If you would like to improve your design skills then plan on attending the Livestock Publications Council June 16, Design Workshop (pdf). It will be held at the Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley campus just south of downtown Kansas City from 8:30am to 4pm.
This workshop will be held in a computer lab and concentrate only on design so you will get true hands-on training. We are sure you will like the focus and the format! Sessions include:
The Newest on Adobe Creative Suite 5
Preparing files for output and proofing
Philosophy of design
Registration Fees: $70/members • $90/non-members • $125/on site • $40/students
Registration Deadline: June 3, 2011 After June 3, add $35 late fee to each registration.
Contact Diane Johnson for more information: dianej@flash.net
It’s in my blood, and it must be in my husband’s blood as well. Home haircuts, I mean. My husband’s grandfather had a barber’s chair in his basement and gave the kids haircuts. My great-grandfather used a kitchen chair, but did the same for his four boys. And now, I carry on the tradition and sit my dad, husband and son down for monthly haircuts at home. (Well, dad NEEDS a monthly haircut but usually only makes it once every three months.)
My repertoire of hair-cutting instruments consists of a spray bottle, comb, scissors and clippers, and a smaller battery-operated trimmer for the hairline and around the ears. My husband tells me stories of how he and his brother played with his grandfather’s straight-edge when they were kids. It’s amazing they survived. I once asked if he’d ever trust me with one and he just chuckled and handed me the disposable razor.
The leather strap here was used to sharpen the straight-edge. And the clipper, well, it was manually operated instead of electric. The tools look pretty much the same, it’s just that today’s haircut takes about 10 minutes; a quick shave takes 5 minutes. Back then, a trip to the barbershop was an all-afternoon, male bonding experience.
I guess our home haircuts are lacking in the overall experience. But it makes up for it in money-savings.
Until we walk again …
- Freshmen congressmen will play a key role in crafting what is expected to be one of the most challenging farm bills in decades. To help us understand what these new lawmakers bring to the debate, the Agri-Pulse Web site will feature one-on-one video interviews with new members from both sides of the aisle and from both the House and Senate.
- BASF Plant Science L.P. announced Megan Lybrand has joined the company as a media relations manager.
- Farm Aid announced that it will bring its annual benefit concert to Kansas City.
- DuPont Lannate SP and Lannate LV insecticides can now be used to control brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) infestations in the mainland United States (except in Texas, South Carolina and New Hampshire) on selected fruit, vegetable and grain crops.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has launched its first ever Beltway Beef audio program. The weekly commentary will feature NCBA members, leaders, staff and more.
The talk is all policy all the time, honing in on critical issues inside the nation’s Beltway that have a direct impact on U.S. cattle ranchers across the country. This week you’ll hear Colin Woodall, NCBA vice president of government affairs, discuss the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed rule on livestock marketing. Woodall explains that the so-called GIPSA rule is far from resolved and says it’s vitally important for cattlemen to continue voicing opposition to this rule that NCBA believes will punish innovation and stymie profitability and consumer choice.
Click here to download the first weekly segment of Beltway Beef.
Use this link to subscribe to the podcast.
According to our latest ZimmPoll you’re using lots of apps on your smartphones. Well, at least some of you are. Over a third of our respondents said they have more than forty apps on their smartphone. That was followed though by another third who said they only have zero to ten apps. Seventeen percent said they have 20 to 30 apps, thirteen percent said 10 to 20 and five percent said 30 to 40 apps. That’s a lot of apps! It’s amazing how useful these devices are becoming and apps are what make that possible.
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Will USDA forecast for record 13.5 billion bushels of corn come true?” There’s been a lot of flooding and cool weather in the corn belt this spring. How much do impact will that have? Let us know what you think and thank you for participating.
And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
My on-going series of interviews with the leadership at agricultural advertising and public relations agencies continues again this week. I just got off Skype with Lynn Balinas, President, The Hondo Group.
Lynn has a long background in agribusiness with several companies. That work took him all the world after which he joined the “agency world.” He wound up in Texas with McCormick Company and just about four years ago they formed The Hondo Group. They moved the office to Austin to be near a good talent pool due to the University there. He says they’re “providing innovation in traditional spaces.” One of the new things about The Hondo Group is their Kinita mobile platform that allows for the deployment across all smartphone systems at once.
