Sniff The Cork

Chuck Zimmerman

I am completely behind 100% Cork for my wine bottles. It looks like I’m not alone according to a recent survey by the Cork Quality Council. So sniff the cork.

More than 60 percent of the top 100 domestic premium wine brands are now sealed with natural cork, another sign of the growing resurgence of cork and the diminishing use and acceptance of alternative closures.

Case sales of the top 100 domestic premium wine brands sealed with cork surged 7.7 percent during the four-weeks ended Sept. 17, 2011, compared to the same period a year earlier. During the same period, the sale of the top 100 brands finished with alternative closures plummeted 11.9 percent. The results are from a survey of A.C. Nielsen data by the Cork Quality Council.

Ag Groups, Food

How many uses does one jar have?

Melissa Sandfort

I wanted to share with you my latest purchase…these oil rubbed bronze mason jar soap pumps. I ordered four of them for bathrooms and kitchen sinks and I must say, I haven’t been this excited for the UPS man in a long time. Now, I know there’s a way to make them yourself but my crafting abilities leave much to be desired.

That got me to thinking about how many uses mason jars have. I used to toss my spare coins in them, use them to stick plant ends in to take root (I still have a quart jar with a philodendron just growing in water), as a vase, a soap dispenser, a drinking mug and of course the obvious, for canning … the list goes on.

In fact, I can’t think of anything else in my house that’s been used for that many different things. Can you?

These four jars had green beans in them.

And just for consistency sake, I used two Ball and two Kerr.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Vilsack Talks Farm Bill at John Deere

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack chose the John Deere Des Moines Works facility to talk about his priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill, which he says is really a misnomer.

“After all, for decades this bill has been about a whole lot more than just farming. It’s been about energy, it’s been about nutrition, it’s been about jobs. Now, some may keep calling it the Farm Bill out of convenience, or maybe even out of tradition; but I think we’re doing it a disservice,” Vilsack said.

The secretary acknowledged that fiscal and political realities will have an impact on the outcome for any legislation in the coming year. “So our priorities must be clear. We simply need to do more with less,” he said.

Read the secretary’s speech here.

Farm Bill, Farm Policy, John Deere, USDA

The Double Pyramid From Barilla Center For Food & Nutrition

Chuck Zimmerman

So we had the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. Now we’ve got the Barilla Center For Food & Nutrition Double Pyramid? Okay. What do you think about that? Good research and information? Just another organization trying to insert their ideas into the food conversation? One side of the double pyramid focuses on food types by their definition of nutritional value and the other is inverted by their definition of environmental impact.

By the end of October, it is estimated that the world’s population will reach seven billion people, growing to nine billion by 2050. In order to satisfy the world’s food needs, production will need to increase between 70 and 100 percent in the face of environmental changes, a destabilized agrifoods market and continued global economic turmoil. The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN), launched in the U.S. today, is working to address these topics through the development of concrete research and findings for government leaders and policymakers around the world to use as a relevant and meaningful resource.

“While we cannot stop the continuing evolution of the planet, we have the moral duty to suggest courses of action and propose policies that encourage responsible interaction with it. Food and nutrition will be an increasingly important focus in dialogues among governments, corporations and civil society, all of which are working to address the immediate and future challenges we face in meeting nutritional needs of a growing population while ensuring the health of our planet,” stated Guido Barilla, President of the BCFN. “We understand what it takes to bring food from the farm to the table in an efficient and sustainable way, as well as the importance of developing environmentally sustainable production models. We are committed to bringing the world’s best and brightest minds together to provide guidance on how to effectively navigate these complex topics.”

Food

Farm Show Smartphone Apps Getting Traction

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Are Farm Show Smartphone Apps Helpful?” Although 55% said they had Never used one, 27% said Yes and only 18% said no. I think these results reflect the fact that these apps are new. I used several during the course of the year and some are more helpful than others. One of the features I like most is being able to open a show map to find where I am currently located and where I want to go to find a particular exhibitor. Have you used any of these apps? What did you like or wish was different about the ones you used?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “How do you view the new free trade agreements for U.S. ag?” President Obama signed legislation last Friday implementing free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. These agreements were supported by most agricultural member organizations. What do you think? Take our poll and feel free to comment. Thank you.

