Cotton Consultants Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF at BeltwideWhat better way to kick things off at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences than having lunch with your sponsor?

Right now a large group of consultants is having lunch at the BASF Consultants Information Session in the good old Opryland Hotel. The first fungicide registered for cotton is Headline and that’s basically the news headline here at this session.

We’ve got three presenters today and I’ll be posting interviews with them here shortly.

AgWired coverage of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences
is made possible by: BASF

BASF, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

National Potato Promotion Board Members Named

Melissa Sandfort

potato.jpgActing Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner appointed 35 producer members and one public member to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board for three-year terms beginning March 1, 2008 and ending on Feb. 28, 2011. In addition, another member has been appointed to fill a vacancy for a term of office beginning immediately and ending on Feb.28, 2009.

Newly appointed producer members are: Ernest D. Ford of Center, Colo.; Gary B. Lands, St. Augustine, Fla.; Jeff Gibson, Burley, Idaho; Bevan Jeppesen, Rexburg, Idaho; Alan Glen Parks, Blackfoot, Idaho; William Ritchey Toevs, Aberdeen, Idaho; Keith Labrie, St. Agatha, Maine; Alan Moir, Woodland, Maine; Tom Wingard, Elk River, Minn.; Joe Thompson, Hemmingford, Neb.; Tom Scott Campbell, Grafton, N.D.; Eric Halverson, Grand Forks, N.D.; Ben Tucker, St. Thomas, N.D.; Chris Warren Slagell, Hydro, Okla.; Troy Betz, Hermiston, Ore.; Molly Ryan Connors, Richland, Wash.; Rob Davis, Connell, Wash.; Greg Ebe, Custer, Wash; Chris Olsen, Othello, Wash.; Randy Mullen and Reid Reimann, Pasco, Wash.; Ron Mach, Antigo, Wis. and Richard Okray, Plover, Wis.

Tom Church of Wilder, Idaho, has been appointed to fill a vacancy for theterm of office beginning immediately and ending on Feb. 28, 2009.

To view a complete list of reappointments, click here.

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The Feast and Good Eats are On

Laura McNamara

The Food NetworkIt’s official. Food Network will be offering new seasons of Good Eats, Iron Chef America, and more programs centered around fully appreciating food.

Food Network and Alton Brown have agreed to a three-year deal, it was announced today by Brooke Johnson, President, Food Network. In 2008, he will produce new seasons of the popular Good Eats and Iron Chef America, as well as assorted specials. In addition, Brown will produce a new season of limited series Feasting on Asphalt, titled Feasting on Waves, premiering in summer 2008.

Feasting on Waves, premiering summer 2008, will feature Alton Brown trading the road for the waves to explore the people, cultures and food of the Caribbean. He will uncover the real mom and pop restaurants and food stands, cook on the boat, dive, fish, whatever it takes to find interesting edibles outside of the resorts. From the deck of a boat, it’s a modern day pirate’s tale searching out history, cuisines and stories.

Agribusiness, Food

MO Governor Supports Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

MO Governor Matt BluntMissouri Governor Matt Blunt addressed a big crowd in St. Louis today at his annual ag conference.

I think attendance is up this year and people got here even with a major interstate in the area closed for construction. This is a real who’s who in Missouri agriculture.

The conference actually takes place over two days with lots of speakers like our Governor who spoke at lunch.

You can listen to the Governor’s speech if you’d like: mo-gov-speech.mp3

During the Governor’s speech he talked about several initiatives he’s proposed to assist farmers in the state. They include:

Expanding Missouri Dairy Farms

Gov. Blunt announced his plan to establish Dairy Parlor Renovation Grants to help expand Missouri dairy farms. The grants will help producers at older dairies with the costs of parlor renovations for more efficient milking, allowing them to grow their herds.

MO Governor Matt BluntNew technology and a “parabone” design allow producers to cut their milking time in half. The governor is calling for $200,000 to help producers make needed renovations in the first year. The grant will require producers to share 50 percent of costs and will be awarded up to $10,000 per grant.

Enhancing Infrastructure to Support Agriculture

The governor will also recommend $4 million in new funding for Port Authority capital improvement projects. The projects support infrastructure critical to growing Missouri agriculture needs. cale needed to weigh inbound and outbound trucks transporting fertilizer and similar bulk products.

Supporting the Future of Agriculture

Gov. Blunt announced his plan to establish the Farm Legacy Exchange Program, which will help keep Missouri’s farming industry strong for future generations by facilitating succession planning. The Farm Legacy Exchange Program will match beginning farmers with farmers nearing retirement to help form a working relationship and strategy to transition farming responsibilities and designated assets from existing farmers to beginning farmers.

The Farm Legacy Exchange Program addresses a growing need as the average age of working farmers has risen to 60. In addition, the program will help young farmers address the rising cost of production land through collaboration with experienced farmers considering phasing out their operations. The governor’s new program will match veteran producers ready to retire with younger producers based on a survey of each farmer. The program will provide estate planning, legal contacts and access to all the financial incentive programs administered through the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority.

MO Governor Matt BluntThe Farm Legacy Exchange Program is a collaborative effort among the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Missouri Farm Bureau, University of Missouri-Extension, Farm Credit Services, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the International Farm Transition Network.

After his speech the Governor made himself available to the media. Of course the golden ZimmComm microphone was in the mix.

It’s going to get a workout this week since it’s time now to head to Nashville and the Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

Audio

Ag Media Break

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm BroadcastersThe farm media is here in St. Louis at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture.

