Peanuts on Panama City Beach

carly

Hello from Panama City Beach, Florida and the Southern Peanut Growers Conference.

The theme of the 11th annual conference is really a tribute to the U.S. peanut industry for overcoming adversity in 2009.

Everyone knows that this year has been a tough one for the industry, starting out with the salmonella issue in January. But, Georgia Peanut Commission executive director Don Koehler says the industry has come back stronger than ever after what could have been a complete crisis.

“Farmers are really resilient and even though it wasn’t a crisis they caused themselves, we have made it through,” Don says. “And the really good news is that our May 2009 numbers for peanut butter were 13 1/2 percent over what we did in May 2008.”

That is truly an amazing example of crisis management and communications, two topics growers will be hearing about during the conference this week, as well as an even bigger emphasis on food safety than ever before. “We want to make sure that can never happen again,” said Don. “But, when you look at it, we’ve got to take our hats off and maybe even bow just a little bit to the growers and to the peanut industry in general.”

See all the coverage of the peanut conference here on the SPGC blog.

The SPGC Flickr Photo Album is started – view it here and keep checking back as photos will continue to be updated throughout the conference.

Listen to an interview with Don here:

Audio, Peanuts

CAMA Alberta is Building Success in Agri-Marketing

Chuck Zimmerman

CAMA AlbertaIt sounds like our agricultural marketing friends in Alberta are becoming more active. Thanks to Janet Kanters for an update. We’ll see her in Ft. Worth, TX very soon for the combined IFAJ/AMS meeting.

After several years, the Alberta CAMA Chapter hosted its first meeting in April at Olds College in Olds, Alta. Over 60 people attended the networking social and meeting where they learned more about CAMA and discussed an action plan for the newly revived Alberta Chapter. The guest speaker was Steve Warme, Woodruff Sweitzer Calgary, who provided insight on the latest tools and techniques being used for social media marketing, what is currently happening in the agricultural world online and how best to harness current and emerging tools.

Following this successful meeting, a smaller group of CAMA Alberta members held a ‘Rebuilding CAMA Alberta Workshop’ on June 15, with 15 eager ag marketers raring and willing to help get CAMA Alberta back up and running after several years of being MIA.

Much discussion took place around the configuration and number of board members required for the resurrected Chapter. And a new CAMA Alberta slogan was adopted: ‘Building Success in Agri-Marketing’.

Other discussion took place around the constitution, how the executive/board would function, and the cost of yearly membership. There was also general discussion around having a student chapter.

Finally, the group discussed how best to attract members to the organization, via PR/press, education, events and a blog. All ideas were felt to have a positive impact to raise the profile of the Alberta Chapter and drive membership sales.

A CAMA Alberta kick-off barbecue is being planned in the Calgary area for late August 2009. More details to follow as plans evolve.

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Ag Leader Technology recently broke ground on Ag Leader Academy, a 25,000 square-foot facility dedicated to providing the ag industry with specialized, hands-on training of precision farming systems.
  • United Fresh Produce Association is gratified to see key produce industry objectives incorporated in the Obama Administration’s food safety recommendations being announced at the White House.
  • On the eve of the Russia-USA Business Forum in Moscow, Deere & Company announced that it is prepared to significantly expand its farm, forestry, and construction operations in Russia, reinforcing Deere’s long-term commitment to a market in which John Deere has had a presence for nearly 130 years.
  • Elecsys Corporation announced that it has signed an Electronic Design and Manufacturing Services Agreement with Reinke Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Zimfo Bytes

    New Media Advice For Everyone

    Chuck Zimmerman

    This is just too good to pass over. The following is new media advice from Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails, to artists about ways to market themselves. It’s for anyone though regardless of what industry you’re in. He just plain gets it and says it better than I can. He sure hits the nail on the head about removing flash from your website. I guess web designers just like to show off and don’t really care about the user experience.

    Have your MySpace page, but get a site outside MySpace – it’s dying and reads as cheap / generic. Remove all Flash from your website. Remove all stupid intros and load-times. MAKE IT SIMPLE TO NAVIGATE AND EASY TO FIND AND HEAR MUSIC (but don’t autoplay). Constantly update your site with content – pictures, blogs, whatever. Give people a reason to return to your site all the time. Put up a bulletin board and start a community. Engage your fans (with caution!) Make cheap videos. Film yourself talking. Play shows. Make interesting things. Get a Twitter account. Be interesting. Be real. Submit your music to blogs that may be interested. NEVER CHASE TRENDS. Utilize the multitude of tools available to you for very little cost of any – Flickr / YouTube / Vimeo / SoundCloud / Twitter etc.

    If you don’t know anything about new media or how people communicate these days, none of this will work. The role of an independent musician these days requires a mastery of first hand use of these tools. If you don’t get it – find someone who does to do this for you. If you are waiting around for the phone to ring or that A & R guy to show up at your gig – good luck, you’re going to be waiting a while.

    Thank You Podcasting News.

    Uncategorized

    Forget Taxing Food

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Americans Against Food TaxesI don’t know what you think about it but it sure seems to me like we’ve got a government that thinks that the answer to every problem in our society can be fixed with a new program and new taxes. I’m just wondering where in the world they think that money is going to come from.

    Here’s the latest backlash I’ve seen. This one is in response to the idea that we should tax certain foods and beverages. I don’t see how anyone can believe we can solve things like obesity by taxes. I think the government is doing more than enough to provide good food and nutrition information to the public. Food companies are already providing plenty of information on which you can make an informed decision about what you eat. Isn’t there a point when people have to be responsible for their own decisions? If someone wants to drink a case of soda in two days isn’t it their responsibility to deal with the consequences?

