Agribusiness Forum Addresses Food Industry Issues

Chuck Zimmerman

If you missed the NAMA Agribusiness Forum then thank the agriblogging folks at Paulsen AgriBranding for providing another interview. This time you’ll get to hear from Kevin Coupe:

“The Decision Zone: Six Issues the Food Industry Must Confront in 2008, 2009…”

Kevin Coupe, MorningNewsBeat.com

The issues that face the food industry in the coming years are key to the industry’s survival. According to Kevin Coupe, the stakes are too high, the time too short and customers too demanding for the industry to put off critical decisions.

Agencies, NAMA, Video

Trade Talking

Chuck Zimmerman

Trade Talk InterviewIt’s Trade Talk day at the NAFB Convention. Most of the companies and organizations are set up in traditional booths but the show has spilled out into the open area outside the ballroom. So you’ll find interviews taking place everywhere, including the front seat of a Ford Mustang that’s partly made out of soybeans.

I’m just getting ready to head on in for interviews and pictures myself. In the meantime, enjoy the growing photo album.

NAFB Convention Photo Album

NAFB

John Deere iSolutions Make Precision Technology Easy to Understand

Laura McNamara

Information desk at the John Deere Agritechnica ExhibitOne of the biggest client-customer programs offered at the John Deere Agritechnica exhibit is the iSolutions program. Paul Leathem, the manager of John Deere Advertising in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, explains that AMS technology is well known in both North America and Europe, but the technology is less understood in Europe. He says iSolutions is meant to explain the different packages of AMS solutions John Deere can offer to farmers.

You can listen to Paul give a detailed explanation of iSolutions and several packages offered for different types of farmers here:

Leathem005iprecision.mp3

Agritechnica 2007 Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Shows, Farming, International, John Deere, Technology

Imus Comes Home to RFD-TV

Melissa Sandfort

header.jpgDon Imus and Rural Media Group, Inc. signed a 5-year agreement to simulcast the popular Imus In The Morning program exclusively on RFD-TV (which reaches 30 million homes and has a loyal, growing fan base in all 50 states in just 7 years) and RFD HD. The announcement was made by Patrick Gottsch, Founder & President of Rural Media Group, Inc.

Imus is bringing his team back to the air including newsman Charles McCord. The show will air live on weekdays from 6-9am (EST). Imus in the Evening, a rebroadcast of the morning’s program, will air in primetime on RFD HD from 6-9pm and will be featured on video-on-demand enabling west coast viewers and millions of fans to experience the show at their convenience. As previously announced, Imus in the Morning will be broadcast on the radio from 6-10am by Citadel’s WABC and will be syndicated across the country by ABC Radio Network.

Media

Missourians Get E85 for $1.85

Laura McNamara

MO Corn Growers AssociationConsumers have the chance to fuel up on E85 for $1.85. The ZX snack shop in Kirkwood, Missouri is hosting a grand opening for its first E85 fuel pump. The celebration will begin Thursday, at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until 4:00 p.m at 10921 Manchester Rd.

General Motors and the MO Corn Growers Association will be displaying “Live Green Go Yellow” wrapped GM Flex Fuel Vehicles. This station opening marks a first of its kind in the state as it is located within 2 miles of an Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch. Enterprise will be fueling their fleet of Flex Fuel rental cars with E85 at this location from now on. Enterprise will be announcing that the local Kirkwood branch is the first E85/FlexFuel branch in the St. Louis area. Please see the attached releases from Enterprise. Representatives from ZX Snack Shop, JD Street Oil Co., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, St. Louis Clean Cities, General Motors, and the Missouri Corn Growers Association will be on hand to answer questions and help customers fuel their FFVs.

Ag Groups, Ethanol

NAFB Foundation Scholarship Winner

Chuck Zimmerman

Laura Hale and Acting Sec. of Ag Chuck ConnerOne of the winners of a $4,000 NAFB Foundation Scholarship is Laura Hale. Laura was presented her check by Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner.

Laura is a senior at Auburn University. She’s president of the Meat Science Association and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow.

Listen to my interview with Laura Hale here: nafb-07-hale.mp3

You can also download the interview here: Listen to MP3 File Laura Hale Interview (1 min MP3)

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, NAFB

Food Safety and Consumer Confidence Making News at Agribusiness Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

The agriblogging folks at Paulsen AgriBranding have been very busy so we’ve got another installment in their YouTube series from this year’s NAMA Agribusiness Forum. This time you’ll get to hear from Sarah Muirhead:

Written by Paulsen AgriBranding on Wednesday, November 14, 2007

“Food Safety & Customer Confidence – What’s Making News”

Sarah Muirhead, Feedstuffs

Food safety scares, from dirty spinach to peanut butter, have shaken consumer confidence in the food they consume. Why does the media react the way it does when covering food safety issues, and, how does that affect consumers? Sarah Muirhead shared her insight and tells us what the ag industry can do to better inform consumers.

Agencies, NAMA, Video

Glenn Kummerow Memorial Scholarship Winner

Chuck Zimmerman

Haylie Shipp and Acting Sec. of Ag Chuck ConnerA $5,000 Glenn Kummerow Memorial Scholarship was presented to Haylie Shipp today at the NAFB Foundation lunch. Here’s Haylie with our Acting Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Conner.

Haylie is attending Montana State University and hopes to be a farm broadcaster when she graduates. She grew up on a cow/calf operation. She’s been interning with the Northern Ag Network doing market reports, interviews, news gathering and production.

Listen to my interview with Haylie Shipp here: nafb-07-shipp.mp3

You can also download the interview here: Listen to MP3 File Haylie Shipp Interview (2 min MP3)

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, NAFB

Liz LeSatz Receives NAFB Foundation Scholarship

Chuck Zimmerman

Liz LeSatz and Acting Sec. of Ag Chuck ConnerThe NAFB Foundation held it’s annual convention luncheon today and awarded some scholarships.

Here’s Liz LeSatz, University of Wyoming student, who received her check for $4,000 from Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner.

I spoke to Liz afterward while she was covering the NAFB Foundation booth which you can find right across from the registration table. Liz says these farm broadcasters here seem to give each other a “hard time.” I don’t know what she means. However, if you were at the luncheon and heard a remark from Pam Jahnke directed at Ken Root then you’d know.

Listen to my interview with Liz LeSatz here: nafb-07-lesatz.mp3

You can also download the interview here: Listen to MP3 File Liz LeSatz Interview (2 min MP3)

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Audio, NAFB

Acting Secretary Conner Visits NAFB

Chuck Zimmerman

Pam Fretwell and Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck ConnerThe NAFB Convention is underway and the Acting Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Conner, started things off with remarks in a press conference. Here he’s being introduced by NAFB President, Pam Fretwell, WTAD/WKAN.

Acting Secretary Conner had a lot to say about the farm bill which is really the main issue the administration is working on right now. As we’ve heard before he spoke about the President vetoing legislation in its current form. I recorded his comments for you.

Listen to Acting Secretary Chuck Conner here: nafb-07-conner.mp3

You can also download his comments here: Listen to MP3 File Acting Secretary Conner’s Comments (8 min MP3)

Of course I’m building an online photo album from the NAFB Convention which you can find on Flickr.

I want to thank NAFB for making my coverage of this year’s NAFB Convention possible!

Audio, NAFB, USDA