USFRA Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance held a press conference to allow questions from reporters about the annual meeting that took place in New York and the Food Dialogues that was conducted yesterday. It was the third Food Dialogues and is available on the Food Dialogues website to watch if you missed it.

I moderated our press conference this morning with Bob Stallman, AFBF, who was re-elected as Chairman of USFRA and newly elected Vice Chairman, Weldon Wynn, CBB. Bob reviewed the activities of the last couple days and Weldon read the announcement of the finalists in the Faces of Farming and Ranching program.

If you missed the press conference I have it available for you to listen to or download: USFRA Press Conference

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, USFRA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Syngenta and BASF announced the signing of a global, non-exclusive agreement in which BASF will license its Clearfield Plus herbicide tolerance technology for sunflowers to Syngenta.
  • The Global Harvest Initiative welcomed ACDI/VOCA to its growing collaboration of companies and organizations dedicated to sustainably meeting the future agricultural demand of a growing global population.
  • Monsanto Company ranked ¬¬14 on the Top 25 World’s Best Multinational Workplaces list by the Great Place to Work Institute.
  • NAMA webinar Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time): Knowing – and Growing – Your Base of Business.
Zimfo Bytes

GROWMARK Media Tour in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

Just returned from a great media tour of GROWMARK and FS Cooperative facilities in Iowa. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the last stop due to flight scheduling, but I did get to attend the majority of the tour and it was fantastic! Congrats to Karen Jones, GROWMARK Publications and News Specialist, for putting together a very interesting and organized event.

Our stops in Iowa included the AgVantage FS grain facility in Chapin, the GROWMARK Ft. Dodge Fuel Terminal (where this photo was taken), and the brand new – soon to be opened – fertilizer facility in Stuart. The stop I missed was New Century FS in Vinton.

I got lots of great interviews to share in the coming days and weeks, as well as some I will be getting from my colleagues on the trip, but you can enjoy the photos now by clicking on the photo album link below. Thanks again to GROWMARK for allowing us this opportunity – it was a blast!

GROWMARK Iowa Media Tour Photos

Cooperatives, GROWMARK, Media

Farm Bill’s Effect On US Grains

Jamie Johansen

You may believe the farm bill doesn’t effect you, but you might be surprised to find out that it covers more than you think. It was a hot topic during National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk. While sitting down with U.S. Grains Council’s President and CEO, Tom Sleight, I was reminded how intricate this farm bill is.

“It’s an interesting dilemma for us. The farm bill is not well known and one reason to get the farm bill moving. Public/private partnerships between US Grains Council take checkoff dollars and match that with business contributions. Thats matched again by USDA funding. That USDA funding was no longer authorized when the farm bill lapsed on October 1. So, we are working very closely with USDA to keep our offices open as long as we can. If the farm bill doesn’t get passed we might be forced with furlowing employees and closing offices come sometime in February.”

Tom said we need to talk more openly about the importance of trade to US agriculture. Many people don’t realize this public/private partnership funding is included in the farm bill.

The US Grains Council is partnered with 29 different checkoff entities for corn, sorghum and barley throughout the United States. But also with around 100 agribusinesses and grain exporting companies. These groups all have the common interest of making trade work around the world.

Listen to my complete interview with Tom here: Tom Sleight - US Grains Council

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Grains, NAFB, Trade, USGC

Final Panel Thoughts from USFRA Food Dialogues

Chuck Zimmerman

Here are the panelists from the last session of today’s New York Food Dialogues. Wow. It was a long day of very interesting discussion. This panel’s topic was Biotechnology (GMO’s) and Your Food. There were some very real contrasts in what some of the panelists as well as the audience thought of various specifics. In my opinion we got a lot of very good information presented. In fact, as good a presentation about the truth about GMO’s as I’ve heard.

After the session I spoke with one of the panelists, Greg Jaffe, director of biotechnology, Center for Science in the Public Interest. Greg says there is a lot of misinformation on the topic of his session. That was clear from questions from the audience and from Twitter. He says this discussion is a good “first step.” He believes that even the panelists learned from each other.

You can listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Jaffe

Our moderator for today’s Food Dialogues was Ali Velshi, CNN chief business correspondent. Ali did a fantastic job of keeping the conversation moving and getting all the panelists engaged.

Ali thought the event today was remarkable. In his work he deals with commodities and the impact of things like drought but not with the detail that was delved into today. He says it was great to get that detail today and to hear from the farmers who attended. I hope you’ll enjoy some of his thoughts after moderating today.

You can listen to my interview with Ali here: Interview with Ali Velshi

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Biotech, Food, USFRA

Faces of Farming & Ranching Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

The finalists in the USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching program were announced today at the New York Food Dialogues.

Those finalists include: Chris Chinn (Missouri), Will Gilmer (Ala.), Daphne Holterman (Wis.), Brenda Kirsch (Ore.), Tim Nilsen (Calif.), Eric McClam (S.C.), Katie Pratt (Ill.), Bo Stone (N.C.) and Janice Wolfinger (Ohio).

More than 100 applications were received from passionate, dedicated farmers and ranchers from across the nation, nine of whom were selected as finalists. The winners will become the face of agriculture, and will be tapped to share stories and experiences on a national stage to help shift conversations about food production and set the record straight about the way we feed our nation.

I talked with two of the finalists, Chris Chinn and Janice Wolfinger. In our interview you’ll hear how passionate they are about farming and why they think this program is so important.

You can listen to my interview with Chris and Janice here: Interview with Chris Chinn and Janice Wolfinger
Starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 15 through Dec. 15, people can visit www.fooddialogues.com to learn more about each of the nine finalists and the work they do. Consumers, farmers and ranchers are asked to vote for who they believe best represents those across the country who work to bring food to the table. These votes will be factored into the decision to determine the Faces of Farming and Ranching.

In addition to the public vote, a panel of judges will interview and evaluate the finalists to help determine the winners of Faces of Farming and Ranching. Winners will be announced in early January 2013.

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, Food, USFRA

Second Panel From the USFRA Food Dialogues

Chuck Zimmerman

The second panel discussion of the USFRA New York Food Dialogues has concluded. The topic was the use of antibiotics and food. Backstage I caught up with a several of our panelists. I spoke with Dr. Keith Ayoob, pediatric nutritionist, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Dr. Christine Hoang, DVM, MPH, CPH, assistant director of the Division of Scientific Activities of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives, Consumers Union.

Christine thinks that a lot of misconceptions about antibiotic use in animals was cleared up today. She was really puzzled by the repeated reference to using antibiotics to “increase profits” when the reality is that they are used to take good care of animals just like in humans. Keith says it’s difficult to have this kind of dialogue anywhere else but without it progress can’t be made.

You can listen to my interview with Keith and Christine here: Interview with Dr. Keith Ayoob and Dr. Christine Hoang

Jean thinks the panel really focused on the issues being discussed today on the subject of antibiotics. She points to her organization’s campaign called the “Meat without Drugs Campaign” which is directed at supermarkets. What do you think of this concept?

You can listen to my interview with Jean Halloran here: Interview with Jean Halloran

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, USFRA

Thoughts From First USFRA Food Dialogues Panel

Chuck Zimmerman

Here are our first panelists from the New York Food Dialogues backstage after their session was completed this morning. I visited with almost all of them before we moved on to the next panel. They were tasked with talking about Media, Marketing and Healthy Choices.

Richard is a New York vegetable farmer. He says it was a little daunting to be up on the stage here at the Times Center. I can relate! He says the whole concept of the Food Dialogues is a good one and a correct one. He believes that “at no time in our history has agriculture done a better job than it’s doing today.”

You can listen to my interview with Richard here: Interview with Richard Ball

Next up during our first break today I spoke with Kat Kinsman, managing editor, CNN Eatocracy and Debbi Beauvais, RD, SNS, New York School Nutrition President and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson. Kat says she’s rarely happier than when she’s talking with farmers. She got a Twitter message during the session inviting her to a farm and says she’s going to “do it.” Debbi says we’re not doing a good job of marketing all the great things we’re doing, both farmers and those preparing school meals.

You can listen to my interview with Kat and Debbi here: Interview with Kat Kinsman & Debbi Beauvais

I had a great conversation with panelists Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD, WebMD and Craig McNamara, California organic farmer. Carolyn says that by providing people with more and better information about their food and where it comes from they can make better choices about what they eat. Craig talked about how important it is to be transparent as a farmer. He wants people, especially young people to come out to the farm to make a connection with nature and learn more. He welcomes people to visit his farm.

You can listen to my interview with Craig and Carolyn here: Interview with Craig McNamara & Carolyn O'Neill

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, USFRA

USFRA New York Food Dialogues Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

The New York Food Dialogues is now live on the web. Here’s our panel being led by Ari Velshi, CNN chief business correspondent.

Just before we got started I visited with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance board member Doug Wolf, National Pork Producers Council. This is his first visit to New York. He says the “agenda is laid out that we can present some good true stories of real life situations in agriculture.”

You can listen to my interview with Doug here: Interview with Doug Wolf

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, Food, USFRA

USFRA Board Meets and Ready for Food Dialogues

Chuck Zimmerman

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance board is in session in New York City. I’m in the audience right now and will be featuring some thoughts from various members of the board while I’m here. We’ll be taking a break to attend The Food Dialogues which will be a live web stream featuring three different panel discussions. It will start at 10am eastern time and conclude at 3:30pm. The panel topics include: Media, Marketing and Healthy Choices; Your Toughest Questions Answered on Antibiotics in Your Food; Your Toughest Questions Answered on Biotechnology (GMOs) in Your Food.

To get some perspective from a couple of the USFRA board members I spoke with Weldon Wynn who represents the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and Craig Uden who represents the Federation of State Beef Councils.

Weldon says New York and the east coast is “where the people are.” He says we’re here to “let the nation know what safe and unique farm products that we do have.”

You can listen to my interview with Weldon here: Interview with Weldon Wynn

Craig says there are so many people who are so far removed from the production of food that there is a big need to provide them with good information. He says “We’re going to sit down with these folks on today’s Dialogues and show them what modern agriculture is about.”

You can listen to my interview with Craig here: Interview with Craig Uden

I’m collecting photos from the USFRA board meeting and Food Dialogues here: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, USFRA