Patrick Westhoff is the Director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri–Columbia and a professor in the MU department of agricultural and applied economics. He was also our St. Louis Agribusiness Club speaker yesterday. I spoke with him beforehand since I had to leave early. He says his job was to talk about …
PRRS Seminar Wrapup
The Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica staff veterinarian with a focus on PRRS, the swine disease that so many are trying to eliminate, is Dr. Reid Philips. Reid was on hand for this year’s PRRS ARC&E Seminar. I asked Reid to provide a wrapup viewpoint about how this year’s seminar went. He says this year’s program came together really well. The seminar …
Gadgets Top of Christmas Gift List
Gadgets – 28%, are tops on the Christmas gift list according to our latest ZimmPoll, followed closely by Paying Bills – 25%. Those choices were followed by Clothes, 19%; Other, 14%; Farm Equipment, 9% and Tools, 5%. I find it very interesting that no one chose Food! Wow. Food makes a great gift don’t you think? Maybe we’re all so …
Rick Tolman Receives St. Louis Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award
Today the St. Louis Agribusiness Club presented its annual Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award to Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn Growers Association. Here’s Rick with his award which was presented by past St. Louis Ag Club President Stephanie Regagnon, Solutia, Inc. I spoke with Rick right after he received his award. He says that he’s “very moved and surprised …
Agrimarketer On Emeril’s Table
This fine looking cooking crew will be featured on the Emeril’s Table, December 14th, 11a/10c, on the Hallmark Channel. Emeril is pictured with Matt Coniglio, Fastline, and family. Matt’s brother’s wife is Executive Producer btw. Here’s what Matt says the show will be about: We are the season finale- our episode is about a family tradition we have called the …
Farmer Christmas Present
I’ll bet you can come up with lots of ideas for the perfect gift for the farmer. How about a brick? A brick to be placed on the Farmer’s Walk of Fame at the Ag Hall of Fame? Gift bricks come in two sizes. The National Agricultural Hall of Fame serves to educate the public about the past, present, and …
PRRS Surveillance
Dr. Jim Branstad, Keota Veterinary Clinic, spoke about PRRS Surveillance in area regional control projects during the Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS Seminar. He should know all about pig surveillance since as he says, “I spend about 90 percent of my time with pigs.” The message he had included the need to talk individually with producers in the project area. That one …
Irish Guild of Agricultural Journalists Commemorates 50 Years
The Irish Guild of Agricultural Journalists has just released a 50th Anniversary document (pdf) that includes historical information and photos. Here are a couple of samples: In 1961 we had a visit from John Hayhurst, President of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, London. He was editor of a weekly called The Smallholder. He was exploring Ireland’s potential for membership. He …
Small PRRS Projects Seeing Success
Dr. Jim Lowe is an independent veterinarian and one of the attendees at the Boehringer Ingelheim PRRS ARC&E Seminar. He’s the guy on the Mac. I asked him why he attends this seminar. Jim says that he spends a lot of time dealing with PRRS and this program allows him time to visit with colleagues and share information. He’s involved …
Wellman Elected President of American Soybean Association
The American Soybean Association announced today that Steve Wellman from Syracuse, Nebraska, is President and Alan Kemper from Lafayette, Indiana, is confirmed as Chairman. Also elected was Danny Murphy from Canton, Mississippi, to serve as First Vice President, an office that places Murphy in line to be ASA President in 2013. Also elected were Randy Mann from Auburn, Kentucky, as …