Ray-Lin Dairy Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

More and more farmers are speaking out in the social web world and I think it’s great. Take Ray Prock, Ray-Lin Dairy. He’s got a blog going and is very active on Twitter. Welcome to Ray-Lin Dairy’s newly minted blog. To start with here is a little background information about us. We are a second generation Dairy Farm located in …

Farming

Next Generation Rancher

Amanda Nolz

Lee Kopriva always knew he wanted to be a cattle rancher. From a young age, he played an active role in his family’s cattle operation, Kopriva Angus. After graduating from South Dakota State University (SDSU) this May, Kopriva is now following his dream of raising quality seedstock for producers, and he is one of the few students in his graduating …

Farming, Food, Livestock

USPB Hosts Workshop for International PVO Guests

Amanda Nolz

The United States Potato Board (USPB) recently met to introduce new ideas about dehydrated potatoes. Guests learned the nutritional facts, planting, production, harvesting, storing and processing. Eight international guests from four private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and two guests from US PVO headquarters attended the USPB Dehydrated Potato Workshop. Among the PVOs participating this year were Africare, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), …

Farming, Food

Farmers Growing Media Support – HTFUS

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m sure most of you know that The Hand That Fees U.S. is the American farmer. But not everyone understands that in the media and the consuming public. For that reason HTFUS was announced today. One of the key individuals involved with this project is Larry Combest, former U. S. Representative from Texas. He was Chairman of the House Ag …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Policy, Farming, ZimmCast

Ag Career Women

Chuck Zimmerman

Are you a woman working in agriculture? There’s a new social networking site created by Rhonda Werner called Ag Career Women. It’s “resource for Women in the Ag Industry to network with other women, gain valuable career information and share experiences.” Follow Rhonda on Twitter or find her group on Facebook or LinkedIn. It’s a good example of how you …

Farming, Social Networking

Farmers Using Media Successfully

Chuck Zimmerman

Cindy and I are in post-NAMA recovery. However, we may be physically tired but we’re emotionally charged. Those of you in agricultural marketing and communications will be too once you hear this week’s program which features an interview with Curt Blades, Successful Farming. They just finished the 2009 Farmer Use of Media Study and Curt shares some of their findings. …

Audio, Farming, Internet, Media, NAMA, ZimmCast

Rabobank Farm & Ranch Confidence Survey

Chuck Zimmerman

Rabobank has released results of its 2009 Farm & Ranch Survey. A couple of highlight include: * More farmers are using risk management tools * 1/3 of farmers expect crop input costs to decrease * More farmers looking to buy used equipment Rabobank recently launched a survey to gauge farmers’ confidence, and found that, while farmers’ outlook on the economy …

Agribusiness, Farming

Indiana Family Farms Debuts

Chuck Zimmerman

Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Today, has unveiled a new ZimmComm-designed website called Indiana Family Farms. Consumers today are interested in knowing more about how their food is produced. Environmental, safety, and welfare issues are figuring more and more in consumer buying decisions. Yet, most Americans know very little about how their food is produced or the men and women who …

Farming, Media

LeaveMyFoodAlone.org

Chuck Zimmerman

I have not read the propsed H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 but I’ve sure seen a lot of online discussion about it. Farm blogger Alex Tiller sent me a note to alert people to a petition site called LeaveMyFoodAlone.org. As of March 31, 2009, we have received over 2500 signatures for the petition! (the site was launched …

Farming

4th graders spend a day with agriculture

Amanda Nolz

212 fourth graders from schools in and around my hometown of Mitchell, S.D. enjoyed an educational day out at the Davison Country 4-H grounds on Tuesday. At the 2009 Mitchell Ag in the Classroom event, there were eight educational stops along the way. First, the fourth graders heard a speech by Central Electric about electrical line safety and how to …

Education, Farming