Hello from Panama City Beach, Florida and the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. The theme of the 11th annual conference is really a tribute to the U.S. peanut industry for overcoming adversity in 2009. Everyone knows that this year has been a tough one for the industry, starting out with the salmonella issue in January. But, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director …
CNN Live With Steve Tucker
I am so glad Steve Tucker tweeted that he was about to go live on CNN via Skype! I got on it and got a screenshot for you. The Twittering Farmer just did a great job letting people have a little bit of insight into who produces their food. Steve told ’em like it is. Up to 15 hours in …
Growth Energy Growing eTeam
Growth Energy is building a team from the grassroots to speak up for the ethanol industry. CEO Tom Buis says they created the eTeam to be “an army of thousands of ethanol consumers and supporters who are willing to take action to spread the message that ethanol is a clean, green renewable fuel available today.” Buis says they already have …
Michelle Rook Interviews President Obama
President Barack Obama reached out to the farm media this week to promote his administration’s National Rural Tour. Doing the honors of interviewing the president on behalf of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting was past president Michelle Rook of WNAX, Yankton, SD. Michelle was able to ask Obama about several agricultural issues in the ten minute interview, including renewable …
Teaching Ag In New York City
We all wonder what kids are being taught about agriculture in schools today. In New York City, one high school has a complete 4 year agricultural education program with a very good percentage of graduates going on to careers in ag. In this week’s program we’ll hear all about it. The idea for this week’s program came from an announcement …
Ethanol From Sorghum
In case you didn’t know it, ethanol can be made from sorghum and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program was on location at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop to promote that fact. I met with Tim Lust and Florentino Lopez, USCP, during the trade show yesterday to find out more about what they’re doing in the area of fuel ethanol. You can …
Michael Peterson Celebrates 4th Celebrity Tractor Race
The 4th annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race was another rousing success at the CMA Music Festival. Not only is it a great promotion for New Holland and a fun way for fans to see some of their favorite stars in the tractor seat, it also raises money for the National FFA. “The tractor is going to be sold …
Rocking and Rolling With New Holland/Michael Peterson
Here are two biofuels promoters. Chuck Leavell, Rolling Stones (left) and Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. They were race contestants in the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race. I caught both of them in the tent for a short interview. It was very noisy. They were having a lot of fun. Of course when I interviewed them …
World Pork Expo Wrap Up
Despite the challenges facing the hog industry, there were still thousands of producers who attended World Pork Expo earlier this month in Des Moines. Officials estimate attendance was about 14,625, down from 2008, but it was expected due to the impact of the H1N1 virus on international travel. Even though there were less international visitors at Expo this year, the …