Florida Oranges Embrace Solar Energy

Laura McNamara

Florida’s Natural OrangesFlorida’s Natural Growers are getting more from the bright, Florida sun than just oranges. The association is also harnessing solar energy to power their visitor center.

The bright Florida sunshine that goes into every glass of Florida’s Natural(R) Brand Orange Juice is now helping power the Florida’s Natural Growers Visitor Center on Highway 27 North in Lake Wales. The Florida’s Natural Grower’s Cooperative just installed solar panels on the 5,000 square foot facility as part of their continuing effort to promote and utilize renewable energy sources.

The solar panels are estimated to supply 30% of the power needed to operate the Visitor’s Center and are being used as a test case by the Cooperative to explore more sources of renewable energy.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Environment, Food

What The Bayer Season Is

Chuck Zimmerman

Bayer Press ConferenceAt last week’s Beltwide we learned about the Bayer Season. Basically, it’s about taking care of your plants during the critical first 40 days.

One of the presenters was John Smith, Bayer CropScience director of marketing. He says that the Bayer Season is a collection of products, innovation and people. They’re meant to help the cotton grower during those first weeks of the season with important issues like seed and traits as well as crop protection products.

I recorded his presentation (he does refer to some slides but you’ll get the drift of it) which you can listen to here: beltwide-bayer-season.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

Farmer Dave Blogging About Oranges

Chuck Zimmerman

Farmer Dave's Orange DiariesFarmer Dave down in Florida at Florida Natural Growers has started a blog to fight against imported oranges, called The Orange Diaries. I guess just because they’re not natural from Florida. Actually it’s part of a new multimedia campaign to entice consumers to buy American. So besides their ads they started a blog. According to an article in Citrus Industry, the company started the blog because they wanted something “viral” that people would pass around.

Kind of like I’m doing right now. They have a number of pretty good video clips that you’re supposed to be able to embed on your website or blog but I couldn’t get them to work here.

Florida’s Natural Growers is a cooperative of citrus growers.

Ag Groups, Citrus

Meyocks Group Gets Creative

Chuck Zimmerman

Jill BrimeyerThe Meyocks Group has added to their creative team. Joining as a designer and art director is Jill Brimeyer.

Brimeyer had been a graphic designer with Dyton Creative, a Cedar Falls marketing and design agency. She earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the University of Northern Iowa in 2004.

During her college career she interned for more than two years with the Deere & Company Human Resources and Public Relations Department. She is a native of Balltown, Iowa.

Agencies

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Organic Trade Association (OTA) reiterated that meat, milk and other products produced from cloned animals will not be able to be sold as organic in the United States. OTA issued the reassurance after the FDA announced its conclusion that foods from cloned animals and their offspring are as safe as those produced from traditionally bred animals. FDA posted a risk assessment report, risk management plan and guidance for industry to outline its regulatory approach on animal cloning.
  • The Watershed Land Trust is pleased to announce the addition of former Division of Water Resources Chief Engineer David Pope to its Board of Directors. Pope comes to the position with a long history of involvement in water and natural resources related experience. Pope holds BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Oklahoma State University, where he specialized in irrigation and water resources engineering. He is a registered professional engineer.
  • Bob Stallman was re-elected president of the American Farm Bureau Federation and Barry Bushue, a nursery and berry producer from Oregon, was elected AFBF vice president at the 89th American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. Stallman, a cattle and rice producer from Columbus, Texas, was elected to a fifth two-year term as president. Bushue, from Boring, Ore., was elected vice president to succeed Steve Appel, a wheat and barley producer from Dusty, Wash., who retired. Click here for a full list of appointees.
    Zimfo Bytes

    The Greenest Generation at Alltech

    Chuck Zimmerman

    2008 Alltech SymposiumThis year’s Alltech International Animal Nutrition and Health Symposium is set for April 20-23 in Lexington, KY. It’ll be the 24th time and having attended last year’s it’s well worth the trip.

    Much like past generations have left legacies, our dream is that today’s agricultural decision makers will be remembered as the Greenest Generation.

