So, what’s this week’s episode about? It’s about agriculture’s economic impact on a very urban region, specifically St. Louis. The St. Louis Agribusiness Club just announced the results of their Agricultural Economic Impact Study on the St. Louis Region. This study has been conducted every five years since the first one was conducted in 2004. And guess what. ZimmComm produced that first study and you can still see those results on the organization’s website.

To talk about the study I’m going to share conversations with Matt Amick, Missouri Soybean Association and President of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club. Then you’ll hear Alan Spell, University of Missouri Extension, who actually researched and prepared this year’s study.

This week's program focuses on National Ag Day activities in our nation's Capitol.

In the program you'll hear from Senator Pat Roberts who made remarks during the Celebration of American Agriculture reception. I also interviewed Isabella Chism, American Farm Bureau Federation, who is the Chair for National Ag Day. 

Next up is USDA Deputy Secretary, Steve Censky, who spoke prior to moderating a panel discussion, "Observations from the Next Generation of America's Agriculturists." After his remarks you can listen to National Ag Day Essay Contest winner Grace Brose, South Dakota.

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

In this week's program I talk about the crazy agriblogging highway schedule and the value of media rooms at conferences and conventions. 

In addition to the above I am sharing some audio from the 2019 National Farm Machinery Show which includes Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles. Next up is FMC's Rick Ekins, Application and Innovations Platform Lead. He talks about "Investing in the Furrow." After that you can hear the presentation audio from the Case IH AFS Connect Magnum Series Tractor launch.

In this week's program I share a conversation with farm broadcasting legend Everett Griner who just announced his retirement after 70 years in the broadcast business! Ev was also a mentor for me and Gary Cooper when I worked with him many years ago. Ev continued working for Gary and Southeast AgNet until this week.

Next in the program I have an interview with Kelly Davis, Renewable Fuels Association, about their co-partnership with the Export Exchange conference that brings together international grain buyers with U.S. grain trade representatives. In RFA's case, they value the promotion of an ethanol production co-product called DDGs.

Finally, I have an interview conducted by Jamie Johansen, Honey Creek Media, with Pat Crowley, Alltech who talks about mycotoxin myths.

In this week’s program we’ll hear several John Deere representatives talk about the company’s newest forage harvester, the self-propelled 9,000 Series. I spoke to these folks on the morning the product was launched at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Each of the guys I talked with provide a different perspective which I thought would be interesting.

First up is: John Thomassen, Global Director – Hay & Forage Harvest.

Next I spoke with: Dan Paschke, Director of Marketing – Hay & Forage.

Next in the program is:Jarrod McGinnis, Dairy & Livestock Production System Manager.

Finally in this week’s program I visit with: Matt Hatcher, Territory Sales Manager.

You can find more about the new John Deere 9000 Series Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters on AgWired.com. Just click on the John Deere category and you’ll see some other interviews I’ve already published from the product launch.

Dr. Shefali Mehta has been tapped as the new executive director of the Soil Health Partnership, a long-term data project that measures and quantifies the impact of farm management practices known to promote healthy soils. Let's meet her in this episode.

Can-Am is introducing a new Defender Series Mossy Oak Hunting Edition HD10 model with improved features that includes an optional roof rack.

In this episode Jamie talks about her trip around the world to Ireland and to Indonesia.  She also shares interviews from those trips.

Then Chuck interviews Jenna Oesch, Global Marketing Lead & Customer Experience Council Lead, Monsanto Company, Vegetable Seeds Division.  Jenna is Chair of this year's Agri-Marketing Conference which is being held in KC, MO.

ZimmComm is exhibiting once again in the Connection Point.

Next week will be a busy week in Washington, DC.  Cindy and Chuck will be there for National Ag Day Activities, the Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit and American Coalition for Ethanol annual Fly-in.  So this week's program starts out with Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse, providing a preview of this year's Summit program which features several panels and lots of well known individuals who will be speaking to the topics.

After that you'll hear Jamie Johansen talking with Maeve Desmond, Alltech, during the Alltech Great Green Getaway in Ireland.  Maeve talks about Alltech's founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons, who just recently passed away, and how he founded this amazing company.

In this week's program you'll get to hear the lates episode of the GROWMARK Podcast.  GROWMARK has been a long term sponsor of the ZimmCast and we thought we'd feature one of their own podcasts.

Additionally, Chuck talks with Rob McLelland and Heidi Nelson of FLM Harvest about their new initiative called Ultimate Collaboration.  Here's more:

A new initiative aims to spark the ultimate expression of cooperation among agricultural leaders in support of producer-funded checkoffs. Ultimate Collaboration will raise awareness of the positive impact checkoffs have on food and rural communities, and serve as a resource to farmers, program stakeholders, the general public and public officials.

