Promoting Alpacas

Chuck Zimmerman

AlpacaAt this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo, Alpacas are popular, especially baby ones. Promoting them is the Southeastern Alpaca Association. Representing the Association here is Carrie Gamblin, Southern Hummers Alpacas, pictured with her husband Jay.

Carrie says the organization is the “hub” for all the member farms. Each farm gets a web page that’s part of the organizational website. They also have an annual show in March and do seminars throughout the year. One of the main projects they’re working on is to get enough animals in the country to convince the millers to take their fiber and run it through the milling process. So far there hasn’t been enough to make that happen. Apparently alpaca fiber would require different milling equipment than wool.

You can listen to my interview with Carrie below:

Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Ag Groups, Audio, Sunbelt Ag Expo

The KIOTI MECHRON

Chuck Zimmerman

John WallaceKIOTI has just introduced a new utility vehicle – The MECHRON. Sounds kind of like a character in Transformers. But a couple of different versions were on display at Sunbelt Ag Expo. Now just about everyone has a utility vehicle in their product lineup. I spoke to Ron Parrish in the KIOTI exhibit about their new offering.

This Ultimate Transport Vehicle™ is driven by a fuel-efficient 22hp, 3-cylinder Daedong diesel engine that gives superb power and excellent fuel economy. With one of the widest tracks on the market and 4-wheel drive, the MECHRON™ delivers stable operation and superior traction over challenging terrain and up steep slopes. Front limited slip differential and rear differential lock are standard. The KIOTI UTV offers a 56″-wide dump bed – the widest on the market – for a 1600 pound payload capacity, 23% higher than the market leader.

You can listen to my interview with Ron below:

Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, Sunbelt Ag Expo

Donating Georgia Peanut Butter

Chuck Zimmerman

The Georgia Peanut Commission has helped feed hungry people by donating lots of peanut butter this summer. To tell us all about it at Sunbelt Ag Expo, Executive Director, Don Koehler, spoke at this morning’s media breakfast to give us an update on the “Peanut Proud and Feeding Georgia” campaign.

Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Ag Groups, Peanuts, Sunbelt Ag Expo, Video

Wild Georgia Shrimp

Chuck Zimmerman

John WallaceYou don’t normally think of shrimp and agriculture at the same time. However, here at Sunbelt Ag Expo the Georgia Shrimp Association would like to educate you and feed you at the same time. John Wallace is the President and I caught him frying shrimp early on opening day of the show.

He says their shrimp are from the Atlantic Ocean so they’re “farmers of the sea.” They harvest between four to six million pounds of shrimp a year. Their food booth is actually a good fund raiser for their association.

You can listen to my interview with John below:

Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, Sunbelt Ag Expo

NAMA Professional Development Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agri-Marketing AssociationCongratulations to this year’s winners of the National Agri-Marketing Association 2009 Professional Development Awards of Excellence. These awards honor NAMA members based on outstanding achievement in the professional development areas. This year, Awards of Excellence were presented in the areas of marketing communications, public relations, product/species management and sales.

Lou Ireland, Senior Marketing Manager, N. American Sales/Marketing Communications, Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc. is honored with the award of excellence in Marketing Communications.

Deron Johnson, Vice President, Director of Public Relations, Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications, received the award of excellence in public relations.

Gary Robertson, Marketing Manager, Livestock Biologicals, Fort Dodge Animal Health, is honored with the Product/Species Management award of excellence.

Pete Weil, National Accounts Manager, High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal, received the sales award of excellence.

These awards will be presented during a special luncheon at the 2009 Trends In Agriculture conference, November 11, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, MO.

NAMA

North Carolina Commissioner of Ag Steve Troxler

Chuck Zimmerman

Steve TroxlerSteve Troxler is the Commissioner of Agriculture for North Carolina. His state is the spotlight state at this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo. Steve is here to help kick things off and then I’ll bet he heads back home since their state fair is taking place right now too.

He cut the ribbon this morning at their tent to kick off this year’s Expo and I talked with him. He says their Got To Be NC Agriculture program is one of the ways they’re promoting NC farm products to consumers.

Steve TroxlerSteve says that agriculture is a $70 billion industry in North Carolina. In the picture with Steve above you can see a tobacco plant on the left. He says NC is the number one tobacco producing state in the country. They’re also number one in sweet potatoes.

Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Audio, Sunbelt Ag Expo

Cary Lightsey is Southeastern Farmer of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Cary LightseyThe 2009 Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year is Cary Lightsey from Lake Wales, FL. He’s pictured getting his check for $15,000 during the award luncheon on opening day of the Expo.

The Willie B. Withers Luncheon honors excellence in agricultural production and management, leadership in community and farm organizations and recognizes family contributions in producing safe and abundant supplies of food, fiber and shelter for U.S. consumers. Lightsey is the sixth overall winner of the award from Florida.

I’ll post a video clip of Cary’s speech as soon as I get it uploaded. We’ve been internet challenged today but I think it’s getting better now. Post Update: Here’s that video:

Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Sunbelt Ag Expo

Overview of Sunbelt Ag Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Sunbelt Ag ExpoThe 2009 Sunbelt Ag Expo is underway in Moultrie, GA. Executive Director, Chip Blalock, welcomed us media types at a breakfast and provided an overview of what to see at this year’s event. He’s on the left in the photo talking with ag media.

Of course I’ve got a photo album started which you can find here: Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album

You can watch his presentation here:

You can also listen to his presentation and download it below.

If you’re tweeting the event please use the #SAE09 hashtag.

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Audio, Sunbelt Ag Expo, Video

Ready For Sunbelt Ag Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Sunbelt Ag ExpoIt’s time for the 2009 Sunbelt Ag Expo and AgWired is on the scene. Or at least will be in the morning.

I’ll try to get in early and see what kind of news there is to be had. Of course you can count on a photo album and lots of interviews. I’ve got a new video camera to try out too so this is going to be fun. See you then.

If you’re tweeting the event please use the #SAE09 hashtag.

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by Growth Energy.

Sunbelt Ag Expo

Facts About Pigs With H1N1

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA has confirmed the presence of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in a pig sample collected at the Minnesota State Fair.

The National Pork Producers Council notes, despite this development, pork is safe to eat and handle and that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu viruses cannot be transmitted through food, including pork.

Pigs, like people, sometimes get sick or contract influenza viruses and recover. Indeed, pigs in several other countries previously have contracted the novel H1N1 flu.

As it did in late April after initial reports on the H1N1 flu, NPPC is urging pork producers to tighten their existing biosecurity protocols to protect their pigs from the virus, including restricting public access to barns.

Find out more facts about H1N1 (not swine flu!) from NPPC.

Pork, Swine, USDA