IFAJ Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Awards have been presented at the 2012 IFAJ Congress. Here’s the first place winner of the IFAJ-Yara Award for Sustainable Agriculture Reporting, Kerry Staight, Australia.

Other awards were presented during our dinner last night that included the Star Prize for Broadcast Journalism, First Place – Online Video -Eric Poulsen, Denmark; Television – Kerry Staight, Australia; Radio – Damien O’Reilly, Ireland. You can find photos of them all in my photo album.

2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
IFAJ, International, Media

Sweden Minister of Rural Affairs

Chuck Zimmerman

The Sweden Minister of Rural Affairs is Eskil Erlandsson. He was on our morning program here at the 2012 IFAJ Congress. After the morning session was completed he held a press conference which I recorded and have posted below.

One of the questions that I thought was interesting pertained to Sweden’s use of biofuels and making use of ethanol by-products to feed animals. There’s something you don’t hear much about in the U.S. media btw. Eskil says they have a very large ethanol plant in Sweden. He says it is a goal not only in Sweden but also in Europe to become more self sufficient from the need to import protein and protein crops. Using the by-products of biofuel production is one way they’re doing it.

You can listen to and download Eskil’s remarks at the press conference here: Press Conference with Eskil Erlandsson

2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
Audio, IFAJ, International

A Dire Future Without Major Societal Changes

Chuck Zimmerman

Our opening speaker at the 2012 IFAJ Congress immediately dove into the deep end on the theme of “Solutions for a Green Future.” He is Johan Rockstrom, Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Center. As he opened his remarks he pointed to what he calls the most significant news of our age which was announced yesterday. He was referring to a report that shows a record amount of melting of the Greenland ice sheet.

I visited with Johan on a break here this morning. I asked him to summarize a few of the key points relating to global environmental change that he made. I think you’ll find them rather provocative. He says that we’ve entered the age being called the Anthropocene in which man has evolved to the point of having a major impact on the world ecosystem. He paints a very dire future and points to agriculture as having one of the major impacts by now covering 40 percent of the world’s land mass. But he does think that we can learn from the past and make changes in the future and that agriculture can be a key part of the solution. He also says that it’s not just a growing population but a growing segment of the population in the middle class that is used to consuming too much, as in more food than they need. So affluence is a problem.

Listen to my interview with Johan to hear more about his thinking on these issues and what he thinks the solutions are. Love to know your thoughts on it. Please feel free to post them in comments here.

Listen to my interview with Johan here: Interview with Johan Rockstrom

2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
Audio, Farming, IFAJ, International

2012 IFAJ Congress Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2012 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress is officially underway. Here’s our happy group during the opening reception.

The program kicks off with a variety of speakers addressing the theme of “Solutions for a Green Future.” Then we’ll have the annual IFAJ business meeting followed by a visit to Hamra Farm, headquarters for De Laval.

2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
IFAJ, Media

Corn Growers Call for Careful Analysis Over RFS

John Davis

At least two governors, Bev Perdue of North Carolina and Mike Beebe of Arkansas, have petitioned the EPA to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for ethanol in light of the drought gripping much of the corn-producing region of the country. The National Corn Growers Association… which has alliances with the livestock producers who want to see lower feed prices and are pushing for the waiver and the ethanol industry which says the waiver is unnecessary… is asking all parties to carefully examine the facts of the case. NCGA President Garry Niemeyer acknowledges that all sides in this debate are suffering, but encourages a careful analysis before any decision is reached:

“There currently is a lot of public discussion about the role and impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard. Unfortunately most of this discussion is unencumbered by facts and reality. The facts clearly show that the RFS has been of significant net value to the entire U.S. economy.

“While we believe that it is still somewhat premature to consider a temporary, partial waiver to the RFS (as there will be much more accurate information available with September’s and October’s USDA crop reports), we do respect the right of those with standing to exercise the language contained in the RFS. The waiver process language in the RFS calls for careful objective analysis of the economic impact of the RFS on the U.S. economy. We have faith in, and support, the process laid out in this language. Read More

Corn, Ethanol, RFA

Romney Announces Farmers and Ranchers Coalition

John Davis

Presumptive Republican nominee for President Mitt Romney today announced a coalition of agricultural leaders for his campaign. The Farmers and Ranchers for Romney coalition is chaired nationally by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Ambassador Tom Nassif, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE), and former USDA Acting/Deputy Secretary Charles Conner.

“I’m honored to have so many farmers and ranchers standing with my campaign,” said Mitt Romney. “They are the backbone of America and play a critical role in ensuring Americans across the country have access to safe and affordable food. The fruit of their labor nourishes the world, and I admire their hard work in harvesting our country’s bountiful resources. Our farmers and ranchers also have a critical role in the health of our economy, employing millions of Americans. I’m grateful to have their support in my efforts to turn around the economy and strengthen the middle class.”

Commissioner Adam Putnam said, “As Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, I’m proud to be supporting Governor Romney’s campaign to get this country moving in the right direction again. While agriculture in America has its own set of unique challenges, farmers are looking for a leader in the White House who knows how the private sector works.” Read More

politics

IFAJ Congress Arrival Day

Chuck Zimmerman

It is arrival day for attendees of the 2012 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in Sweden. Kelly Schwalbe, BCS Communications and myself took the morning to try a little golf. It is a beautiful day and no matter what our score was, it was an awesome round of golf at the Troxhammar Golf Cub. We played with flashes of brilliance and then a lot of that other kind of play.

So, people are arriving and this afternoon we have registration and our first professional development sessions. I’ve already got a photo album started and will be filling it over the coming days as we learn about Swedish agriculture together.

2012 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 IFAJ Congress is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer
IFAJ, Media

Seeking Nominations for Charles Eastin Award

Melissa Sandfort

The National Farm-City Council is now seeking nominations for its second annual Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award. The award pays tribute to an outstanding individual within the United States who has contributed to Farm-City activities as an advocate for accurate communications between rural and urban audiences.

The national award is in honor of Dr. Charles “Charlie” Eastin, DVM, who played a fundamental role in Farm-City activities. A board member for many years, Eastin was especially active in planning and initiating Farm-City events in the Lexington, Ken., area.

Nominees to the Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award can be any person 25-years-old or older, who has actively supported national, state or local Farm-City initiatives. He or she can be nominated by anyone active in a Farm-City program.

The award will be presented to the recipient at the National Farm-City Symposium and Farm-City Week kickoff luncheon on November 13, 2012, in St. Joseph, Mo. The winner will be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Agribusiness

Most Believe Ag Journalists Are Ethical

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Do ag journalists (broadcast/print/web) adhere to good ethical practices in reporting?” This is just in time for the ag journalists gathering in Sweden for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress. I’ll be sharing the results with them.

Our poll results: Sixteen percent said they all do; sixty-eight percent said most do; and sixteen percent said most do not.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Which team for President would be best for agriculture?” What do you think…who is the better choice for office when it comes to supporting our nation’s farmers and ranchers?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

Media, ZimmPoll

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Melissa Sandfort

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