    Don’t miss out on these and other topics:

    1) The energy crisis – how raw material prices are increasing rapidly
    2) Is fiber replacing corn? Hear how three PhD’s have just been awarded based on the concept of converting fiber into energy
    3) How carbon credits will revolutionize our industry
    4) Food Industry Branding: From chicken to superbrand. Hear former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. present how the Kentucky Fried Chicken brand was built

    Agribusiness

    The Grange Fair is an American Tradition

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Grange FairEver been to a Grange fair? Me either. Sounds like a lot of fun though.

    Inecom Entertainment Company announced today that preorders for its new Emmy award-winning film, The Grange Fair – An American Tradition, are being taken via major Internet retailers such as Amazon.com. The DVD will also be available in stores nationwide on Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

    The Grange Fair – An American Tradition captures a vanishing piece of Americana – one of the last remaining agricultural encampment Grange fairs in the country.

    For much of the last century, Grange fairs were an important part of rural life, an opportunity for isolated farm families to gather to exchange information, showcase livestock and socialize. In addition to possessing some of the trappings of a conventional county fair – agricultural vendors, livestock and produce competitions, food, rides and live performances – the Grange Fair featured in the film, operates likes a small city. It boasts almost a thousand highly coveted residential tents and a fleet of 1,300 recreational vehicles housing thousands of families. Thousands more attend to join family reunions, enjoy the midway and watch competitions.

    View the trailer here.

    Media

    Steve Taylor New Head of MO-AG

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Steve TaylorI had to do a double take when I saw the announcement that Steve Taylor was the new CEO of the Missouri Agribusiness Association. It’s easy to get your Steve Taylors mixed up around here, although one of them now lives in Idaho. Here’s the announcement from Ginger Berry:

    On February 1, a new chapter in MO-AG history will be written as Steve Taylor joins the Missouri Agribusiness Association (MO-AG) as its chief executive. Since 2001, Steve has been the CEO of Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC), a not-for-profit association that assists ag producers in implementing profitable herbicide and nutrient management practices while protecting the environment. In the past, Steve has worked as a program director for the Missouri Corn Growers Association, an unit chief at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as well as a seedstock manager with Cargill. He brings with him great skills learned in these different positions that will definitely help our organization in the years to come. Former MO-AG CEO, Jim Russell, who will be retiring on January 31 after nearly 25 years of excellent service, will be staying on board as a legislative consultant. We at MO-AG are looking forward to a bright future with our new executive, and Steve is looking forward to getting to know you!

    Congratulations to Jim Russell on his retirement.

    Ag Groups

    2008 World Agricultural Forum

    Chuck Zimmerman

    2008 World Ag ForumJust so you can get this on your calendars in case it’s not already.

    The Republic of Uganda will host the World Agricultural Forum’s Regional Congress on September 3-5, 2008 in Kampala, Uganda. This first Congress in Africa is titled “By Africa, For Africa: Creating Wealth Through Investing in Agriculture.” The Congress will bring together recognized leaders from many disciplines who will discuss, debate and propose the means by which sustainable agriculture-based solutions can be implemented to help “feed every man, woman and child” in Africa.

    “It is my pleasure to welcome the World Agricultural Forum’s 2008 African Congress to Uganda,” said His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda. “Africa, as a whole, is enjoying the highest growth rates in 30 years. Our continent is breaking old paradigms in order to integrate profitably into the global economy and liberate itself. We are working to build the agricultural infrastructure that will boost our economic standings and transform Africa. Agriculture is vital to Africa’s survival, just as this influential meeting of the minds is essential to reveal the emerging new Africa.”

    Ag Groups

    New Dairy Vet Podcast

    Chuck Zimmerman

    DairylineBill Baker at Dairyline has started a new podcast called Vet Visits from Pfizer Animal Health.

    Yep, more farm podcasting going on. There must be something to this. Someone must be listening.

    Here’s the feed to subscribe with.

    DairyLine is America’s only dairy news network, with over 90 radio stations, 11 weekly newspapers and FREE daily updates right here on the worldwide web at dairyline.com. DairyLine is part of the DairyBusiness Communications family.

    Dairy, Podcasts