Hello once again this year from the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, location of the 2013 Annual Meat Conference. This will be my first ever opportunity to attend this annual meat retailing event.
Explore and sample some of the newest and best meat, poultry and ingredient products from more than 50 companies. Taste new and different products that can delight your customers and increase your sales. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to participate in this feast of great tastes.
I am not missing out and will be letting you know what I learn over the next couple days. Here is what Monday evening has in store:
The Stock Exchange Debuts Weekly Beef News Show
The Stock Exchange, powered by DV Auction, works hard to bring you news about the beef industry each month and recently launched a new weekly beef news show, Cattle Commentary. Each week we hope to share industry news, as well as, address issues facing cattlemen and women across the country.
After getting the first one under our belts, we are really excited about what the show can bring to breeders. My husband and I have been part of the DV Auction crew for over three years now and are true proponents of what the company can offer. When asked to host the Cattle Commentary, I jumped at the opportunity to dive into beef news and share the story of producers nation wide.
This week’s beef headlines include:
–Stanley Stout Livestock Marketing Center to be Dedicated at KSU’s 100th Cattlemen’s Day
–Cast your votes for the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame
–Sec. Tom Vilsack warns of posssible fifteen day furlough of all Food Safety Inspectors
Check out the first edition of Cattle Commentary below.
They also met up with attendees and exhibitors at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. Companies shared new products and experts gave insight into the future of the beef industry. You can find these interviews at here.
Moss Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The Southern Agricultural Economics Association recently bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award to Charles Moss. Charles is a professor in the University of Florida’s food and resource economics department and has more than 20 years of experience in researching and teaching agricultural finance.
“It is always somewhat humbling for people you admire to talk about your career and the contributions you have made,” said Moss, a member of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “It motivates me to continue asking interesting questions and to continue to challenge myself.”
He has supervised six doctoral students and two master’s students while at the University of Florida. He has written two textbooks related to agricultural economics, co-authored another, edited six volumes and written 24 chapters. And has been published in nearly 100 scientific journals.
This busy man has also served as co-editor of the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics and was a member of the editorial board of that journal and the Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
Congratulations Charles for such a prestigious honor.
Enter the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest
It is not too late to still enter the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest. Get your entries in by Feb. 28th and share your story of being a cold weather worker.
Cintas Corporation launched the second annual Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest to recognize individuals in the U.S. and Canada who withstand the toughest winter working conditions Cintas and Carhartt will select finalists and begin public voting at the contest website. The grand prize winner will be announced in April, and he or she will enjoy a trip for two to the 2013 CMA Music Festival, June 6th-9th, in Nashville, TN.
“Carhartt is synonymous with outerwear, so with colder months approaching, we are thrilled to re-launch the Cold Crew Contest,” says Brad Heizman, National Director of Garment Strategy for Cintas Corporation, North America’s largest uniform supplier. “Last year’s contest generated amazing stories from men and women who brave extremely brutal working conditions during the winter months, and we are looking forward to another opportunity to acknowledge them.”
The Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest was first launched in December 2011 in conjunction with the release of the Carhartt Rental Active Jacket, offered exclusively by Cintas Corporation as part of the Carhartt Rental Workwear line.
Prancing, Dancing Lily Moves Into App Market
Award-winning book, Prancing, Dancing Lily, can now be found world-wide as a multi-platform app. The heartwarming story about an Ayrshire cow determined to hoof and groove around the globe, was written by Marsha Diane Arnold and illustrated by John Manders. App developers and author have teamed up with interactive media publisher, Fat Red Couch.
“The Fat Red Couch team provided years of experience in storytelling and are a delight to work with,” says Ms. Arnold. “We persevered in our search for the perfect app just as Lily persevered in her search for the perfect dance, and just like Lily, we had a great time on the journey. Lily’s story will delight anyone who’s ever felt different from the herd. Children can interact with Lily as they read or listen to the story and enjoy playing puzzles.”
Download Prancing, Dancing Lily on iTunes, Android, and Amazon for $1.99. For a preview of the app, visit Vimeo. To learn more about Lily and author Marsha Diane Arnold, please visit www.prancingdancinglily.com. To learn more about Fat Red Couch, a member of the collaborative group of family-friendly app developers Moms With Apps, visit www.fatredcouch.com.
