Posted: April 17, 2013 at 12:53 pm
By Melissa
ZimmComm New Media, LLC has expanded its AgNewsWire.com website to serve as a new agricultural media content service for reporters, companies, organizations and individuals seeking high quality photos and audio from industry events and concerning current issues.
“We generate so much content on our agricultural and renewable energy websites that we decided to create one place for all of it to make it easier for people in the industry to locate and utilize,” said ZimmComm New Media president Chuck Zimmerman. “Last year we covered nearly 70 different industry events, posted more than 1200 audio files and placed nearly 20,000 high resolution photos in Flickr albums. All of that content is available for anyone to download and use free of charge.”
AgNewsWire.com will now have links to all the audio, photos and video that ZimmComm compiles at events, for podcasts, news conferences and more. In addition, AgNewsWire will also continue to be an agricultural news release distribution service as it has been since it was introduced in 2006.
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Posted: December 17, 2012 at 10:43 am
By Jamie Johansen
What do we do when two-thirds of all grains are contaminated with mycotoxins? This question was answered at Alltech’s recent Global 500. Dairy and beef producers from across the world came together to hear from experts and share advice with each other.
Andrew Linscott, ruminant specialist for Alltech United Kingdom, talked with dairy producers about the hidden killer hitting dairies across the globe. Andrew works with both beef and dairy farmers helping them achieve better performance and animal health, as well as look at ways to improve margins on their farms.
Mycotoxins may be the elephant in the room, but it can’t stay there. We know about the problem, but what are we going to do about it?
Alltech has recently launched it’s 37+ Program. The technique can identify 38 different mycotoxins specifically. This allows for a broader approach compared to other methods that can only get a glimpse of the contamination. For more information on the program contact your local Alltech office.
Listen to Andrew’s complete presentation here: Andrew Linscott - Global 500
You can find photos from this year’s Global 500 here: 2012 Global 500 Photo Album
Posted: December 12, 2012 at 8:52 am
By Melissa
The Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference has announced its program for the 2013 event, which features a special presentation of the Alfalfa Intensive Training Seminar, an industry trade show and tremendous fundraising auction.
Sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (N.A.M.A.), the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference will be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Neb., Feb. 5-6, 2013. The event is designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.
The featured presenter for the 2013 event will be Dr. Dan Undersander, professor of agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over the course of the two days, Dr. Undersander will present a variety of sessions, which are part of the Alfalfa Intensive Training Seminar developed for the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance. Key topics addressed will include managing drought effects, trace mineral impact, pest management, alfalfa in rotations, and contract harvesting.
Additional presentations will include information from soil water/irrigation and animal nutrition experts and a panel discussion featuring a mix of alfalfa producers and purchasers from across the nation.
A large alfalfa industry trade show and fundraising auction are also included during the two-day event. A new event this year, the “Forage Olympics”, will pit teams of alfalfa producers and other conference participants competing in timed events such as hay strapping, stacking square bales and rolling large round bales.
Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, Feb. 1, 2013) and $20 at the door.
Posted: November 29, 2012 at 1:14 pm
By Melissa
The American Farm Bureau Federation has announced the country music artists who will be performing at its 94th Annual Meeting, Jan. 13-16 in Nashville, Tenn., also known as “Music City, USA.”
The three-part country music group Edens Edge will perform at the opening general session on Sunday Jan. 13, which begins at 9 a.m. The Arkansas trio is composed of Hannah Blaylock, Dean Berner and Cherrill Green
On Monday Jan. 14 at 8 p.m., the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture will host a Night Out at the Grand Ole Opry House for Farm Bureau members and guests, featuring award-winning singer/songwriter Phil Vassar. Vassar has co-written songs with country greats such as Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson. His first self-titled album came out in 2000 and went gold; his latest album, Noel, celebrates the holidays.
Night Out at the Grand Ole Opry House will be hosted by former Miss Mississippi and Great American Country personality, Nan Kelley. Other performers include: The Driven Bow; Line Dancers: Barry and Dari Anne Amato; The Fiddleheads; and Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman performing together. General admission tickets for this fundraiser, which is sponsored by Chevrolet, are $55 each plus tax.
ZimmComm will once again provide coverage of the event.
Posted: November 14, 2012 at 2:04 pm
By Jamie Johansen
In just two and a half weeks Lexington, Kentucky will once again open it’s doors to dairy farmers and beef producers from across the world. These agriculturalists are coming together for Alltech’s Global 500. The Alltech community offers an opportunity to find answers to your questions.
What are the modern challenges of animal production?
Where to invest?
How to target performance and profitability?
What is the future of farming?
Can sustainability be achieved?
I am excited to attend this years event and during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk I had a chance to talk with David Butler, Web Marketing Manager for Alltech. He offered insite to the upcoming event and shared what hot topics will be discussed.