    I just found out about this organization called Americans Against Food Taxes. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to see a lot more of this type of activity. You can follow them on Twitter too.

    Americans Against Food Taxes is a coalition of concerned citizens – responsible individuals, financially strapped families, small and large businesses in communities across the country – opposed to the Government’s proposed tax hike on food and beverages, including soda, juice drinks, and flavored milks. The coalition has twin primary aims: 1) To promote a healthy economy and healthy lifestyles by educating Americans about smart solutions that rely upon science, economic realities and common sense; and 2) To prevent the enactment of this regressive and discriminatory tax that will not teach our children how to have a healthy lifestyle, and will have no meaningful impact on child behavior or public health, but will have a negative impact on American families struggling in this economy.

    I’m on board with this idea. Of course I guess we can’t expect common sense to be used by legislators anymore or can we?

    Food

    Campbell Joins U.S. Wheat

    Melissa Sandfort

    shawn_campbell2U.S. Wheat Associates welcomed Shawn Campbell as the new Assistant Director, West Coast Office, Portland, OR, July 6, 2009.

    USW’s West Coast Office staff maintains a liaison with the grain export trade and constituent state wheat commissions, hosts visiting foreign trade delegations, leads the USW crop quality improvement efforts, and serves the needs of USW offices around the world.

    While at the University of Idaho, Campbell received undergraduate degrees in agribusiness and agricultural systems management and a master’s degree in agricultural economics. He also participated in the University of Idaho’s College of Agriculture Tour of Taiwan in 2007 and interned for Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company in Puunene, HI. His professional experience working as an agricultural economist for a cattle feedlot in Alberta, Canada, and growing up on a ranch in Condon, OR, also speak to Campbell’s knowledge of the many stages of agriculture that he will apply in his new position.

    Wheat

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Cooperatives Working Together has now finished the farm audits of its seventh herd retirement round since the program was started in 2003, removing 101,040 cows that produced almost two billion pounds of milk.
    • Hoosier Ag Today has announced a new service to deliver time sensitive information wirelessly: current weather, market, and farm news to any web-enabled wireless device.
    • This year, Hay & Forage Grower will be partnering with the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance to publish the “Fall Dormancy & Pest Resistance Ratings for Alfalfa Varieties 2010 Edition” in the November 2009 issue of Hay & Forage Grower.
    • LibertyLink soybeans are now available through more than 100 seed companies, providing growers expanded maturity range of 0.5 to 5.9 and enhanced agronomic performance packages.
      Zimfo Bytes

      Remembering Jack Eberspacher

      Chuck Zimmerman

      Jack EberspacherI was very saddened to learn of the passing away of Jack Eberspacher, Ag Retailers Association. Cindy and I knew Jack first when he led what is now the National Sorghum Producers. We’ve had the opportunity to interview him and share good times and fellowship many times and he will be sorely missed. Here’s a statement by ARA:

      Jack Eberspacher, president and chief executive officer of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), died peacefully in his sleep on July 5, 2009 at the Inova Cameron Glen Care Center in Reston, Virginia. Eberspacher was out on indefinite medical leave from ARA after a diagnosis of cancer in late April of this year.

      “ARA and the industry lost a dynamic leader and true visionary,” said ARA Chairman Ken Manning of Wilbur-Ellis Company. “Jack worked tirelessly to build this organization into the strong voice for agricultural retailers and distributors we have today in the nation’s Capitol. He always stressed the importance of ARA listening to its members and providing value to those members. Due to his efforts, we have an experienced and very capable team at ARA who are committed to seeing Jack’s and the Board of Director’s vision for the organization fulfilled. ARA has a solid foundation in place that will only get stronger through the active involvement of its members and the industry.”

      Here’s a statement (pdf) from NSP:

      “Jack was our colleague and dear friend,” said Tim Lust, NSP CEO. “His leadership carried this organization both through rough patches and tremendous growth. He cast a remarkable vision for NSP and never let the organization stray from its farmer members and the basics.”

      Friends of Jack Eberspacher have set up an educational trust for his children. Please make checks payable to the “Sam and Maggie Eberspacher Educational Trust.” Memorials may be mailed to: 

      Bank of America, N.A.
c/o Carolyn F. Grant-Suite
 8300 Greensboro Drive
 Suite 500 
McLean, VA  22102

      A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at 2:30 p.m., at the Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia. A reception will be held at the church immediately following the service. The church is located at 124 Park Street, NE. Click here for driving directions and parking locations near the church. Those wishing to attend the memorial service can obtain more information about travel and lodging here.

      Ag Groups, sorghum

      Oscar Mayer Passes Away

      Chuck Zimmerman

      Oscar Meyer Hot DogsLet’s move from hamburgers to hot dogs. These tasty staples of the American diet owe a lot to the guys at Oscar Meyer.

      Well, past Chairman Oscar Mayer has passed away at the age of 95. That’s right. Shows what a good hot dog will do for you. He was the third person of that name in the family to work for the company.

      Food

      Ice Cream Burger

      Cindy Zimmerman

      Ice Cream BurgerTurnabout is fair play, as they say. Some of you may remember the Steak Sundae post here on Agwired about three years ago that generated lots of comments from anti-meat eaters who thought it was disgusting.

      So, how about this? Ice Cream Hamburger Treats, a recipe from Blue Bunny. These are “cool” – in more ways than one.

      The burger is chocolate ice cream, the grill marks are licorice sticks, the ketchup is red gel frosting, the mustard is yellow food coloring in marshmallow cream, the pickles are sliced green gum drops, and the bun is a dessert sponge cup with sesame seeds on top.

      Check out the recipe on BlueBunny.com for a fun summer treat that kids will love!

      Dairy, Food