Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Chuck Zimmerman

Ft. Worth Stock Show RodeoThis is rodeo action at its best. It’s the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. I got checked in this afternoon in time for the matinee show. If I ever tried this I would wind up being a broken mess of bones. It sure provides a good opportunity to practice shooting photos in extreme conditions though.

I got checked in at the media center with some very nice people and am looking forward to an opportunity to interview show manager Brad Barnes tomorrow.

I’m just getting my bearings for the main activity that I’m here for which will start tomorrow. I just tested the great working wireless in the Watt Arena which will be the site of Wednesday evening’s Drive Green Utility Tractor Show.

It’s a beautiful day in Ft. Worth.

Farm Shows, Livestock

Portable Farms Has Laughable Message

Chuck Zimmerman

This is so wacky that I had to let you know about it. It almost sounds like a neat idea on the surface. But then you realize this guy has bought in to that wacko UN study that said that somehow livestock farts are contributing to global warming. You know I usually post an image but I just don’t think these folks need any more publicity than me just letting you know they exist. Where do these people come from and why do people buy in to this stuff?

Colle, Davis, Inventor of Portable Farms(TM), http://www.portablefarms.com/ launched his invention June 2008. Since then, he has received interest from people in all 50 states and 126 countries. His new invention offers a simple solution to the problems of world hunger and poverty. “We have taken what nature has done naturally for billions of years, automated the process into a simple system and put it in a small space,” Davis is quoted as saying.

Their lighthearted corporate logo states, “Fish Don’t Fart,” to attract attention about their message about eating fish rather than beef to save the world from gas emissions from cattle.

Wackos

ARC Has New Board and March Annual Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Agricultural Relations CouncilIt looks like there’s new life being breathed into the Agricultural Relations Council. I’m wondering if anyone would like to sponsor AgWired coverage of the annual conference? If so, please let me know.

The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) announces its 2009 board of directors and its annual conference, set for March 12-14 in New Orleans.

The 2009 ARC Board includes: Deron Johnson, Rhea+Kaiser Marketing Communications, board president; Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation, first vice president; Katana Ewbank, Alpha Scouts, second vice president; and Bob Giblin, consultant, immediate past president. Directors include Mark Ingbritson, Rhea+Kaiser Marketing Communications; Amy Keith McDonald, McDonald Marketing Communications; Carroll E. Merry, Countryside Marketing; Janice Person, Monsanto; and Mike Opperman, Charleston/Orwig.

After maintaining a low-profile over the past few years, ARC is moving forward with a renewed direction to meet the needs of public relations/public affairs practitioners across the country. “We are excited about this new team and eager to rejuvenate and invigorate ARC in 2009 and beyond,” says Johnson. “We now have retained Gardner & Gardner Communications, an association management firm, to manage the organization and are dedicated to growing the organization in members as well as in professional development.” Read More

ARC

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Electronic futures trading of Hard Red Spring Wheat coupled with trades of Hard Red Winter Wheat Index Futures hit a new daily record high on Friday, Jan. 23, of 7,494 contracts at MGEX (Minneapolis Grain Exchange or Exchange). The volume topped the former electronic volume record of 7,363 contracts traded set on December 10, 2008.
  • BASF and Cibus announced that they have reached a significant research milestone for developing CLEARFIELD Production System plants in Brassica winter oilseed rape and in spring canola. Cibus’ patented Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS) was used to enhance the tolerance levels of spring canola plants to BASF’s popular CLEARFIELD herbicides.
  • CNH Capital unveiled a new global Web site that will meet the specific needs of its customers in all regions of the world.
  • Monsanto’s new collaboration with GrassRoots Biotechnology Inc., is expected to discover and deliver more desirable traits through the seed by expanding the benefits of Monsanto’s research and product portfolio for its farmer customer.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Talking About Photography

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast-206 - Pro PhotographyChildress, TX is home to one great photographer and that would be Russell Graves, RussellGraves.com. I spent a half day with him yesterday and feel like I learned a lot from the experience.

