Registration and housing for the 2018 Commodity Classic, February 27-March 1 in Anaheim, California, is now open. All registration and housing reservations should be made online at www.commodityclassic.com. - A nationwide economic impact study released Thursday found that more than one-fifth of the nation’s economy is linked, either directly or indirectly, to the food and agriculture sectors and that more than one-fourth of all American jobs are similarly connected. Twenty-two food and agriculture organizations commissioned the research, available at www.FeedingTheEconomy.com.
- The Missouri Department of Transportation added a new product to their lineup for dealing with ice and snow on the roadways. It includes a corn-based compound, called IceBan M20 or IceBan 300. The natural liquid concentrate residue from the wet milling of corn and production of alcohol is designed to keep roads ice-free longer.
- Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) has selected Swanson Russell as its agency of record. BQA is sponsored by the Beef Checkoff Program and administered by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The group aims to maximize consumer confidence in the acceptance of beef. BQA provides a training program that stresses best practices for cattle care and well-being. Swanson Russell will be providing full earned, owned, paid and shared services for BQA including creative, social media, media relations and digital strategy.
- Aerial images of orchards can effectively tell farmers which almond trees aren’t getting enough water, according to the preliminary results of a five-year study by almond researchers at the University of California Cooperative Extension, with funding support from the USDA. Maintaining ideal irrigation levels is a challenge for farmers. Detecting deficient irrigation quickly is one way aerial images offer early warnings to growers.
- Several members of the Brownfield Ag News team were honored during the 74th Annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Convention. Anchor/Reporter Tom Steever received the coveted NAFB Farm Broadcaster of the Year Award. Steever also received first place in the NAFB program competition for newscast and feature. Also recognized with awards for newcast, feature and video production were Brownfield farm broadcasters Mark Dorenkamp, Julie Harker, Meghan Grebner and Shannon Yokely.
