At least one pure bred Angus breeder is concerned that the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule could set the beef industry back 25 years. Bill Rishel of North Platte, Nebraska is president of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association and owner of Rishel Angus. He’s among the nation’s top Angus breeders and was one of the first to …
Zimfo Bytes
Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. announced that Ed Schafer, former Governor of North Dakota and former Secretary of the USDA, has agreed to join Bion’s management team through the end of 2013. Bayer CropScience is cooperating with the EPA following an announcement to cancel uses of aldicarb, sold as Temik brand insecticide/nematicide, on potatoes and citrus. Uses on all other crops …
Bethany Shively Moves To NACD
Bethany Shively is on the move from her position with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Beginning this coming Monday you can find her at the National Association of Conservation Districts as their new Communications Director. Congratulations Bethany!
Cattle Producer Wants Long Term Analysis of GIPSA Rule
Will cattle producers be helped or hurt by the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) regulation that is intended to provide protection for producers against unfair, fraudulent or retaliatory practices in the livestock business? That is the question that many in the cattle business are asking now, less than two months after the rule was proposed. Many of …
Iowa Corn Farmers Still Optimistic Despite Flooding
Last week, the USDA announced its estimated harvest numbers for corn this fall and the report was full of good news. They are expecting another record harvest this year as well as an increase in bushels per acre. Should their predictions come true, this will be the third record harvest in a row. In addition, corn growers will achieve this …
Meat Meets Colbert
A word of advice to agricultural lobbyists – throw your media training out the window if you agree to do an interview with Stephen Colbert. American Meat Institute President J. Patrick Boyle was the main dish Tuesday night on the Colbert Nation “Know Your Lobby” segment, which profiles lobbying organizations. “Although I’ve had a lot of tough interviews in my …
Cattle Feeder Concerned With GIPSA Proposed Rule
The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) proposed rule that was published in June is causing quite a bit of concern among cattle feeders, who would be impacted right along with every other aspect of the meat and poultry industry. I talked about the issue with Jerry Bohn, general manager of Pratt Feeders in Kansas, who will be taking …
Digital Media Impact On Farmers and Ranchers
The Impact of Digital Media on Farmers and Ranchers was the title of a NAMA Boot Camp presentation by Jack Semler, Readex Research. I’ve been hoping to see Jack’s research which was done for the American Business Media’s Agri Council but have missed presentations at events like the Ag Media Summit. The farmers surveyed for this project were taken from …
Communications Plans Don’t Have To Be Scary
Communications plan? What communications plan? Sound familiar? You need a plan and helping NAMA Boot Campers with a method to create one was Beth Burgy, Broadhead+Co. Her presentation is titled, “Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Scary Communications Plan.” To learn how little red riding hood figures in you’ll need to listen to my interview with her. Beth says …
How To Communicate With Farmers
Those pesky producers. How do you communicate with them? Isn’t there just one way that reaches all farmers? Not. So to help beginning agrimarketers the morning session at NAMA Boot Camp features a producer panel led by Janelle Buxton, Successful Farming/Agriculture.com (seated on left). Next to her are Colleen Gerke, Lonny Duckworth and Ken McCauley. I spoke with Ken before …