A request for referendum campaign kicks off today on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. USDA is conducting it and producers have four weeks to participate. According to the United Soybean Board: The request for referendum will determine whether U.S. soybean producers want a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act …
Water Quality and Climate Protection
These smiling faces are (l-r) Dennis Nuxoll, Director of Government Relatisons, Jim Baird, Mid-Atlantic States Director and Jennifer Morrill, Director of Media Relations, American Farmland Trust. They were smiling at the NAFB Washington Watch Issues Forum. I asked what’s new at AFT. Jim started out by saying, “We’re the No Farms/No Food people.” He says that people are waking up …
UCLA Ignorance – Beef-Less Thursdays
Thanks to @RayLinDairy (that’s Twitter ID in case you didn’t know) for pointing me to this complete ignorance gone to seed (thank you Derry Brownfield). You need to read the whole thing. It’s so filled with misinformation that the only conclusion you can draw is that the vegetarians are running the dining halls. I’d eat out if I went to …
NRA Promotes Gun Safety
I was interested to see the National Rifle Association participating at the NAFB Washington Watch program this week. Seems like what they’re doing would be of high interest to most people involved in agribusiness though. On hand was John Howard, NRA National Instructor Trainer. He says they’ve got 58,000 registered instructor/trainers across the country. John says that their base is …
USCP Selects Broadhead + Co
To help it build domestic demand the United Sorghum Checkoff Program has selected Broadhead + Co to launch a new campaign. As part of these efforts, Broadhead + Co will provide domestic marketing strategy for the new sorghum checkoff program. Initially work will focus on growing the use of sorghum for ethanol and as well as opening new edible-uses markets …
Thank You Larry Quinn
Those of us who have attended a lot of NAFB Washington Watches over the years know that they wouldn’t be anywhere near as beneficial without the help of Larry Quinn, Assistant Director for Communications Operations, USDA. Everyone in ag communications should know Larry and for those in farm broadcasting in particular, he’s documented our “happenings” in his weekly e-newsletter for …
NAFB Meeting With Legislators
Members of NAFB are hearing from a variety of senators and congressmen this morning in the Longworth House Bldg. First up on the program was Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA. Harkin pointed out that he’s the only person to ever serve as chairman of the Senate Ag Committee 3 times. His remarks touch on a lot of subjects important to agriculture …
NAFB Washington Watch First Timer
Julie McPeake, Southeast AgNet, is attending her first NAFB Washington Watch program. I spoke with here in between presentations this morning. Julie says this is a great opportunity, especially for farm broadcasting newcomers, to dip their foot in the water (interviewing DC politicos). She says she’s in “sponge mode” which means she’s listening and learning so she can better serve …
Virtual Conventions?
The Watt Online Animal Nutrition & Health Forum is underway. In today’s economy it seems like a free show you don’t have to travel farther than your computer to attend makes a lot of sense. Have you visited? If so, what are your thoughts about this concept? Should this model be looked at for more companies and farm groups? Could …
NAFB With Secretary Vilsack
In true traditional style, NAFB members attending the Washington Watch program got their picture taken with the Secretary of Agriculture. Thank you to the USDA photographer for taking this photo for me. The full size version is in the photo album. NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album