NAFB Washington Watch First Timer

Chuck Zimmerman

Julie McPeakeJulie McPeake, Southeast AgNet, is attending her first NAFB Washington Watch program. I spoke with here in between presentations this morning.

Julie says this is a great opportunity, especially for farm broadcasting newcomers, to dip their foot in the water (interviewing DC politicos). She says she’s in “sponge mode” which means she’s listening and learning so she can better serve her listeners back home.

Julie also has the honor of receiving a Pam Jahnke nickname which is Peaches. You’ll find out why when you listen to her interview.

You can listen to my interview with Julie here: ww-09-mcpeake.mp3

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

Audio, Media

AGCONNECT Connects With AGRITECHNICA

Cindy Zimmerman

Ag Connect ExpoThe organizers of two international agricultural shows have announced a formal alliance to coordinate show dates that will allow agriculture producers to attend a major international agriculture trade show each year.

AgritechnicaThe alliance is between DLG (German Agricultural Society), the organizer of the world’s largest agriculture machinery show Agritechnica, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), organizer of the new agricultural trade show AG CONNECT Expo, scheduled for January 13-15, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Agritechnica is held on odd numbered years with the next show scheduled for November 10-14, 2009 at the Fairgrounds in Hanover, Germany.

Both Agritechnica and AG CONNECT Expo 2010 are organized with a focus on providing a world-class event with top value and the highest quality experience for registrants. The philosophy shared by the shows is to provide customers with the full agriculture trade show experience. For 120 years the DLG exhibition has highlighted technological advances favored by agriculture producers. AG CONNECT Expo 2010 has a parallel concept that will provide a global gathering place in the United States for agriculture producers, manufacturers and agribusinesses.

AEM, Equipment

Virtual Conventions?

Chuck Zimmerman

Watt Online Animal Nutrition & Health ForumThe Watt Online Animal Nutrition & Health Forum is underway. In today’s economy it seems like a free show you don’t have to travel farther than your computer to attend makes a lot of sense.

Have you visited? If so, what are your thoughts about this concept? Should this model be looked at for more companies and farm groups? Could we do Commodity Classic online?

Think of it as an online event where nutritionists, veterinarians, animal production/husbandry managers, and technical consultants, as well as manufacturers and marketers of animal health products, feed ingredients and feed additives, can engage in real-time interaction via instant messaging, chats, e-mails or the exchange of electronic business cards by making use of any available local internet access. Far from the usual online experience, the virtual forum will provide true capabilities for interaction.

Animal Health, Media

Animal Welfare Topic of Next Farm Foundation Forum

John Davis

farmfoundationforum31Our friends at Farm Foundation are sponsoring another discussion on an important issue facing farming in America: animal welfare as it relates to production agriculture.

In true Farm Foundation form, the Tuesday, May 5th forum will feature speakers bringing several divergent opinions to the table:

* Paul Shapiro, Humane Society of the United States,
* Tim Amlaw, American Humane Association,
* Dr. Jim Reynolds, American Veterinary Medical Association and the University of California-Davis,
* Bob Krouse of Midwest Poultry Supply, and
* Dr. David Blandford, Penn State University.

Once again, the forum will by on Tuesday, May 5th from 9 to 11 a.m. at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington D.C.

Make your reservation by noon CDT this coming Friday, May 1, to Mary Thompson, Farm Foundation Director of Communication at mary@farmfoundation.org.

Farm Foundation

Corn Growers Pleased With Start of ACRE

Cindy Zimmerman

Sign up for the long-awaited Average Crop Revenue Election Program, or ACRE, started yesterday on the same day that farm broadcasters from around the nation were in Washington DC for the annual Washington Watch Issues Forum, so naturally it was a hot topic for representatives from the National Corn Growers Association to discuss.

NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett answered lots of questions about the program that was part of the 2008 Farm Bill and represents a fundamental reform in the farm safety net. “It is based on revenue rather than just a price trigger,” Jon explains. “It’s really more of a risk management tool than a price support.”

Jon says the program gives farmers an alternative and they have lots of time to research whether it is a good option for them, since the sign up period runs through August 14. NCGA has developed an on-line ACRE Resource Center website where farmers can get more information about the program and even calculate payments.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jon about ACRE here: ww-09-doggett.mp3

Corn, NCGA

NAFB With Secretary Vilsack

Chuck Zimmerman

In true traditional style, NAFB members attending the Washington Watch program got their picture taken with the Secretary of Agriculture. Thank you to the USDA photographer for taking this photo for me. The full size version is in the photo album.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and NAFB Members

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

USDA

Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Speaks To NAFB Members

Chuck Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Tom VilsackInternet access was lacking at the NAFB USDA visit this morning so I couldn’t live stream Sec. Vilsack’s comments as I had intended to do. During last year’s visit you may recall that I live streamed his predecessor which was the first time I had done that on location. But I did record Sec. Vilsack and have the audio available for you here.

