The American Hereford Association has hired Sara Faber to work on new media projects. Oh, and she’ll also have other duties as Marketing and Shows Coordinator.
Faber, originally from Sioux Center, Iowa, graduated in May from Oklahoma State University summa cum laude with a master’s degree in agricultural communications. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public service and administration in agriculture from Iowa State University.
Faber will assist with national Hereford show management, sell banner advertising, work on new media projects and help with communication projects.
Involved in agriculture since birth, Farber grew up on a cow-calf operation where her family raises crossbred, Shorthorn, Simmental and Maine-Anjou cattle. Her family hosts a private treaty club calf sale each fall.
The AdFarm teams continues to grow with the addition of Tracy Barfield.
AdFarm continues to add to its animal health and nutrition ranks by hiring Tracy Barfield to serve in its St. Louis operations as Account Manager. Barfield brings to AdFarm years of experience as a feed and livestock specialist in work with organizations including the United Soybean Board (USB), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Diamond V Technologies.
Most recently, Barfield served as USB Feed Utilization Director with SmithBucklin, the world’s largest association management company. With AdFarm, she will handle the day-to-day management of all account services for Novus International, also based in St. Louis.
“We spent months looking for just the right person who could bring passion, insights and connections in this very specialized field, and Tracy could not be a better fit for AdFarm or our clients,” says Jamie Johnson, Team Lead for AdFarm’s animal agriculture accounts. “Her experience, her acumen and her personality will all be great assets as we continue to build on our animal health expertise.”
The Growth Enhancement Technology Information Team (GET IT) is introducing a marketing program focused on the economic and environmental benefits of conventional beef production. The campaign will provide beef producers with facts about the “eco-friendly and eco-nomical” benefits of conventional beef production.
Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia has been named winner of the $250,000 World Food Prize for his monumental contributions in the production of sorghum which have dramatically enhanced the food supply of hundreds of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, fewer than 10 percent, or about 200 students, graduating each year from U.S. veterinary schools are interested in large animal medicine. Pfizer Animal Health launched an Externship Program this spring aimed at veterinary students with a potential interest in large animal medicine.
In case you didn’t know it, ethanol can be made from sorghum and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program was on location at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop to promote that fact. I met with Tim Lust and Florentino Lopez, USCP, during the trade show yesterday to find out more about what they’re doing in the area of fuel ethanol. You can hear an interview with them in this week’s program using the player at the bottom of the post.
Many of you may know Tim as the CEO of the National Sorghum Producers. Florentino is new to USCP as the Marketing Manager. Tim says fuel ethanol represents a huge market for sorghum not only on the grain side but also cellulosic. Florentino says that as a newcomer to the staff, using sorghum for ethanol has been an eye opener. He does see it as a real growth area for the industry. His background is on the “animal” side where he also sees continuing opportunities.
This week’s program ends with some music from the Podsafe Music Network. It’s a song titled, “Fuel” by Pablo Perez. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.
The 4th annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race was another rousing success at the CMA Music Festival. Not only is it a great promotion for New Holland and a fun way for fans to see some of their favorite stars in the tractor seat, it also raises money for the National FFA.
“The tractor is going to be sold at auction this year, as it has been for the last four years, at the National FFA Convention,” Michael said. “Fifty percent of the proceeds go to the charity of the driver’s choice and the other 50 percent goes to support FFA programs.”
Michael is pictured here with this year’s winner for the second year in a row, Darby Ledbetter, who is not only a great tractor driver, but also a singer/songwriter and proud member of the National Guard! Michael is on the right, by the way, Darby on the left – and that guy in the middle is the famous host of AgriTalk, Mike Adams, who was the announcer for the race once again this year.
Here are two biofuels promoters. Chuck Leavell, Rolling Stones (left) and Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. They were race contestants in the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race.
I caught both of them in the tent for a short interview. It was very noisy. They were having a lot of fun. Of course when I interviewed them Chuck had just completed his race. Joe says we had biodiesel in the tank of the New Holland Boomer that was being used for the race. He says, “Hats off to New Holland, Michael Peterson and Chuck Leavell.” Chuck not only supports biodiesel but ethanol as well since he’s a tree farmer and very interested in cellulosic ethanol production.
Despite the challenges facing the hog industry, there were still thousands of producers who attended World Pork Expo earlier this month in Des Moines. Officials estimate attendance was about 14,625, down from 2008, but it was expected due to the impact of the H1N1 virus on international travel.
Even though there were less international visitors at Expo this year, the number of exhibitors was about the same as last year and they were pleased that to find that those pork producers they visited with were interested in products that would help them increase profitability in tough economic times. I talked with Novus International Director of Product Management Wendell Knehans about some of their products, such as dietary anti-oxidants, that help produce healthier animals.
“Take it from a human perspective,” Wendell said. “Most of us know that anti-oxidants like blueberries and green tea are a good way to maintain good health and that applies to animals as well.”
Since it isn’t very practical to feed pigs blueberries and green tea, Wendell says Novus has developed products that offer a combination of anti-oxidants that provide important benefits for producers.
He preached a powerful sermon this morning. He’s the Reverend of Renewable Fuels. He’s Bob Dinneen, CEO, RFA. Bob was on our program at the opening general session of the Fuel Ethanol Workshop. This is the 25th FEW and Bob has attended 21 of them now!
As always, Bob provided a very positive outlook by starting out looking at the industry’s accomplishments in the last year.
“Look at last year – in the face of a deepening economic downturn, negative 3% growth and rising unemployment, the U.S. ethanol industry grew by 34%, 0pening 31 new plants and adding an additional 240,000 new jobs!
We produced more ethanol last year than ever before, some 9 billion gallons, and we added new markets in the southeast and northwest where the RFA had worked with the oil industry and state governments to tear down regulatory barriers to blending.
As our industry grows, we are transforming our nation’s motor fuel market, and we are transforming the rural landscape of America.”
Bob touches on carbon, critics, food vs. fuel, land use, market expansion and cellulosic. He concluded by saying:
“We may have troubles, but we in the ethanol industry have a great story to tell, a compelling case to make, new opportunities to seize, and new markets to win over.
Don’t let anybody tell you that the ethanol industry is somehow responsible for despoiling rainforests and increasing carbon. We are the only way gasoline refiners can lower the carbon footprint of their product today.
Don’t let anyone tell you ethanol is a government boondoggle, we are creating new hope, new markets for farm products, new jobs for willing workers and new opportunities for entrepreneurship in communities where people need new pathways to a better life.
Don’t let anybody tell you that the world must choose between food and fuel. Our industry is helping humanity to achieve its historic dream of an affordable, and sustainable, abundance of all the necessities of life.
And don’t let anybody tell you that cellulosic ethanol is somebody’s pipe dream. It is as real as the people in this room.
If we stick together, do our work well, and stay focused on the future, our potential is unlimited – in the near-term, the long-term, and as far as our eyes can see and our minds can imagine.
Thank you all for listening, and for the honor of being one of you.
SAI Platform is an organization created by the food industry to communicate worldwide, and to actively support the development of, sustainable agriculture involving the different stakeholders of the food chain. According to SAI, the three new members will be actively participating in SAI Platform’s activities, and in particular its working groups on arable crops, coffee, dairy, fruit, water and agriculture.
He’s become a master Twitterist and blogger. He’s Ken Colombini, the new Director of Communications for the National Corn Growers Association. Please join us in welcoming Ken to his new position.
“Ken has been a valuable member of the award-winning NCGA Communications team during the past two years,” said NCGA Vice President for Marketing Fred Stemme. “He has a great grasp of the issues and I’m pleased that he accepted this new opportunity and challenge.”
Before joining NCGA in October 2007, Colombini held several communications positions at Anheuser-Busch, serving finally as director of governmental and environmental communications. He started his career as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist in California, where he also worked as a speechwriter to the governor and as chief spokesperson for California State Parks.
Reporting to Colombini in this role are Mark Lambert, senior communications manager; Christina Koboldt, marketing manager, who oversees communications regarding events and other programs; Janice Tolley, communications manager in the NCGA Washington office; Jennifer Hausman, online marketing manager and webmaster; Beth Musgrove, graphics and presentation designer; and Mary Quigley, administrative assistant.
AFBF sent comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the development of a national broadband plan by the FCC. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama earlier this year requires the FCC to develop a comprehensive broadband plan by Feb. 17, 2010.
Dairy producers, through their checkoff investment, have launched a consumer awareness initiative to educate consumers about the nutritional and economic value of dairy products, as well as the contributions that America’s dairy producers make to their community, economy and the environment.
From Farm Bureau to fuel, I’ve transitioned over to my next event on the agriblogging highway.
The 25th Annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo is underway in Denver, CO and I’m on location for the next couple days to bring you news, interviews and photos, most of which will be posting onto our Domestic Fuel website. I attended the opening reception this evening and met with many industry friends in a great social setting in the trade show. I saw Mike Bryan, CEO, BBI International, as I was leaving the reception and he seemed very pleased with the start of this year’s event. BBI is the organization that puts on this event each year.
Special thanks go to the Renewable Fuels Association for making our coverage of this event possible. RFA has been a long standing client of ZimmComm New Media and we really enjoy working with them.
Things will get kicked off tomorrow morning with the opening general session and I’ll be there. So expect to see information being posted throughout the day.
Celebrating a quarter century of excellence, the 25th annual FEW will offer cutting-edge content, unparalleled business development opportunities, and a lively tribute to industry progress. From its inception in 1985, this globally recognized event has helped facilitate the ethanol industry’s evolution by providing world-class programming that includes spot-on technical workshops and invaluable networking forums alongside the largest, most widely attended expo in the business.
This afternoon I saw the unveiling of the Car of the Heartland, the official Car of the American Farmer. This is a concept car developed by Furniture Row Racing. They’re looking for industry partners to help them make the car a reality on the NASCAR tracks in 2010, starting with the Daytona 500.
The unveiling was done to the participants in the American Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Conference. Prior to seeing the new car we received a very in-depth tour of the Furniture Row Racing garage. Furniture Row races the #78 car in NASCAR. It was very interesting to see cars in various stages of development and speak with the engineers who work on them.
One of the key developers of the Car of the Heartland concept is Pat Driscoll, Corporate Relations, Furniture Row Racing. Pat is a former farm broadcaster friend from way back and it was great to see him again. I spoke with Pat about this new project after the cloth was pulled off the new car. He says the car is really a new model for NASCAR. For one thing the car will not sport a multitude of corporate logos. It will solely promote the American farmer with the intent of displaying different visuals of the agriculture that’s local to the area in which a race track is located. The goal is to help the American consumer better understand where their food comes from. Pat says they’re currently communicating with 31 different organizations about partnering with them on the project.
One of the sessions here at the AFBF Shining at the PR Summit was titled, “News Media in Transition.” I thought I’d hear stories about how tv and newspapers were utilizing new and social media mechanisms to “transition” to how consumers want to get news and information. Instead I would characterize the comments as being very defensive and actually blaming shoddy reporting today on social media and citizen journalism.
We had a tv news reporter on the panel who says that when it comes to blogging, “I won’t do it.” He admits he’s old school and I think overlooks the value of providing his reports in a mechanism that makes it easier for me to get them. He is confusing unbiased reporting (what’s that?) with opinionating. I think you can use a blog to report news without adding personal perspective. However, I think that consumers want to know the opinion of people they respect and admire and that could very well be a tv reporter.
This same reporter called his Facebook friends, “My little Facebook friends.” That sounded kind of demeaning and dismissive to me. I don’t think he meant it that way but when he said “Everyone has a Twitter/Facebook account” as if somehow there’s something wrong with that it really showed a resistance to change and transition which I think clearly shows why traditional media outlets are struggling so much.
It has been a great session here today. We’re about to go on a tour which I’ll be posting about later.
The CMA Music Festival in Nashville featured some well-known country legends like Reba McEntire and the Judds, so it was a perfect place for New Holland to display its own country classic, the Boomer 8N.
“It’s a retro going back to the Ford 8N and we are very proud of that heritage of ours going back to the 40s and 50s,” said Clint Erickson, New Holland business manager for Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The tractor, which was just launched earlier this year at the National Farm Machinery Show, was on display for all four days of the CMA Music Fest and at the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race on Sunday.
The slogan for the 8N is “The Legend Returns” and Clint says it attracted a lot of attention at the festival with many posing for pictures with the shiny, sweet ride. Find out more at www.8n.com.
Listen to or download my interview with Clint here:
Most ranch kids can trace their heritage back to a long lineage of food producers. In past generations, if a kid’s father were a rancher, he or she would more than likely grow up to be a rancher, as well. Yet, today’s generation may have many ancestors of ranchers in their family trees, but because of the many challenges facing producers today, they often opt to pursue big city careers in favor of returning to production agriculture.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are two times as many farmers over 65 as under 35 in the United States today. In addition, it is estimated that one-quarter of the nation’s farms will change hands in the next decade. Yet, it’s a rare occasion for a young person to return to production agriculture, which is why a young person like Seth Zilverberg is making the news. Seth is a fellow Limousin breeder, and I recently chatted with him and his mother about his move back to his family’s cattle operation. Here is what his mom, Peg, has to say about young people in production agriculture.
We are so proud of Seth and happy to have him home. I wish there were more young people returning home to production agriculture, and I think it’s so disappointing to know that more often than not, these kids are encouraged to pursue outside opportunities. So many people told Seth he was ‘too smart’ to return home to the farm, and I think that’s the biggest mistake of all.
So, who are the future of food producers? Where is the next generation going? How can we help beginning farmers? What’s your story? Do you come from a farm background? How many generations of agriculturalists are in your family? What are your plans for the future? Inquiring minds want to know?
The American Farm Bureau Federation, “Shining at the PR Summit” is underway here in Denver. I’m feeling my miles this morning after 5 days at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville but thank you to the Brown Palace Coffee & Tea Co. for helping out.
I’ll be conducting a session on social media here in just a few minutes. Please feel free to tweet your thoughts on using social media to the PR professionals here from state Farm Bureaus across the country. Just use the #FBPR hashtag. You know what I’m talking about right?
The American Agricultural Insurance Company announced the appointment of Janet S. Katz as the company’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2009.
Wet weather and a delayed planting season in corn is giving broadleaf weeds a head start, taking over fields very quickly across the Corn Belt. The late planting season is also providing corn growers more time to evaluate their weed management program and make the best decisions to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds in their fields.
Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust, spoke to agricultural leaders and the press as part of the Farm Foundation’s Forum on “Carbon Policy Options and Implications for Agriculture” in Washington, D.C., where he outlined why he’s “optimistic” on the opportunities for agriculture and refuted the idea that cap & trade legislation will only result in increased costs to agricultural producers.
Michael Waddell is the star of Bone Collectors on the Outdoor Channel. He was one of the competitors in the New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race, hosted by Michael Peterson.
Waddell gave it a valiant effort and hopefully will compete again next year.
It’s certainly not news to anyone in the agriculture industry that livestock producers, especially pork producers, are hurting. According to the National Pork Producers Council, pork producers, who prior to the announcement of the H1N1 “outbreak” were already losing money, have seen losses accelerate to an average of $17.69 on each hog marketed since May 1, 2009. Total losses have escalated to 7.2 million a day.
Despite these many downfalls, pork producers aren’t going to give up without a fight. My neighbor and local pork producer, Brad Greenway, is determined to help producers through media outreach and consumer education, and he wants you to join the fight, too! I had a great chat with Greenway the other day, and he had some advice in serving as an agriculture advocate. Greenway has spoken to over 65 groups, as well as offering an open house at his own facilities. He’s a great resource for all agriculture enthusiasts. Thanks, Brad!
Farmers count for less than 2% of the population in the United States, said Greenway. That’s why it’s so important for farmers to get out and explain to consumers how food is produced. It’s amazing that no matter where I’m at, in a big city or in a rural community, I always get the same questions. We have to get better at telling our story. With the ballot initiatives in California, Arizona and now Ohio, the animal rights issue is one that we are continually trying to combat. They want to change the way we raise our livestock. By using sound science and sharing our personal stories, we can work on public perception. I’m proud of the way we raise our livestock, and we can’t be afraid to stand up for our industry, even in the local coffee shop.
Start a good habit today and share the agriculture story with someone new!
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
David conducted a presentation on delivering expert opinion via social media to an audience at the start of International Poultry Expo week. He's got some great information about who consumers trust and how you can use today's consumer behavior to help communicate your message.
The American Hereford Association has hired Sara Faber to work on new media projects. Oh, and she’ll also have other duties as Marketing and Shows Coordinator.
The 
In case you didn’t know it, ethanol can be made from sorghum and the 
Many of you may know Tim as the CEO of the 
The 4th annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race was another rousing success at the CMA Music Festival. Not only is it a great promotion for New Holland and a fun way for fans to see some of their favorite stars in the tractor seat, it also raises money for the 
Here are two biofuels promoters. Chuck Leavell, Rolling Stones (left) and Joe Jobe, CEO of the 
Even though there were less international visitors at Expo this year, the number of exhibitors was about the same as last year and they were pleased that to find that those pork producers they visited with were interested in products that would help them increase profitability in tough economic times. I talked with 
He preached a powerful sermon this morning. He’s the Reverend of Renewable Fuels. He’s Bob Dinneen, CEO, RFA. Bob was on our program at the opening general session of the Fuel Ethanol Workshop. This is the 25th FEW and Bob has attended 21 of them now!
SAI Platform is an organization created by the food industry to communicate worldwide, and to actively support the development of, sustainable agriculture involving the different stakeholders of the food chain. According to SAI, the three new members will be actively participating in SAI Platform’s activities, and in particular its working groups on arable crops, coffee, dairy, fruit, water and agriculture.
He’s become a 
From Farm Bureau to fuel, I’ve transitioned over to my next event on the agriblogging highway.
This afternoon I saw the unveiling of the Car of the Heartland, the official Car of the American Farmer. This is a concept car developed by 
One of the sessions here at the AFBF Shining at the PR Summit was titled, “News Media in Transition.” I thought I’d hear stories about how tv and newspapers were utilizing new and social media mechanisms to “transition” to how consumers want to get news and information. Instead I would characterize the comments as being very defensive and actually blaming shoddy reporting today on social media and citizen journalism.
The CMA Music Festival in Nashville featured some well-known country legends like Reba McEntire and the Judds, so it was a perfect place for New Holland to display its own country classic, the 
According to the 
The American Farm Bureau Federation, “Shining at the PR Summit” is underway here in Denver. I’m feeling my miles this morning after 5 days at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville but thank you to the Brown Palace Coffee & Tea Co. for helping out.
Despite these many downfalls, pork producers aren’t going to give up without a fight. My neighbor and local pork producer, Brad Greenway, is determined to help producers through media outreach and consumer education, and he wants you to join the fight, too! I had a great chat with Greenway the other day, and he had some advice in serving as an agriculture advocate. Greenway has spoken to over 65 groups, as well as offering an open house at his own facilities. He’s a great resource for all agriculture enthusiasts. Thanks, Brad!
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
