Farm Journal Media has launched an all-new AgWeb.com – the Homepage of Agriculture. AgWeb, the largest online media and information network in agriculture, now features even more robust news, weather and market data. The Food Channel has released its top ten snack trends, one of its regular trend reports. The U.S. Grains Council has hired Keith Williams as the new …
USDA/FFA Lesson Plans
The USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service and FFA are teaming up to develop new tools for classrooms to “help promote agricultural and statistical literacy among kindergarten through 12th-grade students.” “By including these materials in the classroom curriculum, teachers can help students better understand statistics and their importance to the farming community, rural America and society as a whole,” said Dr. …
NCBA President Urges Piecemeal Approach To GIPSA Rule
He’s a western Illinois cattle and hog producer and also has a feed yard. He’s Steve Foglesong, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. I spoke with Steve today for our series on the proposed GIPSA rule making. The picture is Steve during a press conference at this summer’s Cattle Industry Conference. He says that when you read the proposed …
“Dirty Jobs” Host to Keynote AFBF Meeting
Farmers and ranchers get their hands dirty nearly every day, so they should appreciate hearing from a man who specializes in showcasing dirty jobs. Mike Rowe, the creator and executive producer of Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe,” will deliver the keynote address to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 92nd annual meeting on January 10, 2011, in Atlanta, …
NAFB Luncheon Scores a Touchdown
A luncheon in Kansas City Monday with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) board of directors scored big with members who were able to attend. It was a new deal for NAFB that served several purposes at once. It was held in conjunction with one of the organization’s regular board meetings, so that whole gang was already in town. …
NPPC Calls Proposed GIPSA Rule a “Disaster”
Go to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) homepage and you will see a prominent link to information about the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule with the bold headline “Proposed GIPSA Rule a Disaster.” Strong words from the organization, but that is how many producers feel about the rule that they believe will limit their ability …
Why NAMA Trends In Ag Is In Minneapolis
The National Agri-Marketing Association will be holding it’s fall Trends In Agriculture conference in Minneapolis, MN this year. Perhaps you’re wondering why it’s not in Kansas City adjacent to the NAFB convention. I was. So I spoke with Jenny Pickett, NAMA CEO, and found out the answer. Jenny, pictured right at last week’s Boot Camp, says the reason NAMA had …
Zimfo Bytes
The American Phytopathological Society’s website has been completely re-imagined and rebuilt, and will now include a daily news feed, an online bookstore, a webcast section, thousands of searchable abstracts, historical archives, and more. The American Angus Association will host its 127th Annual Convention of Delegates and related Angus activities in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition, Nov. 13-16, …
That Was Then.
Then: My grandparents started out every morning by pulling their one-legged milking stool from the wall of the barn, then managed a balancing act with the stool and a bucket between their knees to catch the cow’s milk. One at a time, the cows would file into the barn, all three to five of them in the herd, to be …
Corn and Soybean Growers At Pioneer Field Day
I have to believe that Pioneer Hi-Bred was very happy with farmer attendance at their Crop Technology Field day held in Carrollton, MO. Each of the tour stops were packed with an attentive audience. I spoke with two of the farmers in attendance. One was Paul Tracy from Denver, MO. Paul was there to see and learn more about new …