They don’t always work though. Not all of these guys work for AgriTalk. One of them does. They seem to be on break right now.

I didn’t know there was such a thing.

Shortly after this photo it was time for lunch and a personal visit by our Governor Matt Blunt. After all, it is his Conference.

Media

The Hondo Group Expands

Melissa Sandfort

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications agency, announced that Damon Daood has joined their team as senior art director. Daood will serve as lead designer for the Hondo Group creative team, utilizing his vast experience in the field to create innovative and exciting creative. In addition, Diana Britton has been promoted to media coordinator and Allison Cromer has been hired as office manager.

ddaood_4×6.JPGDaood, a Cleveland, Ohio native with more than 10 years experience in the field, has a diversified portfolio that includes production work for independent feature films, as well as traditional print and ad design experience. His many honors include receiving a 2007 ADDY in Corporate Identity for Ruckus Wireless, and Best of Show MacWorld 2006 for Corporate Identity for the ATO iSee, a video iPod converter. Prior to joining The Hondo Group, Daood served as creative director, production designer and photographer for MetalMachineMovie Productions in Austin, Texas. He holds a B.F.A. in Visual Communication Design from Kent State University.

dbritton_4×6.JPGDiana Britton has been promoted to media coordinator. Britton started with the agency in May 2007 as office coordinator and quickly expanded her role. She is now responsible for working with account executives and the media buyer/planner to execute national print and broadcast media buys. In addition, Britton has extensive experience in the marketing research field. Prior to joining the agency, she served as the Texas director of operations for Audits and Surveys Worldwide. Britton studied Broadcast Journalism at The University of Texas at Arlington.

acromer_4×6.JPGAllison Cromer was hired as office coordinator for the company. Cromer will be responsible for maintaining office services and efficiency, supervising monthly billing and maintaining office records. Prior to joining the agency, she served as a real estate appraiser for Echols Appraisal Group.

Agencies

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Zimfo Bytes

  • Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner reappointed one member and one alternate member to serve on the National Peanut Board. Charles Tennyson Edens, member, Sumter, S.C., and Edward M. Rast Jr., alternate member, Cameron, S.C., will serve three year terms of office beginning Jan. 1, 2008 and ending on Dec. 31, 2010. More information about the research and promotion programs can be found here.
  • Syngenta announced that the EPA has approved Endigo™ insecticide for use in potatoes. Endigo is an enhanced product with two modes of action that combines knockdown and residual activity for sucking and chewing pests. It protects potatoes against key pests throughout the season including Colorado potato beetle, aphids, potato leafhopper, European corn borer and potato tuberworm.
  • Plan to join the Missouri Soybean Association at one of their 2008 District Meetings:
    District 1 – Jan. 29, 2008 in St. Joseph, Mo.
    District 2 – Jan. 31, 2008 in Chillicothe, Mo.
    District 3 – Feb. 14, 2008 in Mexico, Mo.
    District 4 – Feb. 7, 2008 in Lamar, Mo.
    District 5 – Jan. 16, 2008 in Jefferson City, Mo.
    District 6 – Jan. 8, 2008 in Wentzville, Mo. and Feb. 12, 2008 in Union, Mo.
    District 7 – Jan. 17, 2008 in Sikeston, Mo. And Jan. 17, 2008 in Jackson, Mo.
Zimfo Bytes

Ali Kauffman Joins Meyocks Group

Chuck Zimmerman

Ali KauffmanAli Kauffman is brave enough to start work at the Meyocks Group as a new account coordinator.

Kauffman had worked with the agency as a graduate intern and previously was a marketing and communications intern at The Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. She is a native of Odebolt, Iowa. Kauffman earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University in 2007.

”We’re pleased to add Ali to The Meyocks Group team,” says Doug Jeske, chief operating officer for the agency. “Throughout her internships and during her educational experience at Iowa State, Ali has proven she has communications talents that will serve our clients well.”

Agencies

Huntsville Hooters are a Hoot in the Kitchen

Laura McNamara

HootersChicken wings. Great for American poultry producers. Great for the American public. Apparently, the best to be had… from Hooters outlets anyway… is in Huntsville, Alabama.

The kitchen staff of the Hooters of Huntsville, Alabama has been named the 2007 Hooters Kitchen Crew of the Year and was presented $10,000 cash and the title belt on January 3rd. The HKCY (Hooters Kitchen Crew of the Year) is a program which was developed to recognize the top kitchen crews working in the Hooters of America system. The kitchen staff at the Huntsville Hooters was selected as the top crew from 122 Hooters restaurants. The selection criterion was based on more than their ability to shake chicken wings. The crew was also evaluated on food safety awareness, performance and productivity.

Advertising, Food, Poultry

Gateway Governor’s Ag Lunch

Chuck Zimmerman

2008 Missouri Governor's Conference on AgricultureThe Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture got kicked off this evening and I’m not there. But I will be for lunch tomorrow. Right now I’m missing the Taste of AgriMissouri. If you’ve never been then I can tell you you’re missing a great party and some good food.

I think this is the first time the conference has been held in St. Louis. If not, I’m sure someone will correct me. The theme had to be, “Agriculture, Gateway to the Future.” I’ll bet it took a few bottles of Missouri Norton wine to come up with that one.

We’ll see what our Governor Matt Blunt has to say and I’ll share that with you afterward assuming I have some good AT&T signal in the hotel. The Gateway NAMA chapter and the St. Louis Agribusiness Club are also holding their January meeting in conjunction with the lunch tomorrow. Convenient don’t you think?

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