For the third year in a row now, the main topic of discussion at the NAFB Trade Talk was farm bill, or lack thereof. Despite reports that high hopes are fading for a farm bill yet this year, the ag group representatives we talked to were still cautiously optimistic. “I think progress is being made and I’m still confident that …
Thanks to FMC for NAFB Trade Talk
It’s really hard to describe the National Association of Farm Broadcasting‘s annual Trade Talk to someone who has never experienced it. Farm broadcasters often refer to it as “running the gauntlet” in the quest to visit with as many of the exhibitors as possible in the short six hours Trade Talk is open. Spokespersons for the various companies and organizations …
Never a Shortage of Research at Alltech
There is never a shortage of topics to discuss when it comes to Alltech. The company was present for last week’s NAFB Convention Trade Talk and I chatted with Vice President of Alltech, Aidan Connolly and Ann Kopecky, Alltech’s North American Field PR Manager. Aidan shared how Alltech’s Crop Science program is exploring natural alternatives to fungicides and focusing on …
New NAFB Officer Team
The new leadership team for the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) includes newly-elected vice president Brian Winnekins of WRDN-AM in Durand, Wisconsin. He is pictured here with president Janet Adkison (RFD-TV and Sirius/XM Rural Radio), and president-elect, Susan Littlefield (KZEN, Columbus, NE). Brian, along with his wife, Karla, are the owners and operators of the AM station that had …
Small Numbers But Growing Market
Herd numbers are down this year in the beef community, but enthusiasm is high. Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) Chairman, Weldon Wynn was on hand at this year’s Trade Talk during the NAFB Convention. There is no doubt that the checkoff dollar is slim, but Weldon said they are making that dollar stretch. Weldon went on to discuss our international market, …
Raven’s Commitment to Innovative Tech
Raven Industries is always working on something. During the recent NAFB Convention’s Trade Talk, I met up with Raven’s Marketing and Business Development Manager, Ryan Molitor. He expressed Raven’s desire to continue to add new technologies to the precision marketplace as well as improve on their existing products. “One of the things we really invest a lot in is training …
State Ag Directors Visit NAFB 2013
Five State Ag Directors took part in a panel discussion with farm broadcasters Friday in Kansas City at the 70th Annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention. California Secretary Karen Ross, Kansas Secretary Dale Rodman, Louisiana Commissioner Michael Strain, Nebraska Director Greg Ibach and North Dakota Commissioner Doug Goehring spent about an hour and a half discussing the differing issues that …
NAFB Horizon Award and Farm Broadcaster of the Year
A prior NAFB Scholarship Winner and past president, Pam Jahnke aka The Fabulous Farm Babe, has taken home this year’s Farm Broadcaster of the Year Award. Pam is in her 25th year as a NAFB member and has had a career in radio, television, and social media in her market. Pam figures she’s logged about 25,000 miles to her 17 affiliates …
NAFB Night of Honors
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) bestowed honors on many deserving individuals last week – the best of the best. We’ll start with the new members of the NAFB Hall of Fame. Johnnie Hood was one of our very first friends in NAFB, back in the day when he served as president in 1985 at the midpoint of his …
NCBA’s Government Affairs Advocating for Beef
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) attended this year’s NAFB Trade Talk event and I spoke with Colin Woodall, Vice President of Government Affairs, while stopping by their booth. Colin voiced that it is an exciting time to be part of the beef community. He admits herd numbers are down, but that it means people are making money. Beyond cattle …