Kansas Promotes Healthy Cattle

Laura McNamara

beefcattle.pngKansas State University wants ranchers and livestock owners to keep the cattle clean and healthy. The university is hosting the Beef Cattle Welfare at its Beef Cattle Institute May 28-30.

Animal welfare is one of the fastest growing concerns among consumers throughout the country, according to Dr. Dan Thomson, a Kansas State University veterinarian and expert on the impact of beef cattle production practices on cattle well-being and health.

The Beef Cattle Institute at K-State will conduct an International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare, May 28-30, on the K-State campus.

“The symposium is designed to provide a venue in which all stakeholders in beef cattle production can meet and discuss the many welfare-related topics concerning the raising, feeding and harvesting of beef cattle,” Thomson said.

Speakers at the symposium will include producers, ethologists, nutritionists and veterinarians who will address current welfare-related issues facing the beef industry. The speaker list also includes people in policy-making positions within the federal government, professional societies and industry commodity groups.

More information on the symposium, including how to register, is available at the Beef Cattle Institute Website.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Animal Health, Beef, Education, Environment, Farming, Livestock

The Land of Wine and Food…

Laura McNamara

California Travel and Tourism Commission…is, apparently, in California. The California Travel & Tourism Commission and the Wine Institute are teaming up to promote the ‘Land of Wine and Food’ nationwide.

Building on California’s allure as America’s “Capital of Culinary Travel,” the California Wine Institute and the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) have entered into an historic partnership to promote the state’s wine and cuisine offerings to the fast-growing travel segment of culinary connoisseurs — and those who aspire to be.

The heart of the campaign focuses on a new LandofWineandFood.com Web site which will debut at wine and food and travel media events in New York. Also to be unveiled at the New York events will be an exciting new national TV campaign featuring Governor Schwarzenegger, First Lady Maria Shriver and wine and culinary celebrities promoting California’s rich bounty of wine and food. The spot is scheduled to begin running on February 4 in major markets across the U.S. Print ads featuring top chefs and winemakers, such as Heidi Barrett, will also run in various wine, food and lifestyle magazines throughout the winter and spring.

The Wine InstituteConsumers will find a rich and unique Web site that will virtually pull them into California, “The Land of Wine and Food.” Exciting features include: an Interactive Wine Region Explorer, showcasing the best California wine regions for their favorite varietals as well as wine and food itineraries; Travel Tips Video Shorts from California wine and food pioneers, sharing tips such as the best way to find locals’ favorite eateries; blogs featuring wine and food luminaries like Pat Kuleto, Duskie Estes and Andrew Firestone of Curtis Winery; Local Californian’s Point of View Tips, where locals tell visitors their favorite things to do and places to visit; and a chance to win exclusive culinary adventures in California.

California boasts nine of the top 10 U.S. agricultural counties, which grow a diverse assortment of fresh produce that many fine chefs demand in California’s 80,000 restaurants and eateries, says CTTC Executive Director Caroline Beteta. “California is the most visited state in the U.S. for food and wine-related activities, but our research shows there’s still a lot of potential for growth in wine and food travel to our state,” said Beteta.

Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, Food

Product & Labor Tracking Solutions Introduced

Melissa Sandfort

image1.jpgTo assist producers of hand-harvested fruit and vegetable crops in working more productively, efficiently and profitably, John Deere Agri Services has introduced two information management tools: Product Tracking and Labor Tracking solutions. These innovative systems work collaboratively to record, store and manage information to better run operations.

The Labor Tracking solution utilizes a handheld device to collect in-field information to track and monitor harvest and production data such as who harvested what crops, where and when. All in-field collected data is automatically stamped with GPS coordinates, date and time for accurate reporting and record keeping.

The Product Tracking solution gives managers the ability to more accurately and easily record and track all in-field production history for field and shed-packed fresh produce and to link data from the field to the finished lot. The system converts data into real-time information that managers can use to increase product value, expedite regulatory and commercial compliance and improve risk management.