    Childress, TXI know that a lot of AgWired fans are pro photographers themselves or at least have a real interest in taking pictures so I hope you’ll really enjoy getting to know Russell and listening to our conversation about his work. Russell also teaches high school ag technology classes. He has a passion for his home state and looks at his work as a way to chronicle the rural lifestyle he grew up in so that current and future generations will still be able to enjoy it captured in pictures. If you take time to look through his pictures I’m sure you’ll see many that will make you think, “I’ve seen that same picture before (in your own life).” He could probably live anywhere he wants but he chooses to raise his children in a country environment and I applaud him for that decision.

    Russell and I talk about equipment, software, work flow and why we love what we do and do what we love. I think this is a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for listening.

    You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 206 (35 min MP3)

    Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview with Russell Graves - ZimmCast 206

    The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

    Audio, ZimmCast

    Camel Sighting

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CamelWhen you think of Texas, you think cowboys and cattle but . . .

    On my way back from Childress yesterday I saw a bunch of these off of Highway 278 so I had to stop. They were just grazing around. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a camel farm.

    So that’s just one of the unique sights on this trip so far.

    Uncategorized

    Visiting With Russell Graves

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Russell GravesMeet Russell Graves, RussellGraves.com. He’s a professional photographer whose work I absolutely love. I’m on a layover in Ft. Worth, TX and he was gracious enough to take some time to meet with me to talk “shop” today.

    We’re going to record an interview here in a few minutes for tomorrow’s ZimmCast. The drive up here from Ft. Worth was beautiful. It’s a little breezy today but sunny and warm enough.

    We did a little drive around on some property that Russell manages and I got this shot of him there.

    More to come tomorrow.

    Uncategorized

    Cattle Industry Convention Concludes

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Cattle Industry Convention is just wrapping up. Rod Smith, Feedstuffs, and I, have been sitting side by side as the CBB and NCBA conduct their annual business meetings. Some of us think we should call our table the “Rod Smith Memorial Media Table.”

    CBB/NCBA Annual Meeting

    My coverage has focused once again on the activities of the Beef Board as the Beef Board Blogger. If you’d like to learn more about what they did, you’ll find it on BeefBoardMeeting.com. Media are invited to download audio and pictures which you’ll find many links to there as well as committee agendas and minutes.

    It’s been a great convention here in Phoenix. I’m headed on to Ft. Worth today and will be spending time at the Ft. Worth Stock Show doing a little more Drive Green blogging for John Deere.

    Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

    Cattle Industry Conference

    Top 15 Davisms

    Chuck Zimmerman

    At the CBB Dinner tonight we had a little fun with outgoing Chairman Dave Bateman.

    I guess Dave was a target this past year. Here he’s showing off one of his going away presents. The exit sign is purely a coincidence.

    Dave Bateman

    Vice Chairman, Lucinda Williams, collected a list of her favorite “Davisms” this past year and shared them with us.

    You can listen to the top 15 Davisms here: cic-09-davisms.mp3

    Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

    Audio, Cattle Industry Conference

    Beef Board Approves Recommended Changes To Checkoff

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CBB Update SessionThe CBB Update Session was pretty interesting yesterday. The Beef Board voted to pass recommendations to change the Beef Checkoff and the discussion was fairly emotional and heated at times.

    Basically, the Board is recommending to increase the Checkoff to $2 along with changing a number of other elements of the rule like allowing more involvement from producer groups that weren’t eligible under the original rule.

    This morning I spoke with Chairman Dave Bateman who explains the process and what will happen at this point. The Board has done its duty and now has to depend on the Secretary of Agriculture and the industry to move the process for change forward.

    You can listen to my interview with Dave here: cic-09-bateman-2.mp3

    There are a lot of photos in the convention photo album. Check to see who you know: Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

    Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference