USDA/Ad Council PSA To Prevent Obese Kids

Chuck Zimmerman

In this public service announcement produced by USDA and the Ad Council eating an apple keeps the ceiling from falling on you and turns it into a world map. Well, that’s not really the message.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services and the Ad Council announce today the launch of a multi-media public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to inspire children and families to adopt healthier lifestyles.

As we all know, today’s obesity and overweight statistics are staggering. Approximately 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese while 17 percent of American children themselves are categorized as overweight. Research indicates that there is a direct correlation between being overweight during childhood and adolescence and carrying that through into adulthood.

If it were only so easy as running a psa and the crisis of obesity in kids would be solved. Maybe it will help. I don’t know.

Advertising, Food, USDA, Video

Speaking of Beef Kicks Off

Chuck Zimmerman

Speaking of BeefThe Missouri Beef Industry Council has just kicked off a new program as I mentioned late last night called, “Speaking of Beef.” This program includes preparing volunteer producers for public speaking on key issues important to their industry and then helping schedule them to speak to local civic groups statewide. It’s just another way for beef producers to connect with people who are far removed from the farm.

As we talked about in our first training session yesterday, there are so many people today who have never been on a farm, touched an animal like a cow, or seen how they’re cared for that it’s not surprising they have so many misconceptions and ideas about rural life. There’s a big need for public education and a personal approach from someone who’s part of their community is one of the best ways to foster understanding.

Speaking of Beef Training SessionTo help the program participants we worked with the MBIC staff to develop a resource notebook which includes: pre-written speeches on 6 key issues (printed and saved electronically on CD), notecards for each speech, basic information about public speaking and media interviewing, a list of potential questions they will be asked and suggested answers. The volunteers will personalize each talk with anecdotes about their life and farm. They will also receive a supply of handout materials for their presentation as well as items to be used for a drawing after their talk. We’re contacting Rotary, Optimist and Kiwanis clubs as well as local Chambers of Commerce to see if they’d like to schedule in one of our speakers.

It’s a great program and we’ve already got more volunteers on a list for the next training session after we get this first group going. I’ll tell you what. These are some of my favorite people and I know they’ll be a big hit with whatever crowd they get to speak in front of!

Ag Groups, Beef

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • Bunge North America renewed its support of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program for 2008 with the presentation of $100,000 during the Progressive Agriculture Foundation annual meeting in Indianapolis, Ind. And Bunge not only contributes financially, but encourages company’s employees to volunteer with the program.
  • DuPont and Beijing Weiming Kaituo Agriculture Biotechnology Co., Ltd. announced the formation of a joint venture to accelerate the discovery of genes for high value agronomic traits such as stress tolerance and efficient nutrient utilization to improve the performance of important crops for farmers in China and throughout the world. For DuPont, this marks another step toward the globalization of its R&D capabilities to accelerate new product launches and drive business growth for its worldwide seed business, Pioneer Hi-Bred. Pioneer is the first major global seed business to have a significant presence in key Chinese corn markets through two previous joint ventures.
  • McCormick International and its parent company ARGO S.p.A have won a contract to supply 200 McCormick XTX Series tractors to Kamaz, Inc., a leading Russian vehicle group. The tractors will be sold under the Kamaz brand to farmers in Russia. The McCormick XTX Series was chosen for its balance of modern technology and price, which will be an ideal fit for Russian farmers investing in more productive machinery.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Fight Stress with Wild Blueberries

    Laura McNamara

    Wild Blueberry AssociationJust a handful of wild blueberries at each meal is the ticket to natural stress-relief. At least, that´s what the USDA has concluded.

    USDA scientists recently concluded that eating Wild Blueberries and other antioxidant-rich foods at every meal helps prevent oxidative stress. (Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 26, No. 2, 170-181, 2007) This study advances antioxidant research by moving beyond the measurement of antioxidants in foods to actual examination of the performance of specific fruits against oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress is linked to chronic diseases and aging.

    “We are confident that consumption of Wild Blueberries or other high antioxidant foods is going to be beneficial in fighting oxidative stress,” said lead scientist Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D., USDA Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. “It’s not just what you eat but when you eat it that matters. Phytochemicals in foods have varying degrees of bioavailability and generally are cleared from the blood 2-4 hours after they’re eaten. Ensuring that your body has a steady supply of antioxidant-rich foods can help combat oxidative stress throughout the day.” The study also found that eating a meal with no antioxidants — just carbohydrates, fat or protein — lowers the antioxidant levels and causes oxidative stress. “You’re deficit spending when you eat junk food. You need to continually consume antioxidant-rich foods to keep levels up for optimal health.”

