USFRA Prepares for Public Launch of Ag Movement

Joanna Schroeder

There was a great panel discussion during the General Session of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference 2011 in Kissimmee, Florida that focused on the movement being developed by the US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). The ultimate goal of the USFRA is to educate people about where their food comes from.

During a brief presentation by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) CEO Forrest Roberts, he updated the cattle producers on how the campaign is coming along. Roberts said that this is the largest agricultural communications effort of its kind and the goal is to speak with “one voice”. He said this is not a campaign, but a long-term movement that would foster a two-way dialogue with key influencers, policymakers and consumers.

During the meeting, the first phase of the campaign was officially kicked off – farmer and rancher activation. He stressed that in order for this movement to be effective, ranchers and farmers across the country would need to speak out.

Weldon Wynn, a rancher from Star City, Arkansas who is a member of the CBB Executive Committee, said there are 49 different organizations involved ranging from cattle ranchers to corn and soybean organizations to vegetable growers, and they have a budget of $10 million dollars. This has allowed them to kick off the initiative they are promoting during the conference and that is to get the consumer involved and the producer involved. Wynn said they need to learn about how safe their food is and grassroots efforts are the only way this is going to happen.

Both Wynn and Roberts stressed the importance of getting farmers and ranchers involved, which you can do here. They asked that you fill out their survey here and also sign up to be one of the “voices of agriculture.”

Listen to my interview with Weldon Wynn here: Weldon Wynn Discusses USFRA Efforts

Listen to Forrest Robert’s comments regarding the initiatives of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance here: Update on USFRA Beef Campaign

Photos from the conference will be posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album. Check it often as we add to it over the next several days.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Education, NCBA

Agriculture Future of America at Ag HR Roundtable

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Future of AmericaAn organization that helps prepare young people for careers in agriculture was very involved in the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable.

I spoke with Nancy Barcus, Director of Leader Development Programs for Agriculture Future of America. “AFA works with college men and women and young professionals just entering the work force to provide academic scholarship support, career and leader development training, and assist finding intern or other work experiences to help them get into full time employment,” Nancy told me.

AgCareers.com is one of the industry partners that support AFA’s career development and scholarship program. “We’re really well aligned organizations,” Nancy says. “A lot of things that AgCareers is trying to do for the industry to understand what the needs are and bring colleges and universities to the table at a roundtable like this with employers are similar to what we do.”

Listen to my interview with Nancy here: Nancy Barcus with AFA

Nancy reminded me that Chuck interviewed her just recently at the NAMA where she was a hall monitor!

2011 AgCareers Ag HR Roundtable photo album.

AgCareers, Audio, Education

Beef Board Chairman Wraps Up Summer Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the first persons I interviewed here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference was Wesley Grau, newly elected Beef Board Chairman. Now we’ll close things out with a wrap up interview from him.

Wesley says that things went well at the meeting, “We’ve had an attitude change. We’ve had a strengthening of the industry through unification. At the same time we endeavor to remain all inclusive for every producer in the United States.” He says he looks forward to moving in a positive direction.

You can listen to my closing interview with Wesley here. Wesley Grau Interview

Joanna and I will have more stories to post from this year’s conference over coming days. In the meantime, please enjoy our photos.

2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference

The Corn Crib

Melissa Sandfort

From planting to harvest, corn production has changed drastically through the years. I’ve talked about a 2-row planter, hand-crank corn sheller and 12-row combine head, but another memory from my childhood reappeared the other day and I enlisted the help of my grandmother to dig up a photo.

On one of the “old places” there used to be a round, metal corn crib. It stood empty for all the years I could remember but served as a great playhouse and dog kennel in its later years.

A corn crib was used to dry and store corn. After the harvest, corn, still on the cob, was placed in the crib either with or without the husk. The typical corn crib had slats in its walls. These slatted sides of the corn crib allow air to circulate through the corn, both allowing it to dry initially and helping it to stay dry. The slats expose the corn to pests, so corn cribs are elevated above the ground beyond the reach of rodents. (The corn crib that I used to play in sat on a large concrete slab.)

