AgWired

This morning I attended a learning session on the upcoming 2007 Farm Bill. I know that a lot of you are extremely interested and even concerned about the changes that will come from this bill. Well, I wish I could tell you something you didn’t already know but unfortunately I can’t.

My final day at Commodity Classic is coming to an end. And rain and mostly cloud skies were not able to put a damper on my last day.

It was an early morning due to the Monsanto press conference at 7:30. Not strategically, or comfortably thinking, I wore shoes with a heel. As the day went on, the amount of time spent on my feet started to accumulate just as fast as my feet started to swell.

Regardless of any inflation below the ankle, I was mentally charged by the energy of all the people in the general session this morning. John Phipps from Farm Journal Media was an entertaining and focused emcee introducing the dynamic set of speakers from Secretary Johanns to the governor of Minnesota and of course one of the favorite country artists from this conference, Michael Peterson.

The phrase “conference center” can be misleading, especially for anyone involved in the media at a meeting such as this. One would think the phrase would imply a central location for all activities, but me (in my poorly planned high heels) trekked from the second floor media room to the third floor general session and then across the street to one hotel and then back to the second floor media room and back across the street to another hotel. Again, I reiterate my poorly planned footwear complicated these travels.

All of these walks were before lunch and completely worth everything I learned.

After lunch I attended a learning session presented by Tom Dorr, Undersecretary of Rural Development for USDA. He is a self-professed optimist for rural America and presented his vision for prosperous rural economies across the country. Part of his plan enables Americans to have real choices on where to live and how to where. One of the main tools for allowing these opportunities would of course be technology and connectivity.

Tonight I was able to meet with different ag media such as Successful Farming and Farm Journal. Companies and their publications such as these show a high level of interest for students to be developed agriculture journalists. They are looking for educated and experience writers who will embrace the opportunities technology allows for today and will present for us in the future.

I am fortunate to take part in a program that offers this level of professional development and networking opportunities. I think this is a testimonial for all of those that I’ve met, been sponsored by, or have spent time with this week toward their level of dedication for quality of coverage of this industry. I am sincerely grateful for the time and experience I’ve had here in Anaheim.

I have an early flight, but I will hopefully be able to post one more entry from the OC…

Margy, Mary and I have a lot more to bring you from Commodity Classic but I thought I’d give you an update of our schedule since it’s getting late in the day on Friday and time’s running short. We have a lot more to bring you over the next several days. Right now I’ve got to head back to the trade show for some final interviews and pictures.

Here I am at the Trade show next to a Black Chevy Truck powered by Biodiesel. It is so important that we continue effort to make our cars more and more environmentally friendly

Here is another update on what is going on at the General Session here at Commodity Classic. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns just spoke on his past year in office.

The presidents of ASA and NCGA joined emcee John Phipps on stage and discussed the current status and the future of their respective commodities. They sat in a conversational setting with three leather chairs for a casual-setting discussion.

Phipps asked these men questions about the challenges and opportunities that have arisen in their industries in this last year. Bob Metz, president of ASA, noted that the USDA went beyond expectations in regards to soybean rust. Gerald Tumbleson, NCGA president, said that ethanol has been in the works for so many years that when consumption and consumer acceptance rose to such a high level as it is today, it was unexpected but fully welcomed.

They both commented on the immense opportunity that growers have today. Renewable fuels gives future generations exciting and new ideas to bring to their farms. And both of their farm families take pride in their innovations. As Metz said, “The next generation will always do a better job than the previous.”

Okay, Agriculture Secretary Johanns just entered to a standing ovation, so I will take to switch back to taking notes…

Happy Friday! This morning Monsanto held a press conference to discuss soybean production in the United States. They introduced their new product line VISTIVE™.

Yesterday was the grand opening of this year’s trade show here at the Commodity Classic. There was a lot to discover on the trade show floor, and Mary and I were not shy to test some of the interactive components of the displays.

At our first stop, we were pulled in by the energetic team at the Golden Harvest booth to take part in a remote control car race. Mary won the race. Mary won the race big time. I was completely unable to make the remote control car go forward much less make it go around a small track. Let’s just say I lacked the motor skills.