Holiday Gift Idea: TickleMe Plant

Laura McNamara

TickleMe Plant CompanzAgriculture can be fun and, for the TickleMe Plant Company, agriculture can be a great theme for holiday gifts. Who wouldn´t want a gift that moves when you tickle it? We all know the TickleMe Elmo went over well. Maybe the TickleMe Plant will be this Christmas´hot thousand-dollar item on EBay.

“Daddy come quick, my plant just moved when I tickled it,” daughter Rebecca screamed to her father, Larry Chipkin. Thus began the success of the TickleMe Plant Company and the seeds and growing kits that Chipkin now sells.

Native to Brazil, TickleMe Plants can be found growing wild there and in other tropical areas. The scientific name for the TickleMe Plant is Mimosa pudica.

“We simply planted the seeds in a flower pot with soil, watered it, and the plants sprouted in days,” he says. “Two weeks later, we tickled this sensitive plant and watched in amazement as the plant closed its leaves and lowered its branches. Then, within 15 minutes, it lifted its fernlike branches and opened its leaves… We want every child (and those young at heart) to have a positive experience growing plants. Growing the TickleMe Plant from seeds will be an adventure children (5 to 105) will never forget,” Larry says.

The ag gift that moves is also a reasonably economical choice for this holiday season. A packet of seeds goes for about $5. Visit the TickleMe Plant Company website for educational plant products and activities.

Seed

Organic Beef or Green Beef?

Laura McNamara

Center For Global Food IssuesA new Beef Eco-Report suggests that “green” food isn´t necessarily organic food and conscious consumers might have to start choosing between the two. Analysts at the Hudson Institute‘s Center for Global Food Issues say that beef produced with grains and growth hormones produces 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions and saves two-thirds more land for nature as compared to organic grass-fed beef.

To reach these startling conclusions, analysts at the Hudson Institutes´s Center for Global Food Issues used beef production models from Iowa State University’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions estimates from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN IPCC).

More than 95% of beef produced in the United States is raised on grain-based diets in feedlots, using supplemental growth hormones, both natural and synthetic. The report details the extensive human and environmental safety requirements for the use of supplemental hormones on feedlots, as well as the growing body of environmental monitoring studies showing no significant negative impacts from their use. Instead, the data show major environmental benefits of this production system: Saving 2/3 more land for nature and producing 40% fewer greenhouse gas emissions per pound of beef produced.
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Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Beef, Environment, Farming, Food, Publication, Research

The Red Wine Diet

Laura McNamara

PlaimontWe´ve all heard of various nutrition gurus encouraging health-conscious eaters to enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner. But, most of us don´t know much more than that. Why, exactly, are we encouraged to have that coveted glass of red wine? Well, a new book, The Red Wine Diet, delves into the benefits of the popular dinner drink.

For generations, red wine, and particularly the hearty Madiran, has been a prescription for life in the Gers region of southwestern France. The Red Wine Diet, newly released by Penguin Group USA, now offers an explanation as to why the people of the Gers enjoy above average longevity, and why certain grape types are healthier than others.

Plaimont and the makers of 1907 Madiran from southwest France joined forces with research scientist Roger Corder to launch his new book The Red Wine Diet in the United States.

Based on his landmark findings published in the scientific journal Nature in late 2006, Corder offers a guide to choosing healthful red wines as well as a complete nutrition plan. A cardiovascular expert, Corder has been investigating the link between wine and health for nearly a decade and has found that organic antioxidant compounds called procyanidins in wine are the key components for preventing illness and promoting well-being.< i>

Agribusiness, Food

Schmidt Joins EMD Crop BioScience

Melissa Sandfort

Paul Schmidt has joined EMD Crop BioScience as President, succeeding Tom Winkofske, who will retire at the end of the year. To aid in the transition, Winkofske will temporarily serve in a consultant role. Schmidt brings 25 years of experience in the crop bioscience industry and most recently served as Vice President of New Business Ventures for Bayer CropScience, developing new business opportunities in the areas of nutrition, health and biomaterials.

“Our search for a new President was a long and rigorous one, and it brought us to the best possible outcome,” said Winkofske. “Our criteria demanded the skills necessary to lead our business and to reach the high goals we have set. Paul matches our target profile without compromise. He has the far-reaching expertise in global strategy for plant biotechnology products, a successful record in business alliance management and multifaceted background in sales, marketing and product management.”