Listen in on our conversation as Lynn talks about some of their clients and social media success stories: What's New With The Hondo Group
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, Growmark, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.
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.
Brownfield Ag News has announced a couple of major changes today.
First, Dave Russell is the Farm Director of the new Brownfield Ohio Ag News Radio Network.
“Having the opportunity to go back to my home state is exciting,” said Russell. “I’m looking forward to helping build Brownfield Ohio, but even more, I’m looking forward to telling Ohio’s tremendous agricultural story.”
Moving into Indiana for Brownfield is Meghan Grebner, who has served as Agri-Business Director for stations WMBD and WIRL since 2007 and is currently regional Vice President for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB). Meghan has also been a contributing editor here on Agwired.
The top photo is one of Meg’s favorite Facebook profile photos of her and Dave. The bottom one I took at Commodity Classic this year in Tampa. Just couldn’t resist putting them side by side!
Congrats and best to both of them – and to the whole team at Brownfield!
Novus International has won a national award for information technology and donated the prize money to the Global 4-H Knowledge Center.
Novus received $1000 for the first ever Information Technology Innovation Award from the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) for a customer inventory management system integrating satellite communications and remote monitoring technology.
The Global 4-H Knowledge Platform is a program of the National 4-H Council designed to enhance sustainable food security in Africa. The Global 4-H Knowledge Platform links 4-H programs in the United States with others around the world to develop a global network that employs the 4-H model to create sustainable livelihoods and improve economic security for young people. Earlier this year, Novus partnered in the launch of this program.
Tex Starr Distributing LLC, a newly formed company in South Texas announces the unveiling of the company’s new sweet papaya variety called Royal Star Papaya. The proprietary seed variety is a natural hybrid that is sweet, firm, and brightly colored inside and out.
To reach the consumer, Tex Starr Distributing LLC plans to launch a consumer marketing push this summer to align with the product’s availability.
David Peterson, grower and proprietor of Tex Starr Distributing LLC., says, “Foodies, chefs, health and adventure eaters alike are searching for the next big culinary ingredient and we intend to give them Royal Star. It smells and looks enticing, tastes amazing, is great for your body and has a longer shelf life than other papaya varieties available on the market.”
While most Maradol papayas have a shelf life of 3 days once it has been cut, Royal Star Papaya has a shelf life of up to 5 days, even after it is cut. Uncut the fruit can last for up to 14 days.
Contact information for Tex Starr Distributing LLC, the only distributor of Royal Star Papaya, is available at www.royalstarpapaya.com.
Alaska’s summer salmon season kicks off today. This year’s projected harvest of 203 million fish would mark the fifth largest salmon season for the state.
For the first time recent USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines are advising Americans to eat eight ounces of seafood rich in omega-3s per week for brain and heart health. The average American currently eats about 3.5 ounces of seafood per week. Wild Alaska salmon is a high quality protein and a premier source of long-chain omega-3s containing generous amounts of vitamin D, vitamins B6, B12, and selenium.
Alaska is home to over 90% of the wild salmon in North America, and five different species.
Visit www.wildalaskaflavor.com for dozens of healthy Alaska salmon recipes including: Grilled Alaska Salmon with Avocado and Papaya Spinach Salad or Spicy Alaska Salmon Wraps.
You can learn a lot about someone from their garden. For instance, do they use Clorox or Downy; do they drink more skim milk or more whole milk? And because of the popularity of home gardening these days, our back yards have taken on quite a different look than in years past.
I posted a while back about putting down roots, and included a picture of my seeds that had sprouted. Last week, I had the crazy idea of putting the cups outside (they were now 4 inches tall and getting spindly) to get them adjusted to the weather since it had been cold. The day I decided to put them out, the wind blew like we lived in western Kansas and some of the leaves wilted before I could get them in the ground.
Some of them were too far gone, and others, I’m trying to save. See, that’s the thing about a garden – it’s so fulfilling, knowing that you’re actually GROWING something. It makes me feel successful. It’s the little accomplishments in life.
So, for the tomato and pepper plants I transplanted, I’ve used one of the tricks from Grandma’s “I learned it from my mother” book of knowledge and put milk jugs over them. This creates a sort of greenhouse effect and I must say, out of the 27 plants that made their beginning in red Solo cups, I’ve managed to save 15 of them. The wind took out about 9, so I’d say that’s a pretty good save-rate.