For more information on the Labor Tracking and Product Tracking solutions, produce managers can call 1-800-393-8971 or e-mail the John Deere Agri Services customer contact at AgriServices@JohnDeere.com. Additional information on the Labor Tracking and Product Tracking solutions also can be found on the Web site.

Uncategorized

Hallowell Promoted at Bader Rutter

Chuck Zimmerman

Lori HallowellLori Hallowell is now a group leader at Bader Rutter. She’ll be in the agency’s account management group.

Hallowell joined the agency in 1994. Her hard work and passion for the business have been instrumental in the growth of Merial, the agency’s animal health client. Originally from Palmyra, Neb., Hallowell earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She serves on the board of directors of the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Midlands Chapter.

Agencies

ABM Agri Council Recommends Ag Media Mix

Chuck Zimmerman

ABM Agri-Council AdI just got my latest quarterly Agri Council Intelligence Report and thought you’d be interested in a couple of things that caught my eye. Here’s one of the latest ads from the ABM Agri Council. They’re running a schedule in Agrimarketing Magazine (a member of the Council) and have plans for a new round coming soon.

In an effort to continue to keep farmers and ranchers engaged, ABM will introduce three new Agri ads in the second quarter of 2008 with a more arresting visual and revamped body copy. The new ads will feature one eye-catching, prominently-placed visual of a farmer or rancher, which were captured by Harlan Persinger, award-winning freelance Agri photographer. The ads will continue to run monthly in AgriMarketing magazine.

I’m not sure how running an ad in Agrimarketing keeps farmers and ranchers engaged but perhaps I’m missing something. I find it fascinating though how the ag media is converging today and yet we still have separate ag media organizations (NAFB, AAEA, LPC). These ads use Harris Interactive research that shows:

There is still no better way to reach farmers and ranchers than by utilizing a broad mix of Ag media, including magazines, newspapers, Web sites, trade shows, conferences, television and radio.

That’s a media mix these companies wouldn’t have mentioned in the same document several years ago! I agree with it too. Fact is that many of these companies now are involved in or have properties in all of the above.

And Harlan, it’s good to see your name in there. Keep shooting buddy.

Media, Publication

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • DuPont and Precision BioSciences, Inc., announced a technology collaboration to bring higher-yielding agricultural products to the market faster. The agreement provides DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred rights to Precision’s Directed Nuclease Editor™ (DNE) technology to introduce and stack multiple genes that accelerate product development in corn, soybeans and other important agricultural crops. The technology aids in the discovery of new traits and allows Pioneer scientists to insert, remove and stack multiple traits at pre-selected sites in the plant genome, shortening the time it takes to bring new, high-value products to market.
  • Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation announced the release of ULTRA SABER, a new pour-on insecticide that controls horn flies on beef cattle and calves. ULTRA SABER is a new type of pour-on insecticide that contains 1 percent lambdacyhalothrin and 5 percent piperonyl butoxide, a synergist which improves insecticidal activity.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., announces that Tom Wetzell, DVM, has joined the swine division’s professional services team. Wetzell has been employed as a swine veterinary consultant in private practice with South Central Veterinary Associates. Wetzell, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, will be working with producers in Minnesota and northern Iowa and continue to reside in Wells, Minn.
Zimfo Bytes

Live, Eat… Breathe Ethanol

Laura McNamara

indyethanol.jpgThere’s no doubt racing fans noticed the difference when the Indy Racing League switched from pure methanol to a 98 percent blend of ethanol as the fuel of choice. The smell of burning ethanol is just as distinct as the roar of Indycars racing around the track.

Love the races? Love the fuel? Love the smell? Tell others about your obsession with an authentic IndyCard. An Indy photog sent me this all too appropriate IndyCard as we close in on launching another season of Indy Racing.