    According to Wild Blueberry Association Nutrition Advisor Susan Davis, M.S., R.D., this research proves yet again the importance of fruits and vegetables and a diet that minimizes foods with little or no nutritional value. “Incorporate fruits and vegetables and other whole foods like grains and nuts into every meal to get the full phytochemical benefits you need to fight oxidative stress and inflammation,” said Davis. “Fresh, frozen, canned, juice or dried, all forms count when you’re trying to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. When it comes to Wild Blueberries, eat at least 1/2 cup every day as part of a well-balanced diet.”

    Ag Groups, Food, USDA

    Rhino Fertilizer For Christmas

    Laura McNamara

    International Rhino FoundationThis could be the breakthrough farmer´s across the country have been looking for: a super fertilizer of rhino poop! Nah, probablz not. But, I couldn´t pass up throwing up a post about the debut of rhino poop for this holiday season.

    We swear we’re not making this up. For the first time in history you may find rhino poop under your Christmas tree. This year the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) is auctioning off endangered feces — poop from endangered rhino species. It’s all part of an effort to save one of Earth’s most recognizable, but most threatened wild animals.

    That’s right, actual rhino poop will be an auction item on the popular Web site eBay. The rhino poop auction will begin Friday, November 30, 2007 and can be accessed by searching for “rhino poop” at www.eBay.com or by visiting www.endangeredfeces.org.

    “Everyone knows about rhinos, but not everyone knows that they are disappearing from the Earth,” says International Rhino Foundation Executive Director Dr. Susie Ellis. “It might sound silly, but the money raised by the rhino poop auction will benefit conservation programs, raise awareness, and help us to save rhinos.”

    Four separate pieces of rhino dung, representing the four species of rhino living in the United States, will be up for auction on eBay – including the White Rhino, the Black Rhino, the Sumatran Rhino and the Indian Rhino. The Javan Rhino, the only species not represented, is so rare that obtaining dung was not possible. The opening bid for each item will depend upon the rarity of the species.

    The IRF also suggests its Adopt-A-Rhino Program as another holiday gift idea.

    Animal Health, Environment

    Speaking of Missouri Beef

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Cindy Speaking of BeefCindy and I had a nice trip to Springfield today to conduct the first training session for the Missouri Beef Industry Council’s new “Speaking of Beef” program. I’ll post more on this tomorrow.

    Here you can see Cindy going over the basics when it comes to public speaking. That’s what these cattle producers will be doing over the next year as we help schedule them in to speak to local community groups.

    During our session we had each of them give a “practice” speech which we recorded and then played back to critique. It was fun and I promised I wouldn’t put any of them on YouTube (although it’s tempting).

    If you’d like to learn more about the program now you can listen to this week’s MBIC Report podcast with MBIC Executive Director John Kleiboeker: mbic-report-12-5-07.mp3

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef

    Beef Promotion Board Appointments Made

    Melissa Sandfort

    Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced 39 appointments to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. All appointees will serve 3-year terms beginning Feb. 3, 2008.

    beef-checkcolor.jpgAppointed members representing cattle producers by state are: Max Bozeman, Jr., Alabama; Weldon D. Wynn, Arkansas; Manuel Rodrigues, California; Harold A. Wick, Colorado; Sidney L. Sumner, Florida; Dan D. Hinman, Idaho; Paul L. Kent, Minnesota; Dianne Sites, Missouri; Lawrence J. Switzer, Montana; David C. Schubel, New York; Brian C. Healey and Steve Smola, Oklahoma; Sharon E. Livingston, Oregon; Daniel M. Kniffen, Pennsylvania; Charles L. Ezer, Austin E. Brown III and Mary Lou Bradley, Texas; and Warren D. Viergutz, Wisconsin.

    Reappointed members representing cattle producers by state or region (unit) are: Virginia K. Coelho, California; David W. Bateman, Illinois; Virginia J. Davis, Indiana; Daniel F. Petersen, Iowa; Glenda J. Flora, Kansas; Dana R. Hauck, Kansas; Ross D. Garwood, Nebraska; Doris L. Rush, Nebraska; Jeffrey L. Dahl, North Dakota; Neil C. Kayser, Northwest; Franklin J. Phelps, Ohio; Merrill Karlen, Jr., South Dakota; Robert Q. Fountain, Jr., Southeast; Robert D. Fugate, Tennessee; Richard J. Hodge, Texas; and Bobby L. Combs,Virginia.

    In addition, R. Wayne Buck, Colorado was appointed to complete the term of aproducer who recently resigned from the board. Donald E. Stewart was reappointed to represent importers.

    Beef, USDA

    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.
    Read More

    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