Secretary Ed Schafer and Me

Chuck Zimmerman

Me and Sec. EdOur Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, made his first major public policy speech today at the Cattle Industry Convention. Thanks to Andy Vance, Buckeye Ag Network, for snapping a picture for me. It was a pleasure for the ag media to get to meet Schafer. For many of us, it’s our first opportunity and I’m sure not our last.

I’m going to post his speech at this morning’s opening general session as well as his press conference. You can download and/or listen in.

I don’t think he made any major announcements. He made it very clear that he’s a “free trade guy” and fully supports the President on the farm bill that’s in conference. I was happy to hear him address renewable fuels and the RFS head on with this group. Basically, he said that with the growth of cellulosic ethanol production there should be an easing of feed price pressure within a short time as the technology and non-food stocks form of ethanol production continues to rapidly develop.

Sec. SchaferHe did talk about the Humane Society mess over their video of animal handling atrocities at the Hallmark Meat Packing Co. I think USDA has handled this quite well and the plant was shut down. What I thought was interesting was the Secretary in the press conference making a very good point about how this whacko (my word) organization withheld the video for months so they could release it to the media in a sensational way instead of bringing it immediately to the proper legal authorities so that the situation could have been halted immediately. In effect, the Humane Society prolonged animal suffering and I think the people who support them ought to know that they really don’t care about animals, only their political agenda and raising money.

You can listen to Secretary Schafer’s speech here: cic-08-schafer-stage.mp3

Or you can download the speech by using this direct link to the mp3 file: Listen to MP3 Secretary Schafer Speech (24 min)

You can listen to Secretary Schafer’s press conference here: cic-08-schafer-press.mp3

Or you can download the press conference by using this direct link to the mp3 file: Listen to MP3 Secretary Schafer Press Conference (33 min)

My online photo album is up to 179 photos and counting. Feel free to visit and use them if you’d like. There’s quite a few from this morning’s session including the awards as well as the Secretary.

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, USDA

Passionate About Beef

Chuck Zimmerman

Jennifer RasslerThe Beef Ambassadors sure do a good job of getting out and promoting beef. I know passion about the product is necessary to be chosen and Jennifer Rassler, Kempton, PA is one of them.

She decided to get involved since there are so many people in her area who are not educated about where their food comes from. She says they’ve already been on the road at several meetings interacting with consumers.

She says that the program is coordinated by the American National Cattle Women and funded by the Beef Checkoff. She wants consumers to know that the beef industry is here for them and that they’re here to provide a safe and nutritious product for their family to eat.

You can listen to a short interview I did with Jennifer here: cic-08-rassler.mp3

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Audio, Beef

Guess Whose Boots

Chuck Zimmerman

Whose Boots?It’s time once again for a Guess Who’s Boots post.

So here’s how it works. The first person to correctly identify Whose Boots these are and post it in a comment here will win a ZimmComm Logo speaker for their iPod.

Go ahead and give it a try. If needed I can post clues.

Let’s see how you do first though.

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Fresno Center for International Trade Development’s 2008 World Ag Expo symposium “Doing Business in Global Markets” focuses on five of the hottest topics in agriculture today: The World of Biofuels; U.S. Free Trade Agreements; China’s Food Quality; Global Competition to U.S. Growers; and The California-Brazil Connection: Ethanol, Biodiesel, Electricity and Beyond. Each topic will feature opinions, panel discussions or lectures from some of the top national and international experts.
    Date: Feb. 12, 2008
    Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
    Location: Expo Seminar Center
    Cost: Free with paid admission!.
  • TyraTech, the pioneer of safer, effective and natural pesticide products, announced the appointment of William L. Baxter as director of sales and marketing with immediate effect. In his new role at TyraTech, Baxter will help guide marketing strategy and the execution of sales for TyraTech’s new class of highly effective, non-toxic insecticides and anti-parasitics. Baxter brings 21 years’ experience of working in agricultural crop protection and specialty pesticide markets. Prior to joining the company, Baxter was business manager of the BASF Professional Pest Control Group where he was responsible for leading the North American business and substantially increasing its revenue.
  • Monsanto Company announced that it has received final regulatory approval in Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan for its second-generation soybean technology, Roundup Ready 2 Yield™. These approvals represent significant progress toward the commercialization of this new higher-yielding soybean technology. Monsanto is planning a controlled commercial release of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans on 1 to 2 million acres in 2009.
  • Ron Prestage has been named the recipient of the 2008 Workhorse of the Year Award given by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. After receiving his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Auburn University, Prestage began his career as an equine practitioner. Ron Prestage has been a member of the USPOULTRY board since January 1997, has served as board chairman, and as chairman of the presidential search committee. He is currently the president of Prestage Farms of South Carolina. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he received his bachelor of science degree in animal science.
Zimfo Bytes

