My backyard bambi last week prompted one AgWired reader to send in her own. This is a picture from Columbia, MO of what’s probably an albino deer. This one’s living behind Marylin Cummins house.
Here’s the special doe I watch for each day out my office window and off the deck — she likes to bed down on the wooded hillside that is our backyard (in the middle of suburban Columbia, Mo.) We think she’s an albino — she’s definitely different. Always travels alone and is quite tame — going right up to people’s backyards, where she ate the leaves off the top of my baby redbud trees this fall. She doesn’t spook when I call to her, either — I’ve nicknamed her “Crystal.”
Ames at Ivy
Here’s a company with an interesting name. Although it’s now Ivy, the founder was I.V. Sollins who started the company back in 1972. I’ll bet you didn’t know that.
Tom Nicholson, Vice President, Ivy Natural Solutions (INS) announced the appointment of Rob Ames as Brand Manager, Ivy Natural Solutions’ products. Ames will work closely with branded and integrated beef systems to provide products and services that will enhance cattle performance and health while maintaining the integrity of their brand specifications. Prior to joining Ivy, Ames was the Executive Director for Certified Hereford Beef LLC.
A Natural Place For Beef
There’s nothing like an announcement of an upcoming announcement or I guess I should say launch. US Natural Beef will be unveiled at the upcoming Cattle Industry Convention according to a story on meatingplace.com.
The Natural Cattle Connection listing service collects information from cattle producers and provides it to feedlot managers and natural beef programs via the Web. Cattle purchasers can browse through the information until they find cattle that meet their exact needs.
Intelligent Weather From Planalytics
We all know how important weather is to the business we’re in right? Here’s a company that’s moving into the ag area with their weather products/services.
Planalytics is expanding its business weather intelligence offerings to the Life Sciences field, announced Fred Fox, President and CEO of the company. “We have a proven track record helping clients in the consumer products, financial and energy industries understand – and manage – the impact of weather on their businesses,” said Fox. “We are building on that expertise and, at the same time, significantly enhancing our capabilities to better serve companies involved in agriculture, food and pharmaceuticals,” he continued. As part of the Life Sciences initiative, Planalytics is now offering unique causal modeling capabilities that can help clients identify and measure potential threats from pests and diseases, as well as weather events that affect food production and, ultimately, the health and well-being of humans and animals around the globe.
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Paul McKellips is Back in Iraq
Hopefully you remember Paul McKellips, Global Outreach Officer, US Embassy Baghdad, The Green Room – Public Affairs GO Team. He’s now back in Iraq and finding the good news behind the scenes that you’re not going to hear or see on the evening news, although you should. So here’s his latest report.
There was once a time when Iraqis consumed an enormous amount of fish in their diets. But after the 1991 Gulf War, when Saddam Hussein drained the Arab Marshlands, fish production has been on a steady decline. The U.S. military, USAID and American agricultural advisors are using taxpayer dollars, hard work and some lessons learned from the Jordanians to revitalize Iraqi fish farms.
Listen to his report:
iraq-fish-farms.mp3iPhone Now Available
Don’t think I didn’t hear the announcement today of the iPhone. MacWorld Expo is going on and Steve Jobs made the announcement. If you think this is just a neat looking new cell phone then think again. It’s a widescreen iPod, phone and internet communications device. It’s almost enough to make me want to switch from Sprint to Cingular since you’ll only be able to use one with just the one carrier (bummer). Watch the keynote address and iphone introduction.
Now why is this important to you and me? Jobs describes the iPhone as a revolutionary device. After seeing the introduction and demonstration I agree. This thing is a lot more than just a cool gadget. It’s also a great functional tool that we’re going to literally see “out in the field.” It’s an example of where things are going in the mobile delivered content arena. In fact you might want to check out this story on eMarketer.com, “The Hottest New Media Platform of 2007 Is Right in Your Hand.”
I guess the question would be, Are you preparing to communicate with your members and customers wherever they are?
I spent an hour in an Apple store today getting a very detailed demonstration of a MacBook Pro. If you think I should make the conversion please email me.
How ‘Bout Them Gators?
With travel and meetings in St. Louis today I haven’t had time to celebrate a Gator victory last night in the BCS Championship game. How sweet is it to be a graduate of the only school to ever have both the basketball and football national championships at the same time? I promise not to bring this up again (soon).
You’ve gotta love YouTube. This was made before the game but for Gator fans, it’s well worth about 7 minutes to enjoy.
New Utility Tractors From John Deere
John Deere’s got a couple of new utility tractors coming out. They’re the 5603 (pictured) and 5625 Tractors, both rated at 99 engine horsepower.
“We’ve done extensive customer research and these two economical tractors meet the needs of operators who want a higher horsepower utility tractor to do heavy-duty chores around the farm, ranch, or worksite,” says Mike Alvin, division manager, John Deere Commercial Products. “These tractors can be ordered with different packages in tailored configurations to match a customer’s operational needs.”
These tractors will be available starting in March. I’m betting these will be on display at upcoming shows like the National Farm Machinery Show.
www.animalag.org
Since animal agriculture represents the biggest market for soybeans, the United Soybean Board is making sure there’s a good online resource for the industry. I assume this is part of their animal ag initiative.
Visit www.animalag.org to find the most up-to-date information about the economic, environmental and rural impact of U.S. animal agriculture. This site is a complete source of state-specific data that offers valuable facts for addressing key animal agriculture issues.
Search www.animalag.org to find a variety of case studies, the truth about common myths and other useful tools. Learn how to build awareness and support of animal agriculture and the benefits it provides communities.
Corn Photo Contest Winner
Peggy Bellar is welcome to submit photos for me to use on AgWired anytime. She’s a winner once again.
For the second consecutive year, Peggy Bellar of Howard, Kan., snapped the grand prize photo in the 2006 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Gallery of Corn Photo Contest. Judges selected her photo, entered in the “Harvest” category, as the contest’s “best of show.” Hundreds of photos were entered in the third annual photo contest. NCGA members, their families, state association staff and NCGA staff were eligible to enter photos that captured corn in the field, past and present life on the farm, and scenic farm landscapes. Bellar will receive $500 for her “best of show” entry. All winning photos will be showcased at the 2007 Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fla., March 1-3. NCGA will also use photos from the contest for its publications, promotions and Web site.
Here’s where you can see a list of all the winners.