Lots of Options for International Visitors

Cindy Zimmerman

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
Pioneer-HiBred Successful Farming and Novus International

IFAJ/AMSWith a free day before the real business of the 2009 IFAJ Congress gets going, many of our international visitors are checking out the sights to see around Fort Worth. Some of the “on-demand” local area tours include the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular, National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, The Modern Art Museum, Kimbell Art Museum – and, of course, SHOPPING!! That’s what most everyone seems to want to do, especially looking for boots and hats.

IFAJ/AMSCongress organizer Diane Johnson has been really busy today getting people to where they want to go, since this is her home turf, and she is doing a fabulous job! Many of the visitors, including those of us from the United States, can find a lot to do and see just on foot around the conference hotel. Downtown Ft. Worth is a very beautiful area with lots of local attractions like the Sid Richardson Museum featuring paintings and art of the Old West and plenty of wonderful restaurants. Diane says we have 700 people total for the IFAJ/AMS combined event, with 130 of them from other countries.

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

Listen to an interview with Diane here:

IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Busy Media Room at IFAJ

Cindy Zimmerman

IFAJ/AMSIt’s always nice to have a good working press room with internet access at any event where there are journalists at work and the 2009 IFAJ Congress media room, sponsored by BASF, is already being utilized by reporters from all over the world here in Ft. Worth. There are a number of laptops around the room, as well as both wired and wireless access – for free!

IFAJ/AMSAs I sit here doing posts, I have been hearing many languages around me. That is why this is such a great event for agricultural journalists here in the United States to be able to interact with their colleagues in other countries. This is the first time in many years the Congress has been held in the United States, and the first time it has ever been held in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit, so it allows more of our IFAJ members to attend.

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
Pioneer-HiBred Successful Farming and Novus International

BASF, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

IFAJ Executive Committee Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

IFAJ/AMSThe executive committee of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) began meeting this morning with a report from president Mike Wilson of Farm Progress Companies.

Mike reported that the organization is working on increasing membership from different countries and that the website is becoming a more effective tool in getting information out about what IFAJ is and what it does. They hope to expand the website into different languages in the future. There are currently brochures about IFAJ available for download on the website in five languages – English, German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese.

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
Pioneer-HiBred Successful Farming and Novus International

IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Asoyia recently announced the addition of Lawrence (Larry) Avesian as account director for the oil division.
  • The Dodge County Wisconsin Farm Technology Days at the Crave Brothers Farm in Waterloo recently exceeded their goal of 80,000 attendees, which is one of the highest attended shows in recent years.
  • Washington State University Mount Vernon researchers are exploring the use of high tunnels to help Washington growers earn a higher return on their crops. High tunnels can increase fruit production, improve crop quality, extend the growing season, and reduce disease.
  • AGCO Application Equipment is introducing five new models of the industry-leading RoGator high-clearance, post-emergence applicator to the custom application industry and professional growers.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Beautiful Start to IFAJ 2009

    Cindy Zimmerman

    IFAJ/AMSIt was an absolutely gorgeous day in Ft. Worth today as our international visitors began arriving for the 2009 IFAJ Congress. The hospitality room was open in the president’s suite of the Worthington Renaissance and everyone gathered out on the terrace overlooking downtown and enjoyed the unseasonably pleasant Texas summer weather.

    Business meetings for the executive committee will start in the morning while the rest of us explore some of the sites to see. The official “welcome party” will be held tomorrow night at Billy Bob’s.

    Photo album is started already with a couple of shots from this evening – check it out here on Flickr.

    AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2009 is sponsored by:
    Pioneer-HiBred Successful Farming and Novus International

    IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

    BASF Exclusive Sponsor of SoyRAP

    Chuck Zimmerman

    SoyRAPIt sounds like a certain kind of soy music but it isn’t. It’s actually great advice about soybean rust and aphids.

