Since it’s usually in Kansas City, the annual NAMA conference rarely has a farm tour, so getting to see and hear about some agriculture outside the Midwest was a treat this week. Thanks to the Florida NAMA chapter for setting it up and to sponsors Ag Net Media and Vance Publishing for making it possible. Our tour stops included a …
Caught on Camera
As you may know, my son has a Lego digital camera and for $25 and in a few months, has caught more funny moments and captivating pictures than I have in the past year. He may not be into sports, or music, or crafts…but this little man has a talent. Back “home”, I used to loves seeing a single tree …
#TractorTweets
At the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) conference this year, New Holland is engaging with people by having them have a little New Holland tractor, received in the welcome bag, and take pictures of it in unique places. After taking the picture, participants can tweet the picture to New Holland and use the #TractorTweet hashtag to be entered to win New …
USPB Elects New Leadership
The United States Potato Board (USPB) grower membership elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting held in Colorado Springs, CO, March 11-13. Brett Jensen from Idaho Falls, ID will serve as Chairman. Committees include Domestic Marketing, Finance, International Marketing and Industry Communications & Policy. Immediate Past Chairman is Rob Davis from Connell, WA. You can find the complete listing of …
New Climate Report Findings
The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) today released Climate Change Reconsidered II: Biological Impacts at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The 1,062-page report, published by The Heartland Institute, contains thousands of citations to peer-reviewed scientific literature — and concludes rising temperatures and atmospheric CO2 levels are causing “no net harm to the …
GMO Labeling Bill Seen as “Step to Restoring Sanity”
Farm and commodity groups are throwing their support behind a new bill that is hoped to end some of the craziness over food labeling in this country. The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, which includes the likes of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the American Soybean Association (ASA), and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), as well as more …
Submit Nominations for Andy Markwart Horizon Award
The Andy Markwart Horizon Award, presented by the AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF) and John Deere in a matching grant partnership, is an annual award given to an AAEA member who embodies the youthful vigor, energy, passion, dedication and creativity shown by Andy in his volunteer work for AAEA for many years. Andy, editor of The Furrow, died in 2006 …
Zimfo Bytes
Syngenta opened the application period for the second year of its Grow More Vegetables Seed Grant Program, which provides assistance to schools and community organizations interested in establishing or enhancing garden programs. Swanson Russell has promoted Lisa Lorraine to vice president and creative director in its Lincoln office. Twelve FFA members have been selected by the National FFA Organization to …
NAMA Chapter Leaders Workshop
NAMA Chapter Leaders got together this morning for a workshop to discuss challenges and exchange ideas. Andrea Bloom, Vita Plus was one of the leaders of the leaders workshop and I talked with her about the program and what she hopes to accomplish. Andrea says one of the challenges that chapters face is the diversity in the membership and designing …
NAMA Gypsies
One of the beginning events at an Agri-Marketing Conference is a get together dinner for NAMA Presidents, past and present as well as the executive committee. This was done last night at 13 Gypsies. Our group was more than thirteen but we bonded with the gypsies at the restaurant. One of them is Chef Howard, pictured here with NAMA President …