Here’s the Chistmas tree in the White House this year (courtesy of National Christmas Tree Association). Being in a Christmas mood I thought it made a good post matched up with a USDA story by Gary Crawford. Gary provides the latest on how Christmas tree exports are doing this year.
Missouri Corn Scholarships Available
CornTalk is the week’y interview program of the Missouri Corn Growers Association. This week MCGA’s Becky Grisham talks about the Missouri Corn Scholarship program. High school and college students may apply for 6 scholarships which will be awarded in 2006. She says the application forms are available on their website.
Gateway NAMA Blogging Workshop
If you’d like to know more about the blogging and podcasting business then come to St. Louis on January 10 and attend the Gateway NAMA lunch meeting and my workshop that follows the meeting. You’re invited even if you’re not a member although we would appreciate your rsvp.
O&B Adds 4 More
Business continues to be very, very good at Osborn & Barr as we have 4 new staff members to introduce you to. First we have Christine Nieland who will be “associate director of contact relations. Christine manages specific elements of the United Soybean Board business and leads the Farm Credit Services of Missouri account, developing strategic communications programs and public relations initiatives, as well as lending leadership to database and e-based initiatives.”
Jerry Sinift Interim GM For World Ag Expo
World Ag Expo has an interim general manager to replace Gary Schulz. He’s Jerry Sinift and he’s got a lot of experience at the show as his resume attests to.
D&PL 10 Year On NYSE
D&PL rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange Monday for their 10 year anniversary. I wonder if they all had to ride bikes to get there with the transit strike that’s going on.
A Milestone In The Broadcasters Letter
I’d like to thank my good friend Larry Quinn, Assistant Director
Office of Communications, USDA for mentioning us and AgWired in his “milestones” listing in the latest issue of his weekly “Broadcasters Letter”. Larry is one of the people who makes dealing with the government enjoyable. In fact, all the people in the USDA communications department are very friendly and will go out of their way to help you out.
A Potential W.T.O.- Congressional Disconnect?
Concrete achievements made at the latest round of W.T.O. trade talks in Hong Kong were modest.
Most notable was an agreement that sets a deadline for wiping out subsidies of agricultural exports by 2013.
And reaction to the talks from newspaper editorial boards was mostly negative.
Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal indicated that, “The negotiators signed a substantially weakened deal that includes a commitment to eliminate farm subsidies by 2013, modest cuts in tariffs, and an April 30, 2006 deadline for agreeing on how to liberalize farm and non-farm trade.”
Why It’s A Wal-Mart Nation
I don’t know why I find this amazing but I do. It’s no wonder the report has a section titled, “Wal-Mart Nation.”
Niche Pork Is Unique Pork
At first when I saw this announcement I wasn’t sure it would fit here on AgWired but then I saw that it contained a link to a website I haven’t ever seen before. It’s Niche Pork, The Other Opportunity. Actually I couldn’t tell you what niche pork was until surfing around on the website.