Heading off to the Big Pig Show

Cindy Zimmerman

World Pork Expo 2008I am heading down the road today to attend the 20th World Pork Expo in Des Moines, with coverage sponsored by Novus International and their line of pork products and programs.

I have to admit being a “newbie” – even though I worked for Brownfield Network a number of years, I never attended WPX – so this will be my first. (Note to Cindy Cunningham: be gentle with me!)

This year is the National Pork Producers Council event’s 20th anniversary of serving as the world’s largest trade show for the pork industry. 30,000 visitors are expected this year and the trade show will feature more than 1,000 booths displayed by some 450 different companies.

The event I am most looking forward to is the pork checkoff-sponsored Great BarbeQlossal on Saturday. World Pork Expo Junior National Show will be held through Friday and the National Swine Registry 2008 World Pork Expo Breed Show and Sale is Friday and Saturday.

All this and more at the Big Pig Show! Stay tuned.

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo is sponsored by:
Novus

Livestock, Novus International, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

New Milk Board Appointee

Melissa Sandfort

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of a new member to the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.

Newly appointed to fill a vacancy lasting less than 18 months is Jay S. Bryant, Reston, Va. (Region 6). The term for this appointee expires June 30, 2009. This new member will be seated at the board meeting July 17-19, 2008.

The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from the general public.

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Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner will open the 13th season of USDA’s Farmers Market June 6 at 10 a.m. The opening ceremony will have live entertainment, raffle prizes and an information booth where customers can obtain free material on related USDA programs. The market is open to the public and will operate every Friday, June 6 through Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at USDA Headquarters on 12th St. and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC.
  • Corn growers can achieve outstanding postemergence broadleaf weed and grass control that lasts up to canopy, with new Bayer CropScience Laudis™ herbicide. With its new, proprietary safener technology, Laudis is designed to optimize herbicide performance while minimizing crop response.
  • New research reveals how strip tilling, in combination with precision liquid fertilizer placement, can increase efficiencies and profitability, according to tillage trials conducted at Orthman Research Farm in Lexington, Neb. Click here for more information about the Agri-Inject micro-tube system and strip tilling with an Orthman Manufacturing 1tRIPr preplant tillage tool.
  • Curry Seed Company and Pioneer Hi-Bred have reached an agreement regarding the purchase of the “Curry Seed” brand name. This transaction will greatly expand Curry Seed corn trait offerings. In addition, Curry Seed will be introducing the first complete soybean lineup in its 73-year history.
  • Asoyia was named Eastern Iowa’s “Fastest Growing Company” by the Entrepreneurial Development Center and the Corridor Business Journal. Asoyia was formed in 2004 by 25 Iowa farmers and today has 10 full-time employees.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Celebrities Flock to Nashville for the CMA Music Festival

    Laura McNamara

    Music, sports and all-around good fun are what draws about 200,000 people to Nashville each June. The 2008 CMA Country Music Festival is kicking off with its CMA Country Music Festival Kick-Off Parade and Block Party today. I arrived in Nashville last night and will begin providing coverage of the festival here on Agwired.com. Chuck will arrive Friday afternoon and take over posting online. I don’t think he wanted to miss the Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race on Sunday. Michael will be challenging fellow recording artists, radio personalities and even a few Tennessee Titans in the New Holland sponsored charity event, beginning Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

    But first, Michael will be appearing in the Kick-Off Parade this afternoon.

    Most major activities for the CMA Music Festival begin later in the week, but the event’s fourth annual kick-off parade takes place Wednesday (June 4) at 2 p.m. in downtown Nashville. Immediately after the parade, the third annual CMA Music Festival Block Party will be staged at the Sommet Center. Among those participating in the parade are Deborah Allen, Katie Armiger, Erika Jo, Crystal Gayle, the Grascals, Jeff Griffith, Indian Rodeo, Lonestar, Jason Meadows, Mountain Heart, Michael Martin Murphey, One Flew South, the Roys, Keni Thomas, Trent Tomlinson, Rhonda Towns, Kyle Wyley, Chris Young and the cast of CMT’s Trick My Truck. The block party will feature performances by Keith Anderson, Zac Brown, Luke Bryan, Joe Nichols, James Otto, Rissi Palmer, Phil Stacey and Young. The events are sponsored by Chevorolet.

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

    Ag Groups, New Holland

    Kansas City Gas Fire at Magellan Petroleum

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I thought I was done tonight but when I got off the elevator here in the Marriott Hotel and looked out the window I saw this fire which is apparently at the Magellan Petroleum factory.

    I’m a long way away but it’s impressive. I’m now watching on local tv and they’ve been saying that it’s a couple million gallons of gas that’s going to burn. Wow. Apparently lightning started it with the huge storm that hit here and is still in the area.

