Here’s a little update on that NCBA staff reorganization that I posted on last week. I was wondering who was leaving the organization until I got an email with the information this morning.
The National Cattlemens Beef Association is loosing four of its vice presidents. Jay Truitt will leave his post as Vice President of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C. and three Vice-President positions are being eliminated in the organizations Denver office. Those positions were filled by Mark Thomas who headed Global Consumer Marketing; Don Rickets who was in charge of governance and federation relations; and Tim Downey who oversaw strategic projects. CEO Terry Stokes will run the Washington office in the interim.
So now you know too.
Farm Blog Aggregator
I’m not sure who created and manages the Power Guides but since they commented here I thought I’d point them out. It’s one of those anonymous things which I really don’t like although I can see that there is someone named Steve who posted on their blog. If you say you’re open to the “community” aspect of blogging then at least let us know who we’re dealing with. Apparently whoever this is decided to create a few topical sites to aggregate the posts from other people’s blogs with the subject of farming as one of them. Steve did a little searching and found at least 70 blogs on this topic with AgWired being one of them. Here’s an excerpt from what he says about them.
The range of farming blogs is pretty wide ranging and includes Beef, Agriculture, Fruit Growers, and also ranges from small homesteads to farms with thousands of acres. Most of our farm blogs are US based but we do have a few from Europe and Australia . Many of the farms listed are small organic farms producing chickens, beef and vegetables . I am not a farmer but reading some of the blogs opened my eyes as to the different problems farmers face which can include wells running dry, large numbers of still born lambs or calves.
The map is a Google map on which he’s mapped where some of us agribloggers are located although I don’t see AgWired on it.
The Model Beef
The CW Network will replay last week’s episode of America’s Next Top Model called, “Where’s The Beef.” I think I’ll probably miss it.
Thanks to the Meatingplace.com for letting us know.
Not only were they posed with sides of beef hanging in a cooler, they were dressed in meat. The cuts were arranged, accessorized and stretched into halter tops and panties (yes, you read that right).
For the full video experience, watch the first encore presentation of the episode this Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT, 6 p.m. CDT, on your local CW channel
My Kind of “Going Green”
I hope you’re getting ready to wear the green for St. Patrick’s Day. While you’re at it you can’t go wrong with a Wexford Irish Cream Ale. Just in case you were having trouble selecting something to go along with that corned beef and cabbage. That’s the way I’d go green. Not too worried about my carbon footprint either.
It’s been not only a catch up weekend for me but I upgraded Cindy’s and my office computer monitors. I’m now looking at 24 inches of high definition LCD real estate and it sure is easier on these eyes. It’s a holiday week coming up but I’m sure we’re going to have lots of good stuff here on AgWired.
NCBA Staff Reorganization
Terry Stokes, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association issued a statement today in regards to some changes on the staff. Here’s a portion of his letter:
Yesterday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced a staff reorganization to continue to serve cattlemen, our state partners and the cattle industry in an ever-changing environment. We have simplified our organization into these areas:
– Governance, Leadership and State Services, led by Kendal Frazier
– Marketing and Communications, led by Kim Essex
– Member and Corporate Services, led by Polly Ruhland
– Research and Education, led by Dr. James O. Reagan
– Government Affairs, led by Terry Stokes, interim
NCBA’s mission is to increase profit opportunities for cattle and beef producers by enhancing the business climate and building beef demand. As a reflection of the changing industry, this restructuring occurred at the direction of NCBA’s officers to make NCBA efficient and effective at achieving this mission. Read More
The Distinguished Dr. Greg Stapleton
BASF Senior Technical Service Representative Greg Stapleton has just been awarded the Distinguished Service Award for Industry at the Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS) annual meeting in Jacksonville, FL.
In making the nomination, fellow members stated that Dr. Stapleton has been very active in SWSS on many different committees. During the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award for Industry, the weed scientists expressed great appreciation for Dr. Stapleton’s diligent efforts in hosting the annual SWSS Weed Contest.
Springtime Migration
I think it must be getting near spring time if the Sandhill Cranes are flying over Nebraska. Here’s a formation doing a flyover when I gassed up on my way back from Omaha today.
There were countless numbers of birds in the air this morning. According to Wikipedia:
The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. It has one of the the longest fossil histories of any extant bird[1]. But although a 10-million-year-old crane fossil from Nebraska is often cited as being of this species[2], this is more likely from a prehistoric relative or the direct ancestor of the Sandhill Crane but may not even belong in the genus Grus, while the oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is “just” 2.5 million years old[3]. Still, this is nearly half as old again as the earliest remains of most living species of birds, which are not known from remains older than the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary some 1.8 million years ago. As these ancient Sandhill Cranes varied as much in size as the present-day birds, even those Pliocene fossils were sometimes described as new species[4]. Grus haydeni on the other hand may or may not have been a prehistoric relative of the living species, or it may actually comprise material of the Sandhill Crane and its ancestor[5].
The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska’s Sandhills in the American midwest. This is the most important stopover area for the Lesser Sandhill Crane, Grus (canadensis) canadensis, with up to 450,000 of these birds migrating through annually.
I passed a field and stopped for a quick photo to add to my collection.
They all swirled around and around before finally landing in this field off of I-29 right near the Nebraska/Missouri border.
Zimfo Bytes
- Producers and custom applicators will want to check out the significantly improved operator comforts available in the 2008 4000 and 7000 Series Spra-Coupe® from AGCO Corporation’s Application Equipment Division. Changes were implemented to reduce the roll of the machine and improve force absorption of the suspension by taking oscillation out of the front end. Engineers also switched to a rigid-mount front axle, using linear-rate springs rather than variable-rate springs and nearly doubled the travel on the front axle. For more about the changes, visit the Web site.
- Nufarm Americas Inc. and North Carolina based Etigra announced that they have reached agreement for Nufarm to acquire the assets of Etigra. This proposed acquisition will strengthen Nufarm’s existing position in the turf and specialty segment.
- Indiana’s Hoosier Ag Today has announced the creation of a new programming dealing with the energy sector. The daily Energy Update will include crude oil, gasoline, e-85, and ethanol prices, along with analysis and trends in the energy market. The prices being paid by Hoosier ethanol and biodiesel plants for corn and soybeans will also be included. The report can be heard on HAT radio stations across the state as well as online.
- AGCO Corporation’s application equipment division is moving to complete realignment of its sales and service network for the Ag-Chem brand. These changes mean large commercial producers who own and operate Ag-Chem application equipment can turn to their local Caterpillar (http://www.cat.com) dealer as the one source for their application equipment sales and service needs. Across the country, 22 dealers have assumed responsibility for new machinery sales of Ag-Chem’s RoGator® high clearance sprayers and TerraGator® flotation applicators.
What Are You Doing For Ag Day/Week?
What is your company doing to promote or celebrate National Ag Week and National Ag Day? Are you having a party? Running a special promotion? Send me your pictures, images and audio files or links to them, including video and I’ll do my best to feature it here on AgWired over the coming week or so.
Here’s something Successful Farming is doing. They’ve recorded the Ag Day PSA’s to run on Successful Farming Radio.
You can hear one of them here: ag-week-psa.mp3
Successful Farming will deliver a series of National AgDay promotional mentions on The Successful Farming Radio Magazine and also make the promos available on Podcast through iTunes and on the Successful Farming(r) Web site Agriculture Online. The SF Radio Magazine has been on the air for nine years, and provides coverage in 22 states.
Want more SF Radio? Click here to subscribe to the SF Radio podcast. Need help? Click here for our podcast FAQ section.
Pam Fretwell Joins Conklin Company
I guess there’s an opportunity for a farm broadcaster at WTAD in Quincy, IL. Pam Fretwell, Past President of the NAFB is going to work for the Conklin Company as the corporate spokesperson for its agriculture division. She’s pictured here at last year’s NAFB convention.
Ms. Fretwell will lead public relations and media development training. Given her love for farm broadcasting she plans to continue to do some weekly on-air programming and maintain her NAFB connections.
Ms. Fretwell joins Conklin’s Kansas City corporate staff from her nine-year position as the Farm Services Director for STARadio Corporation. Often recognized in her broadcasting career, Pam’s distinctions include the award for Missouri Corn Growers Farm Broadcaster of the Year Award and the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award from the Missouri Farm Bureau.
According to Charles W. Herbster, CEO and owner of the Conklin Company, “Pam’s impressive reputation in farm broadcasting and experience in public relations make her the ideal person to help Conklin reach thousands of independent American farmers who can increase their profitability with our crop and livestock management systems.”