Don’t miss the Homestead season opener on March 29 at Miami Speedway. Even if you can’t make it to the track to “breathe ethanol,” you can catch the race at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Advertising, Ethanol

Getting igenity Right

Chuck Zimmerman

Merial Media RoomMerial sponsored the media room once again at this year’s Cattle Industry Convention. Thanks to Wendy Mayo, Bader Rutter, for helping make us comfortable and setting me up with an interview with Kevin DeHaan, igenity.

In case you’ve wondered about igenity then you can hear Kevin explain it. I’ve always found it to sound complicated but I think in this interview we got it distilled down in some pretty simple terms. Basically if a producer wants to use igenity then he has to have samples taken from the animal(s) to be checked. Those are sent in to the lab where they analyze the animal’s dna for specific performance markers. Then the producer receives back a report via email and hard copy. That report can be used in a marketing plan for both seed stock producers as well as cow/calf.

If you need help Kevin says they’ve got 6 sales representatives in the field as well as a couple of technical advisers.

You can listen to my interview with Kevin here: cic-08-merial.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio

Cat Products Get Official With NCBA

Chuck Zimmerman

NCBA-Caterpillar Press ConferenceAt the Cattle Industry Convention Caterpillar and NCBA held a press conference to announce that the Cat Skid Steer Loader and Cat Wheel Loader are official products of the NCBA.

“Caterpillar has a rich heritage of engineering and manufacturing high quality equipment that delivers the performance and reliability farmers and ranchers demand,” said Andy Groseta, 2008 NCBA President. “This partnership means a lot to the leadership and membership of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.”

“Caterpillar and the Cat dealer network are looking forward to kicking off this relationship with NCBA. Cattle producers demand high quality products, superior performance, and local service that is second to none. We believe that Caterpillar is best positioned to deliver on all of those key elements, “ added Mike Bruch, industry manager for Caterpillar’s North American Commercial Division.

NCBA members will benefit directly through discounts on select lines of equipment. To learn more about the full line of Cat Skid Steer Loaders and Wheel Loaders, visit your local Caterpillar dealer or www.cat.com. For more information on NCBA’s Caterpillar Member Benefit Program, visit www.beefusa.org or call 1-866-BEEFUSA.

You can Mike’s remarks from the press conference here: cic-08-caterpillar-mono.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio

The Beef Backer Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael GilettoThe annual Beef Backer awards were presented at this year’s convention by then Vice Chairman, Dave Bateman (now The Chairman) along with representatives of the various state beef councils that nominated them. The Beef Backer Award recognizes chain and independent restaurant operators who excel in menuing and marketing beef.

The Checkoff also announced the winners of the first annual national Retail Beef Backer Awards program. Retail Beef Backer Award winners are selected based on their excellent merchandising of beef at the meat case. A third-party judging panel also took into consideration the retailers’ tie-ins with beef checkoff-funded programs such as Easy Fresh Cooking labels, Beef Training Camp, Summer Grilling promotions, the Beef Value Cuts program and on-pack nutrition labeling. Applicants are also judged on retailer-originated beef promotions that focus on increasing beef demand among their customers. Such programs include outstanding beef promotions, co-marketing promotions and customer education programs.

The first Beef Backer award presented went to Cherry Valley Country Club, a non-commercial establishment. They won the “Independent of the Year” award by offering their patrons quality beef in a variety of applications across all menu day parts. Their exceptional commitment to serving “the best” has kept club members happy. Michael Giletto, executive chef of Cherry Valley Country Club, says, “As chefs, we look for the best ingredients to create the menus we design. I’ve found the best quality beef allows me to satisfy any diverse palate.”

Giletto’s commitment this year was not only to continue to put beef on the menu, but to promote beef to the general public, purveyors, club patrons and fellow chefs. Giletto participated in a television show called, “The Digital Cookbook,” demonstrating how to prepare exceptional beef recipes in realistic time. He also shared cooking videos with a children’s TV show to help spark kids’ interest in cooking with beef.

You can listen to Giletto’s remarks here: cic-08-giletto.mp3

If you’d like to see all the winners and hear from them then go to the post I put on Beef Board Meeting.com.

Audio, Beef