Roger Berry is Field Director for the Alliance For The Future of Agriculture in Nebraska. He was one of our luncheon speakers here at the NAFB Washington Watch today. Roger’s presence was very timely when you consider some of the things going on in Nebraska and in Washington, DC right now that are affecting farming. I spoke with Roger after …
Swine Flu Links
It is a beautiful day in Washington, DC. Glad to make it finally. The Potomac River was lined with people out biking, walking, boating and having a picnic. I couldn’t resist a short run out on the Mall in front of our Nation’s Capitol. The WX Channel said 92 degrees when I landed. That’s hotter than I’ve been in since …
Lamb Checkoff Program Passes By 85%
Over 85% is the approval percentage of lamb producers, feeders, seedstock producers, and first handlers of lamb and lamb products who voted in a national referendum, Feb. 2-27, 2009, and approved the continuation of the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order, commonly known as the Lamb Checkoff Program. Of the 1,971 valid ballots cast, 1,678 or 85.1 percent favored the …
Farmer Tweets
Just in case you’re wondering if your company should be involved in social media, let me give you another example. This comes from Iowa Farm Bureau. It’s all about a farmer who’s on Twitter to help promote agriculture. I’m really glad to see how Farm Bureau is getting into the online conversation. In fact, I’ll be speaking to their gathering …
Virgil Smail Executive Director of USCP
Virgil Smail has been named the Executive Director of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. With a strong history of industry and commodity association management, Smail will bring great experience and leadership to the USCP. As President and CEO of the American Institute of Baking, Smail was responsible for drastically expanding institute programs and worked with a Board of Directors representing …
Karen Simon’s Travel Journal
Another ag group shows a great use of a blog. This time it’s Karen Simon, Iowa Soybean Association. She just returned from a 10 day trip to China. I actually was following her progress on her Twitter feed but she kept an online journal. This is one of her photos I borrowed from her online photo set. She also posted …
Farm Fresh Blog From Iowa Farm Bureau
And another farm group blog has been born. This time it’s Iowa Farm Bureau with the Farm Fresh Blog. Welcome to Farm Fresh, Iowa Farm Bureau’s blog about the people who bring you your food, fuel and fiber and the issues they face. With so much information available to consumers today, it can be daunting to separate fact from fiction. …
Pistachio Recall Website
Food recalls seem to be fairly frequent lately and it seems like the general public really doesn’t get good information about what is actually being recalled. I would blame that at least in part to journalists trying to be “sensational” with the effect of scaring the crap out of people who then tend to over react. Okay, got that out …
New Media Soybeans
I just found out about the United Soybean Board’s podcast called, BeanCast. I had heard they were planning to produce one but I guess I missed it somehow since it looks like it started last December. It came up in conversation today. I’m glad to see another ag group taking advantage of this new media option. A couple of things …
Cellulosic Ethanol To Bridge The Gap
Commercializing Gasification/Fermentation Technology was the topic of comments made by Mark Dietzen, INEOS Bio, at the Farm Foundation Transition To A Bio Economy Conference. He says that they have a practical technology that they’re in the process of implementing to be online by 2011 to produce cellulosic ethanol. He thinks that it will help bridge the gap between what’s possible …