World Food Prize Press Room

Cindy Zimmerman

World Food PrizeThis is Justin Cremer, director of communications for the World Food Prize, at the door of the press room. Not too many media types here yet – more will be on hand for the bigger events, like the Laureate’s Forum tonight and the actual presentation of the World Food Prize on Thursday.

World Food Prize USDA eventOne person who is here is Susan Carter – the newest member of USDA’s broadcast team. She took over the spot vacated by the legendary Brenda Curtis when she retired early this year. Susan has been on the job since May and while she is smiling in this photo, she has been experiencing some of the usual on the road headaches – flight delays and cancellations, internet problems and computer issues. Bless her heart – and she is still smiling.

See photos of the World Food Prize event here.

Media, World Food Prize

World Food Prize Events Underway

Cindy Zimmerman

World Food PrizeThe World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium is getting underway here in Des Moines with a couple of side seminars early this morning. The opening ceremony takes place at 1 pm central time.

World Food Prize USDA eventOne of this morning’s seminars was hosted by USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service, and since we didn’t have a speaker program for that event, I was surprised to walk in the room and see one of this year’s laureates, Hon. George McGovern at the podium. Wish I had known, I would have gotten a recorder on the podium because he had some very interesting remarks about the history of USDA and his role with Bob Dole in expanding and strengthening the school feeding program on a global basis. One of his comments was that he sees the role of USDA growing in the future to help feed a growing population. McGovern will be speaking at a forum this evening with Sen. Dole.

The USDA seminar was hosted by USDA Undersecretary Mark Keenum, who was just at Sunbelt Ag Expo yesterday, and Patricia Sheikh, deputy administrator of USDA-FAS.

See photos of the World Food Prize event here.

Media

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • A recent survey (2008 Intern and New Grad Benchmark Report) of agriculture interns and new graduates released by AgCareers.com provides university and industry professionals with compensation information such as salaries, intern housing costs and relocation packages. This was the first year for the survey, but AgCareers.com is planning to conduct the survey on an annual basis. If you are interested in taking part in the 2009 survey, please contact Mary Barefoot at compensation@agcareers.com or call 800-929-8975.
  • BASF and Nufarm Americas Inc. announces that BASF has granted Nufarm an exclusive, license to the trademark Weedmaster in the United States. BASF will discontinue selling Weedmaster, which will be exclusively marketed and sold through Nufarm effective Oct. 1. Weedmaster, which contains the active ingredients dicamba and 2,4-D, offers dependable, long-lasting control of 64 of the toughest broadleaf weeds and brush for sugarcane, pastures, small grains and fallow.
  • A new Web site showcases the newest, most innovative Challenger products on the marketplace. From state-of-the-art combines and tractors to revolutionary technology that makes operator life much simpler, all the latest information on Challenger can be found here.
Zimfo Bytes

Transition to a Bioeconomy About to Begin

John Davis

The latest in a series of Farm Foundation-sponsored meetings on how to transition the country to a bioeconomy is about to get underway this morning in St. Louis, Mo.

Transition to a Bio Economy: Environmental and Rural Development Impacts is taking place at the Hyatt Regency-Union Station today and tomorrow, and your intrepid blogger will be here to update you as the various sessions progress.

Today’s, we’ll start with a session entitled: The Bioeconomy & the Environment, and it really should be a good one with speakers from the USDA, EPA, academic and private industry fields getting together to come up with solutions for the environmental challenges a bioeconomy presents.

I snapped a quick picture of this morning’s conference room as people were still out grabing a quick bite of breakfast before they jump into the activities of the day:

I’ll be stationed at the back of the room, online… and ready to bring you into the activities of the day.

Biodiesel, Environment, Ethanol, Farm Foundation

New T4000 Orchard Tractors From New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Andy ReinertPeach and blueberry growers just got a new tractor option from New Holland. I met with Andy Reinert, Mid-Range Tractor Marketing Manager, and learned all about it. He says the Sunbelt Ag Expo is the first place they’ve displayed the new tractor in the U. S. It’s got more power (comes in 62 to 82HP) and he says growers will be happy with the lower emissions obtained by the new engines.

Producers can put big power to work in tight quarters with the new T4000F orchard tractors from New Holland. Built on the legendary performance and reliability of their predecessors the TNF/TNF-A Series, these tractors meet Tier III emissions standards with 4-cylinder engines that are turbocharged and intercooled for maximum performance, low emissions, and fuel efficiency.

T4000F Series tractors combine outstanding power and maneuverability with the narrow width and low cab height needed to work under tree canopies and in close quarters where clearance can be a problem. Overall cab height on the T4000F Series has been reduced by 5.2 inches to 85.5 inches for easier travel under branches. The exceptionally long wheelbase provides stability, better traction and a smoother, more comfortable ride.