Metal grain bins with drying systems started popping up around 1907. Since then, farmers have efficiently harvested, dried and moved thousands of bushels of corn each year.

Needless to say, I didn’t play in any grain bins (farm safety!), but they did present another source of childhood enjoyment – climbing the ladder all the way to the top. What a view! If you have a fear of heights, it’s not recommended.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

New Beef Board Officers

Chuck Zimmerman

In today’s CBB Update Session at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, elections were held to fill the vacant Chairman position. Elected were:

Chair: Wesley Grau, Grady, NM
Vice Chair: Weldon Wynn, Star City, Ark.
Secretary/Treasurer: Roger West, Gainesville, Fla.

I caught up with Roger after the meeting and visited with him since he’s the “new” officer. Both Wesley and Weldon were already in officer positions. Roger is a cow/calf operator and that keeps him busy. He feels honored to have been elected as an officer. He says “we’re ready to move on.”

You can listen to my interview with Roger here. Roger West Interview

2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference

CSU Students Win Coveted W.D. Farr Scholarships

Joanna Schroeder

Two Colorado State Univeristy (CSU) Ph.D. students have won the coveted W.D. Farr Scholarship. Plainview, Texas native Jessica Igo and Pontette, Wisconsin native Scott Howard received the award during the General Session at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in its second day in Kissimmee, Florida. The $12,000 scholarships are given by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF).

Both Igo and Howard have grown up in the beef industry and since doing their undergraduate work, Igo at Texas A & M University and Howard at CSU, they have known they would build careers in the industry. Igo’s thesis is focused on the National Beef Quality Audit and is conducting face-to-face interviews in phase 1. She is talking to everyone from the feeders to the grocery stores to restaurants to see what they want from their beef products. Howard’s research is focused on beef tenderness and is in the process of conducting a beef tenderness survey.

“These two outstanding students are very deserving of the W.D. Farr Scholarships,” said Linda Davis, a NCF Trustee and chair of the W.D. Farr Scholarship Committee. “They not only excel academically, but also have demonstrated true leadership qualities and the character needed to stand out in their fields after finishing their degrees. The beef industry will be well-served by furthering the educations and careers of these fine young people.”

During an interview I asked both Igo and Howard how winning the scholarship will help move their academics forward. Howard said it will allow him to become engrossed in his research and give him the ability to commit wholeheartedly to his project. Igo hopes that the scholarship will help her research make a difference as well as give her a springboard for her entry into the industry.

Igo is graduating in May of 2012 and Howard in 2013. I anticipate they will both be in high demand, so the beef industry will need to take note – there will be some great competition to hire these amazing young students.

Listen to my interview with Jessica Igo and Scott Howard here: W.D. Farr Scholarship Winners

Photos from the conference will be posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album. Check it often as we add to it over the next several days.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Education, NCBA

NCBA Committee Researches Cattle Diseases

Joanna Schroeder

A lot of discussion in the cattle industry today is about issues relating to widespread drought. Bill Nutt, Chair of the Emerging Cattle Health Research and Issues Working Group that met during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, is a producer from Georgia who has not escaped the consequences of the drought. While drought can cause problems with your herd, there are other health issues affecting herds across the country.

Many not not know, but herds across the country are at the lowest level they’ve been since the 1940s. “We keep looking for the expansion of the herd but not many of us are willing to stick our neck out and expand the herds in the face of continued uncertainty about drought, fuel prices and all the other things that have been occupying the attention of the country and the world perhaps in the last few weeks in Washington,” said Nutt. But he does expect herd size to expand over the next few years.

However, the focal point of the committee meeting was to discuss some disease areas of current concern and emerging concern. “We’re not prognosticators but we’re trying to look ahead and see what are we seeing now that we didn’t see in the past,” said Nutt. “Let’s get it out on the table so that the members of our committee and all of the producers that are looking to us and depending on us to keep our eyes open and give them some heads up on that.”

