When I tell people where we live, I’ve actually had a couple folks ask if we had indoor plumbing. They picture rural Nebraska with outhouses and well water that we have to carry in with buckets. (We are on well water, but it has a pump and we have an operating sink!) We’ve come a long way since then, but it was about 1936 when southeast Nebraska got electricity and 1938 when my grandparents got rural electricity through REA.
Until that time, Grandpa and his family used to burn kerosene (or coal oil) lanterns to do chores in the early morning hours or into the evening.
To think, just last week my brother was harvesting corn across the road at 10 p.m. Equipped with lights and GPS, he could work through the night. I guess the combine was burning the midnight oil, so to speak, but back in the 30s, they literally had to burn oil to get any work done.
Until we walk again…
- Syngenta and DuPont announced that Syngenta has assumed full ownership of GreenLeaf Genetics, LLC, effective Nov. 8, 2010.
- Telling the story about the role of Modern Agriculture’s science and technology to outside audiences is an obligation of all employed by the crop protection industry, according to the president of CropLife America.
- Becker Underwood has added two new case sizes for its VAULT HP growth-enhancement system for soybeans: the 2 x 200-unit package size and the 4 x 50-unit package.
- Syngenta and ETH Zurich have entered into a partnership to launch a new professorship in the field of Sustainable Agroecosystems. Syngenta will donate CHF 10 million to ETH Zurich Foundation in order to finance a new professorship and associated research staff for the next ten years.
Special Report from Harry Siemens
Feed specialists and researchers are advising Manitoba hog producers to monitor feed quality and watch the performance of their herds to avoid any problems associated with fusarium head blight-infected feed grains.
Fusarium head blight infects primarily cereal crops producing a mycotoxins that reduce end use quality of the grain.
The warm, wet growing conditions in Manitoba that helped produce a very good corn and soybeans crops did the damage to many of the cereal crops. Preliminary data shows the unusually warm wet year caused higher than normal levels of fusarium, especially in winter wheat.
Operations manager George Wieler of Delmar Commodities in Winkler, Mb said the problem for hog producers is wider-spread this year than last, especially in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan.
“Last year we brought in low fusarium, low vomitoxian feed grains to help with the requirements here,” said Wieler. “This year it is hard to find. One drawing area we’ve had in the past is eastern and northern Saskatchewan. That is where we’ve pulled a lot of feed grains from in the past.”
This year many acres went unseeded, and the acres seeded there, the quality of the final product isn’t very good, not taking fusarium into account.
“So far, there is still enough to go around,” he said. “The question is how long will it last? When is the tap going to be tapped out to find low fusarium feed grains?” (more…)
New NAFB president Lindsay Hill (ABN Radio) accepted the gavel from Greg Akagi (WIBW/Kansas Ag Net) during the Friday night president’s banquet to symbolize the beginning of a new slate of officers for the farm broadcasting organization, even though it will be the end of the year before it officially changes.
One new regional vice president was elected on Friday. Meghan Grebner (WMBD-Peoria) is the new representative for the eastern region. Ken Rahjes (KRVN) continues to represent the western region and Janet Adkison (KMZU-Carrolton, MO) is the southern region VP.
The new vice president of NAFB is Mark Oppold of RFD TV. I had the chance to interview both Mark and outgoing president Greg right after the business meeting was held on Friday afternoon. Greg says he is looking forward to seeing his family again after three years on the road for NAFB. “I’m going to relax. I’m just imagining that my wife, when December 31 rolls around, will say ‘Happy New Year’ and hand me a 2-3 page list that may take me all of 2011 to accomplish!”
Mark, who has been involved in NAFB for over 25 years as both a voting and an associate member, is looking forward to serving as an officer. He says membership continues to be a challenge for the organization and determining who should or should not qualify. “Membership always seems to float to the top pretty quick,” said Mark. “One of the primary functions of the national vice president is to serve as guardian of the membership roles for that year.” Mark says considering some type of accreditation will be on the table this year.
Listen to an interview with Greg and Mark here: Greg Akagi and Mark Oppold
NAFB Convention Photo Album
Two of the most coveted awards of the year for farm broadcasters were handed out during the luncheon on Friday.
The Horizon Award, which recognizes up and coming talent in the industry, was presented this year to Haylie Shipp of the Northern Ag Network. Haylie Shipp grew up on a cattle ranch north of Glasgow, Montana and received the NAFB Glenn Kummerow Memorial Scholarship a few years ago.
