#AgChat Session

Chuck Zimmerman

#AgChatWe just concluded another great #AgChat session via Twitter. Here’s the questions posed.

Q1: What are differences between the 2 main types of ag production – local & nat./int?. Advantages & disadvantages?
Q2: Family farmers vs. ind. ag, how can you distinguish between 2 approaches (family vs. big) & validate need for both?
Q3: How can we share positive msg about all ag practices, incl organic, even as some claim one is better than another?
Q4: NYC held a food conf. Disagreements aside, they’re interestd in farming. How do we engage & find common ground?
Q5: What other groups can we collaborate with outside of agriculture strengthen our voice & overcome adversaries messages?

We had a very lively discussion. You can read back through it via Twitter Search. The picture is from Twitterfall which I really like to follow a fast paced discussion like this.

I want to thank Michele Payn-Knoper for once again being the “chat herder” for #AgChat. You can follow her on Twitter at @mpaynknoper.

A couple of things stood out to me during the discussion. We don’t have common definitions for terms like sustainable, organic, industrial farm, family farm, etc. It’s really hard to communicate with people who define these terms in completely different ways.

We had a few non-farmer types join us which was very refreshing. One in particular was very open to discussion and explaining a different point of view. Another was there just to spam us and threaten. I think it shows that we are having an impact. As was pointed out, all of our websites (blogs included) and social media efforts are reaching a lot more people than just farmers. So we are getting our message out and not depending on the mainstream media to do it for us. I think we’re making an impact.

If you participated or have read back through the discussion what do you think? Also feel free to check out #AgChat on Facebook.

Uncategorized

Find IFAJ On Twitter

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ On TwitterHave you made your reservation for the IFAJ Congress/Ag Media Summit yet? We’ve got ours in.

To help you keep up with what’s going on at this year’s IFAJ Congress a new Twitter account has been set up: @IFAJ.

The beautiful background is the U.S. delegation to last year’s IFAJ Congress.

For you Twitter experts, please remember to use the #IFAJ hashtag in your posts on Twitter. That will make it easy for all of us to follow along with all that’s being said about IFAJ in the Twitterverse.

IFAJ

Farm Foundation Animal Welfare Forum Wrapping Up

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation ForumI take it from Mace Thornton’s (@AFBFMace) latest photo that we’re now into the question and answer portion of today’s Farm Foundation Forum on animal welfare. Here’s some of his tweets since my last post including concluding thoughts. I love his “funny moment” post:

Bob Krause of MW Poultry Svcs of Indiana. 10 largest egg farm comp. In country @ FF forum on farm animal care. Up now.

Ind. Eggman Krause @ FF forum on farm animls: confnmnt allows control disease, parasites, preds, other challenges 4 poultry, egg producers.

Krause @ FF forum on farm anml care: is wlfare of hens better in confinement or cagefree. Egg ind. study says cage enviro better overall.

Funny moment @ FF forum.

HSUS Shapiro: Guess I would be one of the extremists.
Moderator Charlie Stenholm: I think you would qualify.

My Btm line on FFforum. If proftbl humane market is there, farmers will rspnd. ? is do animal rights groups want any market? Probably not.

Calif. Farm Bureau VP Kenny Watkins challenges HSUS Shapiro to help devlp mkts for kind of production they are forcing. Markets not there.

Post Update: Here’s a link to the recorded audio (mp3) of the Farm Foundation Forum. You can also listen here: 363-20090505_pv_farm_foundation_forum.mp3

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation

Now Hearing From American Humane Association

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation ForumThis time we’ve got Tim Amlaw, Director of the Farm Animal Program of the American Humane Association on the podium at the Farm Foundation Forum on animal welfare.

Here’s what our man on the scene, Mace Thornton, (@AFBFMace) is saying about his presentation:

Tim Amlaw of American Humane @ FF forum on farm animals: AH been around since 1877. In Ag AH believes in on-ground, science based approach.

Tim Amlaw of AH @ FF forum on frm anim care: AH certified program relies on science to bebefit farmer and consumer.

Amlaw of AH @ FF forum on frm anim care: AH cert progrm. Trained auditors. “True humane tracking” Engagemnt among sectors, farm to consumrs.

