Lunching and Learning About Beef

Cindy Zimmerman

Yesterday I had lunch with 5000 head of cattle – and about 60 people. It was the season kick-off of Missouri’s Lunch and Learn program, a summer series sponsored by all the ag groups in the state where they invite local community leaders to visit agricultural operations. The first event for this summer was held at Circle A Ranch in …

Beef, Farming, Food, Livestock

Lincoln Farmers’ Market

Chuck Zimmerman

On a nice relaxing morning here in Lincoln, NE the Haymarket Historic District Farmers’ Market is in full swing. It’s open from 8am-noon. I wandered around after some coffee and made a few purchases including some purple asparagus, which I’ve never seen before. The vendor says it’s sweeter than the green variety. I’m going to find out on on Memorial …

Farming, Markets, New Holland

Tree Farmer of The Year

Laura McNamara

The 2008 Washington State Tree Farmer of the Year goes to David Robbins of The Hama Hama Tree Farm. The Washington Farm Forestry Association says the award is meant to recognize David’s exceptional commitment to enhance his forest land. The tree farm is mostly composed of Douglas-fir with scattered stands of alder, hemlock and cedar, and supports a sustainable harvest …

Ag Groups, Environment, Farming

NAFB 2008 Producer Media-Use Study – 1st Wave

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting has just released some initial results (pdf file) from the first segment of their new producer media use study. I think you should take note of how important text messages are to producers. That really stands out to me. Same for web-based information. The word “grown” is key. It’s growing! The fact that farmers …

Farming, NAFB

Spring Planting

Chuck Zimmerman

I saw a lot of this from the highway today in between areas of rain. It looks like some work was getting done. It’s a long way up here to Minneapolis but the scenery is beautiful if you like rolling farm country and I do. It’s so tempting to stop and take pictures. This was one I couldn’t resist. So, …

Farming

CNBC Special with Corn & Soybean Digest Columnist

Chuck Zimmerman

While I was attending the Commodity Classic I met the crew from CNBC that’s been following Tyler Bruch who’s a farmer and columnist for Corn and Soybean Digest. I guess their production is complete and they’ve been promoting it with a series of video clips. You can find one of them here. Corn & Soybean Digest’s Brazil columnist, Tyler Bruch, …

Farming, Publication, Video

Biofuels Digest Finds Global Impact on Rising Food Costs

Laura McNamara

The media has been pointing fingers at biofuels, blaming them for rising food costs. But a study from The Biofuels Digest suggests rising food costs are the result of global pressures, such as China’s increasing demand for meat. Biofuels Digest says their study finds that for every bushel of grain used to make U.S. ethanol, six are used to support …

Agribusiness, Beef, Energy, Ethanol, Farming, Food

Ceres First to Brand Bioenergy Seeds

Laura McNamara

As technology unleashes more and more energy possibilities from more and more crops, it can get a little confusing as to which plants can do what. Ceres, Inc. plans to clarify bio-friendly seeds with its new bioenergy seed brand. Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. plans to market its agricultural seeds and traits under the trade name Blade Energy Crops in …

Agribusiness, Corn, Energy, Farming, Seed

Mysterious, New Beef Could Vanish

Laura McNamara

An agricultural research facility in Florida fears the 10 percent reduction in ag research funding will close its doors… and abruptly abort research on a nameless, mixed breed of cattle. The St. Petersburg Times reports: Indeed, few people have ever seen cattle like these. Unless you’re knowledgeable in bovine research, the cross-bred calves huddled in tall grass of the pastures …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Animal Health, Beef, Farm Policy, Farming, Livestock, Research, Technology

NAMA Wrap-up

Laura McNamara

In the words of NAMA Executive Director Jenny Pickett (pictured right), organizers of this year’s “Leading the Charge” Agri-marketing Conference “knocked it out of the park.” This was Jenny’s first conference as the Executive Director, though she has been a part of NAMA for a long time. Jenny stepped up as executive director last year when the previous director, Eldon …

Advertising, Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Ethanol, Farming, Media, NAMA, Technology