Crisis Management Training at Alltech Symposium

Chuck Zimmerman

Is your farm or company ready to handle a crisis? Unfortunately, in today’s world the possibility of having to deal with one has become very high. During the 2013 Alltech International Symposium attendees could get some hands on training during a session on Crisis Management. I worked with one of the session presenters, David Wescott, VP, APCO Worldwide. He created …

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently published a Notice of Solicitation for Nominations for its Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers for 2-year membership terms in the Federal Register dated April 30, 2013. U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance announces the next Food Dialogue will be held at Chicago’s Kendall College of Culinary Arts on June 19. A Federal Communications Commission announcement …

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Rural Interests Concerned About Losing Local TV

Cindy Zimmerman

“Water, sunlight, and soil are essential ingredients to agricultural businesses and the communities that rely on them. So too is spectrum, and the free, local news and information broadcasted on it.” That’s the first line of a letter sent to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week from agricultural interests regarding concerns about television translator service and low power television …

Audio, Media

New Ag Leader Responsive Website

Melissa Sandfort

Growers using a smartphone, tablet or laptop will now have an optimized experience when visiting agleader.com, thanks to the launch of Ag Leader’s new responsive website. “Responsive web design is an approach that businesses are implementing to provide users with the best possible viewing experience, no matter what device they are using,” explains Jake Smith, web developer for Ag Leader …

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

Alltech Young Scientists Award

Maggie Seiler

Alltech awarded its annual Young Scientist Awards at the closing ceremony of the Alltech International Symposium on May 22. The first award was for undergraduate research. Amanda Pesqueira was the recipient of this honor. Pesqueria attended the University of Maringa in Brazil before transferring to the University of Kentucky for her final year of undergraduate studies in animal science. Her …

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

Grasping the New Reality

Maggie Seiler

Dr. Patrick Wall’s presentation during the closing ceremony of the Alltech International Symposium was about managing crisis situations in the food industry. He made reference to many of the recent scandals within the food industry and described issues companies should be aware of as well as how they should manage them. The message Wall left with the attendees was a …

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

A Glimpse of Algae Uses

Maggie Seiler

According to Rebecca Timmons, Director or Applications Research and Quality Assurance at Alltech, many uses and opportunities are available with algae. She shared her vision for algae in the future at the closing ceremony of the Alltech International Symposium. Timmons said that algae produces three-quarters of the oxygen in the world. She believes there is huge room for development with …

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio

Peanut Butter to Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Talia Goes

Disaster relief missions have been working over time this past week aiding to those who were affected by the severe weather. Any type of donation is appreciated by those who lost everything – like peanut butter, which is a great source of protein for emergency situations where power and water are lacking. Peanut Proud and the Georgia Peanut Commission are …

Agribusiness, Peanuts

First Annual Ozarks Bacon Festival

Melissa Sandfort

It was bound to happen and now it is official – KOZL and the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds are putting on the first annual Ozarks Bacon Festival. Ozarks Bacon Fest – a tribute to Bacon, Bourbon & Beer – holds its inaugural tasting event on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-Plex. Tickets give tguests accss to a …

Agribusiness, Food, Pork

Reaction to COOL Decision

Chuck Zimmerman

USDA has issued the final rule for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), including an amendment to the regulations for muscle cut covered commodities derived from animals slaughtered in the United States. The decision pleased some livestock organizations, but disappointed others. “We are deeply disappointed with this short-sighted action by the USDA,”said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Scott George. …

Ag Groups, Audio, Livestock, Meat, USDA