Two Colorado State Univeristy (CSU) Ph.D. students have won the coveted W.D. Farr Scholarship. Plainview, Texas native Jessica Igo and Pontette, Wisconsin native Scott Howard received the award during the General Session at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in its second day in Kissimmee, Florida. The $12,000 scholarships are given by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). Both Igo and Howard …
NCBA Committee Researches Cattle Diseases
A lot of discussion in the cattle industry today is about issues relating to widespread drought. Bill Nutt, Chair of the Emerging Cattle Health Research and Issues Working Group that met during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, is a producer from Georgia who has not escaped the consequences of the drought. While drought can cause problems with your herd, there …
The Successes of the Beef Checkoff
The Beef Board staff is publishing a weekly six-part series featuring 25 years of beef checkoff successes. This is an excerpt from the first part titled, “Turning your $1-per-head assessments into opportunities.” You can read the full article by clicking on this link. It was 1986: A gallon of gas cost 89 cents; a pound of ground beef cost about …
NCBA’s Farm Bill Policies Beginning to Take Shape
Our leaders in Washington might be on a month-long recess during August, but upon their return discussion about the 2012 Farm Bill will be in full swing. Therefore a priority during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference 2011 is to create the policy directives that best represent its National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) members – cattle producers. Colin Woodall, vice president, …
Tablets Gaining Acceptance
I’m very surprised at some of the response to our latest ZimmPoll. Although 37% responding say they have an iPad or other tablet, 33% said they don’t and don’t want one! And we had 30% who said they don’t have one but do want one. However, when you consider that no one had one less than two years ago you …
Understanding Recruitment Philosophy for Ag
A panel discussion on recruitment philosophy for careers in agriculture at the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable on Tuesday featured a conversation from both the education and employer perspective. Ashley Collins, Education Coordinator with AgCareers.com, moderated the panel which included Deanna Pieper of Crop Production Services, Stephanie Shampine of ADM, Catherine McGinnis from Penn State University, and Noah …
Zimfo Bytes
Victor Vasquez will retire as USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, effective July 29, and Doug O’Brien will take his place, effective Aug. 1. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association launched its new website during the 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference. Kinze unveils “Autonomous grain cart” featuring a driver-less tractor. Watch the video to see the Kinze Automation Project demonstration. …
Hearing From Herman Cain
This evening at our first general session we heard an awesome presentation from Presidential Candidate Herman Cain. As I walked out of the session I had one of our attendees say, “Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a presidential candidate get elected with whom you agreed with everything he said?” I can’t remember a one. Herman wowed the crowd and …
Alltech on Raising the Bar for Student Recruitment in Ag
Instead of competing with each other for a limited talent pool, agribusinesses need to work together to increase interest in agricultural careers. Dan Rice, Strategic Analyst with Alltech, spoke on Raising the Bar for Student Recruitment in agriculture at the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable on Tuesday morning. He says part of the issue is pubic perceptions of …
American National Cattlewomen Working at Summer Conference
This afternoon as I was leaving one of the committee meetings at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference I ran in to two people I had hoped to find and interview. How coincidental is that and convenient too! So I spoke with Sarah Bohnenkamp (left) Program Manager, American National Cattlewomen (ANCW) and Tammi Didlot, President-Elect, ANCW. I spoke first with Tammi. …