Listen to my interview with Andy here: sunbelt-08-reinert.mp3

Or you can download the interview with this link: Andy Reinert Interview (mp3)

Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council.

Audio, New Holland, Sunbelt Ag Expo, Tractor

Tyron Spearman is Sunbelt Media Mogul

Chuck Zimmerman

Tyron SpearmanWhen you come to the Sunbelt Ag Expo media room you experience Tyronny. At least that’s what I’m calling it when Tyron Spearman is in charge.

I’ve known Tyron for a long time but hadn’t seen him in years since I haven’t been in the southeast much. He’s been involved with every Sunbelt Ag Expo (31 years). When I spoke with him we reminisced about the old wooden ex-military building that housed the media room. Now we’ve got a new air-conditioned 2-story building to work out of.

Tyron works with a number of clients, mainly in the peanut industry. He also produces reports for Southeast AgNet. I asked him about the peanut crop and he says they’re expecting a record crop this year due to good rains during the season.

You can listen to my interview with Tyron here: sunbelt-08-spearman.mp3

Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council.

Audio, Media, Sunbelt Ag Expo

Flame Your Pests Away

Chuck Zimmerman

Flame EngineeringOne of the companies exhibiting products in the Georgia Propane Gas Association building here at Sunbelt Ag Expo is Flame Engineering. They’ve got a full line of Red Dragon agricultural products.

Red Dragon Agricultural Flamers kill unwanted weeds and grasses, break down old growth to make room for new, destroy insect habitat and provide safe & effective control without the use of pesticides. Prior to herbicides and insecticides, flaming was fast becoming a popular control method in many crops. With so many growers seeking alternatives to pesticides, flaming is making a very successful comeback.

I spoke with their Director of the Agriculture Division, Steve Koch, about what they’ve got to offer farmers. One product that’s impressive to watch is their Poultry House Sanitizer. He says they have a similar product coming out for use in dairies. Benefits include savings in fuel and in poultry they’re finding that the birds are larger and have a lower mortality rate.

Listen to my interview with Steve here: sunbelt-08-koch.mp3

Or you can download the interview with this link: Steve Koch Interview (mp3)

Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council.

Audio, Poultry, Propane, Sunbelt Ag Expo, Video

Ag Cash Income At All Time High

Chuck Zimmerman

Mark E. Keenum, USDA Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural ServiceOne of our distinguished guests at today’s Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeast Farmer of the Year luncheon was Mark E. Keenum, USDA Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service. If you’re interested in hearing about the economics of what’s going on in agriculture then you may want to listen to him. His full comments are only about 12 minutes.

However, I’m also posting an excerpt which I thought really was an eye opener and not something you’re going to hear on the evening news. To listen to the news you’d think we’re in such an economic mess that we’ll never get out of it. Interesting that this should come up just before an election, eh? But enough about that. The fact is that agriculture is doing very well economically and Mark has the facts to prove it. For example, he says that, “We’re looking at cash income for agriculture to be $313 billion this year. That’s an all time record high.” Now that’s what I call positive news.

Listen to an excerpt of Mark’s comments here: sunbelt-08-lunch-keenum-economics.mp3

Or you can download the excerpt with this link: Mark Keenum Excerpt (mp3)

Listen to Mark’s full comments here: sunbelt-08-lunch-keenum.mp3

Or you can download his comments with this link: Mark Keenum Comments (mp3)

Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council.

Audio, Farming, Sunbelt Ag Expo, USDA

Everything Propane at Sunbelt Ag Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Georgia Propane Gas Association Building at Sunbelt Ag ExpoThe Georgia Propane Gas Association has a very large building here at Sunbelt Ag Expo to display all the latest propane powered appliances and equipment. The gas fireplaces are very popular and they’ve even set up multiple rooms to provide ideas for how you can use them in your farm house.

I went on a tour of their building today with Association Executive Director, Jennifer McKeen. She walked me around and described what Expo visitors will find. You can go on the tour too via video:

Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of Sunbelt Ag Expo is sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council.

Ag Groups, Propane, Sunbelt Ag Expo, Video

Brian Kirksey is Southeast Farmer of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Brian Kirksey Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeast Farmer of the YearThe big news of the day here at Sunbelt Ag Expo is the announcement of the Southeast Farmer of the Year.

After a number of speeches and suspense it was announced that Brian Kirksey, Arkansas, was chosen as this year’s winner. He receives a check for $14,000 and is seen here on stage with his wife, Nan.

Brian got to say a few words which I’ve got recorded for you. He was very excited and thankful. Listen to Brian here: sunbelt-08-kirksey.mp3

Sunbelt Ag Expo Photo Album

Audio, Farming, Sunbelt Ag Expo