It is probably the busiest week of the year for the ZimmComm Team.  From the Bayer AgVocacy Forum to Commodity Classic to Pork Industry Forum to Farm and Gin Show and to American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Lots of interviews, photos, videos and all of it can be found in our online virtual ag newsrooms on AgNewsWire.com.

In the program Chuck shares interviews with Cyndee Smiley, Media Relations Manager for John Deere Ag & Turf.  Cyndee talks about her job and passion for agriculture.

Chuck also shares an interview with Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, Ryan Quarles.  Ryan was the only agricultural representative in a meeting with President Trump on the Infrastructure Rollout earlier in the week.

This ZimmCast comes to you from the ASTA CSS 2017 and Seed Expo in Chicago which I attended last week for the sixth year in a row, and Jamie got to experience for the first time.

Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States. The CSS stands for corn, sorghum and soybeans. The conference, which is held annually in Chicago, began as the Corn & Sorghum Conference in 1945. The Soybean Seed Research Conference was added in 1970 and the Seed Expo trade show started six years later. All wrapped into one, the event brings about 2500 seed industry professionals together every year to usher in the holiday season by unwrapping the latest seed research, policy, and technology.

Jamie and I sat down with Greg Lammert of Rhea+Kaiser, who was at the event representing their client Bayer, and we talked about the conference, the industry and communicating the story of agriculture. Also included are interviews with ASTA chair Tracy Tally of Justin Seed Co. and Julie Borlaug, Inari Agriculture who spoke at the meeting. Enjoy!

This ZimmCast comes to you from the 25th annual Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) conference and expo in Phoenix. Chuck interviews ARA communications director Brian Reuwee, provides comments from BASF and Monsanto representatives about dicamba in 2018, and shares the comments of ARA's retailer of the year award winners.

Brian was actually the subject of the ZimmCast at this time in 2014, back in Chuck's Google glass phase. This is the fourth year that ZimmComm has attended the ARA conference to produce content, especially photos, and this year we also shot board and staff photos for the organization - a new service we have been offering lately.

At the start of the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention Chuck, Cindy and Jamie got together to talk about how long they've been attending the meetings, how Jamie joined the team and then they share a featured interview with Paul Spooner, USFRA, who talks about his job doing communications work for the organization.

The team will be on location throughout the meeting, taking photos, doing interviews and sharing them on AgNewsWire in a virtual newsroom.

The new and expanded ZimmCast is here.  After informally polling our audience and looking at new podcast research we clearly heard that you want more.  So the length of the ZimmCast will increase with features of interviews from events we have or are attending and will continue to bring you what's new in the world of agribusiness with a focus on agricultural marketing.

This week you'll hear portions of the following:

Our new Growth Energy Podcast

Ethanol Report Podcast

Sonny Perdue FFA Convention Press Conference

USFRA Food Revolution Movie Sponsorship Press Conference

John Deere Combines interview from Sunbelt Ag Expo

Bayer's Liam Condon at the Youth Ag Summit

We hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

This week's program features a conversation with National FFA Advisor, Dr. Steve Brown. Jamie Johansen is involved in judging during the National FFA Convention but had time to sit down with Dr. Brown. According to Jamie, "Dr. Brown and my dad were state FFA officers together and then worked for the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education in Agricultural Education for decades together. Long-time friends and colleagues."

Dr. Brown talks about changes in how to teach young people today. He remembers when computers became a tool and the advances in technology that have led us to today's tools. Of course, social media is a component of those tools. One of the takeaways he hopes some of the convention attendees will walk away with is the desire to become agriculture educators.

Learn more about Dr. Brown and what is happening at this year's convention in the program.

A preview of the Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit “Harvesting Farm Bill Perspectives” to be held March 20 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C (8:00 am – 5:00 pm). This educational event promises to be a great exchange of ideas by some of the most experienced Farm Bill veterans.

Chuck interviews Mark Stock, founder of Big Iron, an auction company.  They discuss the history of the company, type of auction work and specifically the Blue and Gold Benefit Auction to support Kentucky FFA at the National Farm Machinery Show.

Black Leg Ranch of McKenzie, N.D., was named national 2016 winner of the prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) for its commitment to protecting America’s natural resources in a flourishing operation . The award, presented this week at the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn., is sponsored by Dow Agrosciences, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.

Jamie Johansen talks with Jerry about the award.