With National Ag Week coming up D&PL decided to create a grassroots initiative to show off the valuable contribution agriculture makes to our society. This is an idea that I’d like to see more of. I hope we get a follow-up report on the project. The company’s employees are creating word of mouth advertising in support of a good cause. Who would be better evangelists than the people who work for a company that make their living from the success of our farmers?
Micro Flo-ing To Arysta LifeScience
Although the financial details are a secret it’s still a big deal. Micro Flo will be part of Arysta LifeScience now.
NFU Blogging
I know we’re going to see more of this. It’s happening. There is no better-suited-to blogging organizations than farmer member organizations. Of course that’s if you have a blogger! Apparently NFU does.
Farm Policy on the German Marshall Fund
Remember Keith Good? He was writing a regular feature here on AgWired on Farm Policy. Well one of the reasons he’s not is because of his Journalism Fellowship with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, providing Analytical news updates covering Trade, Agriculture and Development. They’re posted every Monday and Thursday.
Hope You Like Canned Tuna
I’d be interested to know your thoughts on the whole bird flu pandemic scare. Apparently the U. S. Dept. of Health & Human Services thinks it’s for real. They just issued new recommendations for people to get ready. According to a release by the U. S. Tuna Foundation that recommendation includes stocking up on canned tuna.
Davis Named Group Publisher at Meredith
Lot of news from Meredith today. To start with Tom Davis is moving up to group publisher and will oversee all operations of men’s brands like WOOD, Successful Farming and Living the Country Life. In addition Scott Mortimer has been named Successful Farming Publisher.
Wonder Who Will Win
Our New Holland “Down on the Farm” Classic iPod Keepsake Contest officially ends this evening. We’ll be announcing the winner on National Agriculture Day, March 20 so keep on the lookout and keep your fingers crossed. Thanks to all of you who have entered.
Zimfo Bites
Former Executive Director of the Florida Dept. of Citrus, Dan Gunter, named President & COO of Alico, Inc.
See an Australian farmer talk about biotech.
New District Agronomist for Mycogen Seeds – Art Graves, Northeast District of the United States.
The Pork Board says Americans need help picking the perfect Easter ham.
China is going to scrap it’s National Agriculture Tax on farmers this year.
The American Livestock Connection is offering free classified ads.
Tasty Biotech at BIO 2006
The big bad BIO is coming up soon in Chicago and we’re seeing lots of notices in advance of the conference. I think I’ve seen at least 10 news releases just in the last couple weeks. BIO is the Biotechnology Industry Organization and they’re expecting about 18,000 to attend this year’s conference in Chicago, April 9 – 12.
BSE What BSE Cow
Many are wondering where the outcry is about the discovery of the latest BSE cow in the United States. In my opinion, it never was about health, but about markets or the lack there of. When Canada discovered its first BSE-infected cow in May of 2003, the outcry reverberated around the world.
In Canada, many said it would be the death knell for the beef industry. How wrong they were. Do any of you remember when the latest BSE discovery occurred in Canada? I didn’t either. I had to look it up on the World Wide Web. It was back in January 2006, not 2005, or 2004. We have short memories. That goes to prove my point it’s all about the markets, and has very little to do with health.