Iowa Accepting Grant Applications for Specialty Crops
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that the IA Dept. of Ag is accepting grant applications for the Specialty Crop Block program. The estimated $271,000 grants are available to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa and are contingent on federal funds being made available to the Department. Grant awards will be considered up to a maximum of $24,000 and projects can have a duration of up to 30 months.
“Specialty Crops” that are eligible under this program are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Both fresh and processed specialty crops are eligible.
“The Specialty Crop Block Grant provides funds to support food safety, research and marketing efforts that will encourage Iowans to choose the products that are produced right here in our state,” Northey said. “Specialty crops are a very important part of Iowa agriculture as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to locally grown products.”
Iowa agencies, universities, institutions, and producer, industry, and community based organizations are all eligible to apply for funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. In addition, single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.
Proposals must be received by IDALS on or before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2013. Click here for more information.
Ag Editors Invite Farm Broadcasters to Join
It’s a crazy mixed-up world these days where broadcasters are taking pictures and writing commentaries while print journalists are doing podcasts and shooting video.
The American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) is inviting farm broadcasters at the upcoming Commodity Classic to find out more about becoming a member by attending a joint cocktail reception with NAMA on Friday, March 1 after the trade show closes.
AAEA was founded in 1921 by a small group of farm magazine editors and while the majority of active members are still primarily “print” journalists, a number of broadcasters have joined the organization in recent years including past NAFB presidents Mike Hergert, Pam Fretwell and Tom Brand. AAEA individual membership includes active, affiliate, student and freelance categories and dues are very reasonable. Members of AAEA automatically become members of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ).
“With the lines between print, television and radio journalism blurred by the internet, and journalists writing and producing content for a variety of media today, many farm broadcasters now qualify for membership in AAEA, and by extension in IFAJ,” say AAEA Membership co-chairs Betsy Freese with Successful Farming and Kelly Schwalbe of BCS Communications. “This includes access to a wide variety of continuing education programs and professional development program such as the annual IFAJ Congresses held in different locations around the world.”
Chuck and I have been members of AAEA and IFAJ for almost as long as we have had the company and really appreciate both the Ag Media Summit and the IFAJ Congress each year. AMS features a variety of photography, writing and social media workshops that are always useful in gaining and improving communications skills. And IFAJ has given us the opportunity to meet other ag journalists from all over the world. Really looking forward to this year’s trip to Argentina in early September.
Find out more about AAEA on-line and join us for a Commodity Classic reception with NAMA, March 1 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at the Gaylord Palms.
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Zimfo Bytes
- Wheat Growers announced the 2013 Board of Directors and Delegate election results at their annual meeting.
- Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson was presented the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
- In March the Unity College campus will begin an initiative to raise free range chickens as part of an ongoing hunger relief effort.
- The American Soybean Association expressed its strong opposition to a plan it understands will be proposed as part of the White House’s 2014 budget that will eliminate the Food for Peace and Food for Progress programs.
A Quick SMS Software Overview
We recently caught up with Adam Walters, Ag Leader software support specialist, at the National Farm Machinery Show and he gave us a quick “tour” of SMS Software, its capabilities and how it helps growers make better management decisions.
Walters also gave us a top-level overview of Intellislope, a new functionality available through the Ag Leader Integra display which provides tile plow control for installing field drainage tile.
And if you’re heading out to Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fla., Feb. 28 – March 2, be sure to look up Ag Leader experts who will be on hand to talk about the latest in precision technology equipment, enhancements, future products, and much more.
Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.
John Deere Shows Off Commercial Side at NFMS
While it might be the National Farm Machinery Show, there’s no reason why there can’t also be things for the worksite… and even better when that worksite is also an agricultural operation. Larry Foster, a district sales manager for John Deere’s commercial worksite products, told Chuck during an interview at NFMS that they even have traded in their John Deere green for yellow when it comes to their latest skid steer, the Model 332E. But even though it has a construction site feel to it, it’s still good for farmsteads.
“[For dairy and beef operations] sometimes it’s for feed, [sometimes] for cleaning up manure,” Larry said. He added that grain farmers find it handy as a mobile forklift, and those with hay pastures can use a variety of baling attachments as well. “It’s a very useful tool for virtually every farm use operation.”
Larry went on to say this latest E series model features a 100 hp motor, ride control, four setup controls to customize the operator station for the individual user, and an industry-first, three-way switchable controls. “So you can push a button and switch [between the various controls].”
Plus, the new 332E skid steer gives operators some creature comforts, including light controls, just to make the experience the best fit for the owner.
You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Larry here: Interview with Larry Foster