Do you know what a pastoralist is? Here’s one definition: a grazier or land-holder raising sheep, cattle, etc, on a large scale. Kind of sounds like a rancher to me. Why do I bring it up? Because the FAO and partners announced an online Pastoralist Knowledge Hub today. Their hope is that this will provide a platform for these folks …
USDA Presents Climate Change Initiative
In a speech Thursday at Michigan State University, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack introduced “Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry”, an initiative that will utilize voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors. “American farmers and ranchers are leaders when it …
Chicken Summit Tackles Industry Myths
The 2015 Chicken Media Summit is a wrap, but the dialogue will continue. A panel titled “Chicken Myths & Facts” answered questions many not directly involved in the poultry community simple don’t understand. Panelist discussed hormones, antibiotics, chicken litter, environmental issues and other hot button issues on the minds of consumers. Tom Super, VP of Communications for the National Chicken …
Why FMC Joined Field to Market
During the Agri-Marketing Conference my Mini Golden ZimmComm Microphone for iPhone got a workout that included an interview with Aaron Locker, FMC Marketing Director. Aaron stopped by the ZimmComm Connection Point booth so I asked him to talk about the reasons FMC has joined Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. This is a multi-stakeholder initiative working to define, …
Global Soybean Stakeholders in China
Representatives from U.S. soybean organizations are in China this week joining their counterparts from several other countries to discuss the biotech-approval process there. United Soybean Board (USB) chairman Bob Haselwood of Kansas, the American Soybean Association (ASA) president Wade Cowan of Texas, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) chair Laura Foell of Iowa teamed up with their fellow soybean …
High Path Avian Flu Topic at Chicken Summit
The 2015 Chicken Media Summit is being held this week in Maryland, organized by the National Chicken Council and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. Among those in attendance is our own Jamie Johansen, along with bloggers, journalists, dietitians and leaders in the poultry industry from all over the country. Yesterday the event featured tours of a hatchery, broiler barn and …
GROWMARK Highlights Intern Program at NAMA
GROWMARK has one of the oldest and most successful internship programs in the agriculture business so they were a popular stop for student NAMA attendees during the Connection Point trade show at the Agri-Marketing Conference last week in Kansas City. “We’re going on our 56th year with the internship program,” said GROWMARK University Relations Manager Allison Stephey. “We have a …
#NAMA15 Special Appearance – Derek Klingenberg
Stories from the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference continue as this week’s ZimmCast features a conversation by world famous farmer Derek Klingenberg. Derek made a surprise stage appearance during a general session as you can see from this photo. The only thing he told the audience was, “Shhh.” Then he sat down in his lawn chair and we watched his cattle serenade …
NAMA Agribusiness Leader of Year – Clint Lewis
During the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference the National Agri-Marketing Association presented the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award to Clint Lewis, Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Operations, Zoetis. This award, which is NAMA’s highest honor, recognizes outstanding leadership in private, public or academic service and is conferred each year to a senior agribusiness executive who not only exemplifies excellence in …
House Votes to Kill Death Tax
By a vote of 240-179 largely along party lines, the U.S. House voted Thursday to repeal the federal estate tax, better known by opponents as the “death tax.” Co-sponsor Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) told his colleagues that repealing the tax is a top priority for farmers and ranchers in his state and around the nation. “Agriculture, particularly raising cattle and …