Interview with the Secretary

Cindy Zimmerman July 31, 2008

We like to pack as much into a trip as we can, so this morning we left Tampa early to get to Orlando for the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit where Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer was speaking.

I got a chance to sit down with him and chat for a few minutes, and since this was mainly for programs I produce for Southeast AgNet, the questions all centered around Florida agriculture. We only had a few minutes and he had already hit on every other topic from energy to the Farm Bill to trade in his remarks. Schafer made a couple of other Florida stops after Orlando – in Gainesville and Jacksonville – so I asked him about that.

It was nice to finally get to meet the Secretary since Chuck has already had that pleasure a few times. Being at the summit also allowed us to gather content for Domestic Fuel and cover the meeting for another client, the Renewable Fuels Association. RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen addressed the group and I will be using some of the audio we gathered here to do a podcast for them. So, we killed quite a few birds with this one trip!

Listen to my interview with Secretary Schafer here: f2f-08-schafer-interview.mp3

Audio, Energy, RFA

USW Officers Assume Duty

Melissa Sandfort July 31, 2008

The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Board of Directors honored wheat producer Ron Suppes, Dighton, Kan., as he turned over the Chairman’s gavel to Michael Edgar, Yuma, Ariz., at its annual meeting July 28, 2008, in Kansas City, Mo. Also at the meeting, Janice Mattson, Chester, Mont., assumed the duties of Vice Chairman, while Don Schieber, Ponca City, Okla., assumed the Secretary-Treasurer position. The organization elects officers for the next marketing year (June-May) at its Winter Board Meeting.

“I have always been taught to do the best you can no matter what situation you face and to leave things in better shape than you found them,” Suppes said. “I only hope that during my chairmanship those things have taken place and benefitted our customers and U.S. wheat producers.” Four generations of Suppes’ family were at the meeting to help the organization celebrate his year as Chairman.

USW committees and joint committees with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) also met and reported to the Board during the meeting. Several guests including Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky, Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh, Kansas State University (Retired) and advisor to the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program, and Mark Gold, Managing Partner of Top Third Marketing, Chicago, Ill., made presentations. The Board also heard updates from David Cleavinger, President of NAWG, Wildorado, Texas, and Marcia Scheideman, President of Wheat Foods Council, Denver, Colo.

USW’s next board meeting is a joint session with NAWG Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2008 in Dallas, Texas.

Wheat

Florida Farm to Fuel Summit

Chuck Zimmerman July 31, 2008

Cindy and I got up early this morning and left Tampa for Orlando where we’re attending the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit. I think this is the third one.

We missed our old friend Charlie Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, although he’ll be here later this afternoon. We did see him on video though.

Right now our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, is speaking. I’ll add a link to some audio after his remarks and press availability. The Secretary is here to speak on Food, Conservation and the Energy Act of 2008.

I’ll be traveling home later today but we’re getting to spend the morning here which is when all the very important people are speaking anyway.

Energy, USDA

One Big Farm Media Convention

Chuck Zimmerman July 30, 2008

During the AMS InfoExpo session, one of the people I spoke with was John Deere’s Barry Nelson. Cindy was right near by to take a picture.

Barry says that we’re starting to transition to 360 degree media. He says that editors used to write for just magazines but some are now producing video which means they’re now farm broadcasters. He says he can see a day where the AMS combines all the elements of the farm media in one big convention.

Barry says that companies are still trying to figure out the new social media mechanisms and meetings like this help them do that.

You can listen to my interview with Barry here: ams-08-nelson-media.mp3

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, Audio, BASF, John Deere

IFAJ Congress 2009 Planning

Chuck Zimmerman July 30, 2008

The planning committee for the IFAJ Congress 2009 met this morning for several hours. The event will be held in conjunction with next year’s AMS in Ft. Worth, TX.

Today’s meeting was very well attended. Mike Wilson, Greg Lamp and Diane Johnson have this thing well organized. We had quite a few people who had not been assigned to a committee but that got corrected and I’m happy to say that my marketing and communications committee now has more than two members and we came up with some great ideas that included incorporating some new social networking tools in our efforts.