Farm Broadcaster of the Year is Jeff Nalley of Cromwell Ag Network. Jeff is a past president of NAFB and has been involved in many facets of the organization over his 20+ years in the industry.
Lots of other awards were handed out at lunch, including the tenure awards – which included two 54 year certificates of membership for Roddy Peeples and Evan Slack. The Marketcast and Newscast awards were presented to Michelle Rook of WNAX and the ABN Radio Network team, respectively. Others received awards for the volume and quality of audio sent in to the NAFB news service.
Congrats to all!
NAFB Convention Photo Album
Current Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who is now Senator-Elect for that state, stopped by the NAFB meeting on his way out to the nation’s capitol on Friday.
The new senator, who is a great advocate for agriculture in Congress, took time to do interviews with farm broadcasters and addressed the Awards Luncheon.
Jerry says he is a big fan and believer in ag journalism which serves a role in not only providing news and information for farmers and ranchers, but also educating the general public. “We need farm broadcasters who can explain to the rest of the world what goes on in agriculture,” said the senator-elect.
I had the opportunity to interview Jerry about his priorities in the new congress and his opinion on important issues like biofuels and GIPSA. Listen to my interview with Jerry Moran here: Jerry Moran
NAFB Convention Photo Album
The latest research on who is listening or watching what in farm broadcast media was presented Friday morning at the NAFB annual meeting by the great Teddy Haller.
Not surprisingly, Haller’s latest research found a continued increase in the internet as an information source for farmers and ranchers. “That consistent rise of the internet is not necessarily meaning the decline of other media,” Ted says. “Both radio listenership for farm news and information, and internet, were the two most dramatic rises in terms of where people were going.”
Ted says this bodes very well for a combination of both. “To move a lot of in-depth reports, podcasting, into the internet to the group that wants it,” which he estimates to be 20-25%. “The internet frees you from everything. There’s no reason why our members can’t have a half hour TV show at night.”
Listen to my interview with Ted here: Ted Haller
NAFB Convention Photo Album
Menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings increased about 1.3 percent in price this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
AFBF’s 25th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $43.47, a 56-cent price increase from last year’s average of $42.91. This year’s meal is actually $1.14 cheaper than what shoppers paid two years ago, when the total was $44.61.
This year’s meal remains a bargain at less than $4.35 per person. The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. There is also plenty for leftovers.
The big ticket item — a 16-pound turkey — was actually cheaper this year, at $17.66. That was roughly $1.10 per pound, actually a decrease of about 6 cents per pound, or a total of 99 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2009. While the whole bird was the biggest contributor to the final total, it was also the largest price decline compared to last year.
A gallon of whole milk increased in price by 38 cents per gallon, to $3.24. Other items that showed a price increase from last year were: a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix, $2.62, up 17 cents; two nine-inch pie shells, $2.46, up 12 cents; ½ pint of whipping cream, $1.70, up 15 cents; three pounds of sweet potatoes, $3.19, up 7 cents; a one-pound relish tray of carrots and celery, 77 cents, up 5 cents; a dozen brown-n-serve rolls, $2.12, up 4 cents.
County music star Sammy Kershaw entertained the NAFB annual meeting Thursday night, bringing back an old tradition of live entertainment.
Sammy sang some of his big hits like “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer”, and “Meant to Be.” Lots of great dance moves out there!
Most of the NAFB Girls’ Weekend group posed with Sammy after the concert. I had already disappeared for the night after a very long day of picture-taking. But, not before the NGW group got the winning bid for next summer at the Al Johnson and Sara Wyant Lake Ozark retreat home. Sorry, Al – we’re coming back again. There was a group of boys who tried to outbid us, but we prevailed!
Thanks to Meghan Grebner for the photo!
NAFB Convention Photo Album
The Thursday night banquet at NAFB honored many for outstanding and lifelong achievement in the industry.
The NAFB Hall of Fame inducted two new members. Taylor Brown, Northern Ag Network, is past president of NAFB and the NAFB Foundation and has been called “Senator” for the past two years as he was elected to the Montana state legislature for a four year term. He and his wife Shannon were thrilled with the honor. Kinda young for this, don’t you think, Taylor?