“Global 500 is unique because we have progressive dairy farmers and beef producers from all over the world that come to Lexington, KY to spend three days. They get to hear some great speakers, some real industry experts, but more than that we have discussion dinners where they can share ideas and share some challenges. An opportunity for US dairy farmers to find out how their colleagues in Europe are dealing with some of the environmental regulations there that we may see here eventually.”
“Cow comfort, of course is always a big thing. Mycotoxins are a big issue this year because of the drought in the US. We will be talking about ways to manage that. And things like mineral execration and other sorts of challenges that make it really tough for farmers, especially with large herds.”
Alltech is also holding a Farms In Focus photo contest to be judged during Global 500. Snap a photo of what dairy farming means to you and submit at Alltech.com/farmsinfocus. Share via Facebook and Twitter, get all your friends to vote during the event for a chance to win $300.
Listen to my interview with David here: David Butler - Alltech
2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album
Posted: October 3, 2012 at 8:13 am
By Chuck
The flags are flying over the 2012 World Dairy Expo. Show General Manger, Mark Clarke, is very happy about this show. There’s been great weather for setting up and new exhibitors have been able to participate thanks to the New Holland Trade Center.
Mark says there are two main components to Expo, the cattle shows and commercial exhibits, and they each can’t exist without the other. When it comes to the weather problems of the summer Mark doesn’t expect any impact on the show based on pre-registrations and number of cattle signed up to show.
You can listen to my interview with Mark here: Interview with Mark Clarke
2012 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
Posted: September 20, 2012 at 2:50 pm
By Jamie Johansen
Ruminating on the future of beef and dairy farming will be the topic of discussion at Alltech’s 5th Annual Global 500. The event will feature industry experts who will address the changing future of the dairy and beef industries. Last year’s event was a success with 700 attendees and they are expecting over 1000 this December 4-6 in Lexington, Ky.
“Global 500 has gone from a powerful event to an astounding event,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “In a few short years we’ve managed to get some of the industry’s most successful producers to attend and get involved in discussions that are paving the way to a future of opportunity and profitability.”
Producers and industry leaders will have the opportunity to network, discuss and discover new opportunities and challenges for 2013. The program will feature presentations on branding, social media in agriculture and finding new opportunities in challenging times. In addition to an array of presentations, attendees will be invited to take part in discussion dinners, breakout sessions and a number of farm tours.
Dairy producers will explore topics including breakthroughs in nutrition, strategies to manage feed costs, and emerging markets.
Beef producers will delve into issues such as the future marketplace, consumer demands, meat quality, greenhouse gasses and feed yard management.
Registration for Global 500 is $325, but for all those early birds out there register by November 9 for only $200. This will include all sessions, organized functions, luncheons and dinners. Register today and use the invitation code G124.
Posted: June 20, 2012 at 7:51 am
By Melissa
With unmatched passion and commitment to helping people understand the path from farm gate to the consumer plate, keynote speaker Michele Payn-Knoper will inspire the audience to build connected communities in the industry at the debut of the Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans, Sept. 16-17.
Under the direction of Frances Pratt, co-chairwoman and event director from conference host company HighQuest Partners, the Women in Agribusiness Summit will bring together an unparalleled cross-section of women from the agribusiness and food production sectors.
At this dynamic event, attendees will gain superior industry knowledge from highly successful stakeholders, share in professional and career path development opportunities, create key relationships with like-minded professionals in the sector, and promote the agribusiness industry to the next generation of women.
Payn-Knoper will address this extraordinary group on how to lead through the significant changes facing agriculture in the 21st century by relaying poignant moments, not only from her years of experience helping farmers in over 25 countries build connections that impact the future of agriculture, but from her years growing up on a farm.
Posted: January 19, 2012 at 7:59 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
The Seventh Annual I-29 Dairy Conference coming up Feb. 8 and 9 in Sioux Falls will Focus on Global Dairy Issues under the theme, “Now and in the Future.”
The event is coordinated by dairy extension specialists from South Dakota State University, North Dakota State University, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska. Additional partners coordinating the conference include Midwest Dairy Association and Southwest Minnesota Dairy Profit Group.
Speakers and topics with global impact headline this year’s conference. Neil Baker, a dairy producer and sustainable agriculture award winner from the UK and a top-notch slate of dairy industry experts will focus on global dairy issues and sustainability topics at the seventh annual I-29 Dairy Conference. Noted University of Minnesota climatologist Mark Seeley, Stan Erwine, Dairy Management, Inc. as well as Dave Casper, SDSU; Marin Bozic, UM; and a panel of producers and industry stakeholders will cover issues affecting your future dairy business.
Interested producers should complete the online registration form by Feb. 1 to ensure room availability at the Ramkota Inn in Sioux Falls.
Posted: January 4, 2012 at 2:24 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
The Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (NAMA) will launch an online alfalfa evaluation tool at the upcoming Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference, to be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, Nebraska, February 7 and 8.
“The evaluation tool allows users to calculate a sound value of their alfalfa based on a nutrient comparable basis or a market comparable basis,” said Kyle Lechtenberg of Spencer, Nebraska, a member of the NAMA board who is helping to develop the tool. “The goal is to have a specific value for buyers and sellers to use as a starting point when marketing alfalfa, instead of simply asking neighbors or coming up with a ballpark guess.”
Lechtenberg explained that the nutrient comparable basis model allows users to input current prices of corn and soybean meal. The formula then provides a value of the alfalfa on a comparable nutrient basis. The market-based model, however, uses U.S. Department of Agriculture hay price reporting for inputs. It then adjusts those values based on the natural tendency of buyers to pay better for higher quality hay and flatten out for lower grade commodity hay.
“It will be possible to have both models weighted to get an average of the two,” he said. “This is useful in years like this when the market basis model shows a higher value than the nutrient basis model because of short hay supplies. It’s really a great tool that will benefit buyers and sellers alike.”
The Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference is for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others who are involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing.
Registration is $10 per person in advance (tickets must be purchased by noon, February 3, 2012) and $20 at the door. Participants under the age of 18 are admitted at no charge. Registration is available online at www.AlfalfaExpo.com.
Posted: June 2, 2011 at 7:36 pm
By News Editor
The 2011 All-American Dairy Show will welcome 10 judges to place classes in 14 youth and open shows Sept. 17-22 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.
- Lee Barber of DeWitt, Iowa, will judge the All-American Brown Swiss show on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 20-21.
- Ted DeMent of Kenney, Ill., will place the All-American Milking Shorthorn show on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 20-21.
- Theodore Halbach of Madison, Wis., will judge the Premier National Junior Holstein Show on Monday, Sept. 19.
- Ronald Heffner of Middletown, Md., returns to judge at the All-American and will place the Premier National Junior Red & White show on Monday, Sept. 19 and the Eastern National Holstein show Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 21-22.
- Matthew Lawrence of Mercer, Pa., will make his All-American Dairy Show judging debut by placing the All-American Red & White show Wednesday, Sept. 21.
- Daniel Sivesind of Waukon, Iowa, will work triple-time by judging the Premier National Junior Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn shows on Monday, Sept. 19, and the All-American Guernsey Show on Wednesday, Sept. 21.
- Larry Schirm of Laurelville, Ohio, will return to place the Jersey Show at the All-American for the third time on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 21-22.
- Steve Wagner of Quarryville, Pa., will place the Premier National Junior Guernsey Show on Monday, Sept. 19.
- Eric Topp of Botkins, Ohio, returns to the All-American Dairy Show and will place the Premier National Junior Jersey show on Monday, Sept. 19, and the All-American Ayrshire Show Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 20-21.
- Laurie Winkelman of Appleton, Wis., will officiate the Premier National Junior Brown Swiss show on Monday, Sept. 19.
Source: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Posted: May 24, 2011 at 5:14 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
The King Farm Dairy MOOseum in Montgomery County, Maryland will be a featured part of the county’s Heritage Montgomery celebration next month. The historic dairy barn showcases the history of local dairy farming when more than 300 dairy farms operated in the county to serve Washington DC.
The MOOseum, which opened last fall, is located in the South Germantown Recreational Park and has educational exhibits for all ages including a life-size milking Holstein cow, a scale model replica of the King farmstead, as well as exhibits and tours related to the production, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products. The collection includes milk coolers, cream separators, milk bottles and cans, butter churns, milking machines, and other dairy industry artifacts.
Other fun features at the MOOseum include a life-size replica of Astronaut, one of the world’s most famous dairy bulls that was purchased by Montgomery County agricultural interests in 1968, and became internationally acclaimed for dairy breed excellence and productivity, a milkable replica of a Guernsey cow and a bulk milk tank and pipeline demonstration.
The Heritage Montgomery celebration will be held June 25-26.
Posted: March 22, 2011 at 9:31 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
The Dairy Farmers of America annual meeting is underway in Kansas City, Mo. The theme of the meeting is “From Challenge to Change” which “recognizes the industry’s hardships of 2009, its slow recovery in 2010 and highlights our focus and determination to embrace the need for change in our industry.”
Among the highlights of the meeting today are the Chairman’s Report by Randy Mooney, Chairman of the Board; the report from Rick Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer; keynote address by Elanco president Jeff Simmons on What it Takes to Feed the World’s Growing Population; and Outlook and Opportunities presented by Tom Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, Dairy Management Inc. and Greg Jennings, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers.
You can follow DFA on Facebook and Twitter (@dodairydaily).
Posted: February 7, 2011 at 6:42 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Dr. Temple Grandin will give the keynote address at the I-29 Dairy Conference in Sioux Falls, SD this week.
Grandin is a doctor of animal science and professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior and was the topic of an Emmy-award winning HBO movie. She will speak at the conference on Wednesday evening, followed by a full slate of industry speakers focused on animal well-being and sustainability on Thursday.
The theme of the 6th annual I-29 Dairy Conference is “Sustaining our Dairy Families, Farms, and Rural Communities: A Focus on Animal Well-being.”
