Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) be changed?” A majority at 53% said, No, it’s working as intended; 32% said Get rid of it entirely and 15% said Yes, change to adapt to corn stocks.
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Are Farm Show Smartphone Apps Useful?” 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.
The weather has been a little up and down for opening day of the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Actually, the morning was pretty nice but after lunch the rain kind of set in.
I had a nice time this morning working with New Holland on behalf of their Boomer 555 Contest. I’m collecting some interviews for this social media campaign like this one with Joe Capps from Opelika, Alabama. He told me what he would do with a new Boomer tractor. The contest runs through the end of November so it’s not too late to get your entry in.
2011 Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album
Sunbelt Ag Expo coverage is sponsored by The New Holland Boomer 555 Contest.
Congratulations to Thomas E. Porter, North Carolina, for receiving the 2011 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. He received the award along with his wife, Vicky, during the annual Willie B. Withers luncheon.
The Porters farm hay and are also involved in swine, poultry and beef cattle. Tommy says he always wanted to farm. He had the opportunity to say a few words during the luncheon and first of all thanked God for the opportunity to “tend just a small portion of His land.” You could tell how much this recognition meant to him from the emotion in his voice.
Listen to Tom’s award remarks here: Thomas Porter Award Remarks
2011 Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album
Sunbelt Ag Expo coverage is sponsored by The New Holland Boomer 555 Contest.
Hello from Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA. Here’s Executive Director, Chip Blalock, addressing the media at this morning’s breakfast. I spoke with Chip and got a comprehensive overview of all that you’ll find at this year’s show. We’re hoping the forecast is a little off on timing today since rain is forecast but one way or the other the show will go on.
Listen to my interview with Chip here: Chip Blalock Interview
I’ll be working with my sponsor this morning and finding show stories when I can. I also have a photo album started: 2011 Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album
Sunbelt Ag Expo coverage is sponsored by The New Holland Boomer 555 Contest.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance, a member of the Alliance to Feed the Future, is kicking off a new initiative called, “Real Farmers Real Food.” The initiative has special support from 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan. See her video below and feel free to share out links via your networks!
Want to tour a farm but too busy to travel? Check out the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s collection of farm tours on the Real Farmers Real Food website and see how farms across America produce safe, nutritious and affordable food.
The average American is now at least three generations removed from the farm and most of us are dependent on grocery stores to supply almost all of our food needs. This disconnect has led to many misconceptions about today’s farms. Too often, the public hears more from agriculture critics than from the people directly connected to it. The Animal Agriculture Alliance asks you to show your support for America’s real farmers and ranchers – large and small – who work every day to make our American-grown safe, nutritious and affordable food supply a reality. As the need for food production increases, the work of farmers and ranchers should be celebrated—today and every day. Farming is a business, but it is much more than that. It is a calling that forms the bedrock of our economy and society. Stand up for consumer choice. Stand up for the American farmer and rancher. Show your support by signing the below pledge.
“I sign this pledge to show support for the dedicated, hard-working farmers and ranchers of America – large and small – who provide a safe, nutritious, and affordable food supply for me and my family. I understand and respect the importance of both protecting our food security and ensuring consumer choice for future generations.”
You will find the pledge here.
It’s time to hit the agriblogging highway. I’m on the way to spend a little bit of time this week at the 2011 Sunbelt Ag Expo. I’ll mainly be working with sponsor New Holland.
We’re in the later stages of the New Holland Boomer 555 Contest. This social media driven promotion is going very well. You can learn all about it on the blog.
Don’t forget to follow along on Twitter at #SAE2011.
Sunbelt Ag Expo coverage is sponsored by The New Holland Boomer 555 Contest.
NAFB ladies – have you always wanted a sweet black t-shirt or a zippered tote with NAFB in rhinestones? Guys – how about a nice cap, t-shirt, wind shirt, polo or bomber jacket with the NAFB logo?
Yeah, you know you want it!
Have you found yourself far from home without an NAFB lapel pin or made frantic inquires of your peers to see if they could spare you one? Do you lay awake at night, fretting about what others think because you don’t show pride in your association?
Rest easy, friend. There is a solution. The NAFB Store. No longer will you have to scurry among friends to find a pin or be shunned for not wearing one. The NAFB Store can provide the shirt, cap, visor, bag or piece with *bling* that lets people know you’re a member of the NAFB and proud of it. You asked for it…..we’ve got it!
The NAFB on-line store is open for business now. Order your stuff today and get it in time for convention!
Remember me telling you about how Grandpa picks up black walnuts by the 5-gallon bucket full each year? They’re so potent you have to wear rubber gloves when you work with them, otherwise your hands smell like black walnuts for weeks. I’d hate to think what they do to your insides!
Between the hours spent collecting them and the hours spent shelling them, he also has to crack each one. This walnut sheller helps speed up the process. You stick the walnut between the piston, push the lever and crack the nut. I counted – there are nine different cracking settings, meaning you can fit all sizes of walnuts from the smallest to the meatiest walnut.
For the amount of time he puts into this every year, I don’t think the pay-back is worth it, but it gives him something to do and the bakers around town appreciate his effort.
Like I said, just watch what you’re eating and see if it passes the smell test if you’re not a fan of black walnuts.
Until we walk again …
It was with great sadness that I tuned in to today’s Indy Car race and saw the 13th lap multi car wreck and learned that Dan Wheldon was killed. Wow. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know a number of these Indy Car racers over the years. You can say all you want about the wisdom of driving a “car” at 220 MPH but they are still people. This brought back memories of Paul Dana in 2006. I liked Dan and certainly took a number of photos of him in the winner’s circle. He was the winner of this year’s Indy 500.
Today’s race was cancelled after this happened. Then the drivers all rode 3 abreast for five laps to honor Dan. This is just a photo of my tv while they were circling the track.
Here’s a photo of Dan in the winner’s circle in at the 2007 Kansas Lottery Indy 300.
At the time I was working with our sponsor known at that time as the Ethanol Promotion & Information Council (now Growth Energy). Dan won the first race of that season in Homestead, FL. I asked him about racing on ethanol in his post race press conference.
Here’s what he said: Dan Wheldon Ethanol Comment
My prayers go out to Dan and his family. It is a shock when something like this happens. I also hope all the other drivers involved in the accident are okay.
