The IFAJ Congress is doing a great job of posting information. It’s great for those of us who couldn’t be there. There are now several video clips online like the one below with a welcome from Congress Chairman, Jef Verhaeren. In his opening remarks Jef asked for a moment of silence for Don Gomery, long time honorary secretary of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Great Britain who passed away recently. You can read an obituary about Don on the IFAJ website. I was very saddened to hear this news since Don was one of the friendliest faces of IFAJ that I had come to look forward to seeing each year. He is missed.
IFAJ Congress Blog and Photos
Now I’m really feeling sad that I can’t be in Belgium for the 2010 IFAJ Congress. Photos are now available and there is a Congress Blog.
This evening the main congress has started. During the welcome walking dinner and reception some speeches were held. Extended video footage of this evening will be posted tomorrow. For those who can’t wait to get up to date there already a text version of the chief of the cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture of Flanders. You can dowload it right here (pdf)
TweetStats
If you’ve never looked at your TweetStats you might find some interesting information in there. I just ran a scan of my tweets and here’s my tweetcloud. I also notice in my stats that my tweet volume is down slightly from last year. Not sure why that is but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.
It looks like I averaged 11.2 tweets/day during the last year and Tuesday is my highest tweeting day. Wonder why that is AgChat. AgriBlogger is not the only account I have tweeted on or worked on. If you factor in those accounts then I guess you could say I’ve done a lot of tweeting, eh?
AgWired Passion Doesn’t Get To IFAJ Congress
From the tweets, it looks like IFAJ people are having a good time in Belgium. At least those who could make it. I found out at the Delta ticket counter that my flight was canceled just as I got there. Bummer.
You can follow IFAJ tweets via Twitter search among other Twitter aggregation methods. I’m hoping some of my IFAJ peeps will share some photos and information. I’ll post what I get when I get it.
Did I say I’m not a big fan of volcanoes? Larry Dreiling puts it well, “Hope next year, in Canada, will be easier for everyone…no volcanoes around Guelph, I believe.” That’s from a comment on my Facebook page.
Four Years of Forage Forum
I can’t believe it has been almost four years since we started producing the Forage Forum podcast for Pioneer on World Dairy Diary.
When we started it in July of 2006, it was the very first dairy nutrition podcast for livestock producers. We’ve done over 70 podcasts since that time. Each one features news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition. Among the topics highlighted this year are alfalfa variety development, feed safety of Bt corn, mold management, choosing an inoculant and more. The most recent podcast features David Miller, Pioneer director of alfalfa research, discussing how alfalfa is different than other major crops growers plant. Listen to or download that one in the player below.
“This season is probably one of the most intriguing since the podcast origination,” says Robin Newell, Pioneer senior marketing manager. “Management is key in the dairy industry, specifically during tough economic times, and this audio segment will touch on tough management decisions.”
The podcasts are approximately five minutes long and are updated about twice a month. The audio files can be accessed at www.pioneer.com/forages and at animal.agwired.com are all previous segments are archived, covering subjects that pertain to silage harvesting and processing, crop value, as well as analysis and planning.
These interview-style reports are a great source of information for reporters who cover the livestock and dairy industry, so please feel free to take a listen or download to use in programming or stories – free of charge, of course! You can also subscribe to Forage Forum here. Our friend Jerry Harrington at Pioneer says there are also transcripts available if you are interested.
Zimfo Bytes
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., announces the promotion of two employees in the Swine Division: Tim Bettington to executive director of the Swine Division, and Randy Buller to senior associate director of Swine Marketing.
- Syngenta Seeds, Inc. announced it has received full Canadian regulatory approval from Health Canada and Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), for the Agrisure Viptera corn trait.
- New Poncho/VOTiVO seed treatment from Bayer CropScience has received registration from the EPA for use in corn.
- The Natural Resources Defense Council just announced its four winners of the 2010 Growing Green Awards, which honor sustainable farmers and food pioneers.
Celebrating 50 Years of Schwalbe
It is always great spending time with good friends. This afternoon that was at BCS Communications “back yard” to celebrate a milestone with Kelly Schwalbe. Yes that’s a band in the background.
It’s nice to take some time out from the every day work load to just relax a little bit. Of course not everyone was relaxing. There was the team of Bob Brunker and Jeff Jackson working the new grill and cranking out the burgers. I had mine with crumbled blue cheese!
Photos you ask? Yes they’re online as long as I’m allowed to publish them. They’re very nice photos.
Now if that Iceland volcanic ash cloud will just stay away from Brussels I’ll be good this weekend.
Ready For The AgriBlogging Highway
I’m just about to leave for the 2010 IFAJ Congress with a stop over in Kansas City tonight due to someone’s 50 year bday party. You can check my Twitter feed for a clue who.
This is the Thermae Palace hotel in Ostend, the queen oft he Belgian sea-side resorts. That’s where the IFAJ party will be when we’re not touring the countryside. We’ll be learning a lot more about Belgium agriculture together starting this weekend.
This year’s Congress has a number of photo sets up on their Flickr account. I’m hoping they’ll be adding to them in the coming days.
Thanks to Pioneer Hi-Bred and Novus International for being sponsors of my coverage of this year’s Congress!
Zimfo Bytes
- Cargill, Incorporated’s Nutrena Brand has announced its continued sponsorship of the Appaloosa Horse Club to promote excellence in equine nutrition and performance.
- This May 5, the late Ato Werqu Mekasha of Ethiopia will be the first international inductee in the U.S. Cooperative Hall of Fame – the U.S. cooperative community’s highest honor.
- Syngenta announced that it has entered into a partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center to focus on the development and advancement of technology in wheat.
- Pioneer Hi-Bred has announced several leadership changes designed to further accelerate the company’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to customer needs. Visit the Web site for a complete listing of leadership changes.
More HSUS Watchers
You know, I get pretty tired of pointing out to people that the Humane Society of the United States is not what you think it is. But let’s face it, they deserve all the publicity they’re getting. They want to put farmers out of business. It’s that simple. No farmers then perhaps no animals raised for food. They do just want us all to become vegan like them.
Okay. So here’s a video clip just posted onto HumaneWatch.org that is well worth sharing. I like this guy. I hope you will too. Just another intelligent, common sense person helping spread the truth about HSUS.
And you might want to take a look at the Iowa Farm Bureau’s Farm Fresh Blog and a post by Dirck Steimel. Here’s an excerpt about how he was kept out of the HSUS “news” conference last week:
Why were we kept out? HSUS leader Wayne Pacelle told the Des Moines Register that he shut out ag affiliated folks because he didn’t want “disruptions.”
But you have to wonder. It appears the tanned and polished Pacelle just doesn’t want to answer tough, and informed, questions. That doesn’t fit into Pacelle’s formula where he parachutes into town, calls a press conference at a downtown hotel and tries to make a splash in the media with undercover videos of alleged animal abuse.
The folks he accuses don’t get a chance to talk or ask questions. It doesn’t matter that they work 24-7 to care for animals and to produce safe, healthy and wholesome food. Or, that they, too, don’t tolerate the abuse of animals and want to get to the bottom of any alleged abuse.