If you want to find some Hoosier goodness online then check out the Indiana MarketMaker. It’s where consumers, businesses and farmers are linked.
Hoosiers can now find farm-fresh eggs or just-picked apples right in their neighborhood, thanks to a new interactive Web site called MarketMaker. The Web site connects consumers, agricultural businesses and farmers, providing a one-stop shop to locate locally grown food products. “Consumers, local food buyers, retailers and restaurants are all looking for a quick and easy way to locate Indiana food products,” said Andy Miller, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “MarketMaker is the tool to open new markets to Indiana food producers, helping farmers reach their market directly.” Indiana MarketMaker – online at http://www.inmarketmaker.com – currently has more than 150 farm enterprises with more farmers and food businesses registering each day. The Web site is free to consumers, farmers and businesses.
New Leaders for World Dairy Expo
The World Dairy Expo has elected some new leaders at their recent annual meeting as follows:
President: Mike Holschbach, Heatherstone Enterprises, Inc., Baraboo
Vice President: Phil Niemeyer, Nasco, Vice President, Fort Atkinson
Secretary/Treasurer: Dean Hermsdorf, Vita Plus Corporation, Cottage Grove
Also serving on the Executive Committee are:
John Dalton, Daltondale Farms, Hartland. Ray Kuehl, Purebred Breeders of World Dairy Expo, Waunakee; Roger Ripley Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo; Bill Barlass, Barlass Jerseys, Janesville; and Bob Kaiser, University of Wisconsin Extension, Juneau. World Dairy Expo General Manager, Mark Clarke and Will Hughes of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
Holschbach succeeds Roger Ripley as president of the board. Ripley, who is the President and CEO of Accelerated Genetics, has served on World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors since 1985. A member of the Executive Committee for 16 years, he served as board president for the past six years.
Dr. Gerald Poppy Dairy Business Director for Diamond V
Dr. Gerald Poppy has been promoted to Director, North American Dairy Business for Diamond V.
In his new position Poppy will be responsible for overseeing and interacting with all Diamond V dairy representatives working directly with Diamond V dairy products. Dr. Poppy joined the Diamond V team in 2006 as the Western Region Manager, where he was responsible for managing the western sales team and expanding the companys presence in the western United States. Before joining Diamond V, Poppy held several director and technical services roles for Monsanto Dairy Business. Prior to Monsanto, Poppy worked as a dairy nutrition and production consultant, as well as a practicing veterinarian.
National Ag Day in Words
On National Ag Day we’re going to learn more about it from the Vice Chairman of the Agriculture Council of America, Greg Webb, State Governement Relations, Archer Daniels Midland. The Council is the organization that hosts Ag Day and all its related events.
In talking to Greg I learned that this year the theme was “investing in people, policies and programs to enhance consumer’s choices for a healthy world.” He says the website contains a wealth of information that speaks to how American agriculture is accomplishing this. Greg also encourages companies and organizations to hold their own local Ag Day event and use the Council as a resource for ideas and materials.
Ideas for how you can do something in your area include:
Farmer’s Markets
Ag Day Breakfast
Mall Exhibit
Fair
Pizza Party
Adopt-A-Legislator
Adopt-a-Classroom
Petting Zoo
School Lunches
Library Display
Point-of-Purchase
Here’s some “ADVICE FROM THE FIELD:”
“One of our favorite events is a pizza party held for more than 700 4th grade students. We work with different commodity groups, ag businesses and organizations to demonstrate how agriculture affects their everyday life. This not only helps educate the children, but also their siblings, parents and the entire community.” Diane Olson, Missouri Farm Bureau
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: 
ZimmCast 163 (13 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:zimmcast163-3-20-08.mp3
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
Ag Day Field Assignment
I know I just did a post about Charleston Orwig but since they’ve already updated their blog, Field Assignment, with an Ag Day message then I’ve got to bring it to your attention. C’mon. More of you have recognized today haven’t you?
I had a very hearty breakfast and lunch so far today. Thank you to our farmers.
Cotton Joins American Hereford Association
The American Hereford Association (AHA) and Hereford World is proud to announce Adam Cotton, Wichita, Kan., has joined the Hereford team and will serve as the Southwest region field representative.
In this position, Cotton will attend Hereford sales and events as well as assist breeders with marketing and genetic selection. He will also assist in educating members and commercial producers about AHA programs and other beef industry opportunities.
Cotton will serve as the communications link between the AHA and breeders in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Cotton grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri and his family had a cow/calf operation near St. Joseph. He has been involved in the cattle industry all his life and as a youth showed polled Hereford cattle, was involved in the American Hereford Association Junior Program, 4-H and FFA.
He spent two years at Blackhawk East Junior College in Kewanee, Illinois before transferring to Kansas State University where he graduated with a bachelor of food science and industry degree with a minor in business. Most recently he has been serving as a quality assurance technician with Farmland Foods in Wichita.
Zimfo Bytes
- Syngenta Crop Protection announced that the U.S. EPA has approved Inspire™ SB fungicide for use on sugarbeets to control Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew. Inspire SB, an Inspire™ brand product, contains the active ingredient difenoconazole and provides preventive and curative activity on sugarbeets. State registrations or specific crop and/or pest uses may still be pending in certain states.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., announces the recipients of its 2008 Advancement in PRRS Research Awards. Recipients recognized at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Conference in San Diego, Calif., were: Jim Lowe, DVM, Carthage Veterinary Service, Carthage, Ill.; Paul Yeske, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, Minn.; and Scott Dee, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn.
- Jeff Murphy, vice president of sales for Kemin AgriFoods North America, announced the appointment of Sonda Sibole as the Key Account Manager responsible for Kemin sales development in California and Arizona. In addition, Matt Gottberg, the Kemin key account manager who previously managed California and Arizona, will now focus on developing sales in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Utah.
The Easter Egg of 2008
The egg is an icon of Easter, but where did the Easter egg tradition come from? PAAS says egg coloring is a 5,000 year old practice. The egg decorating company also takes a look at egg trends for Easter 2008.
Persians first began using colored eggs to celebrate spring in 3,000 B.C. Today, egg decorating is a favorite family activity. A majority agree that the Easter holiday just wouldn’t be the same without decorating and hunting for Easter eggs (65%) — and the enthusiasm is even higher among parents (77%)! A new survey by PAAS — the egg decorating authority for the past 128 years — reveals the many ways people plan to express themselves this year.
According to survey, the average egg decorator planning to decorate or dye eggs this year will be trimming more than a dozen — a whopping 17 in fact!
Teal is poised to take on last year’s favorite, purple, as 2008’s most fashionable Easter egg color, say the experts at PAAS. Teal’s vibrant hue reminiscent of sky and water is already making waves in fashion and home design, as revealed in the Color Marketing Group’s “Hot Color Trends for 2008” report.
Extras are another hot trend according to the survey; nearly nine in ten consumers (87%) want to embellish their eggs beyond traditional dye this year. They’ll be taking their eggs to the edge with paint (54%), stickers (48%) and glitter (45%).Read More
Happy National Ag Day – Kiss a Farmer
Hello and Happy National Ag Day. This is the day we honor our nation’s farmers for providing safe, abundant and affordable products, a strong economy, a source of renewable energy, and a world of job opportunities. Leave a comment here about what you’re doing today.
I just did a check on Google News and only saw one story so far. Let’s see if more show up in this key word search by the end of the day.
I can’t agree more with the statements you’ll find on the Ag Day website like these:
Today’s farmers understand the importance of improving the quality and quantity of food available to the world. According to the US Census Bureau, it is estimated that there will be 7.5 billion people in the world by the year 2020 (we’re currently at 6.2 billion). It’s agriculture’s job to find a way to feed those people. Advancements in crop technology, equipment technology and information management will make that possible. American farmers and others involved in the agriculture industry have met and will continue to meet this challenge again and again.
Creative Cow Judging
Advertising agency blogs are a fantastic opportunity to showcase your talent. I mean, if you’re going to say you’re creative then show it. Here’s one way Charleston Orwig has done so on Field Assignment.
Every year we give our creative team entry forms for the Hoard’s Dairyman Cow Judging Contest and very limited advice on making picks.