The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) conducted a new economic impact analysis, along with John Dunham & Associates, identifying the U.S. meat and poultry industries account for $1.02 trillion in total economic output or 5.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The complete release on the analysis can be found here. NAMI held a press conference this morning to discuss …
TerrAvion Offers Plane-Based Precision Ag
Robert Morris served in the U.S. Army as a Technical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) Platoon Leader in Afghanistan. His ground-breaking work helped uncover intelligence that made critically important strategic decisions, but after returning to the states Morris realized drones were the wrong choice for agriculture. Instead a conversation with a buddy led Morris to start TerrAvion, an aerial imaging service …
BIVI Media Tour of New Ames R&D Facility
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) recently opened a new research and development facility at Iowa State University Research Park in Ames, Iowa and ZimmComm’s own Jamie Johansen had the opportunity to tour the facility prior to the official kick off of the 2016 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. The Health Management Center (HMC) is also located on the …
Ethanol Report on @EPA #RFS Hearing
Ethanol supporters turned out in force this week for a field hearing on EPA’s proposed volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Over 120 witnesses testified in favor of EPA following the rule as passed by Congress by increasing the proposed 2017 requirement for conventional biofuel volumes to the statutory level of 15 billion gallons. In this report, we …
ZimmCast Highlights @Bayer Social Media Award
In this week’s ZimmCast, Chuck talks with Bayer’s Jeff Donald about their use of social media on the ag side and how they measure success. He is the perfect person to learn from because the “Bayer gets scientifically social” campaign has been recognized by PR News with the Best Twitter Community Engagement Award, announced at PR News’ 2016 Social Media …
Court Dumps EU #Ethanol Duty
Breaking news came from Europe today as ethanol supporters were gathered in Kansas City that a European court has ruled against the European Union’s (EU) countrywide 9.5 percent antidumping duty on all ethanol imported from the US.S. that had been in place since February 2013. Both the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy are pleased with the ruling that …
Fuels America Holds Presser at EPA #RFS Hearing
Today biofuel supporters are in Kansas City, Missouri to call on the EPA to make more ethanol and other biofuels available to consumers in next year’s fuel mix. The EPA held a public hearing today on the 2017 and 2018 proposed volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and around 140 people testified about what the RFS means to them …
EPA Hearing on 2017 & 2018 Proposed #RFS Rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a public hearing today (June 9, 2016) in Kansas City, Missouri to hear comments related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposed rules, “Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2017 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2018“. Nearly 150 people are set to testify with the majority pro-ethanol supporters who are delivering the …
I AM USFRA Features Dairy Farmer Carla Wardin
Carla Wardin is a busy mother of three boys and a 6th generation dairy farmer with her husband in Michigan. She’s also one of the Faces of Farming and Ranching for the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and this week’s featured farmer in the “I AM USFRA” weekly podcast. She discusses her “faces” role (the part she likes best …
Thousands Descend on Iowa State Fairgrounds for #WPX16
The 2016 World Pork Expo is underway and 20,000 global pork producers and other professionals are expected to make their way through the barns and trade show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. To kick things off, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) hosted a press conference to discuss key issues impacting pork producers across the county. …
@GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate Award Program
GROWMARK has instituted a new award program to recognize the efforts of crop specialists who excel in engaging farmers by using sustainable, best-management practices. The GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate award was just given to five crop specialists in the FS System for working with farmers to increase their use of the 4R approach; applying fertilizers at the right source, right …
Optimism Infuses 10th Annual #CUTC16
The 10th annual Corn Utilization Technology Conference (CUTC) – #CUTC16 – took place in St. Louis, Missouri this week. The conference is held every other year and focuses on innovations and challenges in the wet and dry corn milling industry. The session kicked off with a message from National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Chris Novak who set a tone …
Gene Stoel Shares Why “I AM USFRA”
Third generation Minnesota farmer Gene Stoel has served on the board of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) for three years now and he considers it time well spent for him representing his family and his fellow farmers. He shares why he is “I AM USFRA” in this week’s podcast. “To me it’s very important to tell people what …
@Better_Seed Meeting Will Be ‘Blazing Trails’
A trail blazing joint convention of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) with the Oregon Seed Association this year will highlight the diverse seed industry of the Beaver State. This year’s theme for the 133rd annual ASTA annual convention is Blazing Trails and takes place in Portland, Oregon June 18-22, 2016. ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi of Grassland Oregon says the …
ZimmCast Spotlights Truffle Media’s 10 Years
In this week’s ZimmCast, Jamie Johansen talks with John Blue, Truffle Media Networks, about the growth of the company and what he sees for the future. John says that Truffle Media Networks will turn ten years old in June. He is now the Chief of Community Creation for the company. You’ll have to listen to him explain that. John is …