If you haven’t had a chance to get involved then let one of the folks mentioned above know. I’m sure we could still use more volunteers. This is going to be a great place to showcase American agriculture to a world audience.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF, IFAJ

World Ag Expo Camera Giveaway

Chuck Zimmerman July 30, 2008

At this morning’s AMS finale meeting of the IFAJ/AMS 2009 Planning Committee the World Ag Expo held a drawing for a Canon EOS Rebel xTi with extra lens and bag. That’s a very cool giveaway! A lot of the InfoExpo exhibitors had drawings but I don’t know the results of those.

The winner of the camera was Janice Keene, McCormick Company, pictured in the center between, Stacey Beachey and Steve Knudsen, World Ag Expo.

We’ll be expecting to see some high quality digital photography Janice. Send me some examples sometime.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF

AMS Awards and Memories

Cindy Zimmerman July 30, 2008

The Ag Media Summit 10th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday night was an evening of fond memories and awards for achievement and service.

Among the awards presented were the AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award to Claude Gifford, long time associate editor of Farm Journal and USDA director of information, and to the late Larry Harper, editor of the Missouri Ruralist.

The AAEA Distinguished Service Award went to Dwayne Best of SD State University’s Dakota Lakes Research Farm. LPC’s Headliner Award was presented to Bud Snidow, Jr., with American Hereford Association for 32 years and currently serving at the organization historian at the age of 90.

LPC’s Hall of Fame award was given to Greg Henderson of Drovers, the first chairman of AMS in 1999. And the Andy Markwart Horizon Award winner was Corey Geiger, Hoards Dairyman.

A power point presentation showed 10 years of memories, some of them bittersweet, and a salute to American agriculture. We hope to get that posted here at some point.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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ACN, Ag Media Summit, BASF, LPC

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort July 30, 2008

Don Laughlin, a long-time American Angus Association regional manager from Guilford, Mo., has been named director of member services for the Association. He’ll step into the role immediately. His primary responsibilities will include assisting members and affiliates with registrations, transfers, memberships and other daily activities. He will schedule the work flow through the office while explaining and enforcing Association rules and policies. Laughlin will also administer the Association’s parent verification program and monitor the genetic defect program.
Steve Weaver, a pork producer from Elk Grove, Calif., has been elected president of the National Pork Board. Members of the board also elected Tim Bierman, a producer from Larrabee, Iowa, vice president. Both officer terms are for one year on the board that administers all Pork Checkoff programs. Weaver and Bierman were elected during the board’s summer meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Their terms begin immediately.
Becker Underwood announces a significant expansion in the production capacity of its St. Joseph, Mo., facility to meet the increasing demand for inoculants for soybeans, peanuts, peas and lentils grown in North America. They are currently installing new state-of-the-art fermentation units.

Zimfo Bytes

AMS 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

Chuck Zimmerman July 29, 2008

Well the party is over. For most people anyway.

Tonight we had the 10th Anniversary Celebration for AMS and joint awards ceremonies for AAEA and LPC. The photo album has been updated.

Tomorrow morning (this morning) we’ll finish things up here with a planning meeting for next year’s combined AMS and IFAJ Congress. I’ll be there somehow.

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, BASF

Propane Running All Around My Brain

Cindy Zimmerman July 29, 2008

From propane-powered irrigation systems to tankless water heaters and pickup trucks, today’s propane innovations are helping farmers save money and the environment.

Here at the Ag Media Summit, the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) was talking about the green benefits of propane and some of their upcoming events where they will be showcasing new propane innovations for agriculture. PERC will be sponsoring AgWired’s coverage of two big farm shows in the next few months – Farm Progress show and the Sunbelt Ag Expo.

You can listen to my interview with Brandon here: ams-08-propane.mp3

Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit is sponsored by:
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Ag Media Summit, Audio, BASF, Farm Shows, Propane

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