Boot Shine

Chuck Zimmerman

Baxter BlackBaxter Black has nothing to do with shining boots. He was just signing books at the booth next door while I got by boots shined.

I got that done today at the Zinpro booth.

While there I learned a lot about the art of shining boots from Mary Sawyers who is a professional and has been doing this for a number of years, 28 to be exact. As you’ll see she doesn’t need to go to the gym to work out.

She says the first step in shining boots is to clean them. If you don’t it’s kind of like waxing your car without washing it first.

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Video

On The Trade Show Floor With Mehlhaff

Chuck Zimmerman

NCBA Trade ShowThis morning I got together with Dave Mehlhaff, American Hereford Association, and we took a tour of the NCBA Trade Show. Actually we didn’t make it very far but we found a few friends you may know as we made our way down the aisles.

You might want to follow along as we explore some of the booths starting out with Dave’s.

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Video

Andy Groseta Talks At LPC Lunch

Chuck Zimmerman

Andy GrosetaThe Livestock Publications Council held their annual lunch today and the featured speaker was Andy Groseta, incoming NCBA President. Andy welcomed everyone and told the group how import their efforts were in delivering information vital to American cattlemen. The luncheon is actually still going on. I had to leave to attend a different one and am posting this in between.

I asked him if/how he uses the internet and he admits that it’s taken him some time to get used to it. He proudly pulled out a Blackberry and held it up and said that today it’s all about getting information quickly. He said that although the older folks may be hesitant to get too involved with computers the younger generation is having no problem with it.

You can listen to Andy’s remarks here: cic-08-groseta.mp3

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Audio, LPC

NCBA Trade Show

Chuck Zimmerman

CABThe NCBA Trade Show kicked off yesterday. There was some beef sampling going on. That was tough for this Catholic boy since it was Ash Wednesday. I could only enjoy the sites and smells. I thought it was interesting to hear from a Beef Board member who’s in the meat business say that it’s one of the most important days in the beef business, a day when millions of people abstain from eating meat. I never thought of it that way.

I’ve heard we’ve got a little under 5,000 people attending this year’s convention which is a strong showing. Not as big as last year in Nashville but I’m sure location has something to do with that.

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Beef

Pequea Spreads a Little Manure Love

Chuck Zimmerman

Pequea is helping prove that sometimes you’ve got to use video and in this case YouTube. Gotta love a company that’s willing to put the manure on the line in online communications and use some of the new media tools out there!

I love the comments that are already being posted. Thanks to Lorena at Schubert Communications for sharing.

Agribusiness, Video

Doan’s Got an Agri-Pulse

Chuck Zimmerman

Agri-PulseCongratulations to Stewart Doan for landing a gig with our good friend Sara Wyant.

Veteran journalist and farm broadcaster Stewart Doan is joining Agri-Pulse in the new position of senior editor, further expanding the communications firm’s cutting edge coverage of farm and rural policy issues. Doan will contribute to the weekly e-newsletter and provide audio coverage for the company’s expanding web site at www.Agri-Pulse.com

“I’ve long admired Stewart’s ability to provide succinct coverage and analysis of complex issues facing today’s agricultural producers and partners,” says Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant. “We are very excited about tapping into his talent and experience, and providing our subscribers with his valuable insights into farm policy, market activity and rural trends.”

I highlighted “audio coverage” to make sure you don’t miss that point!

Publication