Cindys are Never Blah

Cindy Zimmerman

World Pork Expo 2008 Cindys ShowTwo Cindys are twice as fun as one and never blah!

My buddy Cindy Cunningham with the National Pork Board/Pork Checkoff stopped by the Novus International tent to do a “Cindy Show” with me.

Among the many things we talked about were how the pork checkoff is helping producers find new ways to save money on their operations during these days of high input costs and the great success story of pork exports and how the pork checkoff has helped the US move from being a net pork importer to being the second largest exporter in the world.

World Pork Expo 2008 Pork PromotionCindy also talked about “Pork on the Move” – a mobile tour with 23 stops planned for this year. “We open up a big trailer, grill pork for people, let them sample it and have producers on hand to talk to the public about pork,” Cindy said. The smaller of the two trailers was on the grounds of the expo this week, while the bigger one is in Chicago at the big Blues Festival this weekend.

Listen to the Cindy show here: wpx08-novus-cindys.mp3

Or download here:
Listen To MP3Cindy Cunningham Interview (8:00 min MP3)

World Pork Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by:
Novus

Ag Groups, Audio, Novus International, Pork, World Pork Expo

What’s Up With Watt

Cindy Zimmerman

World Pork Expo 2008 WattLongevity for a family-owned and operated business is not all that common in today’s world of acquisitions, especially in the agribusiness and media worlds, but Watt Media is the exception to the rule.

World Pork Expo 2008 Greg WattGreg Watt is the fourth generation president and CEO of Watt Publishing, a business started by his great grandfather J.W. Watt in 1917 through an acquisition of a poultry publication called Poultry Tribune. As they celebrate 91 years in the business, Greg says they now cover the agribusiness industry with publications on a global scale, including Pig International and Feed International.

In my interview with him, Greg talks about how the publication business has changed over the past nine decades, moving into more new media like webcasting and podcasting, their gold level sponsorship and involvement at World Pork Expo, and how they are forming partnerships with some of their clients like Novus International to better serve the livestock industry.

Listen to Greg’s interview here: wpx08-novus-watt.mp3

Or download here:
Listen To MP3Greg Watt Interview (8:30 min MP3)

World Pork Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by:
Novus

Audio, Livestock, Media, Novus International, Pork, Poultry, World Pork Expo

Watch the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race Live!

Laura McNamara

AgWired.com will be bringing you live coverage of the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race. AgWired Live TV will be streaming the race on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Viewers can watch thirty celebrities compete to be the fastest tractor on the lot on a post here or on the AgWired Live TV Web page. Celebrity racers include Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Jimmie Van Zant, Rolling Ston’es Chuck Leavell and National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe. Of course, Michael Peterson will be hosting the event.


2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:
New Holland

Ag Groups, New Holland

Michael Peterson and Joe Jobe Perform on XM

Laura McNamara

The executive director of the National Biodiesel Board is not just a country music fan, but also a country music singer… well, for his wife and kids at home at least. But today, Joe got a bit more exposure than a home audience. He performed live on the Dave Nemo Show on XM Radio with renowned country music singer/songwriter Michael Peterson.

Michael and Joe also delved into energy issues, renewable fuels and where all that fits in with public policy. Joe says the National Biodiesel Board is aiming to have biodiesel replace five percent of the national supply of diesel fuel. He says that is equivalent to the amount of diesel the U.S. if refining and importing from in Iraq. In other words, he says the National Biodiesel Board is aiming to replace the diesel fuel we get from Iraq.

Some critics arguing against renewable fuels point out that the alternative fuel sources will never fully replace the need for oil. But, Joe says that’s not the point, “That’s like saying if you can’t do everything than you shouldn’t do anything.” Joe says The National Biodiesel Board simply doesn’t share that frame of thought. That’s why it has launched the BioTrucker Fuel Card. The card offers card holders cash price on all biodiesel fuel at 5,000 participating locations and special discounts at select truck stops all without any transaction fees. Those interested can sign up for the card at BioTrucker.com.

Both Michael and Joe lauded the farmers that make up the nation’s ag industry. Joe says agriculture is a powerful industry that fosters cutting-edge, technological innovation. “Ag is slow to move but powerful to respond,” Joe said.

You can listen to the entire broadcast of the Dave New Show with Michael and Joe here:
cma-08-xm.mp3

I also got some videos of Michael and Joe while they were singing and strumming their guitars. You can watch the videos here:


2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:
New Holland

Ethanol, Farm Progress Show, Media, Podcasts, University

Chip Flory Wins Farm Journal Wilmer Award

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Journal AwardFarm Journal has more than 40 agricultural journalists? Wow. Congratulations to Chip on his award.

For the first time in his life, Chip Flory was speechless. Winning the annual Wilmer Award caught the Pro Farmer Newsletter Editor and Publisher by surprise. “Chip is never at a loss for words, but the announcement caught him off guard,” said Andy Weber, Farm Journal Media CEO. “It is always powerful to be honored by peers for making a difference in farmers’ lives.“

The prestigious annual award honors a Farm Journal Media editorial team member who carries on the spirit and staunch service journalism principles of Farm Journal founder Wilmer Atkinson. The award, started by Earl Ainsworth in 1992, is coveted recognition among the editorial staff.

