One of the touchiest topics for cattle producers at the recent Cattle Industry Convention was last year’s bankruptcy of MF Global, which cost many of them money they have yet to get back. CME Group Inc. is attempting to address producers’ concerns by establishing a $100 million fund to protect farmers and ranchers who utilize the exchange. CME chief operating …
Alltech Town Branch Bourbon Samples
During the Cattle Industry Convention trade show attendees stopping by the Alltech booth got a rare treat, if you were there for the Alltech Beef, Bourbon and Beer Happy Hour Reception. Served at the reception were Alltech’s new Town Branch Bourbon and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. I’m not sure what the status is of distribution and availability of the bourbon …
Zimfo Bytes
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan invites state departments of agriculture across the United States and its territories to submit applications for specialty crop block grants. Reims Management School has launched a new chair dedicated to agri-bio-industrial research, confirming its contribution to the development of the bio-based economy. SFP announces its next generation of executive leadership. US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas …
Getting Social with NCGA and GROWMARK
In this week’s ZimmCast you can hear about how GROWMARK is using social media to create a buzz and how the National Corn Growers Association is using social media for membership recruiting and grower services. At the NCGA biennial Membership Symposium last week in Florida, Chuck talked with Director of Development Tim Brackman and Nebraska Corn Growers Association chairman Brandon …
Rural Broadband Opportunities
You could look at this map and see lots of black areas that show there is no local broadband coverage and think negatively. Or you could see these areas as opportunities like the FCC does. This is an interactive map released last week showing areas with “potential” for broadband support via a program as described in their release. I agree …
Majority of Corn Yield Contest Winners Use BASF
Last year was a challenging year for corn growers, but the winners in the 2011 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest proved that good yields are still possible with good crop protection. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of the winners for last year’s growing season used a BASF Crop Protection product to achieve their outstanding yields, according to the …
Beef’s Shrinking Environmental Footprint
Contrary to popular belief, eating beef is not bad for the environment and Dr. Jude Capper with the Department of Animal Sciences at Washington State University has the research to prove it. Jude talked about her findings to the media and during National Cattlemen’s Beef Association committee meetings at the recent Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville. “There’s a popular perception …
Keeping Beef Safer than Ever
American consumers have never had a safer supply of beef, but there’s always room for improvement, according to Dr. Guy Loneragan, professor of food safety and public health at Texas Tech University, At the recent Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Guy presented some of his recent research to committees of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “Our research focuses on …
The Next Big Thing In Ag Communications/Social Media
I tweeted this yesterday morning, “Chuck. What’s the next “big” thing in ag communications/social media?” I get asked a lot. What do you think?” And I got replies thank you very much. Here are some of them: From Twitter: currently, Pinterest RT @AgriBlogger: “Chuck. What’s the next “big” thing in ag communications/social media?” What do you think? Pinterest RT @AgriBlogger: …
Winners in NCBA Youth Cattle Judging Contest
More than 200 young people from 25 states participated in the youth cattle judging contest held in conjunction with the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee last week. The youth competed for honors and cash prizes in the fourth annual competition. The contest is sponsored by Farm Credit, and livestock panels …