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July 20, 2012
Hello ZimmComm Fans:

We've been having a cornfest on AgWired lately.  Between Chuck's interviews from the Indian Creek Watershed Project Field TourWyffels Hybrids Corn StrategiesFMC Anthem Plot Tour and the International Conference on Precision Agriculture you can find lots of interviews pertaining to corn and lots of photos from these events.  This week he's also attending the Bayer CropScience Greenhouse 5 Grand Opening and then on to Joliet, IL for NASCAR action sponsored by the Illinois Corn Growers.  While Chuck is there Cindy will be blogging the Southern Peanut Growers Conference once again in Panama City, FL.

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, "How worried are you about the weather impact on crops this summer?"

Our poll results: Seventy-four percent said very worried; twenty-one percent said moderately concerned; four percent said they're confident the crops will overcome and two percent said "what weather?".

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, "Should nutrition programs be split out of the Farm Bill?" With all the controversy surrounding cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps, there has also been talk that the bill could be split. What do you think - should nutrition be separate from agriculture?

By the way, the ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.  We certainly thank them for their support!

Here are some interviews from this week that you might have missed:
Now for some news from the ZimmComm News Network:
 AgWired  AgWired     

 There are precision agriculture enthusiasts from 45 countries attending the 11th International Conference on Precision Agriculture. This conference is held every two years and is taking place in Indianapolis, IN.   MORE

Precision Farmer of the Year From Australia

The recipients of the 2012 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence were honored during the International Conference on Precision Agriculture. Thanks to Paul Schrimpf, group editor of the CropLife Media Group, for the photo since I could not stay for the luncheon at which the awards were presented. Pictured are the award winners with Elliott Nowels (l), Director of the PrecisionAg Institute, which manages the awards. I did get a chance to visit with the Precision Farmer of the Year, David Cox, DAVCO, and learned more about how he's using precision agriculture on his sugar cane farm in Australia. You can listen to that interview below.    MORE

Podcast

USDA: Conservation Project Tour a Real Gem

You can't underestimate the value that an event like the recent Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour. "It's a real gem," Ivan Dozier, Illinois State Conservationist with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) told Chuck during one of the stops on the tour. He said he's been involved in water shed planning for a long time, and it makes him feel good to see this project being so successful.   MORE  

Podcast
DomesticFuel  Domestic Fuel  

Biofuels Play Major Role in Great Green Fleet Exercise

Biofuels are playing a significant role in the biggest maritime exercise in the world. About 450,000 gallons of biofuels made from non-food stocks have been used to fuel the ships and aircraft, known as the "Great Green Fleet," taking part in the U.S. Navy's and allied nation's Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC).    MORE  

Podcast 
With 78 percent of the corn crop suffering from drought, livestock and poultry groups are renewing calls for changing the ethanol requirements in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2).  MORE

 Podcast

The South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) is now accepting applications for nearly $1 million in funding for the Ethanol Infrastructure Grant Program in the 2013 fiscal year.  MORE
 
PPMark  Precision Pays  

2012 PrecisonAg Awards of Excellence Winners 

The recipients of the 2012 PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence were honored during the International Conference on Precision Agriculture. Thanks to Paul Schrimpf, group editor of the CropLife Media Group, for the photo since I could not stay for the luncheon at which the awards were presented. Pictured are the award winners with Elliott Nowels (l), Director of the PrecisionAg Institute, which manages the awards. I did get a chance to visit with the Precision Farmer of the Year, David Cox, DAVCO, and learned more about how he's using precision agriculture on his sugar cane farm in Australia. You can listen to that interview below. MORE

Ag Leader Provides SeedCommand to High-Quality Hybrids 

It takes good seed to make a good crop, but you also have to have that seed in good ground. In the case of precision agriculture, farmers are getting that down to the millimeter, especially when it comes to corn. Recently, Chuck had the chance to talk to one of our friends from Ag Leader, Rick Hofer, who was at the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies event in Vincent, Iowa, where he was talking about how to marry up a high quality seed, such as Wyffels, with his company's precision equipment. MORE

Podcast

Drought Hurts Crops, Allows Weeds to Grow 

Farmers in the Midwest have been hit hard with drought this summer. Not only has the dry, hot weather withered the crops, but the lack of rain also kept a lot of pre-emerge herbicides from working properly. During the recent Anthem Field Plot Tour, FMC officials got the chance to talk with farmers throughout the Midwest about these kinds of issues. In Ames, Iowa, Chuck caught up with FMC Midwest Regional Business Manager Randy Young, whose territory covers from Minnesota to Colorado and has seen a wide variety of conditions this year, but everyone is dry. He said FMC's Authority brands have performed well, and they can't wait to add Anthem, the herbicide on display during this plot tour, if the EPA approves it for use this fall.   MORE

Podcast  
WDDMark 
  

World Dairy Diary      

New Artisanal Cheese Plant in Wis.  

Emmi-Roth USA will build an artisanal cheese plant in Platteville, Wis.T he company estimating it would employ from 32 to 60 employees, depending on future expansion plans.  MORE 

WMMB Names New Board Leadership 

The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) directors have elected a new slate of officers for Fiscal Year 2013, which began July 1, 2012 and concludes June 30, 2013.   MORE  
          

Sec. Vilsack Visits Pa. Dairy Farm 

Pennwood Farms hosted Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on their farm today. The Pa. dairy farm is using an anaerobic digester to convert manure into electricity and high quality bedding, cutting energy costs and providing a resting area for more contented cows. The digester, which went on-line a year ago, was funded in part with the support of USDA Rural Development. MORE   

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