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was Gene Millard, NAFB emeritus member and head of Millard Family Farms. Gene was a pioneer in NAFB’s sales and marketing efforts, and served as interim executive director for the organization for a little while. He brought his 90-something year old mother to help him celebrate the honor last night.
There were two different Meritorious Service Award winners this year, for the first time ever. The honorees this year were Denny Waddle of KRVN and former NAFB executive director Roger Olsen. Denny and Roger were both surprised by the recognition, which is always fun, although Roger noted that he never thought it was fair to surprise people with this award – and now he’s sure that it’s unfair!
The New Holland Oscar in Agriculture Award was presented this year to Mark Oppold of RFD TV for his work covering the flooding in Tennessee earlier this year. Coverage of the flooding on RFD TV helped to raise about $50,000 to help those affected. NAFB is sincerely grateful to New Holland – represented here by the “retired” Gene Hemphill and Sean Dorosz, for sponsoring this award that recognizes the best of the best for excellence in farm broadcasting.
Check out more photos here:
NAFB Convention Photo Album
A brand new record was set for the NAFB Foundation’s annual fundraising auction Thursday night – $22,295! Not sure how much it beats the old record by, but last year the total was about $13,000, so this was a biggie.
A big reason for the huge success this year was the generosity of two NAFB past presidents – Evan Slack and Rich Hull. They each bought and donated back the #2 NAFB Foundation Ertl model tractor – for $2750 EACH. That tractor ended up bringing in a total of about $7000 for the foundation and I think Evan ended up taking it home. These are the last of the special edition NAFB Foundation tractors, which have been sold at the auction in seven series for the past seven years.
Orion Samuelson, the original NAFB Foundation president, once again served as Master of Ceremonies for the auction. First he was honored with a special video presentation marking his 50 years at WGN. “I don’t want people to get confused that this is a retirement,” Orion said. “It isn’t. I’m having too much fun doing what I’m doing.”
I did a quick interview with Orion and asked him about the history of the NAFB Foundation, which he helped to start many years ago. Listen to or download that interview here: Orion Samuelson
NAFB Convention Photo Album
Farm broadcasters at NAFB Thursday went straight from Trade Talk to a 45 minute press conference with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The secretary addressed a number of issues – from Veterans Day to rural development to biofuels and took quite a few questions on several topics. He did get a couple of questions about the GIPSA rule, but still refused to say very much about it since the proposal is still in comment period until November 22.
Listen to or download the press conference here: Vilsack Press Conference
Photo album is now up to date – including pix of Sammy Kershaw last night!
NAFB Convention Photo Album
NAFB’s annual Trade Talk seemed to be one of the best ever, with many of both the exhibitors and the broadcasters claiming they had set all time interview records.
The marathon interview session latest from 7:30 am until 2:00 pm, extended for a half hour this year and it seemed to make a little difference in the pacing of the event and I heard several comments that it seemed to flow smoother and was a little less hectic. But, it still makes for a long day!
Trade Talk is really a unique event that has grown to be very popular with about 100 different companies, organizations and government agencies that come every year. Most of them have been participating in Trade Talk since it started 20 years ago. It gives the broadcasters and allied members an opportunity for real networking with each other.
Having some trouble uploading new photos to Flickr tonight, but we are at least up to date through Trade Talk.
NAFB Convention Photo Album
- Social media is taking the internet by storm, but within that storm are dangers lying in wait for your company. Simply being aware of what some of those dangers are is the easiest way to prevent you or your company from facing legal ramifications. Join us for the next NAMA Webinar, Thursday, Dec. 9 at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) and learn how to protect yourself from online dangers.
- Becker Underwood has introduced Polymer 1172-O, an OMRI-certified, water-soluble seed polymer designed to bind organic seed treatments onto seed and control dust-off.
- Farm Safety 4 Just Kids has received $100,000 from Nationwide Insurance, presented by Gary A. Douglas, president and COO of Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company.
- JCB, one of the world’s largest heavy equipment manufacturers, has launched an exciting new line of highly productive and reliable skid steer loaders and compact track loaders.
The newly formed U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance announced their board of directors and officers today at the NAFB convention. Pictured is Chairman, Bob Stallman, AFBF.
You can listen to and download the press conference that was just held in the media room and I’ve posted a release which has a lot more details below as well. (Thanks to Tom Steever, Brownfield Network, for the audio since I goofed w/my recorder.): USFRA Press Conference
NAFB Convention Photo Album
Today’s agriculture continues to be attacked by a number of different groups. Unfortunately, as the majority of the U.S. public has become further and further removed from the farm, they tend to believe the groups attacking agriculture, according to the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). This new alliance is comprised of most of the leading national farmer- and rancher-led agricultural organizations.
USFRA believes the actions of these groups have led a number of agricultural organizations to fund programs that bolster the image of agriculture and enhance public trust in our food supply. While these individual efforts have been helpful in answering some of the criticism, there is a growing need for all of agriculture to coordinate their messages and reach out even further to the consuming public through consumer influencers and thought leaders.
“We in production agriculture recognize the immediate need to build consumer trust in today’s U.S. food production system,” said newly-elected USFRA Chairman Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We also recognize the need to maintain and enhance the freedom of American farmers and ranchers to operate in an economical, sustainable and responsible manner. The sun rises today on a new, collaborative and coordinated effort by many segments of production agriculture to tell our great story as never before.”
(more…)
This morning at the NAFB convention a press conference was held the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the National Turkey Federation (NTF) and the National Meat Association (NMA) to release the results of an economic analysis of USDA’s proposed livestock and poultry marketing regulation – the so-called GIPSA rule. I’ve posted the audio of the remarks from the presenters below. There is a lot of information in the report. Some key points include their finding that if the rule is imposed as proposed we would see an annual drop in gross domestic product of as much as $1.56 billion, a loos of more than 22,000 jobs and an annual loss of $359 million in tax revenues.
Panelists included Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics, who moderated the event; Rob Murphy, senior vice president of Informa Economics; Jim Maxey, a long-time NMA member and past chairman of the board; Bill Donald, Montana rancher and NCBA president-elect; Doug Wolf, Wisconsin pork producer and NPPC president-elect; and John Burkel, Minnesota turkey producer.
You can find the Informa report online.
Here’s where you can listen to or download the press conference audio: Informa GIPSA Rule Press Conference
NAFB Convention Photo Album
The winners of this year’s NAFB Foundation scholarships were announced today during the Foundation luncheon. They include Denise Donley, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Taylor James, Kansas State University and Julie Martin, University of Wisconsin-Madison. They’re pictured with Taylor Brown, Northern Ag Network.
I asked them how it felt to be selected and what they intend to do with their careers. You can listen to my interview with our NAFB Foundation scholarship winners here: NAFB Foundation Scholarship Interview
NAFB Convention Photo Album
The NAFB Foundation board met prior to the start of the convention. Leading them was outgoing Foundation President, Taylor Brown, Northern Ag Network.
Taylor says “things are rolling.” There are two new members to the board, Don Wick and Ken Root. Ken Anderson will be the new President of the Foundation. To support the effort Taylor says this is the last year of the NAFB Foundation toy tractor project and you can still purchase one. Over the years of the program the project has generated over $60,000! Of course there is the silent and live auction here and new this year is a 50-50 raffle. Learn what he sees for the future of the Foundation in my interview with him.
You can listen to my interview with Taylor here: Taylor Brown Interview
NAFB Convention Photo Album
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Marketing and Promotion Advisory Board is meeting this morning at the convention. On the board as well as the NAFB board of directors is Kyle Bauer, center, KFRM.
I spoke with Kyle during a break to get an update about the activities of the advisory board. Kyle says the research the group does is shared with members to help them manage their broadcast properties. He says that looking forward a continuing effort will be made to look at new forms of electronic communications, how that is being used by farmers and how it can be integrated with traditional farm radio broadcasting.
You can listen to my interview with Kyle here: Kyle Bauer Interview
NAFB Convention Photo Album
An Informa Economics study on the economic impact of the proposed GIPSA rules finds it could cost the economy $1.5 billion and nearly 23,000 jobs. The study, which was conducted on behalf of meat industry organizations, was released today in Kansas City by representatives of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation and National Meat Association.
In addition to the economic impact, the study found that a majority of industry participants think the rule language is “vague and poorly-defined”; that companies affected by the rule are uncertain about how it will be interpreted and enforced, and that “the provision that removes the burden for litigants to show competitive injury in order to seek damages is by far the largest area of concern. Informa finds that nearly 75% of the expected economic damage arising from this proposed rule can be tied directly to this provision.”
We’ll have more information about this study and the differences between its findings and the recent John Dunham study coming up shortly.
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In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