I was surprised that he didn’t mention swine flu in his remarks but he does address the issue in the question and answer session. Before he arrived we were instructed not to ask anyone except him about this issue. I understand that they may want to have some control over who speaks for USDA on this issue but can’t ever remember being told what we can or cannot ask and of whom. Interesting way to treat the press.

Several of us were live tweeting the morning’s session. I had to leave early since I needed internet access and my aircard couldn’t pick up a good signal in the USDA building. Some of us need to multitask you know.

So for now I’ll leave you with the full audio, including questions and answers.

You can listen to Secretary Vilsack here: ww-09-vilsack.mp3

You can also download his remarks with this link (mp3 file).

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

Audio, USDA

HSUS Challenges American Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

Wayne PacelleThe President of the Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, Wayne Pacelle, spoke to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting this evening. I would characterize his comments as a challenge to everyone involved in agriculture and especially animal agriculture. On the one hand he suggested that we should join with them on areas of common agreement but then on the other hand he made it very clear that the world is changing and farmers have to accept it that things are different. Kind of like saying that we have no choice but to succumb to their agenda so why not make it easy.

I had an opportunity to ask a question and although I had many like, “Why do you use your name to suggest that you’re affiliated with local humane societies and animal shelters when you really aren’t?” However one of my Twitter followers sent in a couple of questions and I posed one of hers. She’s a farm wife in Tennessee and here’s what she wrote.

I have so many questions for Mr. Pacelle and other animal rights activists. My first question would be how he plans to help those families he is so strongly trying to put out of business or are we to try and find a new way of life, a new home, a new life style? We’ve heard it before, but farming isn’t just a job – it’s a passion. We certainly don’t do it because we’re getting rich. We do it because we love the land, the animals, and the work. The attack on animal agriculture is really an attack on the entire ag industry as we are inter-dependent on one another.

I’m posting his answer to my question to see if you can understand what he said. I think he got a little defensive and avoided a direct answer. Feel free to post your thoughts.

You can listen to my question of Wayne and his answer here: ww-09-hsus.mp3

Wayne claims the organization has over $200 million to work with so I would suggest that agriculture take them seriously. Their emotional pitch is very seductive as evidenced by the number of celebrities who publicly support them and all the folks giving them money. But rather than be afraid of them I think we have a great opportunity to get out and use the new social media forms of communication to battle the sensationalized, isolated stereotypes these groups employ so effectively. Farming is a way of life and we wouldn’t have the great country we have today if if wasn’t for the American farmer. I think that’s a story the public wants and needs to hear and I encourage farmers in particular to tell and show it. I am seeing more and more of them doing it too.

Post Update: At the request of several followers I’m posting the full comments and question and answer session for you to listen to here. Basically, it is a good idea to know what the enemy says directly from their mouth. Please let others know so they can hear this. Agriculture as a way of life is very threatened by groups like HSUS and I think you’ll hear that very clearly.

You can listen to the full session here: ww-09-hsus-remarks.mp3

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

Audio

NAFB Washington Watch Issues Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

Gary Cooper, Southeast AgNetAfter the NAFB business meeting this afternoon it was time for the Issues Forum. This is where various organizations are set up with tables at which their spokespeople are available for interviews on the issues important to their constituents.

So, farm broadcasters like Gary Cooper, Southeast AgNet, get out their recorders and get to work. I think I did at least 10 interviews of my own which I’ll be posting here in coming days. There are a number of new photos in the online album of these NAFB members at work.

To get a better understanding of what the level of conversation is like in the room I shot a short video clip of it right when things got started.

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

Video

A-FAN Asks NAFB To Help Tell Farmer’s Story

Chuck Zimmerman

Roger BerryRoger Berry is Field Director for the Alliance For The Future of Agriculture in Nebraska. He was one of our luncheon speakers here at the NAFB Washington Watch today.

Roger’s presence was very timely when you consider some of the things going on in Nebraska and in Washington, DC right now that are affecting farming. I spoke with Roger after the luncheon, which was sponsored by the United Soybean Board. He says they want farm broadcasters to join with A-FAN to tell the farm story since there are so many organizations and efforts that are working tear down the industry. I think that’s what all NAFB’ers do so he had a very open audience. We spoke about the use of social media which allowing farmers to tell their own story even though it’s not really their nature to do so. He says that if farmers don’t do it they’ll be in trouble in the future. Roger says he’s learning Facebook now and hopes to tackle Twitter next.

You can listen to my interview with Roger here: ww-09-berry.mp3

You can also download the interview with this link (mp3 file).

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio