Get to Know Your Checkoff: Cattlemen’s Beef Board

Joanna Schroeder

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

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) would like its producers to get to know them better, says Lynn Heinz, the executive director of communications. The organization serves all the 800,000 beef producers in the country, and is working with ag journalists to help them get their message out. In some cases this is with paid advertising, and in others it is to help them develop story ideas.

Since they are helping journalists come up with story ideas, I thought I’d ask him for a few ideas. So we discussed some of the key issues facing beef producers today.

3789083050_63bcd13b14“One of the things we’ve seen all summer with the economic situation, people have moved away from traditional steaks and those kinds of more expensive product. We’re working with retailers to help them feature those kinds of items. We’re helping consumers understand how to use something like the flatiron were they can still have the steak experience but at a lower cost.”

CBB is also working with exporters to meet the increased demand of Russia, Europe and Asia for middle meats. But this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of what CBB is doing to promote its beef producers. To hear more, listen to the full interview with Lynn.

You can see all our pictures in the IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album.

You can listen to my full interview with Lynn here.

Ag Media Summit, Audio, Beef, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Farm Foundation: A Forum for Discussion

Joanna Schroeder

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

There are a lot of agricultural policy concerns today and the Farm Foundation is taking an active role in helping DC adopt better legislation. The organization notes that agriculture is important and ag policy is important, and their role is to bring divergent views together and provide a forum for discussion. During these discussions, The Farm Foundation lets the best policies arise and then provides the outlet for policy makers to take advantage of these ideas. However, the organization does not lobby, but simply provides the best information for policy makers to use.

I asked Sheldon Jones what key issues they have been dealing with and he mentioned two: food prices and the agriculture’s role in feeding and fueling the world.

Jones“A year ago when food prices were increasing and there were food riots around the world, we commissioned a study from three economists at Purdue on what are the real drivers to food prices. They reviewed literature, assessed the global demand for food and what were the driving factors including fuel, petroleum prices, world stocks, supplies of grain and more.”

The organization issued a report last July which they updated six months later, “What’s Driving Food Prices? and have also issued a report on global food and fuel demand, “The 30 -Year Challenge: Agriculture’s Strategic Role In Feeding and Fueling a Growing World“.

You can see all our pictures in the IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album.

You can listen to my full interview with Sheldon here.

Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit Photos

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ AMSOur photo album for the IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit has been giving us fits the last few days. Flickr is great but every once in a while . . .

So, I’ve got most of our photos re-uploaded and ready for your viewing pleasure.

Here’s the link to use for IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit photos:

IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album

Ag Media Summit, IFAJ

The Haymond Group Formed

Chuck Zimmerman

Haymond GroupAllen Moczygemba has been busy creating a new enterprise.

The Haymond Group, LLC a new marketing consulting firm with an emphasis on providing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) expertise has been formed to serve agribusiness clients.

Industry veteran Allen Moczygemba has been named President of The Haymond Group, which is being funded with private equity. Joining Moczygemba on the management team of The Haymond Group are longtime livestock industry member, Bill Stovell who has been named Vice President, Business Development and Nicholas Poulos, Vice President, Customer Relationship Management.

In making the announcement, Moczygemba said, “I’m really excited about heading up this new business venture. I feel that there’s a real opportunity for our services as more and more agribusiness firms attempt to integrate CRM programs into their current marketing strategies. The Haymond Group’s mission is to provide focus and management across the key business disciplines of marketing, sales and channel management as they relate to Customer Relationship Management. Our strength will be leveraging the tremendous amount of business experience of the three principals of The Haymond Group as we work alongside clients to craft business designs that are both customer focused and customer based.”

A graduate of Southwest Texas State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Communications, Moczygemba has spent his entire career in agribusiness. His business experience includes sales, marketing, communications and event management. Most recently, he served as a member of the senior management team at Farm Journal Media where he had P&L responsibility for various business units. He also has served on several Board of Directors including World Dairy Expo, Livestock Publications Council, United States Canola Association and the National Agri-Marketing Association.

Agencies

America’s Favorite Farmers Markets

Chuck Zimmerman

AFT Farmer MarketThe results are in for the American Farmland Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest. Thousands of votes were cast. You can see a list of the top twenty here.

The winners for this year are:

Large

Davis Farmers Market
Davis, CA
Votes: 3032

Medium

Williamsburg Farmers Market
Williamsburg, VA
Votes: 725

Small

Collingswood Farmers Market
Collingswood, NJ
Votes: 1027

Ag Groups

Peaut Butter Creativity

Chuck Zimmerman

Jif ContestPeanut butter is one of my favorite foods. I’m also choosy enough to choose Jif. Now Jif has a contest going that will award some college scholarships. So get your peanut butter creativity going.

Adding some creativity to mundane lunch routines could have a huge payoff. Jif Peanut Butter, the trusted peanut butter of choosy Moms, is accepting entries for the Eighth Annual Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest(TM). From August 7, 2009 through November 13, 2009, parents can help their kids ages 6 – 12 submit their most creative recipe for a chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship fund. Four runners-up will each receive a $2,500 scholarship fund.