    I of course popped out my video camera too to get this clip:

    Video

    A Missouri Corn Growers Roundtable at CUTC

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Gary Wheeler, Gary Clark and Jamey ClineSome of the people attending the CUTC are (l-r) Gary Wheeler and Gary Clark, both with Missouri Corn Growers and Jamey Cline, BBI International. They’re all Missouri boys. In fact, MO Corn Growers is one of the sponsors here at the conference.

    I got them all to talk with me a little about the event with their impressions and observations. Some of the things that they mentioned included getting good information, especially on the supply side of things and also with distillers grains as well as new enzyme technology. They all agree that this is a very timely conference for the industry since we’re seeing a lot of change and ideas presented here will help us prepare for the changes of the future.

    Here’s my interview with these three amigos: cutc-08-mo-corn.mp3

    You can use this link to download the audio file: Listen to MP3 Gary, Gary and Jamey Interview (3 minutes)


    CUTC Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, CUTC

    NCGA Leadership Talks About CUTC

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Rick Tolman and Richard GlassI wanted to interview Rick Tolman (l), CEO of the NCGA and Richard Glass (r), VP of Research and Business Development for NCGA together but it didn’t happen that way but we still have a Rick and Rick post anyway. In the picture they’re enjoying one of the presentations taking place at the CUTC.

    When I spoke to Rick Tolman he said that he’s always rejuvenated by the ideas, enthusiasm and energy expressed here. He says the exciting story is the productivity in corn production. Like me he also doesn’t see a food vs. fuel issue but one of food and fuel because the corn production pie is growing. But even beyond fuel we’re hearing about other types of new products being made from corn. For example, he says the NCGA offices are being carpeted with a product made from corn.

    Here’s my interview with Rick Tolman: cutc-08-rick-tolman.mp3

    You can use this link to download the audio file: Listen to MP3 Rick Tolman Interview (5 minutes)

    When I spoke to Richard Glass he said that he’s really impressed with this conference. He says there are people here representing 11 countries counting the United States and that we have 35 speakers in 10 sessions. He says this is perfect timing to have the conference because of all the things going on with ethanol and the push to relieve our dependence on petrochemicals.

    Here’s my interview with Richard Glass: cutc-08-richard-glass.mp3

    You can use this link to download the audio file: Listen to MP3 Richard Glass Interview (4 minutes)


    CUTC Photo Album

    Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, CUTC, NCGA

    Businessman Perspective on CUTC

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Sano ShimodaSome of you may be old enough to remember hearing Sano Shimoda, President, BioScience Securities, (standing in center of picture) speak to a NAMA Issues Forum in Washington, DC a number of years ago. I’d link you to it but we didn’t have websites to post on back then. I remember him talking about the exciting future of biotechnology and I think we’ve seen a lot of what he spoke about happen.

    I ran into him at lunch today and talked with him about the CUTC we’re both attending. He says the key here is biofuels and I would agree that there’s a lot of focus on that technology. He says the future of agriculture is using technology to enhance value of the major crops and ethanol and biodiesel are taking center stage.

    When I asked him what he advises his clients right now he replied that they face a challenge of committing capital resources to business development while being uncertain about how sustainable and economical ethanol will be and if we’ll continue to see high prices for oil. As he says, he’s just a business guy listening to some seriously technical presentations but he says you have to be impressed with the people here from all over the world working to meet the challenges the industry is facing.

    Here’s my interview with Sano Shimoda: cutc-08-sano-shimoda.mp3

    You can use this link to download the audio file: Listen to MP3 Sano Shimoda Interview (3 minutes)


    CUTC Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, CUTC

    AgriTalk Again

    Chuck Zimmerman

    AgriTalkI really hate to do this to you but here’s AgriTalk again. I know, they need their own category, blog, etc. Mike, Mike and John were live from the CUTC today and I’ll see them again this weekend in Nashville for the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race.

    I’ve got some more items to post but this has been a day of doing audio interviews, video recording of session presenters as well as still photography. There hasn’t been any posting time but I do have the photo album updated.

    Tomorrow I’ll be traveling on to the annual meeting of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council where I’m presenting in back-to-back sessions in the afternoon. So after the reception here tonight I’ll get caught up online and see you from there.


    CUTC Photo Album

    Corn, CUTC, Media

    Corntini

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CorntiniI don’t know if this is actually called a Corntini but it’s a martini with corn in it.

    All I know is that you “drink the best and burn the rest.”

    Someone’s going to have to help me out with the ingredients because the server I spoke with didn’t know. These were being served at the opening reception to the CUTC appropriately enough.

    I’ve got a bunch of photos to share but they’ll have to wait until I get internet access that allows me to upload them. I’ll add a link here later.


    CUTC Photo Album

    Corn, CUTC