IFAJ Strategic Survey Results

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ conducted a survey of membership by a strategic committee and providing some results from the survey today was IFAJ Senior VP, Markus Rediger, LID Agricultural Information Center.

The focus was on how to make IFAJ even more global. I’m sure information will be coming out of the IFAJ office after the conference and a report is being produced to suggest ways to further develop IFAJ in the future. The survey asked 30 questions. I’ll let you listen to Markus provide some of the results in his remarks.

You can listen to Markus here: Remarks from Markus Rediger

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
Audio, IFAJ

IFAJ Japan Relief Effort Very Successful

Chuck Zimmerman

During the delegate meeting of the IFAJ Congress we heard how things are going in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami disaster. As you may know, IFAJ helped organize a call for support and the results were €12,072 Euros being contributed to relief efforts! The donation will be managed by the Japan Agricultural Journalists Association.

With us is a delegation from Japan including Masaru Yamada (at the podium). He gave us some information about the disaster situation and how things have gone since then.

You can listen to remarks from Masaru here: Remarks from Masaru Yamada

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
Ag Groups, Audio, IFAJ, International

IFAJ State of the Union

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2011 IFAJ Congress kicked off formally today after a meeting of the executive committee. For the delegates meeting the officers got on stage to provide reports on various aspects of IFAJ business. This is the annual business meeting. At the podium is Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, IFAJ President.

I asked him for a state of the union report after the meeting concluded. Mike sees the future growth for IFAJ in developing countries and says that projects like the Master Class program are creating relationships that will have a long term positive impact. He says IFAJ has never been in such good shape financially and credits the sponsors who are making that possible.

You can listen to my interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Wilson

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
Audio, IFAJ

Canadian Potatoes Debut for IFAJ Dinner

Chuck Zimmerman

During pre-IFAJ Congress activities we were treated to dinner in downtown Guelph at the Woolrich Arrow. We were also being used in an experiment with a local potato grower. Here’s Kevin Smith, Smoyd Potato Farm, holding some of his product while he talked to us about a new variety we were to have served with our dinner. So we ate some of the first crop of Smoyd red skin roasted potatoes. I’m still here so I think they were okay.

You can listen to a portion of Kevin’s remarks here: Kevin Smith Potato Grower

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
Audio, Farming, IFAJ

Alltech Sponsoring IFAJ Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

The IFAJ Boot Camp participants, seen here, heard from their sponsor during their pre-Congress program in Guelph. My good friend, Aidan Connolly, Alltech VP, was able to be with us for a while this week.

Aidan told our participants that “food and food policy has never been more critical, has never been more relevant, has never been more times on the front of a newspaper or indeed in the media in general.” That really makes it very important for good quality ag journalism at this time! When it comes to solutions to today’s food problems Aidan suggests there are a number of interventions needed, not just one. He has already seen some online reporting from the class participants so I applaud them for getting right to work.

You can listen to my interview with Aidan here: Aidan Connolly Interview

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
Alltech, Audio, IFAJ

Farmers Fighting Poverty

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the organizers for the IFAJ Master Class and Boot Camp program is Cees van Rij (pictured left), Agriterra. Cees is from the Netherlands.

Cees says his organization is guided by Dutch farmer groups and cooperatives and believes that farmers can do a lot to work with people in poverty stricken areas to help them. That led to the start of an effort called Famers Fighting Poverty. He says this effort needs more communication outreach and hopes IFAJ Congress participants will assist them. He would especially like to see support from companies and organizations in the United States.

You can listen to my interview with Cees here: Cees van Rij Interview

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
Ag Groups, Audio, IFAJ, International

IFAJ Congress Overview

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 319The 2011 IFAJ Congress gets into full swing today. There are some business meetings for the organization as well as an afternoon session called Canada Agriculture 101. I visited with Co-Chair Owen Roberts, faculty instructor at the University of Guelph. We were on the bus last night on our way to Mohawk Racetrack.

In the program you can hear Owen describe the difference between the two pre-Congress educational activities, IFAJ Master Class and IFAJ Boot Camp. Then he runs through what all the ag journalists will be doing the rest of the week. We split apart into groups for farm tours upon leaving Guelph but meet back up in Niagra Falls.

Listen to my conversations with Owen in this week’s ZimmCast: IFAJ Congress 2011

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

This week’s program ends with with music from Music Alley. It’s “Journalism 101” by Highah Seekah. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

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.

Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
Audio, IFAJ, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The nation’s top experts in agricultural lending will gather in Indianapolis, Ind. for the American Bankers Association National Agricultural Bankers Conference Nov. 6-9.
  • Two state-of-the-art bale-wrapping systems, designed to help producers turn silage bales into individually wrapped high-nutrition silage packages, were introduced by Vermeer.
  • The Food and Drug Administration has every confidence in the safety of apple juice. Learn more about how FDA tests juices and concentrates for safety here.
  • Designed to deliver more power, burn less fuel and meet Tier 4 emissions standards, Case IH has now released a complete family of high-horsepower equipment utilizing Efficient Power technologies.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Majority Favor Broadband Over GPS

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Which is more important to rural America: GPS Service or Broadband Internet?” A majority of 66% said Broadband Internet with 34% choosing GPS Service. So perhaps most of you place more importance on being able to use the internet for whatever reason than having the ability to use your GPS device, which would include location based services on your mobile phone and of course there’s always precision ag applications like auto steer. Interesting. What do you think?

    Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What is best for ag to add jobs to the economy?” Jobs is a political key word right now and the economy sure needs a boost. Let us know what you think and thank you.

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

    ZimmPoll

    Mohawk Racing IFAJ Style

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Tonight the IFAJ attendees went horse racing at Mohawk Racetrack. We had some great Standardbred action for about seven races before departing back to the hotels.

    Here’s most of our group out on the track after the 6th race presenting an IFAJ Congress horse blanket to the winner. Now that’s cool.

    I’ve updated the photo album from this afternoon and will have more stories to post in the morning. We’re now moving to the official Congress activities starting with business sessions and then getting a little Canada Agriculture 101.

    2011 IFAJ Congress Photo Album

    Coverage of the IFAJ Congress is sponsored by PIONEER Hi-Bred
    IFAJ