New Ag Scholarships For Illinois

Laura McNamara June 15, 2007

Rhea & Kaiser, a marketing communications agency based in Chicago, has created two one-time scholarships to be offered by The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University. The scholarships honor long-time clients of Rhea & Kaiser who have recently retired.

The $750 scholarships were established in the Department of Agriculture in honor of Illinois State graduate Dave Striegel and in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) in honor of U of I graduate Vern McGinnis. Both Striegel and McGinnis were long-time employees of GROWMARK, Inc., a regional farm supply and grain marketing cooperative based in Bloomington, Ill.

“Rhea & Kaiser has enjoyed a 25-year relationship with GROWMARK, and we are proud of the friendships we’ve enjoyed with Dave and Vern during those years,” said Steve Rhea, president and CEO of Rhea & Kaiser. “This is an opportunity to recognize these relationships while helping support tomorrow’s agricultural leaders.”

The scholarships are open to any student of agriculture who achieved at least an equivalent, cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The money is intended for educational expenses, such as tuition, fees and textbooks.
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Education

Soybean Checkoff Gets on Board with Tractor Pullers

Laura McNamara June 15, 2007

Soybean Checkoff and the National Tractor Pullers Association are working together to promote the use of soy biodiesel. The United Soybean Board anticipates entertainment and education for the spectators of various summer tractor pulls.

This summer the United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff will gear up with the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) to co-sponsor six events in the 2007 NTPA Championship Pulling Series. The sponsorship represents an opportunity to promote the diesel engine benefits provided by soy biodiesel.

With the message of “Do something nice for your engine,” the soybean checkoff continues to focus its message on fuel quality and soy biodiesel performance that provides lubricity to reduce engine wear.

“We are excited about the opportunity to inform a wider audience on the advantages of soy biodiesel through new promotional efforts, like summer tractor pulls,” says Jack Reed, USB Communications chair and a soybean farmer from Salem, Ind. “We are experiencing record soy biodiesel usage among farmers, and we hope to carry our momentum to mainstream diesel users who are interested in fuel quality and engine performance.”

Soy biodiesel continues to grow at a rapid rate in the United States, as over 3,000 retailers, suppliers and distributors currently carry the fuel. With such a rapidly growing market, it makes sense that the performance-driven diesel users should be on the fast track to fuel benefit awareness. The widely attended tractor pulls provide the necessary forum.

Biodiesel blends run smoothly in engines across the United States with the most common being a B2 blend (2 percent soy biodiesel with 98 percent petroleum diesel). Advantages of using soy biodiesel include improved engine lubricity and performance compared with most diesel fuels, a reduction in air pollution and increased handling safety.
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Biodiesel, Soybean, Tractor

From the Fields of Indiana to Hoosier Radio

Laura McNamara June 15, 2007

Hoosier Ag Today and Indiana AgriNews are partnering up to offer Indiana AgriNews’ From the Field reports on the radio. The reports feature farmers around the state of Indiana who share their experiences with weather, crop conditions, weeds, insects, diseases and farm management. The partnership will also offer a special page on on the Hoosier Ag Today Web site, where listeners can access unedited versions of From the Field interviews.

“This is farmers talking to farmers,” said Gary Truitt of Hoosier Ag Today. “This kind of thing can only be done by Indiana-based media organizations like HAT and AgriNews who are in touch with their audience and with what is happening on the farms of the state.” Hoosier Ag Today produces daily radio programming for 30 leading stations across the state. Indiana AgriNews is a recognized leader in Indiana farm news coverage serving over 21,000 farm families with its weekly publication. In addition, to the radio and print versions, From the Field reports will also be included in the Official Podcast of Indiana Agriculture, produced by Hoosier Ag Today, and a free daily e-mail newsletter. This podcast is available at both the Hoosier Ag Today and AgriNews Web sites.

Farmers involved in the program are from Pulaski, Kosciusko, Tipton, Jay, Clay, Rush, Dubois, and Washington counties. “These firsthand reports on current field and crop conditions are vital, especially this year with drought conditions spreading across the state,” said Jim Henry, Editor of Indiana AgriNews.

Ag Groups, Farming

NBB CEO Joe Jobe Competes in Celebrity Tractor Race

Chuck Zimmerman June 15, 2007

One of the competitors in the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race was National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe. He’s pictured here on top of the tractor with Michael Peterson and all the FFA students who helped out at the event.

Unfortunately Joe didn’t win but he had a good competitive time. You can watch his efforts on this YouTube video.

