Ketchum has created a new position called director of online relationships and reputation for their Food and Nutrition Practice. Filling that role will be Tom Barritt. Good idea. It will be interesting to see how they manage this. Tom says that food is “emotional and evocative and perfectly suited to social media.” So is agriculture in general and greater use of these mechanisms he mentions would help farmers and farm groups get their message out by joining “the conversation.”
Barritt was previously director of the agency’s global Issues and Crisis Management Network.
In his new role, Barritt will be responsible for working with clients to embrace online channels to help them better manage their communications needs to achieve their business goals. As associate director, the practice will capitalize on Barritt’s six years as head of Ketchum’s Issues and Crisis Management Network as he takes on the role of chief adviser on food reputation management, as well as builds and activates growth plans to benefit the practice’s client relationships and business development. This move aligns the Food and Nutrition practice with the agency’s growing global digital strategy capabilities and follows the appointments of Jonathan Kopp as global director of Ketchum Digital and Clement Lau as senior vice president of digital communications in Ketchum’s Greater China division in February.
“There is a dynamic conversation around food taking place online from recipe sharing to food blogs to photos to social networks,” said Barritt. “Food is emotional and evocative and perfectly suited to social media. We have a great opportunity to help our food clients navigate this space and join in the conversation.”
From “Darling to Devil” in the blink of an eye – that’s what happened to the biofuels industry in the past year or so – but better communications on the part of the industry could have helped with the damage control and could still help repair some of the damage done. What’s more, the damage done to biofuels could also happen to other alternative energy products like wind, solar, geothermal, and hydrogen unless communicators implement three important lessons learned from the attack on biofuels. They will be presented by experts in the field at the upcoming 
The new report updates the analysis Purdue University economists Phil Abbott, Chris Hurt and Wally Tyner did just nine months ago for Farm Foundation. That report, released in July 2008, identified three major forces driving food prices: World agricultural commodity consumption exceeding production growth, leading to very low commodity inventories; the decline in value of the U.S. dollar; and the new linkage between energy and agricultural markets.
The second trait is the Optimum Acre Max, which provides an insect protection system. These products will be brought to market pending approvals over the next few years.
Trent Loos is launching a new contest to feature the best and brightest young people in agriculture. It’s called the “Hot Peppers in Agriculture,” contest, and it calls for tasteful, fun photos that will make food producers “cool” again. Follow-up articles will highlight the interesting lives of farmers and ranchers. Photos can be sent to trent@loostales.com. To support this cause, join the group at facebook.com. Here is an excerpt from his column at 
I’m not sure what a “robust” membership drive is but NCBA 
What is it about blogs that are so addicting? Is it the ability to write about whatever your passions are? Is it the opportunity to peak inside the life of someone else? Is it a break from the work routine, a chance to escape and think about something fun? Is it a great way to be informed and meet with others that are interested in the same things as you? Is it a replacement to daily news reports? What is it?