Some things about modern gardening haven’t changed. Including knowing what your neighbors are drinking and washing their clothes in.
Until we walk again …
Here’s the whole group of participants at the Iowa Speedway last week doing the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team promotion. You’ve got Iowa State, Indy Car, University of Iowa and Iowa Corn Growers gathered together. The emcees for the program and games that were played included Craig Floss, CEO, Iowa Corn Growers and Bruce Gaarder, former farm broadcaster and one of the announcers at Iowa Speedway. I visited with Craig after the games had ended.
Craig says the main purpose of the event was to promote the Join The Team program. This consist of two main sporting events, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 race and the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, the two biggest in the state. He says Join The Team is a great metaphor for what they’re all about. He wants Iowa corn growers to be a part of the team that’s not just Iowa Corn but corn growers nationally.
You can listen to my interview with Craig here: Craig Floss Interview
Iowa Corn “Join The Team” Indy 250 Promotion Photo Album
- Hoosier Ag Today has launched a web services division to better serve its sponsors and radio stations.
- Broadhead has added six new team members who will help strengthen the agency’s ability to meet the needs of its growing client base and evolving business challenges.
- DRAKE & COMPANY announced that it has recently been awarded reaccreditation by AMC Institute.
- A “Corn Replanting Decision Tool” has been released as part of the FAST series of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
With soybean exports doubling over the last ten years and the continued demand for US soy, the question arises can we handle it? Now, we know we can physically make that happen. We plant, grow and harvest more efficiently and effectively than any other country in the world, the concern arises if our ports and infrastructure will last the next ten years.
Early last week, the Soy Transportation Coalition and the Panama Canal Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a promise to continue to develop global commerce. Also involved in Monday’s MOU signing was the American Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board. The objectives of the agreement are to undertake joint marketing efforts, data exchange to forecast future trade flows and market trends, and the sharing of information related to modernization and improvement projects.
With the Panama Canal increasing in size to be able to accommodate “Suezmax” ships – it could be a great thing for American Agriculture, especially since 60% of our exports currently travel through the Panama Canal. Except our infrastructure is failing and the Department of Commerce thinks existing ports will be incapable of handling the shipments within the next decade.
I sat down with immediate past Chairman of the United Soybean Board and a farmer from Griggsville, Ill. and he detailed Monday’s announcement. Bradshaw Talks Panama
He’s not a sideline kind of guy. At least I don’t think so. He’s Iowa State Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Jackson. He also was not selected to compete in the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team competition at Iowa Speedway last week.
He says he’s disappointed and was “overlooked” since he’s the best athlete on the staff. He says he could have done it all better than the ones selected. But he says it’s all in fun. He still thought it was a special day to be at the event that brought together two universities, Indy Car and Iowa corn growers. You can listen to my interview with Coach Jackson here: Coach Kevin Jackson Interview
I thought you might enjoy that. Hope he doesn’t ever want to try to twist me into a pretzel.
Iowa Corn “Join The Team” Indy 250 Promotion Photo Album
It might be a first. An AgWired shirt proudly displayed over Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.
Showing off is John Davis, one of the long time editors who has posted mostly on our Domestic Fuel website but also on AgWired. He’s helping develop a radio journalism/production program and I’m sure we’ll get some updates from him from time to time. I saw John briefly in Washington, DC Reagan Airport. I was flying out and he was flying on. Glad to see he made it safe and sound.
It’s Drive Green Challenge time again this weekend. Today I’m in Clifton Park, NY visiting with Hudson River Tractor Company. I spoke with one of the owners, Tory Northrop, who gave me some background on how the company came together. He’s in the group photo of the family members out here for today’s event.
Tory says the merger that made what is now Hudson River Tractor Company happened in 2005. They serve a combined ag/consumer market with consumer now counting for over half of their business. The territory includes the Albany, NY metro area, northern New York City area and Chatham area. He says the Drive Green Challenge helps bring a lot more attention to all the products that John Deere offers and is a big draw. He says compact tractors and anything to do with improving their landscape seems to be of high interest right now. You can listen to my interview with Tory here: Tory Northrop Interview
You can see photos from the event in the Hudson River Drive Green Challenge Photo Album.
