Farm Bureau Discusses Cygnus Acquisition

Cindy Zimmerman

Since we are in a busy agriblogging month, you get a double dose of the ZimmCast this week, with a second podcast about an important recent announcement in the agribusiness world. Last week during the Ag Media Summit, we got the news that American Farm Bureau Federation had acquired Cygnus Business Media’s agricultural events and publications, including five IDEAg branded …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio, Media, ZimmCast

Lisa Hightower Joins United Fresh Produce Association

Chuck Zimmerman

I love seeing a fellow Florida Gator out in the ag communications workplace. Dr. Lisa Hightower has joined United Fresh Produce Association as the association’s new communications manager. Lisa will produce the Inside Fresh United weekly online newsletter, develop content for United’s website and social media sites, work with news media, and promote awareness of United Fresh events, including the …

Ag Groups, Food, Produce

Why Are You Here Cattlemen?

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Cattlemen’s Beef Board meeting at the end of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference we heard a great speech in the form of the report given by CEO Polly Ruhland. She had a very heartfelt and powerful message which I believe shows you the quality of the people representing cattle producers on the staff of the Beef Checkoff. You …

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference

Beef Board CEO Reports at Summer Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

The CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, Polly Ruhland, was on stage this morning for the second general session of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. I talked with her afterward. She says the new committee structure and format for the conference have generated good feedback. Condensing the agenda into a shorter time frame means that volunteer leaders have to spend …

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

American Soybean Association at AMS

Cindy Zimmerman

Soybean farmers were well represented at the Ag Media Summit this week in Buffalo by American Soybean Association Communications Director Patrick Delaney and president Danny Murphy. Since I do a daily audio report for Agri-Pulse, I was happy to get to chat with Danny about the policy issues on ASA’s plate at the moment, which start with the ongoing farm …

Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, ASA, Audio, Soybean

50 Years of Federation of State Beef Councils

Chuck Zimmerman

This is the 50 year celebration of the Federation of State Beef Councils. No one has more knowledge of the history of the Beef Checkoff and the evolution of the industry groups than John Huston. John gave us a look back over the years at the people involved in the start of the first agricultural industry checkoff which was 5 …

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Welcome to Cattle Industry Summer Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome from the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. I’m Beef Board Blogging over at MyBeefCheckoffMeeting.com but sharing with you here when I can. Let’s get started with thanking Merial for sponsoring the news room once again. We sure appreciate their support and the wonderful place to work out of. I did an early morning interview with NCBA’s Chase Adams …

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Beef Was For Dinner at Buffalo Chip Campground

Chuck Zimmerman

I had no idea until last night that you could find a good steak and a lot more for a rustic sit down dinner at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground. It’s the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s Surf-N-Turf Steakhouse located in The Historic Barn. There are other choices like lobster, chicken, ribs and huge pork chops. But I’m heading to Denver today …

Ag Groups, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA, New Holland

USFRA at AMS

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) was well represented at the Ag Media Summit by Executive Director Randy Krotz, board member and Wisconsin pork producer Doug Wolf, and Communications Manager Lisa Cassady. The organization had a booth at the AMS InfoExpo to talk about what’s new at USFRA and I chatted with both Doug and Lisa about some of …

Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, Audio, USFRA

Ethanol Fueling Legends Ride at Sturgis Rally

Joanna Schroeder

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is in full swing and one of the highlights of the event is the 2013 Legends Ride. The event started in Deadwood, South Dakota and ended at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground where the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is a sponsor. This is the site where RFA is also pumping free 93 octane E10 for riders. …

Ag Groups, Audio, Ethanol, RFA