Ag Steward of the Chortí Maya

Laura McNamara

There is a group of indigenous people in Honduras that live off an average of $300 a year… less than one dollar a day. At least two months out of every year they starve. That’s the reality as Billy Collins sees it. Billy has been working with the Chortí Maya, the direct descendants of the Mayan Indians, for five years. …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Corn, Education, Environment, Farming, Food, Forestry, International, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Consistent Worldwide Numbering System

Chuck Zimmerman

There’s a lot of news coming out of John Deere this week. In fact, it’s 23 news releases worth! You can find links to all of them in their media center or on AgWired in my previous post. I thought the new numbering system was very interesting and called Barry Nelson, John Deere Public Relations Manager, just now. He’s dutifully …

Agribusiness, Audio, International, John Deere, Tractor

California Strawberries in China

Chuck Zimmerman

Thanks to Liza Teixeira, California Strawberry Commission, I just found out that Olympic athletes and visitors will enjoy some juicy red goodness in China. In a historic step for the California strawberry industry, America’s favorite fruit will arrive on Chinese soil for the first time in history today (Aug. 5). After receiving approval from Chinese authorities, the California strawberry industry …

Ag Groups, Food, International

Honduras: The Dry Land Panama Canal?

Laura McNamara

Honduras lies just about 1,000 miles southwest of Miami. A great location for commerce with the U.S. if you ask Antonio Young. Antonio is the Executive Vice President of FIDE, Honduras’ Foundation for Investment and Export Development. He says Honduras’ strategic location provides an invaluable access to Latin American markets. And, with the continued development of Honduras’ north-south highway, called …

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, International

Agri-Tour in Honduras

Laura McNamara

Business leaders in Honduras are boasting that their country is a country ripe for foreign investment, especially American investment. Honduras’ Foundation for Investment and Export Development is hosting an “agri-tour” of sorts, showcasing what the tropical, Central American country has to offer to U.S. agricultural investors. I’m fortunate enough to be ZimmComm’s representative on the trip. I’ll be getting a …

Agribusiness, Farming, International

Texting For Farm Information

Chuck Zimmerman

Just when you think you’ve figured out the new media way to communicate with farmers, new options show up. I’ve written about texting since it’s become such a huge method of communicating. Take our AgWired Mobile for example. Well, these farmers in the Phillipines are using text in a big way. This story comes from Poynteronline. Farmers can text the …

International

Ag Secretary Ed Schafer Urges Private Investors to Develop Africa

Laura McNamara

Investment in Africa is spurring economic innovation and growth throughout the continent. There’s no question about that for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer. “Make no mistake about it,” Schafer said. “Investment in agriculture, investment in the structure of agriculture to move food to the market, is an investment in Africa’s future.” Schafer urged private sector investors to build …

Agribusiness, Audio, Energy, Farm Policy, Farming, Food, International, Novus International, Research, Technology

Real Data, Real Solutions, Real Impact on Africa

Laura McNamara

The poorest of Africa spend 70 percent of their income on food. That’s the reality the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development Africa Bureau put before the 300 attendees of the 2008 U.S. Africa Agribusiness Forum this week. That’s the reality that Franklin Moore wants the public and private sectors in the U.S. and Africa to …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Food, International, Novus International

Millennium Challenge Taking Up the African Challenge

Laura McNamara

The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an organization dedicated to reducing poverty worldwide. Ambassador John Danilovich, CEO of MCC, says a large part of the MCC mission lies in Africa. He says the MCC is partnered with 17 countries around the globe in an effort to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth. Ten of those countries are in sub-Sahara Africa, drawing …

Agribusiness, Audio, International, Novus International