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Ag Groups, New Holland, Video

Environmental Defense Ruminates on Farm Policy

Chuck Zimmerman June 15, 2007

The Environmental Defense group now has a farm policy blog called “The Ruminant.” It’s written by Scott Faber who manages the Healthy Farms, Healthy Food Campaign for Environmental Defense.

The slogan for the site is “A daily update on the debates shaping the 2007 Farm Bill.” Thanks to Meg Little for bringing it to my attention. They also have a podcast called Insider Podcast which you can subscribe to in iTunes.

Environment, Farm Policy, Podcasts

Bob Dickey is NCGA First VP

Chuck Zimmerman June 15, 2007

The National Corn Growers Association got some work done at their board meeting in Kansas City this week. It included electing Bob Dickey of Laurel, NE, as its next first vice president.

“It is a real honor for me to serve on the NCGA Corn Board, and I’m humbled that my fellow members have elected me to an officer position,” said Dickey. “It is an exciting time to be involved in American agriculture as we provide food, feed, fuel and fiber for the world. As corn farmers, we are enthusiastic about opportunities and are ready to meet the challenges of the future.”

The next step for Dickey as first vice president-elect is to be ratified by the 126-member Corn Congress at its July 18-19 meeting in Washington, D.C. Ratification starts a three-year process of NCGA leadership. The first year is spent as first vice president, the second year is spent as NCGA president and in the third and final year, the elected grower serves as NCGA Corn Board chairman.

Current President Ken McCauley will become chairman and current First Vice President Ron Litterer will become president on Oct. 1.

Ag Groups, Corn

The DTN Blogs

Chuck Zimmerman June 15, 2007

Chris Clayton over at DTNAg.com brought to my attention the fact that they’ve got several blogs up and running on their website. They all say “Limited Trial” on them which I think is interesting. I guess they’re just testing the waters on this blog thing. I’m betting they’d like some feedback on what they’re doing so check it out and let them know what you think.

DTN Market Matters Blog
DTN Ethanol Blog
DTN In Other Media Blog
DTN Production Blog
DTN Ag Policy Blog
DTN Ag Weather Forum

Media

Grill Out On Father’s Day

Chuck Zimmerman June 15, 2007

Since Laura just did a post on beef I had to post this YouTube video of a commercial spot for BullsEye BBQ Sauce. Now that I’m home for a few days you can count on the ZimmComm smoker to be put into action probably with a selection of goodies (beef, pork, chicken, fish). If you’re going to be grilling this weekend and want to get some pointers then check out the Kraft Foods BBQ Ribs Basics video.

Thanks to AdRants for the pointer.

Advertising, Video

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane… It’s a Beef Blimp

Laura McNamara June 14, 2007

About 200,000 NASCAR fans attending the race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Maryland got a heads up on beef June 1st through 3rd. The “It’s What’s For Dinner” blimp debuted at the race, along with beef samples for fans at the “Monster Mile”.

The beef balloon was part of the checkoff-funded Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), a project of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and several northeast state beef councils. During the Dover race, NEBPI volunteers and National Beef Ambassadors boosted the beef message by serving 2,000 burger samples at a booth on the speedway’s “monster mile,” between the stands and the RV parks. Burgers were donated by Fast Fixin’.

“NASCAR fans and beef are a great mixture. The blimp added to the enthusiasm and allowed consumers to locate the sampling area,” said Bill McKinnon, a volunteer from the Virginia Cattleman’s Association. McKinnon added the 17-foot long blimp was visible to highway travelers who were heading to Delaware beaches for the weekend.

The promotion also featured a new beef recipe from the winner of the Dover International Honorary Beef Master contest, held prior to race weekend. Amy Yannelli was named the track’s Honorary Beef Master for her winning recipe, Cheese-Stuffed Flank Steak (recipe attached).

“My family had an incredible time at Dover! Standing with Jeff Gordon’s pit crew was an event of a lifetime,” Yannelli said. “The National Beef Ambassador team welcomed me and treated me like a five-star chef—it really made my weekend grand.”
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Advertising, Beef, Food

Photographers Shoot Each Other

Chuck Zimmerman June 14, 2007

The shooter got shot again. This is becoming a “tradition” whenever you get AgriTalk and ZimmComm in the same area at an event.

AgriTalk producer John Herath likes his Nikon as much as I like mine. So sometimes we just happen to be pointed the same way. After looking at this picture I’m wondering if the photographer behind me is getting a picture of my cuter side.

So while John’s taking a picture of me I’m taking a picture of him.

John took a bunch of photos while also shooting some video during the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race.

You can find his photos on their website.

Okay John let’s see if we remember to do this at the next stop on the road.

CMA Music Festival Photo Album

Uncategorized

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