The International Federation of Agricultural Journalist’s Congress in Argentina wasn’t all fun and games. Business had to take place too. During the business meeting delegates met to vote on issues and discuss changes within the industry. Here is an excerpt from the delegate meeting to let IFAJ members who were unable to attend and future members gather a better understanding …
A Boat Captain’s Tale
A highlight to Chuck’s recent trip to Argentina for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalist (IFAJ) Congress, was during the livestock tour where he witnessed gauchos drive horses and cattle across a local river. Unable to turn down the opportunity for a unique interview, Chuck chatted with the Argentinian boat captain while he guided the tour boat across high waters. …
Foro PAIS Promotes Argentina’s Soy Complex
Foro PAIS – Productores Agro Industriales de Soja – was born in 2011 with the purpose of promoting the Argentine soy agro-industry and we learned more about it during the IFAJ 2013 Congress. Foro PAIS Communications and Institutional Relations Director Dr. Adrián Figueroa says soybean production is a huge industry for Argentina. “Soybean production in Argentina in the last ten …
Argentina’s Export Tariffs
During the IFAJ Congress, I was very surprised to learn that Argentina has export tariffs on a number of agricultural commodities, including corn and soybeans. I understand import tariffs, but export tariffs would seem to do nothing but hurt a country’s agricultural industry. “Argentina has export taxes on almost every product that we export, but in the case of grain …
Ferilizer Use Growing in Argentina
Fertilizer use is on the rise in Argentina, which is a major contributor to increasing yields in that country. We found out more about that during the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress in Argentina. We visited Profertil, a joint venture with Canada’s Agrium and the nation’s largest fertilizer producer. “The use of fertilizer technology has improved a lot,” …
Argentine Cowhide Sledding
What do Argentine gauchos do out in the pampas when they are bored and maybe have had a little too much Quilmes to drink? They tie dried cowhides to their horses and drag each other around in them. Seriously. I don’t know what it’s called – there must be a name for it – so I just call it cowhide …
Get Ready for 2014 IFAJ Congress
On to Scotland! It’s the 2014 Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. I got my passport and I see that Karen Simon has hers. She’s pictured with 2014 Pre-Congress Joint-Chair Adrian Bell. The Congress is being hosted by the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists for an unprecedented sixth time. The them is “Innovations from a Small Island” and …
Wrapping Up 2013 IFAJ Congress
Cindy and I are close to wrapping up our coverage of the 2013 IFAJ Congress in Argentina but not quite done. As we arrived at the airport in Buenos Aires to return home I spent a few minutes with Marcus Rediger, President, IFAJ. Marcus is pictured on the left with Congress President, Carlos Curci Gonzalez. Marcus says he was already …
IFAJ VP Reports and Rocks
International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Vice President Owen Roberts, Director for Research Communications at the University of Guelph, had some great news to share about the organization’s outreach efforts during the IFAJ 2013 Congress. IFAJ has 33 member country guilds, but Owen says they have been working on expanding that to become even more global. “That has started a …
IFAJ Master Class and Boot Camp
One of the great things about the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) is the professional improvement it offers for up and coming ag journalists all over the world. Alltech sponsors a Young Leader award program that offers an intensive journalistic boot camp-style workshop for 10 promising new journalists from ten different countries. This year’s young leader from the United …