CornTalk, a weekly program for the Missouri Corn Growers Association, features an interview with a familiar voice to Missouri corn growers! Fred Stemme, the current vice president of marketing for the National Corn Growers Association and former director of communications for MCGA, discusses last week’s visit by the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission. The mission toured the United States following the signing of the Sept. 14, intent-to-trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan. Included in this high-profile tour was a stop in Missouri. Fred provides details of the event and also highlights the important role that this longstanding and important trading partner plays in the U.S. corn economy.
EPIC Growth & Plans
In just a few short months the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has really put together some fantastic projects to promote ethanol as an excellent renewable energy fuel source. The organization has grown in membership and boasts significant backing for its future. Plans are being made now for 2006 and we look forward to what they have in mind. To find out more I interviewed EPIC Executive Director, Tom Slunecka for this week’s ZimmCast. Tom talks about the organization, some of their research and ways they are continuing to promote ethanol to the public.
Samuelson Sez On Growing Points Website
I was wondering what Orion was doing after U. S. Farm Report and lo and behold there he was in my latest issue of Pioneer Growing Point Website email. He’s “What’s New.” And it’s Samuelson Sez. You have to register to enter the Growing Points website but I can get you that far. Now it features Orion’s words of wisdom, the latest on animal id.
Propane, Running All Around My Brain
The folks at PERC (Propane Education & Research Council) have teamed up with AgWeb.com to offer growers a tool to compare energy costs. The release says AgWeb.com has about 250,000 visitors per month. That’s a lot for any website much less one targeting agriculture. AgWired’s getting there but we’re not that high. So what about all those growers who want to use this tool but don’t or can’t get online? They can order the ag cost estimator in a printed format by contacting PERC at (866) 840-1075 and requesting item #PRC001020!
Siemen Says
All right. He’s earned a post. He’s Harry Siemens and he’s been sending me his newsletter, FarmWatch, and he’s got a lof of good news in it.
Meat Me In Brisbane
Who wants to sponsor me to cover the 2006 World Meat Congress? Huh? Huh? This sounds like my kind of convention. That’s what “congress” means in other countries, “convention.” How about breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner and it’s all meat!!! That would be my kind of menu for a convention. No need to have carrots, celery sticks, etc. Just a bunch of meat on a stick. Of course you need something cold to wash it down and for my money I’d make it a XXXX or a Fosters.
Argentine/Peru Ranches Tour
Yeah, right. Uh, we’re going to go to Peru to check out the uh, ranches. “Honey, it will help enrich our understanding of global agriculture and maybe we can learn some new techniques to apply here on our ranch.”
Normally I Love Microsoft
Please excuse the fact that I didn’t post more today. At about 12:30pm I noticed a serious Microsoft Word issue on my desktop computer that is completely baffling. It’s now 6 hours later. I’ve spent over 2 of those on the phone with 4 different Microsoft technicians who waver between a software update problem and that it’s not their problem. Unbelievable! If you’re using Microsoft Office I wouldn’t recommend updating with the latest Microsoft Word Security update like I did this morning. One of the techs admitted that that update might have caused this problem. Might? *&$^#)*%&
Listen To The Expo Marketing Manager
How’d you like to be responsible for all the media and marketing for a farm show that attracts about 65,000 people? We’re talking international reporters and visitors. Well in the case of World Dairy Expo it’s all the work of Lisa Behnke, Marketing Manager (pictured to the right of yours truly). She’s hard at work now getting ready for all the media representatives who will be covering Expo. Of course she also does other things and I think you’ll be able to tell from my interview with her that she’s proud of World Dairy Expo and committed to making it even better.
Valent Not In Spray Oil Business
Here’s the kind of story you don’t see often in a news release. Valent announced yesterday that it has “exited the spray oil business and will no longer market Volck Supreme Spray Oil, Volck Clear or Premium Ag 100.” Usually you get an announcement that a company is now doing something, not withdrawing. Interesting. I applaud them for making an important announcement and using a news release to do so. This is a story and worthy of a release!