Since May is World Trade Month, you would think it would be a great time for Congress to pass those pesky pending Free Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama that have been awaiting approval for years. Several of the nation’s largest agricultural organizations who testified before the House Agriculture Committee this week on why it is so important to get those agreements operating think so. Actually, most would say that last May World Trade Month would have been better!
Among those testifying was National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president Bill Donald of Montana. “Each day that goes by without implementing these agreements is another day we risk losing American jobs by losing market share to other countries. With 96 percent of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States, future growth of the U.S. economy depends upon our ability to produce and sell products competitively in the global marketplace,” said Donald. May is also National Beef Month, coincidentally.
National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman told the committee that passing the FTAs and developing new markets for our country’s agricultural products will help our sector lead the nation in economic growth and international competitiveness. “The United States is the largest corn producer and exporter in the world, and exports of corn and corn co-products are essential to producer income,” Tolman said. “Our members want to maintain current export markets and significantly increase demand for corn through opportunities in value-added corn products.”
The committee also heard from American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman, which you can see on the AFBF website. “These trade agreements are not only important to the bottom line of America’s farmers and ranchers but the economic health of our rural communities and the overall U.S. economy,” said Stallman. “There is a long supply chain made up of American workers who get products from the farm gate to foreign consumers.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also noted the importance of the FTAs for jobs in this country. “”These three trade agreements will create jobs. Through agricultural exports alone, they will yield over $2.3 billion in sales and help support more than 19,000 American jobs in agriculture and related industries,” said Vilsack.
Some progress has been seen recently on moving the FTAs forward and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk indicated to the committee that all three agreements will be submitted to Congress with a view to having them considered this year.
I don’t think he makes his living shooting baskets. He’s Josef Newgarden, Indy Lights driver. He was also one of the competitors at the Iowa Corn Growers Join The Team promotion at Iowa Speedway. Josef gets pumped up, about competing and about corn. I think you’ll hear his intensity in my interview with him.
Josef called our event a “prep rally” for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 race weekend coming up in June. It will be his first time racing at the track. When it comes to Iowa Corn Growers he says, “Corn growers are cool!” He loves the unique way they are promoting their product.
You can listen to my interview with Josef here: Josef Newgarden Interview
Iowa Corn “Join The Team” Indy 250 Promotion Photo Album
We’ve got a lot of initiatives going to help consumers better understand where their food is coming from. I’ve had several discussions lately with people about this. Topics include inter-organizational coordination, competition for funding, differences in approaches and membership. What do you think about all the different groups trying to reach the non-farm public about farming? The more the merrier? A ZimmPoll we conducted had the largest percentage saying there are too many. We’re hearing a lot of talk about unity in agriculture in the face of increasing urbanization and regulation. I’m just wondering if the proliferation of groups attempting to do what appears on the surface to be the same thing sends a different message. I applaud everyone who is trying to tell agriculture’s story. This is not an easy task. Farming is not an easy thing to explain to those who have never been exposed to it. Forget about the complexities of policy and foreign trade. All right, got that out there. Would be interested in your thoughts.
I was prompted to post these questions after receiving an announcement today that the American Farmers for the Advancement of Conservation and Technology has joined with the Alliance to Feed the Future. The Alliance was announced during National Ag Day activities. Their goal is to “help tell the story of modern farming from the heart of the family farmer.”
The Alliance currently has 63 members and continues to grow. All sectors of the food value chain have come together in the alliance – including professional societies, commodity groups, farmer organizations, industry and academia. Membership in the Alliance will help multiply the effects of their individual and joint efforts to tell the true and balanced story of modern food production. The Alliance to Feed the Future website is home to an assortment of resources and information regarding modern food production from farm to fork.
It is great to see so much effort being put into telling the farmer’s story. But collectively, what is the budget of all the groups trying to do this? I know I haven’t mentioned others. You probably know who they are. I think that if all the groups trying to reach the consumer could somehow actually pool their funds and create a coordinated campaign they might just reach the budget of a very large extremist group that wants to end production agriculture. Do I sound pessimistic? Probably. But I think all these efforts need to be done. And beside them we need farmers themselves to do what they can. Let’s all “agvocate.” It’s what we can do regardless what our budget is.
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In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