Born and raised on a grain and hog farm in Saskatchewan, Schmidt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Prior to Bayer CropScience, Schmidt had held positions with Aventis CropScience, Hoechst Schering AgrEvo and Hoechst.

“As a company founded almost 120 years ago, EMD Crop BioScience has a long and remarkable history of providing high value plant enhancers for yield enhancement,” says Schmidt. “My job is to see that continue. With the growing global demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel, the need for innovative technologies and solutions to enhance plant production has never been greater.”

Schmidt and his family are presently planning their relocation from North Carolina to the Milwaukee area.

Uncategorized

Missouri Cattle Industry Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Cattlemen's AssociationIt’s time for the Missouri Cattle Industry Convention. Cindy and I will attending tomorrow afternoon to do a little public speaking workshop for the Missouri Beef Council which meets at the same time. I’ll try to have some pictures for you. Not to make them nervous or anything.

The 2007 Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show is just around the corner. The Convention will be held December 6-8, 2007 at the University Plaza Hotel and Springfield Expo Center in Springfield, Missouri.

For cattle producers, regardless of the size or scope of their farm or ranch, this is an excellent opportunity to help shape the policy of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association for the upcoming year, to take part in a wide range of educational programs, to visit hundreds of trade show exhibits, and to enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship of the Convention. The convention & trade show is open to the public.

Ag Groups

Lessing-Flynn Celebrates 100 Years

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom and Laurie FlynnCongratulations to Tom Flynn for his new job starting January 1, 2008 as President of Lessing-Flynn. Here’s Tom with his wife Laurie.

Last week the agency celebrated 100 years in business. What a milestone. We’ve only got about 25 times that many years to go to get there as a company.

At their celebration the agency hosted more than 230 clients, suppliers and friends. It was also announced that Connor Fynn would become Chairman of the Board with Joe Rosenberg assuming the position of Vice Chairman.

Agencies

NAMA Regional Award Ceremonies

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agri-Marketing AssociationMake sure you plan to attend one of the upcoming Best of NAMA regional award ceremonies. Here’s the list:

January 10 – Region III Best of NAMA Ceremony
This ceremony will take place at The Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom in Golden Valley, MN. The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $65. For more information on the event visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/region3.htm.

January 17 – MidSouth Best of NAMA Ceremony
Stay tuned for more information on the MidSouth Best of NAMA Ceremony.

January 17 – Region IV Best of NAMA Ceremony
The Region IV ceremony will take place at The Abbey Resort in Fontana, WI. The ceremony will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $65 per person. For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/region4.htm.

January 22 – Region II Best of NAMA Ceremony
This ceremony will take place at The VooDoo Lounge in Harrah’s Casino in North Kansas City, MO. The event will begin with a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:00 p.m. Cost for the event is $65 per person. For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/region2.htm.

January 31 – Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA Ceremony
This event will take place at the NC State University Club in Raleigh, NC. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/carvir.html.

NAMA

Pork Recipes

Chuck Zimmerman

Pork RecipesSince I’m on the subject of pork, how about some recipes. Dave Williams emailed me a link exchange request so I’m happy to bring your attention to his Pork Recipes website.

One it you’ll find a lot of good looking recipes. That’s about it. Very simple.

It seems like he could develop this into a lot more and maybe he will. In the meantime, enjoy cooking some pork this holiday season.

Food, Pork

Nutrition Efficiency Info on Pork Board Website

Chuck Zimmerman

Pork Nutrition VideoA new section of the Pork Checkoff website contains information for producers who want to optimize their feed costs and maximize production efficiencies.

The new Nutritional Efficiency section includes information about the recently founded nutritional efficiency consortium; the consortium’s research and activity priorities; the research funded by the consortium and a subsection with links to additional information or resources.

Twenty four organizations have joined to form the nutritional efficiency consortium. Included in those are state pork associations, state and national corn grower associations and several allied industry partners. Their objectives are to determine research and producer educational opportunities that will help alleviate the increasing costs of producing pork, specifically addressing feed costs and maximizing growth and performance efficiencies. The program’s specific objectives can be found in the introductory page to the new online resource.

Resources that are available today include the video and audio presentations offered at the Distillers Grains: Implications for the U.S. Pork Industry conference that took place in Nov. 2006 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The video and audio require you to use Internet Explorer as your browser. The picture is an example of one of the videos you can find there.

Ag Groups, Pork