need to invest in clean energy by passing legislation that will extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) to support American jobs and manufacturing in the wind industry alongside an expansion of the 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit that supports American-made clean energy manufacturing. MORE

GROWMARK Studying E15 Retailer Handbook

As a leader in fuels produced by farmer cooperative members, GROWMARK is studying how to best implement 15% ethanol and upgrading its biodiesel quality program for marketing through the FS Brand system. MORE

Podcast

State Tax Credit Helps Iowa Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel production in Iowa has remained strong during the first quarter of 2012 despite the expiration of the federal biodiesel tax credit. According to figures released by the Iowa Department of Revenue (DOR), 10 Iowa biodiesel plants produced 41.9 million gallons from January through March. MORE

Precision Pays

Meet Corn Farmers Farming Advocate Billy Thiel

The National Corn Growers Association continues the second season of Field Notes, a series that takes readers behind the farm gate to follow the year in the life of American farm families. MORE

Farm Families Return to DC This Summer

The nation's top crop and the farm families who grow it will return to the U.S. capital this summer for the fourth year in a row as part of the Corn Farmers Coalition educational program that debuts June 1, at Union Station, an important venue for reaching policymakers inside "The Beltway. MORE

Monsanto Company Purchases Precision Planting, Inc.

In line with its vision of delivering yield to farmers sustainably, Monsanto Company announced it reached an agreement to purchase planting technology developer Precision Planting, Inc., a proven leader in improving yields through on-farm planting performance. MORE

World Dairy Diary