America’s Heartland Goes To Morocco and Egypt

Chuck Zimmerman

AmericaSince I just went on a U.S. Grains Council trip to Morocco, Egypt and Jordan I was interested to see that this week’s episode of America’s Heartland features Ohio farmers Dave and Sue Roehm who saw what we saw and that is the investments in their producer checkoff programs hard at work.

“This trip was a big revelation to me. It was phenomenal the impact export market development programs orchestrated by the Council and U.S. Wheat are having overseas,” said Sue. “When I look at our corn and wheat in Ohio, I will have a whole different perspective. My family’s harvest is truly improving lives thousands of miles away.”

The program was made possible with a sponsorship from the Ohio Corn Marketing Program and assistance from the U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Wheat Associates.

The program airs this week and is available online. You can see if it’s scheduled in your area here. It is also airing on RFD-TV on Wednesday, Jan. 6, and again on Sunday, Jan. 10.

Ag Groups, USGC

Smithfield Foods Sales Completed

Amanda Nolz

smithfield-foods-logo As reported by Hoosier Ag Today, Smithfield Foods has completed the sales of a few ventures. I thought I would pass word on this news for those interested. Below is a clip of the release. Check out the full article here.

Smithfield Foods has completed the sales of both its Chinese joint venture Maverick Food Company Limited to COFCO Limited and the sale of substantially all of the assets of its RMH Foods, LLC to a group of investors led by the Rocke family.

Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer of Smithfield foods, says – the sale of these assets demonstrates our continuing commitment to shed non-core businesses with a greater focus on efficiencies and return on invested capital.

Food, Pork

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Bunge Limited announced that it has entered into an agreement to become the 100% owner of Usina Moema Participacoes S.A.
  • The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) releases the third edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching (FASS Ag Guide).
  • The 2009-10 National FFA officer team, an FFA state representative from each state and Puerto Rico, along with four representatives of the Stars Over America program participated in the 121st Tournament of Roses parade…and the float won the “Exceptional Showmanship and Dramatic Impact Award.”
  • Donald E. Irwin, 88, of Cedar Falls, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at Sartori Memorial Hospital, Cedar Falls. His professional career was mainly in the advertising agency business, with most of those years as a vice president of Colle & McVoy Advertising Agency, Waterloo, based out of Minneapolis.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Agriculture In Action

    Amanda Nolz

    Ag-in-Action-Logo In an effort to promote myself as an agriculture speaker available for keynotes and workshops, I have launched a new blog spot I hope you will all check out. It’s called Agriculture in Action, and it features the ins and outs of my life as a cattle rancher, as well as my travels across the country promoting the beef industry. It’s brand spanking new, and it needs a little love from all of you. Check it out and let me know what you think.

    Here is a description of what my blog is all about: I’m a farm girl at heart, and I feel pretty lucky to have made my passion and hobby into a career that I love. I enjoy a medium rare ribeye steak and a glass of Merlot, with the company of friends or family.

    Follow me on Twitter @AmandaNolz or check out the Ag in Action Facebook Page. Thanks for your support in my new endeavor!

    Advertising, Beef

    Mom Logic Concerned About Beef

    Amanda Nolz

    mom_logic Although I don’t have children of my own yet, I have run across the website Mom Logic on multiple occasions in my work as an agriculture advocate. It’s a place where moms can discuss everything from kids, to relationships, to fashion, to dieting and even to share recipes with one another. The motto of Mom Logic is, Real Stories, Real Honest, Real Moms.

    Well, a common theme on the Mom Logic site is to abolish meat in the diet and replace it with ground turkey. It seems on the messaging boards, there is a huge concern about the price of beef, beef’s nutritional content and even the beef recalls in the news.

    I think this is a huge opportunity for all of us to take part in the discussions, as moms, college students, agriculture professionals, etc. We need to start making our mark in these forums to tell the accurate story of meat as a healthy part of a well-balanced diet. Check out the website, and you’ll see what I mean. Let me know if you decide to take part in the debate. Together, we can make a difference.

    Beef

    IFAJ Award For Broadcast Journalism

    Chuck Zimmerman

    IFAJI’m really glad to see the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists move forward with a new “broadcast” award program that includes both terrestrial radio and tv broadcasts as well as web broadcasts. That’s being progressive! Interestingly, the only U.S. members of IFAJ are members of AAEA which has traditionally had a membership of publication editors. However, that’s changing. I’m a member of AAEA for example.

    This move makes the idea pop up in my mind again of “Why don’t NAFB/AAEA/LCP/Etc. just merge? Aren’t they all in the same business? Would this make sense? Then they all could be members of IFAJ. Let’s face it. We all talk about being in a “global marketplace.” Why not collaborate with our peers internationally? What do you think of this idea? Note how IFAJ refers to the award as broadcast journalism instead of farm broadcasting.

    I just agreed to be a judge for the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists for their 2010 Australian Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting. Winners from their contest will be submitted as their country entries for the IFAJ awards.

    The IFAJ has expanded its prestigious Star Prize award program for excellence in agricultural journalism and photography, with a new award for broadcast journalism. The award has categories for radio, television and online broadcasting. The deadline for the competitions is earlier this year to so winners can be selected in time for the early annual congress. Entries close February 1, 2010. For more information go to www.ifaj.org.

    So, since only AAEA members can enter you’ve got very little time to get your entries in. You must first be selected by AAEA in order to be submitted to IFAJ. Contact the AAEA office for more details. The deadline for AAEA entries is January 15. Here are the categories:

    The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Star Prize for Broadcast Journalism recognizes the best radio, television and internet broadcasting among federation member countries.

    Categories

    • Television – for the best piece produced primarily for broadcast on television.
    • Radio – for the best piece produced primarily for broadcast on radio.
    • Online radio (podcasts) – for the best audio piece produced primarily for broadcast via the internet.
    • Online video – for the best audio visual piece produced primarily for broadcast via the internet.

    ACN, IFAJ, LPC

    I Am Angus

    Amanda Nolz

    Angus Logo Did anyone catch the documentary of I Am Angus on RFD-TV last night? I’m sorry I missed its debut, but I have already heard great things about the program.

    According to a recent press release by the American Angus Association, “I Am Angus is a one-hour documentary featuring the stories of people whose lives are defined by Angus cattle and Angus beef. The program also included two informational segments about Association programs and services designed to strengthen the economic position of cattle producers.
    Film footage from the 1940s, 50s and 60s – narrated by radio great Paul Harvey in 1949 — will feature Angus farms and ranches, and showcase the dramatic changes in beef production, selection and marketing during the last 60 years.”

    Did you watch the program last night? If so, what did you think? I’ll be waiting to watch the rerun. Even without seeing it yet, I’m sure it was a great way to boost the Angus brand and also tell the beef production story. Congratulations to those involved.

    Beef

    Fluidigm Workshop at Plant/Animal Genome Conference

    Chuck Zimmerman

    paglogoThe 18th International Plant and Animal Genome Conference is about to take place January 9-13 at the Town & Country Convention Center in San Diego, California and AgWired sponsor Fluidigm will be there. In fact they will be conducting one of the workshops titled, “Enabling High Sample Throughput SNP Genotyping for Plant and Animal Studies.”

    It will be held on Tuesday, January 12, from 1:30 – 3:50 PM in the Town & Country Royal Palm Salon 1, 2, 3 rooms. Speakers include Curt Van Tassell, USDA-ARS, Bovine Testing; Jim Seeb, University of Washington, Salmon Conservation and Nanne Faber, Enza Zaden, Seed Quality Control.

    You can find Fluidigm in booth 126, featuring the Fluidigm EP1™ system for high throughput SNP genotyping and digital PCR. If you’ve been following our interviews with Fluidigm, you’ll know what all this means by now! You can find stories about how Fluidigm is assisting in ag biotech by clicking here and here.

    I spoke with Fluidigm’s Product Manager, Yong Yi, about the PAG Conference and the company’s involvement with it since its inception. He says the PAG is an opportunity for people doing plant and animal research to get together and share information. Genetic research is one of the top areas of focus and that’s where the Fluidigm System really has an application. Yong says their exhibit will help demonstrate their technology and their workshop will feature three of their customers who will discuss real world examples of how they use it.

    Download the Fluidigm PAG Workshop invite here (pdf) and listen to my interview with Yong below:

    Audio, Biotech, Farm Shows, Technology

    Alltech Angus

    Chuck Zimmerman

    alltech-angusAlltech is now marketing its own line of Angus beef. I think my grill needs some of this!

    Alltech Angus represents a Kentucky Proud partnership between Alltech and Critchfield Meats that brings you home-grown goodness in every bite. This high-quality Angus beef is raised on Kentucky family farms to deliver a tender, delicious beef choice for you and your family. Critchfield Meats and Alltech are both family-owned operations working together to serve Central Kentucky the highest quality meat products. Feel good about the food you feed your family.

    You can order online via Critchfield. It’s also a Kentucky Proud Product.

    Agribusiness, Alltech, Beef, Food

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes