2012 IPE Week Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s 2012 International Poultry Expo time. I’ll be on location at this all-feather event by tomorrow afternoon thanks to our sponsor, Novus International.

This show is big so there are a lot of resources for you like the Product Locator and Show Planner. Go to the show website for more.

Here are some statistics from last year’s show:

The 63rd annual International Poultry Expo featuring its fifth year with the International Feed Expo produced very impressive attendance numbers.

Attendance totaled 20,742 for the 2011 show up from 18,896 in 2010. International attendees numbered 4371, an increase of 505 over 2010 with Latin America constituting the largest segment at 43% of non-US attendees.

States with the greatest representation in 2011
Georgia 4291
North Carolina 893
Illinois 876
Arkansas 760
Alabama 713

Countries with the greatest representation in 2011
Canada 767
Mexico 516
Brazil 276
Colombia 256
Venezuela 207
China 203

Coverage of the 2012 International Poultry Expo is sponsored by Novus International

Poultry Expo

PlacerGROWN Food & Farm Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

I Love Farmers They Feed My Soul guru, J. Scott Vernon, will be highlighting the PlacerGROWN Food & Farm Conference. It’s not your run of the mill, boring ag conference.

This is not just another conference packed with unexciting lectures on agriculture regulations, how to get better crops or best vaccine practices for livestock – far from it! We have assembled a dynamic and highly energetic group of speakers from around the state of California on the subject of sustainable agriculture, social media, educating the next generation of farmers and how to integrate technology into 2012 planning.

Whether currently farming, want to start, or want to learn about healthy, locally grown food, this year’s conference has been planned just for you! We want you to be a part of this conference, come meet the speakers, local farmers and local small businesses; make new friends, and experience how exciting supporting local agriculture can really be to our communities.

Farm Shows

Rural TV Launching In February

Chuck Zimmerman

I don’t have too much information on this yet. But according to a note from USDA Rural TV is a new channel that will be launching in February.

Here’s the note I got:

RURAL AMERICA NOW HAS ITS OWN TV CHANNEL – Starting February 1st Rural TV makes its worldwide debut. The program will be “Rural America’s window on Washington,” said DC Bureau Chief Patrick B. Haggerty (RURAL-TV – Nashville, Tennessee http://ruraltv.tv/). Haggerty a native Chicagoan is excited for the upcoming launch and “reporting on the stories that the networks wouldn’t cover in a 100 years.” He will host a daily primetime 30-minute agricultural news program. If his schedule permits, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be Haggerty’s first guest

The Rural TV website indicates the channel offers a wide-range of programming for agribusiness professionals, farmers, equestrian enthusiasts and those with a passion for the rural lifestyle – including quilting, cooking and crafts. RURAL TV is available for distribution on satellite, cable, and IPTV platforms worldwide. RURAL TV is owned and operated by Rural Media Group, Inc. which operates RFD-TV.

Media

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Hamlet Protein is holding a grand opening ceremony for its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Findlay, Ohio, on Jan. 27.
  • On Jan. 20, 2012, DEKALB officially started its 100th anniversary celebration and invites farmers and dealers to join in the festivities all year long.
  • Valent BioSciences Corporation received a building permit on January 3 for a $146 million manufacturing facility that will bring more than 500 workers and 89 permanent jobs to the Osage, Ill. area.
  • Penton Media recently announced that Jon Greener has joined the Midwest crops group as an Advertising Sales representative.
Zimfo Bytes

New Holland Jay Leno Boomer Tractor Sells For $535,000

Chuck Zimmerman

Tonight on Speed Channel, Jay Leno and his former New Holland Boomer Tractor took a last ride at the Barret-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ. The tractor has been working in his garage for years and became known as Lil Tug since it was used to pull his vehicles around among other chores.

He drove the tractor onto the auction stage before getting behind the microphone.

On hand representing New Holland was Executive Vice President, Abe Hughes. In an effort to get the bidding up Abe added a brand new New Holland Rustler to the winner of Lil Tug.

All the proceeds from the auction of the tractor are going to support the Fisher House Foundation which helps military families. Jay really helped work on the crowd and as you’ll hear from the audio clip, he did a great job. BTW. The tractor was just recently signed by President George W. Bush who is a big supporter of the Fisher House.

So, Lil Tug finally sold for $535,000! Awesome price and all for a good cause. You can hear a portion of the sale here: Auctioning Jay Leno's Lil Tug

This sale kind of brings closure to a long standing New Holland project I had the opportunity to be involved in at the start when I met Jay in his garage back in 2007.