    BASF is proud to announce its exclusive partnership with the American Soybean Association (ASA) and Doane Advisory Services to provide the Soybean Rust and Aphids Program (SoyRAP) Web site (www.soyrap.com). BASF, among several companies, had previously been a co-sponsor of the Web site for several years.

    SoyRAP is the foremost Web site for advice about the prevention of Asian soybean rust and treatment of soybean aphids. It utilizes a nationwide network of crop consultants who monitor the progression of confirmed soybean rust outbreaks in the U.S., and it provides growers with fungicide and insecticide application recommendations based on regional analysis.

    Agribusiness, BASF, Soybean

    Add American Lamb To Your Grill

    Chuck Zimmerman

    American Lamb BoardA tasty sounding addition to your summer grill is American lamb. It looks like the competition was fierce when the American Lamb Board held their summer grilling recipe contest.

    When the smoke cleared, two contestants remained in the second annual “Get Your Grill On” American lamb video contest: Nikki Norman and the lamb loving duo, Matt Charpentier and Joe Riley. After a fierce competition, these grill masters scorched the competition resulting in a draw with Nikki’s Mystical Mediterranean Grilled Boneless Leg of American Lamb, and Matt and Joe’s Brie-Stuffed American Lamb Burger Pitas. Showcasing the rich flavor of American lamb, each contestant added their own touch with flavors like cloves, cardamom, mint and lemon. Their dishes showcased the versatility of fresh, homegrown American lamb, for easy to prepare meals any night of the week.

    Both winning teams will be rewarded with a grill-on-the-go set, BBQ package and lamb for six, just in time for Labor Day grilling.

    To view the winning videos, click here: http://tinyurl.com/owa6kc. For more inspiration on how to prepare sweet, flavorful American lamb on the grill, as well as tips on using budget-friendly cuts visit www.americanlamb.com.

    Uncategorized

    My Amercian Farm Teaches

    Chuck Zimmerman

    AFBF My American FarmThe American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has an online game you can play to help teach about where your food comes from and how it gets to your dinner plate.

    It’s called My American Farm. It’s a very simple educational program that would be good for kids to play with and learn from.

    AFBF, Ag Groups

    Farm Progress Show On The Horizon

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Farm Progress ShowIt’s time to look forward to the annual Farm Progress Show. I sure hope you’ve got your hotel reservations.

    Rich in history and tradition, the 56th annual Farm Progress Show, to be held September 1, 2 and 3 in Decatur, Ill., offers plenty for visitors to see and do which includes an expanded exhibit area, field and livestock demonstrations, and a whole lineup of events.

    This year’s show is set to host more than 500 exhibitors displaying new farm equipment, tractors, combines and farm implements; seed and crop protection products; and many other production items. Ag manufacturers and suppliers from across the country and around the world are set to participate. The show always features the latest agricultural high-tech equipment including computer-controlled guidance systems, GPS-based management systems, and a long list of state-of-the-art information and technology available for today’s farms.

    Field demonstrations are a show mainstay and include side-by-side equipment, tractor and combine performance comparisons on hundreds of corn acres available for harvesting and tillage demonstrations.

    Media are reminded to get registered so they have credentials available upon arrival.

    Farm Progress Show

    Travel Day To Ft. Worth, TX

    Chuck Zimmerman

    IFAJ/AMSToday Cindy and Carly will be heading to Ft. Worth, TX for the combined IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit. I’m sure going to miss everyone but that doesn’t mean I won’t be lurking online!

    Since so many Twittering friends will be attending this week please use the #AgMS hashtag in your tweets so we can all follow along.

    The program is going to be great in this first ever combined meeting. Attendees can attend either, or, or both overlapping programs. There’s going to be a lot of fun and fellowship with plenty of professional improvement activities and farm tours. You’ll be able to follow along here since our coverage this year includes sponsors, Successful Farming, Novus International and Pioneer Hi-Bred. We really thank them for their support.

    Ag Media Summit, IFAJ