Amlaw of AH @ FF forum on farm anim: video monitoring an application for farmers to see solution to challenge…immed corrective action.

Amlaw: consumers demanding humane choices and producers are adapting.

I’m posting these as quick as I can amid other work going on. If you were following along on Twitter would you agree that it’s “almost like being there?”

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation

More From Farm Foundation Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation ForumHere’s Paul Shapiro, Senior Director of the Humane Society of the United States, speaking now at the Farm Foundation Forum on animal welfare. Thanks again to Mace Thornton’s Blackberry.

Here’s a couple new tweets from him (@AFBFMace):

HSUS Shapiro @ FF farm anim forum: civil discourse essntl. All agree animals protected by law to some degree…dog and cock fight etc.

HSUS Shapiro selectively quotes the research AFBF sponsored with Oklahoma State Univ. @ FF forum on farm animal care. So much more there.

HSUS Shapiro also quotes Pew Comm. And Temple Grandin and cites pork companies to phase out gest. stalls.

HSUS Shapiro @ FF forum on farm animls: Main Pt. — animals being able to turn round and spread limbs should be a common ground issue.

HSUS Shapiro @ FF farm anml forum. American public sees images of animals in cages and thinks worse of ag because of it

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation

Animal Welfare Farm Foundation Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation ForumThanks to @AFBFMace (Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation) we’re getting some information from the Farm Foundation Forum on Animal Welfare as it relates to Production Agriculture. The session this morning in Washington, DC has started as you can see from his Blackberry photo. Here’s who’s on the program:

Paul Shapiro, Senior Director of the Humane Society of the United States
Tim Amlaw, Director of the Farm Animal Program of the American Humane Association
Dr. Jim Reynolds of the American Veterinary Medical Association and a Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California-Davis
Dr. David Blandford, Professor of Economics at Penn State University
Bob Krouse, CEO of Midwest Poultry Supply

I will hopefully be able to link you to audio from the presentation later this afternoon. The session is being recorded and will be posted on the Farm Foundation website.

If you’re not on Twitter and can’t follow Mace to see his posts here’s an example of what you’re missing as I write:

1st up David Blandford of PSU @ farmfound forum. Less public pressure for change here than Europe.

Blandford @ farmfound animal care forum. If animal care and practices become linked to human health concerns, it becomes diff story.

Blandford @ FF farm animal forum: who pays? Consumer or producers? EU pays subsidy to meet higher standards.

He’s a master Tweetist!

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation

Leaders Honored at Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium

Amanda Nolz

The 41st BIF Research Symposium and Annual Meeting was hosted by the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association (CBCIA) and the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) in Sacramento, Calif. on April 30-May 3, 2009. I extend my congratulations to the beef industy leaders that were honored at this year’s event.

2009 Frank H. Baker Memorial Scholarship Award Recipients
The late Frank H. Baker played a key leadership role in helping establish the BIF in 1968. Since 1994, two deserving graduate students have been recognized for winning essays.

speidelbakerbif091Scott Speidel, research associate in breeding and genetics at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., was a recipient of the 2009 Frank H. Baker Memorial Scholarship Award. Speidel accepted the award from Robert Williams, Ph.D., director of breed improvement and foreign marketing for the American-International Charolais Association, Kansas City, Mo. A California native, Speidel holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from California State University, Fresno; a master’s degree from the University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., and plans to complete his doctorage this fall at Colorado State University.

leachmanbakerbif091 Lance D. Leachman, Christiansburg, Va., was also a recipient of the 2009 Frank H. Baker Memorial Scholarship Award. The award was presented by Robert Williams, Ph.D., director of breed improvement and foreign marketing, American-International Charolais Association, Kansas City, Mo., during the 41st Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Annual Meeting, April 30- May 3, 2009, in Sacramento, Calif. Leachman was born in Maidstone, Sask., Canada. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Animal Sciences and Industry with a business option from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., and a master’s degree in Animal and Poultry Science – Breeding Genetics from Virginia Polytechnic State University (Virginia Tech), Blackburg, Va. Currently, Leachman is a graduate student at Virginia Tech.

