RFA Ethanol Podcast

Social Connections to GROWMARK

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK and FS are excited to make it easier than ever to make connections on social media. “We are excited to add social features to our website,” says GROWMARK Corporate Digital Strategic Development Manager Heather Thompson. “Users will now see the ability to like and follow GROWMARK and FS right on our homepage.” That includes links to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, …

Audio, FS System, GROWMARK, Media, Social Media

Ag Committee Chairs Visit with NAFB

Chuck Zimmerman

An optimistic Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman met with farm broadcasters on Wednesday morning, the day after her committee passed a new farm bill called the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. “This is the biggest jobs bill we will pass in any Congress,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “It’s time to get it done.” Stabenow says the majority …

Audio, NAFB

Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Meets with NAFB

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack met with attendees of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch. As is a “tradition” now, he posed with us in the USDA office building. He then spent quite a while talking with us and answering questions. You can find more photos in my online photo album. Of course the focus …

Audio, NAFB, USDA

Taking on Activists in the Courtroom

Jamie Johansen

Unfortunately, when dealing with the threat of activist groups it is hard to avoid the courtroom. During the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit we heard from those who have seen first hand the legal ramifications of activist tactics. John Simpson, partner at Fulbright and Jaworski LLP, shared how he fought back for his client for 13 years and tips for …

Animal Activists, Animal Agriculture, Audio

Senate Farm Bill Markup Today

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Agriculture Committee meets this morning to consider the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, their version of a “Farm Bill.” Yesterday, farm broadcasters meeting in Washington D.C. had the chance to interview a number of representatives from various agricultural and renewable fuels organizations and most of them had something to say about what the House and …

Ag Groups, ASA, Audio, Dairy, Farm Bill, NAFB, NCBA, RFA

Farm Bill Top Issue at NAFB Washington Watch

Cindy Zimmerman

As both the House and Senate Agriculture committees are marking up their versions of a farm bill this week, that was the number one issue for farm broadcasters meeting in the nation’s capitol for their annual Washington Watch. Mary Kay Thatcher with the American Farm Bureau Federation sees few major differences between the two committee drafts released last week. “If …

AFBF, Audio, Farm Bill, NAFB, NCGA

Interview with NAFB Mike & Andy Show

Chuck Zimmerman

This year’s coordinators of the NAFB Washington Watch program are Mike Hergert, Red River Farm Network (left) and Andy Vance, Feedstuffs. NAFB just held a business meeting for members and our event organizers gave us an overview of the program. I got Mike & Andy outside the room after the meeting to talk about this year’s agenda which you can …

Audio, NAFB

Syngenta Builds on Garst® Seed Legacy

Cindy Zimmerman

Even as the Syngenta-owned Garst and Golden Harvest® brands are being launched under the revised Golden Harvest brand, Syngenta intends to uphold the quality, reliability and legacy that have become synonymous with the Garst brand and the Garst Seed Advisor. “Roswell Garst’s commitment to customers – to be a trusted advisor in addition to a seed dealer – is the …

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Seed, Syngenta

Sharing Media Ideas with Farm Credit

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the “Meet the New Media” panel at the 2013 Farm Credit Idea Share. More on that in a moment. But first, to learn more about Idea Share, I spoke with Leigh Picchetti, Senior VP, Communications, Farm Credit Reputation Management Program. She says, “Idea Share is an annual meeting for Farm Credit System employees who have a responsibility within their …

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Credit

Uniting Partners With One Voice

Jamie Johansen

Partnerships are what the Animal Agriculture Alliance is based on. These partnerships unite the agriculture community, creating one voice. Instead of ‘preaching to the choir,’ attendees at the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit, heard from outside voices and some challenges were presented that made us all think about how we can join together and address them. I spoke with Chase …

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Food, NCBA