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Farm Journal Media’s AgWeb.com launched its mobile application, providing smartphone users with easier, more graphic access to its market-leading content.
  • Croplife recently released a new video on fertilizer, crop protection product handling and distribution. Watch the video here.
  • The soybean-checkoff-funded U.S. Soybean Export Council launched a revamped website for its global aquaculture program to communicate the benefits of soy in aquaculture feeds to both consumers and the global seafood industry.
  • FMC Corporation announces the promotion of David Wheeler to Business Solutions Manager.
    Zimfo Bytes

    America Needs Farmers at Iowa Football Game

    Chuck Zimmerman

    This is a great picture. It’s from the University of Iowa and Iowa Farm Bureau’s “America Needs Farmers” first-ever ‘card stunt’ at Kinnick stadium celebrating ANF Game Day a little over a week ago.

    Today, the organizations jointly announced a $20,000 donation to the Iowa Food Bank Association in recognition of the “ANF” and “Farm Strong” initiatives.

    “We are proud of our Hawkeye fans and we knew they would embrace the card stunt and, more importantly, ANF Day at Kinnick because they understand the many contributions farmers make to our family table and to our economy. We are also very proud of our partnership with the Iowa Farm Bureau. It’s one that is giving back to our communities in ways that go well beyond touchdowns on Saturday afternoons,” said Gary Barta, the UI’s director of athletics.

    Ag Groups

    The Myth of Meat Glue

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Meat MythCrushers (The American Meat Science Association and the American Meat Institute) has just released a new episode in their library of videos to help people find the truth behind a lot of meat myths. Let’s take a look at this one on transglutaminase which is being called “meat glue.” There’s a rumor going viral on the web about this. In fact, one of my friends from grammar school forwarded me an email from a friend of his who was all worried and afraid of the information on the internet. I looked at it and forwarded him some facts and a link to this video so he could get some perspective. Nothing like the truth for perspective, eh?

    Transglutaminase is a protein that is used to bind ingredients together in many foods. In meat products, for example, it can help hold bacon around a filet mignon to create a bacon wrapped filet or it can help hold several smaller cuts together to make a larger cut that can be sliced.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognized transglutaminase as safe and it has been safely used for many years. Canada, Australia and many of European countries also recognize this as a safe food processing aid. Transglutaminase is not classified as an allergen. Still, when it is used, it will appear on the ingredient label.

    Watch Dana Hanson, Ph.D., associate professor and meat extension specialist, food science at North Carolina State University, clarify why transglutaminase is used, how it is labeled and why it is safe. Meanwhile, I think I’ll go glue some steaks together for supper!

    Ag Groups, Food, Video

    Engle Creative Solutions

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 324What’s new in the world of agricultural marketing is Engle Creative Solutions, LLC. This morning I visited with Steve Engle, President. This is another episode in my informal series of interviews with the leadership of agricultural marketing agencies.

    Steve started the new venture just last month. Steve says he’s focusing on small to mid sized businesses and wants to help them, “Stand Out In A Crowded World.” He’s offering a “complete array of implementation services, from mainstream advertising and public relations to new media, interactive services, motion media and more.”

    Listen to my conversation with Steve in this week’s ZimmCast: Engle Creative Solutions

    Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

    The program ends this week with music from Music Alley, called “Natural Solution” by RION-I. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

    The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

    Agencies, ZimmCast

    GROWMARK Among Top Ten Co-ops

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Once again this year, the GROWMARK cooperative system is among the nation’s top ten co-ops.

    The GROWMARK System of cooperatives, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., was ranked seventh on the NCB Co-op 100 listing of the nation’s 100 highest revenue-earning cooperative businesses. GROWMARK was ranked sixth on the 2010 list.

    “The boom of cooperative organizations and the key role they play in both our national and global economy, is clearly evidenced in the growth and expansion highlighted in this year’s report,” said Charles E. Snyder, President and CEO of NCB. “As a cooperative business ourselves, we are proud to support these efforts and participate in the United Nations General Assembly declaration of 2012 as the International Year of the Cooperative, to educate the public on the benefits of cooperatives. Our report is just one of the many ways we work to inform the public on the advantages of cooperatives in all fields of enterprise.”

    The NCB Co-op 100 debuted in 1991 and is the only yearly report of its kind to track cooperative revenues in the United States. Cooperatives in this year’s top 100 account for a combined revenue of more than $193 billion in 2010.

    Cooperatives