Pork On A Fork

Chuck Zimmerman

Pork On A ForkAs of right now, the terms “Swine flu” and “#swineflu” are trending at positions 2 and 6 on Twitter. The term “H1N1” is trending in the 10th spot. I think that shows that as much as we’d like to think that everyone, media included, would call this what it is, it’s not happening. This thing blew up way too fast and is now branded in the public psyche. It has meant serious problems for hog producers. However, we shouldn’t give up and in fact, we’ve got an opportunity to do something about it by taking advantage of our new media tools to “get our message out.” How you might ask? Well, get busy and tweet, post on your blog or website and join in this online conversation and make a difference. Here’s an example of how Trent Loos, Faces of Agriculture, is doing it. He’s launching the “Pork On A Fork” campaign to immediately increase demand for pork and I support it and hope you will to. Pass it along.

Here is my plan. I believe we truly need to connect the dots not only for our overzealous lawmakers but for media and consumers globally. You know it has been said that the best way to anybody’s heart is through their stomach. I am launching a campaign and encouraging all people who eat food to enter the Faces Of Agriculture-sponsored event called “Pork on a Fork.”

I’d like you to send photos of family members, friends, customers, anyone, anywhere eating pork. On May 26, the photos will be judged and the winner announced. The winner will receive an all expense paid trip for two to the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, June 3-5. I will personally see to it that the winners are given the Royal VIP treatment and access to anything and everything pork-related during the event. All entries will be available for viewing during the entire World Pork Expo plus on all social networking sites. In fact, the winner could be recorded and become a YouTube Pork connoisseur for all the world to see.

Click here (pdf) to find out how you can participate

You can listen to Trent talk about it here: pork-on-a-fork.mp3

The photo above is Trent’s girls Libbi and Lindsi eating a bone-in ham.

Pork

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • John Deere Ag Management Solutions and Raven Industries, Inc. announced an agreement to supply customers with a broad suite of application control solutions in the precision agricultural market.
  • Monsanto has signed a new three year trademark licensing agreement with Chapin International. Chapin will provide new sprayer technology for use with agricultural herbicide products including Roundup PROMAX and QuikPRO.
  • Pfizer Animal Genetics has successfully completed the move of its DNA-testing facilities, Customer Service and administration from Harahan, La., to new, custom-built facilities in Kalamazoo, Mich., the headquarters of Pfizer Animal Health’s Veterinary Medical Research and Development.
    Zimfo Bytes

    #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