Agribusiness, Audio, New Holland

Cattle Industry Convention Hashtag Controversy

Chuck Zimmerman

Who would have thought that we’d have a “controversy” over the Twitter hashtag for the Cattle Industry Convention? Really? Well, it might not be a full blown controversy but it’s at least interesting. The official hashtag is #CIC12. Makes sense. The CIC is not just one organization. You’ve got the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the American National CattleWomen (ANCW) and Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB). To create a hashtag that only highlights one of them doesn’t seem fair and isn’t really descriptive of the event itself. I’m hoping it’s not being done to irritate or exclude the other organizations that participate in this industry event.

But apparently a number of folks are using #NCBA12 and have been questioning the decision to have the official hashtag be #CIC12. If I remember correctly, the NCBA letters may have been used in a previous convention. But that was then. We’re talking about now. A time when we’re seeing much needed unity within the industry and these organizations. So let’s use #CIC12. Okay.

The beauty and sometimes frustration of the web is that we’re all free to do what we want though. So you can use whatever hashtag you want. I’ll be following #CIC12 though and would recommend you do too.

Ag Groups, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Cattle Producers Raise Money To Feed Steaks To Soldiers

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattle producers raised a lot of money to help the All American Beef Battalion (AABB) feed steaks to our soldiers.

During the Mile High Classic Red Angus Sale on Sunday, Jan. 8, in Denver, Colo., joint owners of the bull, Crs Diamnd 21 Gun Salute, donated him back to the cause and raised another $24,250 for AABB – totaling nearly $37,000 raised for the project including the bull’s original sale and donations.

Pictured are (Left to right) Red Angus breeders Barry Horsley and Cheramie Viator presented a check to National Guard Sgt. Dave Callahan who represented all the soldiers who benefit from the All American Beef Battalion steak feeds. Jim Odle (right), purchased possession of the bull, 21 Gun Salute.

Ag Groups, Beef, Food

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The “Farmland Investment Fair”, sponsored by The Chicago Farmers will be Feb. 4, 2012. Registration is now open online.
  • CLAAS of America Inc. has announced their expansion and restructuring of their senior management team in North America.
  • An Olympic Gold Medalist, the coronation of the Nebraska Dairy Princess and a seminar on handling high commodity prices are on the agenda for the 2012 Nebraska Dairy Convention March 13-14.
  • High school and two-year college students planning to study an agricultural field are invited to apply for a $1,000 scholarship from the CHS Foundation.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Mobile App

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA announce their first-ever mobile app. Yep, cowboys do smart phones don’t you know? Here’s what Mike Deering, NCBA Communications, has to say about it.

    “Cattlemen may not be on the computer much but they have certainly embraced smart phones. The smart phone application was designed specifically for the annual convention. It will give participants useful information about meeting locations, speakers and more. The app can also be used by media and by people not able to attend the convention. We will be posting news and information constantly.”

    So you need to get the app for the Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show which will be held Feb. 1-4th. It’s now available for download for the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. The Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA App gives its users access to everything the oldest cattle business convention has to offer.

    The CIC & NCBA mobile app is a free download and features an interactive exhibitor map and listings, seminars and speakers, schedules to help plan your trip to the largest cattle business convention! The CIC & NCBA app will also provide you with digital information from exhibitors, text alerts, product updates and instant connectivity, all right in the palm of your hand.

    It’s on my iPhone! Get it now.

    Ag Groups, Apps, Cattle Industry Conference

    Florida NAMA Meets USFRA

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Cindy and I are nearing the end of vacation (working) time in Florida but are too far away from Orlando to attend today’s Florida NAMA chapter meeting. But thanks to Gary Cooper’s, Southeast AgNet, iPhone we did get a picture to share.

    Guest speaking to the Florida NAMA chapter was Hugh Whaley, USFRA. As I understad it there were nearly 50 in attendance. That’s a fantastic turnout. It’s great to see this chapter that I was once a founding member of doing well!

    Last week I met Florida Chapter President Lyn Cacella, Farm Credit. We spoke about the Agri-Marketing Conference coming to Jacksonville, FL in 2014 and the chapter is already working on some ideas for us during our time in the sunshine state. Listen in on my conversation with Lyn and learn more about how Florida NAMA is doing: Lyn Cacella Interview

    If your chapter has an event please send along a photo to share here on AgWired and let us know how it’s going. We’d like to feature you.

    Ag Groups, NAMA