The Wilmer winner was named during the recent Farm Journal Media Editorial Summit when more than 40 Farm Journal Media agricultural journalists converged at Twin Lakes Lodge in Missouri. The annual meeting is used to map out the multi-media editorial strategies for covering the key issues in agriculture.

Pictured here with Wilmer Award winner Chip Flory, in center, are previous winners who attended the Farm Journal Media Editorial Summit are Pam Henderson Smith, Charlene Finck, Jim Dickrell, Jeanne Bernick, Ken Ferrie and Darrell Smith

Publication

Peterson Makes Penny’s Day

Laura McNamara

Penny Elliot is a part of the reception staff at the Holiday Inn Select where the New Holland crew and I are staying during the 2008 CMA Music Festival. She let on to Gene Hemphill, the Industry Affairs Manager for New Holland, that she was a big fan of country music singer/songwriter Michael Peterson. So Gene made it his mission to make her day. Not only did Gene get Michael to autograph a copy of his ‘Grave to the Cradle’ album for Penny, Gene also set up an impromptu meet-n-greet of sorts. Michael stopped by the hotel and introduced himself to Penny just before running off to be a guest on this morning’s XM Dave Nemo Show.


2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:
New Holland

Ag Groups, New Holland

Smokey (Not The) Bear PSA’s

Chuck Zimmerman

I just got into Nashville and am sitting in my hotel waiting for a room to open up. Thought I’d use the time to get caught up on some email and found a release about this. I think this is a little creepy. You’ve got to watch the video (psa) to see why (Smokey shouldn’t have a gender identity issue). BTW. Do any tv or radio stations use psa’s any more?

The Advertising Council, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), announced today the launch of a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring Smokey Bear designed to provide critical information to Americans about their role in wildfire prevention. The new PSAs will be unveiled this morning at an event being held at San Francisco City Hall.

Uncategorized

Help Colleen Callahan For Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

Colleen CallahanI try not to get too political here on AgWired. Don’t I? But, in this case I wanted to see if you would help Colleen out. She’s a long time farm broadcaster, wonderful person and I think she’s a worthy cause. Don’t you?

Dear Agricultural Marketing Friends and Colleagues,

Our Colleen Callahan for Congress Campaign is building MOMENTUM! But…this election is not just about one District…it’s about our industry, AGRICULTURE! Today, 94% of Congress does not have an agricultural background. We need more voices of understanding, and I need your help to become at least one more. But, I can’t get there without your support today.

Your contribution by June 30th will help purchase yard, field, window and parade signs!

Donate here.

Uncategorized

THE Pork Economist

Cindy Zimmerman

Dr. Glenn Grimes with the University of Missouri has been the definitive voice for the livestock industry as far as economics goes for five decades. He is here at World Pork Expo giving his views on the current state of the industry and what producers can expect and do to survive the next 18 months or so.

World Pork Expo 2008 Glenn Grimes“The objective should be to minimize losses rather than maximize profits in the next 12-18 months,” he says. To do that, he recommends the futures markets. “For the first time in my experience, the futures market has offered a much better opportunity to minimize losses than ever before.”

He also says that it will be important for producers to maximize feed efficiency and he addressed the weather concerns that are the big topic of discussion here as fields are covered in standing water from a series of storms. “This weather is too similar to 1993 to make me feel comfortable as to what it may do to the corn crop this year. That’s the last real small corn crop that we had,” said Grimes. Ten billion bushels or less he says could stop or slow down the production of ethanol, however he emphasizes, “We will not run out of corn.”

Listen to the Grimes interview here: wpx08-grimes.mp3

Or download here:
Listen To MP3Glenn Grimes Interview (9 min MP3)

World Pork Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by:
Novus

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Novus International, Pork, World Pork Expo

WPX Audio and Photos Available for Media

Cindy Zimmerman

World Pork Expo 2008Some of our farm media friends have requested that we supply downloadable audio from World Pork Expo – so here are some files for your use. I just forget to do that now because it is so great to have the player that plays the audio immediately off the server.

OK, let’s start with the interview from NPPC president Bryan Black:
Listen To MP3Bryan Black Interview (10 min MP3)

Rather than the entire Chuck Conner speech – here is audio from the press gaggle with Conner:
Listen To MP3Conner press gaggle (13 min MP3)

Here is audio with former NPPC president Joy Philippi (pronounced PHIL-i-pee) of Nebraska, co-chair of the Farm Bill Policy Task Force, on what is in the farm bill for pork producers – and what isn’t:
Listen To MP3Joy Philippi (10 min MP3)

Here is an interview with Dan Meagher of Novus International – you can thank them for the audio!
(He pronounces his name and gives his title at the start of the interview)
Listen To MP3Dan Meagher (7 min MP3)

All photos in the Flickr set are available in hi-res versions. Just click on the photo and choose the size options. Just another service of Agwired, courtesy of Novus International. Please email me – cindy@zimmcomm.biz – if you need anything else.

World Pork Expo Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by:
Novus

Audio, Media, Novus International, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo