In case you missed it, the National Association of Farm Broadcasting has purchased the office building where it is located. This was announced in President Janet Adkinson’s eChats President’s Report. Here’s an excerpt. NAFB Executive Director Tom Brand put it this way, “Just like finding the perfect piece of farm land, the opportunity to purchase a building in a growing …
Agri-Pulse Hires NAFB Scholarship Winner
Young farm broadcaster Spencer Chase is now an associate editor for Agri-Pulse. A broadcast and news editorial journalism graduate of South Dakota State University, Chase is originally from a farm near Wolsey, South Dakota where his family raises crops and livestock. He served as a summer intern with Agri-Pulse in 2013, covering agricultural policy issues on Capitol Hill, interviewing lawmakers …
Farm Broadcasters in Washington
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting is holding its annual Washington Watch program this week. Here’s the happy smiling group with our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. These agricultural journalists get to spend a couple days hearing from various elected and appointed officials with plenty of time to conduct interviews. I’ve enjoyed all the programs I’ve attended over the …
The Big O is 8-0!
It was a big celebration last week when NAFB past president and long time WGN Radio farm broadcaster, Orion Samuelson turned 80. Orion has been on WGN Radio for 53 and a half years. Yes, the half counts! As a young girl growing up in Illinois, I have listened to Orion report the numbers, listened to his noon shows with …
Former NAFB President Passes Away
NAFB Past President, Jack Crowner, passed away this week. Jack was a veteran of over 45 years in Farm Broadcasting, owning and operating the FARM SERVICE RADIO NETWORK, serving radio stations in Kentucky, Indiana, and other states, providing farm news and information daily over local rural radio stations that provide necessary farm and market information to their listeners. Jack served …
NAFB Names Marketing & Communications Manager
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) has brought Melinda (Mindy) Oberly on as their Marketing and Communications Manager. NAFB Executive Director Tom Brand says, “Mindy’s past experience and knowledge of agricultural marketing, client relationships, project management and communications planning will be beneficial as the association launches the NAFB Planner Tool this year.” Mindy spent the last 12-plus years with …
Passing of Gary Wilhelmi
Sad to hear that long-time market analyst Gary Wilhelmi has passed away. We remember spending so much time with him on the phone during our days at Brownfield when he would do the midday market analysis. Will always fondly recall his droll sense of humor and great sense of what the markets were doing. Rest in Peace, friend. Here’s the …
Research, Promotion & Education at Pork Board
The National Pork Board is the entity that conducts research, provides education and promotes the product. They were at the recent NAFB Convention and I caught up with them during the always busy, yet fun and exciting Trade Talk. Dale Norton, Vice President of the National Pork Board, farms with his brother in Michigan and has been a part of …
Merck’s Attack on BRD
Merck Animal Health is dedicated to spreading the awareness of one of the most common diseases found in the cattle industry. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) continues to take an economic toll on herds across the country. During NAFB’s Trade Talk I spoke with Dr. Brent Meyer, technical services veterinarian for Merck. He shares what the company is doing to tackle …
NASS Talks Crop Numbers and Census at NAFB
Representatives from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) were on hand at NAFB Trade Talk last month to discuss the 2013 crop and the 2012 census. The 2013 harvest is considered completed at this point and Lance Honig with NASS says with a record corn crop and near record soybean crop forecast it’s turned out to be a pretty good …