Nebraska Operation Named Beef Improvement Federation Commercial Producer of the Year

commercialbif091 The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) named the JHL Ranch, Ashby, Neb., as its 2009 Commercial Producer of the Year. The family has run cattle in the southwest corner in the Nebraska Sandhills since 1885. The JHL brand is reputed to be one of the oldest used in Nebraska having been legally registered in the state in 1920. Ranch owners Art and Merry Brownlee, along with their son Ethan, accepted the award from BEEF magazine Senior Editor Burt Rutherford during the 41st BIF Research Symposium and Annual Meeting, April 30 – May 3, 2009, in Sacramento, Calif. The ranch was nominated by the Nebraska Cattlemen and the Braunvieh Association of America, both based in Lincoln, Neb. (BIF) Outgoing President Tommy Brown (far left), Clanton, Ala., and BEEF magazine Senior Editor Burt Rutherford (far right), Amarillo, Texas, present the 2009 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year Award to Art and Merry Brown and their son Ethan of the JHL Ranch, Ashby, Neb. The award was sponsored by BEEF magazine, Minneapolis, Minn.

Photo by Cornerpost Publications, publisher of the California Cattleman.

Farm Shows

Landa Promoted At Rhea + Kaiser

Chuck Zimmerman

Robert LandaRobert Landa has been promoted to VP, Executive Creative Director at Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications. He’ll be overseeing all Creative Directors and staff, as well as the Production and Graphics departments.

Landa, who joined Rhea + Kaiser in 2002, has served as both an Associate Creative Director and Creative Director at the agency, managing the creative development for R+K clients including Aurora Health Care, Bayer CropScience, DePaul University, Pennington Seed, Pfizer Animal Health and TechPac, LLC. Landa assumes his new position from R+K co-founder Van Kaiser, who will maintain a 50 percent ownership stake in the privately held agency.

Agencies

Founding Farmers Founded By Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

Founding FarmersWhen you go to any type of farm meeting you can be pretty sure you’ll be fed well. NAFB’s Washington Watch is no different. This year we all were treated to a fine meal at Founding Farmers.

At Founding Farmers we believe that everyone benefits by knowing more about the source of the food they eat. We understand the journey of our products from seed to harvest, and from Farm-to-Table. Owned by a collective of American family farmers, Founding Farmers exists to promote the products and services of family farms, ranches, and fisheries. We celebrate and share the long-standing connection between farmers – the first to lead the “green” movement – and their historic stewardship of natural resources.

Christian Holmes and Pam JahnkeOur host was Founding Farmers General Manager Christian Holmes, pictured with NAFB President Pam Jahnke.

When he was 14 years old washing dishes in the Italian restaurant down the road from his house in rural upstate New York, Christian Holmes had no idea he’d already found his calling. While he pursued his love for history in undergraduate and graduate school, Christian worked in bars and restaurants to help pay the bills. When the opportunity to manage a popular college town restaurant became available, working in a fast-paced fun environment lured him away from his plans to teach history.

Christian Holmes getting interviewed by NAFBBefore we settled down to dinner a few NAFB members got together with Christian for an interview. I recorded it for you. In the interview Christian says the restaurant is the vision of the North Dakota Farmers Union. He says it presents the American family farmer to legislators as well as consumers. He was attracted to the facility because “It’s not just about the food and the restaurant experience. It’s the fact that we’re owned and supported by farmers.”

You can listen to our group interview with Christian here: ww-09-holmes.mp3

NAFB Washington Watch 2009 Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Rabo AgriFinance and participating AGCO Parts Dealers have the QuickLink Valued Customer program to provide existing QuickLink users a special discount on AGCO parts and service purchases over $1,000 between now and May 31.
  • DLG (German Agricultural Society), the organizer of Agritechnica, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers , organizer of the new agricultural trade show AG CONNECT Expo, announced a long-term alliance that includes a plan to coordinate show dates that will allow agriculture producers to attend a major international agriculture trade show each year.
  • GEA Group AG continues its expansion strategy towards becoming a total solutions provider in livestock farming through the acquisition of DB Wilaard Holding BV.
  • The United Sorghum Checkoff Program has selected Broadhead + Co to launch its domestic demand-building campaign.
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