Two diseases that took center stage during the meeting was BVD, or bovine viral diarrhea, and this is of such concern that the committee spun out an additional working group to spend more time focuses on the issue and researching treatments. A second disease of concern is Trichomonas, a disease that Nutt says has been around for a long, long time but recently is starting to come out and cause problems.

The work of the committee comes out in the form of creating and circulating information to NCBA members about the issues that have a bearing on their business. Prior to the conference next February in Nashville, the committee will continue working and during the conference will set policy directions and plan for the future.

Listen to my interview with Bill Nutt here: Bill Nutt Interview

Photos from the conference will be posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album. Check it often as we add to it over the next several days.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

The Successes of the Beef Checkoff

Chuck Zimmerman

The Beef Board staff is publishing a weekly six-part series featuring 25 years of beef checkoff successes. This is an excerpt from the first part titled, “Turning your $1-per-head assessments into opportunities.” You can read the full article by clicking on this link.

It was 1986: A gallon of gas cost 89 cents; a pound of ground beef cost about $1.29 at retail; a movie ticket was $3.71; the average price of the average monthly rent was $385; the average price of a home was $89,430; and the national Beef Checkoff Program went into effect at $1-per-head.

Fast forward to 2011: Today, a gallon of gas will set you back an average of $3.26; the average price for a pound of ground beef is $3.87; a movie ticket costs about $8.50; the average monthly rent is $812; the average price of a home is $303,713; and the $1-per-head national beef checkoff is wrapping up its first 25 years of serving as a catalyst to spur strong beef sales worldwide.

One of the people who was involved early in the process was Wayne Watkinson, pictured at the head table during our CBB Update Session at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. I visited with him about his legal work with the Checkoff and he shared some very interesting anecdotes that include when he helped write the Act and during the years he has served as legal counsel. I think you’ll enjoy hearing him.

You can listen to my interview with Wayne here. Wayne Watkinson Interview

2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

NCBA’s Farm Bill Policies Beginning to Take Shape

Joanna Schroeder

Our leaders in Washington might be on a month-long recess during August, but upon their return discussion about the 2012 Farm Bill will be in full swing. Therefore a priority during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference 2011 is to create the policy directives that best represent its National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) members – cattle producers.

Colin Woodall, vice president, government affairs for NCBA, said that this is really their business meeting and this is time they get together and talk a lot about the hot topics in the industry. It is also the time they make sure NCBA’s policy is in place to cover all issues and ensure they can engage accordingly.

“It really is probably the best part of NCBA because this is truly a grassroots opportunity for every member of NCBA to come in and cast a vote on how they think our policy should be set up,” said Woodall.

One of the hottest topics relates to NCBA’s Farm Bill Guiding Principles. Woodall said they need to make sure they have everything they need to engage in the field hearings in Washington D.C. They are in the process of putting words on paper so they need to make sure they understand where their members want them to be on conservation programs, disaster assistance, research and overall government payments.

“So we’re going to do that today in our agricultural policy committee,” said Woodall. “We have a three page document we’re working from and we’re really excited about the opportunity to really discuss where NCBA and the cattle industry needs to be in regards to probably the most important Farm Bill we’ve ever had just given the overall budget nature of the federal government right now.”

The next step is to refine the Farm Bill Guiding Principles and vote on them during NCBA’s conference in Nashville next February. Yet in the interim, NCBA will be taking an active role in making sure the needs of the cattle industry are well heard, understood and represented on the Hill.

Listen to my interview with Colin Woodall here: NCBA Farm Bill Guiding Principles

Photos from the conference will be posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album. Check it often as we add to it over the next several days.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Tablets Gaining Acceptance

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m very surprised at some of the response to our latest ZimmPoll. Although 37% responding say they have an iPad or other tablet, 33% said they don’t and don’t want one! And we had 30% who said they don’t have one but do want one. However, when you consider that no one had one less than two years ago you might consider the percentage who have or want one to be huge! I know I’m a geek and can’t have enough gadgets but not everyone is an agnerd.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What do you think the biggest safety issue is at a biorefinery?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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

ZimmPoll