Just a month to get in entries for a competition that’s looking for innovative and promising public policy options to address challenges facing agriculture and the food system. The Farm Foundation’s competition with its June 1st submission deadline is based on the group’s report released last December… The 30-Year Challenge: Agriculture’s Strategic Role in Feeding and Fueling a Growing World. …
A Missed Opportunity
Apparently, I need better watchdogs. While I spend a lot of time scouring the internet and combating online misconceptions and issues pertaining to agriculture and food production, I sometimes will miss a situation happening right under my nose. A friend of mine brought this flier to me yesterday. This flier about reducing your carbon footprint was hung in the Student …
10 Tips Marketers Can Learn from CDC’s Response to H1N1 Epidemic
A crazy hysteria has swept the nation as the media sensationalizes and builds fear about the flu H1NI, also commonly known as the Swine Flu. This flu has been discussed through every media outlet imaginable, and it’s safe to say that the world is concerned about this flu strain. While it’s tragic to hear about the recent deaths caused by …
Update at 3 Strikes Ranch
Without a doubt, my past post on the 3 Strikes Ranch incident created an incredibly heated discussion from both animal rights supporters and animal welfare advocates. The mistreatment of animal wasn’t the only topic discusses as readers debated horse slaughter, the secret agenda of HSUS and how the horses were treated after the owner was placed into custody. I promised …
USCP Selects Broadhead + Co
To help it build domestic demand the United Sorghum Checkoff Program has selected Broadhead + Co to launch a new campaign. As part of these efforts, Broadhead + Co will provide domestic marketing strategy for the new sorghum checkoff program. Initially work will focus on growing the use of sorghum for ethanol and as well as opening new edible-uses markets …
Just the Facts from the Corn Farmers Coalition
All the Corn Farmers Coalition (CFC) wants to do is get policy makers to listen to the real facts about issues affecting America’s largest crop. For example, “It’s a little known fact that we are growing five times as much corn as our grandfathers did in the 1930s on 20 percent less land,” said CFC Director Mark Lambert during a …
New Novus Headquarters is Certified Green
The new global headquarters for Novus International in St. Louis has been awarded the Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Platinum certification is the highest designation available to buildings that demonstrate energy efficiency and sustainability. The building, which is located in Missouri Research Park, is only the fourth building in Missouri …
Thank You Larry Quinn
Those of us who have attended a lot of NAFB Washington Watches over the years know that they wouldn’t be anywhere near as beneficial without the help of Larry Quinn, Assistant Director for Communications Operations, USDA. Everyone in ag communications should know Larry and for those in farm broadcasting in particular, he’s documented our “happenings” in his weekly e-newsletter for …
Zimfo Bytes
Bayer CropScience LP presented United Fresh Produce Association with a $1.1 million endowment over the next four years to create the Center for Global Produce Sustainability. Schillinger Genetics has announced the opening of new southern Illinois research station this coming May at their new facility located in Vandalia, Ill. This spring, USDA will conduct the first-ever, wide-scale survey of organic …
NAFB Meeting With Legislators
Members of NAFB are hearing from a variety of senators and congressmen this morning in the Longworth House Bldg. First up on the program was Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA. Harkin pointed out that he’s the only person to ever serve as chairman of the Senate Ag Committee 3 times. His remarks touch on a lot of subjects important to agriculture …