Last year, the contest received the most entries in its history and 10-year-old Jordyn Boyer of Lebanon, Pa., was awarded top prize with her “Po’ Boy Peanut Butter Chicken Cheesesteak.” Inspired by regional culinary influences, her sandwich was made with Jif Creamy Peanut Butter, chicken, peppers, onions, mozzarella cheese — and even apples — providing a new twist on her home state’s staple cheesesteak. For added flavor, she created a dipping sauce of Jif Peanut Butter, Worcestershire sauce, honey mustard with a drizzle of honey.

The Eighth Annual Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest encourages families to spend time together in the kitchen as an activity to foster creativity. A parent can submit their child’s original recipe which is scored based on creativity, nutritional balance, taste, appearance and ease of preparation. Ten semifinalists’ recipes will be selected in January 2010 and posted on www.Jif.com as part of a nationwide online vote. Peanut butter lovers who are 13 years or older can then vote for the five finalists who will compete in a live judging event in New York City during March 2010.

Food, Peanuts

What Are You Thankful For?

Amanda Nolz

Today, I thought I would share some reflections from my role as a cattle producer, instead of an agriculture writer. Thanks for letting me stand on this soapbox so often…

IMG_1935Nowadays, it seems the worries of a farmer and rancher are monumental. High input costs, ballot initiatives, strict regulations, bad media coverage, consumer misconceptions, animal rights activists’ agendas and low prices seem to plague the agriculture industry. Most depressing, it’s been said that for every consumer dollar spent in the grocery store, the farmer and rancher only receives 18 cents. Yet, true agriculturalists don’t let these negative things get to them. Nope, they endeavor to persevere.

Despite the challenges and obstacles, we have a lot to be thankful for in the agriculture industry. There is nothing better than having a career that provides nourishment for the world. For me, I live to watch my calves grow up, and it’s always a good feeling when we can fit the needs of our customers with our seedstock offerings. It’s amazing that the calves in my own pasture will someday move down the beef industry chain to backgrounders, feeders, processors, the grocery store and finally, to a dinner table around the world. The best part is knowing that the folks involved in every stop along the chain are great people that are dedicated to the same things as I am.

I’m thankful to be able to work alongside my family in a career that I love. I’m thankful to be able to work with my hands to help create something bigger than myself. I’m so blessed to be capable of the well being of so many animals, and I feel fortunate to live in America where food is abundant, healthy and safe. Today, set your worries aside and think about the things you are thankful for. You will quickly find that the list is much longer than your stresses and fears. God Bless the American farmer and rancher!

Farming

Insights From Forrest Bassford Award Winner Whitney Wallace

Joanna Schroeder

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

Several student and young professional awards were given during the IFAJ/AMS summit and one of the most coveted awards, the Forrest Bassford Award was given to Whitney Wallace and is sponsored by LPC. Whitney will be a senior at the University of Missouri this fall and she is an active member of ACT – the AG Communicators of Tomorrow. She will be graduating next May with a degree in Agricultural Journalism with an Ag Economics minor.

3798538620_079bbbb390I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Whitney, and she is a talented and well spoken woman who has already taken the ag communications industry by storm. For those companies looking for a rare talent, you’d better get in line now, because I suspect that Whitney will be off the market in a blink of an eye!

As such an active and young member of the journalism community, I asked her to give her fellow students some advice.

“Just like I tell the other students at Mizzou, you just gotta jump in an try everything you can. Because we have so many opportunities that we can pick and choose and find so many great little niches of places we can succeed.”

Whitney, I like your style.

You can see the pictures of all the award winners in the IFAJ/AMS 2009 Photo Album.

You can listen to my full interview with Whitney here.

Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ, Novus International, Pioneer

Purple Potatoes on West Coast

Chuck Zimmerman

Purple PotatoI would roast or fry these. Wouldn’t you? Purple freedom fries!

Klamath Basin Fresh Direct, an association of potato farmers along the Oregon-California border, has been awarded exclusive rights to grow and market a new purple fingerling developed by the USDA and three Northwest universities.

The potato is called Purple Pelisse, named for an intense hue inside and out that looks like a color you’d find in a crayon box. The tuber is the first specialty spud that Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have jointly made available for public consumption. It’s called a specialty because it’s not like a traditional potato with white flesh and brown skin, such as Russets, commonly used for fries.

Dan Chin, chairman of the association, said his company was interested in the Purple Pelisse because it is looking to expand its color spectrum with a potato that it can grow on a small scale for a niche market. KBFD produces two potatoes: a red-skinned one and a small, white-skinned variety.

“Right now there’s not a good purple fingering on the market,” Chin added. “But this one has good flavor and looks good. It fits the bill for what we think a consumer might want.”

He said KBFD, which beat four other bids, plans to market it as a potato that can be boiled, fried and roasted. The group plans to change the name of the potato, which it will grow organically and market to high-end supermarkets and restaurants in the United States. He hopes to eventually promote it overseas. In November, he’ll take it to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and the Philippines as part of a trade mission with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Farming, Food

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Dow AgroSciences announces that federal registration has been received for INSTINCT nitrogen stabilizer for use with UAN and liquid manure.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced that it has tentatively accepted 294 bids in the third herd retirement it has conducted in the last nine months.
  • Kinze Manufacturing Harvest Commander grain auger carts offer growers an innovative, high quality grain handling option for the harvest season. These carts give growers the ability to unload 850 to 1,050 bushels of grain in just over two minutes.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., is again seeking research study proposals focused on one of the swine industry’s most devastating diseases — porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).
    Zimfo Bytes