I just noticed that the National Agri-Marketing Association website looks different.
It really needed a facelift and it got one. I think it’s easier to navigate so take some time to check it out.
Lessing-Flynn Celebrates 100 Years
Congratulations to Tom Flynn for his new job starting January 1, 2008 as President of Lessing-Flynn. Here’s Tom with his wife Laurie.
Last week the agency celebrated 100 years in business. What a milestone. We’ve only got about 25 times that many years to go to get there as a company.
At their celebration the agency hosted more than 230 clients, suppliers and friends. It was also announced that Connor Fynn would become Chairman of the Board with Joe Rosenberg assuming the position of Vice Chairman.
NAMA Regional Award Ceremonies
Make sure you plan to attend one of the upcoming Best of NAMA regional award ceremonies. Here’s the list:
January 10 – Region III Best of NAMA Ceremony
This ceremony will take place at The Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom in Golden Valley, MN. The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $65. For more information on the event visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/region3.htm.
January 17 – MidSouth Best of NAMA Ceremony
Stay tuned for more information on the MidSouth Best of NAMA Ceremony.
January 17 – Region IV Best of NAMA Ceremony
The Region IV ceremony will take place at The Abbey Resort in Fontana, WI. The ceremony will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $65 per person. For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/region4.htm.
January 22 – Region II Best of NAMA Ceremony
This ceremony will take place at The VooDoo Lounge in Harrah’s Casino in North Kansas City, MO. The event will begin with a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7:00 p.m. Cost for the event is $65 per person. For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/region2.htm.
January 31 – Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA Ceremony
This event will take place at the NC State University Club in Raleigh, NC. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. For more information visit, http://www.nama.org/amc/bon/carvir.html.
Pork Recipes
Since I’m on the subject of pork, how about some recipes. Dave Williams emailed me a link exchange request so I’m happy to bring your attention to his Pork Recipes website.
One it you’ll find a lot of good looking recipes. That’s about it. Very simple.
It seems like he could develop this into a lot more and maybe he will. In the meantime, enjoy cooking some pork this holiday season.
Nutrition Efficiency Info on Pork Board Website
A new section of the Pork Checkoff website contains information for producers who want to optimize their feed costs and maximize production efficiencies.
The new Nutritional Efficiency section includes information about the recently founded nutritional efficiency consortium; the consortium’s research and activity priorities; the research funded by the consortium and a subsection with links to additional information or resources.
Twenty four organizations have joined to form the nutritional efficiency consortium. Included in those are state pork associations, state and national corn grower associations and several allied industry partners. Their objectives are to determine research and producer educational opportunities that will help alleviate the increasing costs of producing pork, specifically addressing feed costs and maximizing growth and performance efficiencies. The program’s specific objectives can be found in the introductory page to the new online resource.
Resources that are available today include the video and audio presentations offered at the Distillers Grains: Implications for the U.S. Pork Industry conference that took place in Nov. 2006 in Des Moines, Iowa.
The video and audio require you to use Internet Explorer as your browser. The picture is an example of one of the videos you can find there.
Get Your Animart Cowlendar
The new Cowlendars are here. That would be the dairy cow calendars from Animart.
ANIMART, Inc. has released its annual, uniquely-themed customer appreciation calendar. This year, the ANIMART calendar features close-up photos with dairy cattle. Displaying playful personalities, these images also serve as timely reminders to dairy producers about seasonal animal health issues. And, as a tool for busy producers, each day on the calendar has return and due dates to help with dairy cattle heat detection, management and pregnancy planning.
For each of the past seven years, ANIMART has developed a unique theme to feature in their annual calendars and product catalogs – affectionately named “Cowlendars” and “Cowtalogs” by ANIMART staff and customers. The calendars are created as a special token of appreciation to dairy customers. For the 2008 year, each page of the 13-month calendar (starting with December 2007) features a different angle of dairy cattle. Playful captions are from a dairy cow’s point of view, and touch on everything from annoying fly problems to the pains of mastitis.
“This year’s theme is the many angles from which we see dairy cattle,” says Ruth Metz, co-owner of Animart with her husband, Dr. James Metz. “Our customers work hard, and we hope this year’s Cowlendar’s fun and playful nature will bring both humor and friendly reminders to their business.”
The cover of the new 2008 product catalog features the same theme as the calendar. The “Cowtalog” is now available and ready for customers to put to use in making convenient telephone, fax or internet orders for all their animal health needs.
Zimfo Bites
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a partnership with the National Cattlemen’s Foundation in cooperation with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The partnership will facilitate the registration of additional cattle premises as part of the National Animal Identification System.
- Raven Industries, is now offering its new “Cruizer” guidance system product as an affordable choice for farmers who have not yet ventured into field operation guidance systems. According to the company’s new product announcement, the new Raven Cruizer is a compact 3-D guidance system that provides a high degree of functionality at a competitive, complete system price of $1,695.
- Starbucks will expand its relationship with Ethiopia, beyond an existing arrangement under which the coffee retailer agreed to work with Ethiopian farmers to improve bean quality and increase crop production. As part of its latest commitment to expand the quality and yield of Ethiopia’s premium coffees, Starbucks has agreed to open a Farmer Support Center in Addis Ababa, and also will take steps to raise the profile of Ethiopian coffees through special marketing promotions.
- R-CALF USA’s charitable foundation, the United Stockgrowers of America Foundation for Research, Education and Endowment, is accepting applications from students interested in winning one of three scholarships to be awarded in February 2008 at R-CALF USA’s annual convention in Omaha, Neb. Applicants are required to write a research paper about a current threat to the U.S. cattle industry and include a solution. Applications must be postmarked on or before Dec. 31, 2007. Applications and more information are available here under the “USA FREE” link.
It’s Bubble Time
I know this has absolutely nothing to do with agriculture but after 9 hours of driving and several hours of meeting today I just haven’t got anything else to share yet (meaning that I’m waiting on pictures to be emailed back for several posts I’m working on).
So I hope you enjoy this video clip (via Sundog). Maybe AgWired will fit into the scenario described here:
Berry-Perfect Holiday Drinks
The holiday cocktail of choice for holiday parties? The Cosmopolitan, of course. To shake things up a bit, though, you can delight friends and family with a new twist on an old favorite by adding fresh or frozen California strawberries. Strawberry Cosmopolitans aren’t only delicious; they’re good for you too, according to the California Strawberry Commission. Independent researchers published a study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture that found the antioxidant capacity of strawberries can be significantly enhanced when they are combined with ethanol, the type of alcohol found in rum, vodka, tequila and other spirits. Antioxidants help guard against harmful free-radicals which can cause cancer, arthritis and heart disease.
Strawberry Cosmopolitan
2-4 fresh California strawberries, cut in half
1 oz. orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
1/4 oz fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz vodka
Directions: Muddle the orange liqueur and lime juice with all but one half of a strawberry in a mixing glass or martini shaker. Add vodka and ice, shake well, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with the reserved strawberry half and a thin slice of fresh lime.
Here are a few other holiday California strawberry cocktails to enjoy, courtesy of the California Strawberry Commission:
Strawbaileys and Amaretto
3/4 ounce Baileys Original Irish Cream
3/4 ounce amaretto
6 ounces frozen sliced California strawberries in syrup, partially thawed
Whole fresh California strawberry
Directions: In a blender combine all ingredients except whole berry; blend smooth. Pour into stemmed glass. Garnish with whole berry.
Strawberry Kamikaze
1 1/4 ounce strawberry-infused vodka*
1/2 ounce triple sec
1/4 ounce lime juice
Whole fresh California strawberry
Directions: Chill all ingredients except whole berry over ice. Strain into martini glass. Float whole berry in glass. Can also be served over ice cubes.
*Note: Strawberry-infused vodka is created by soaking 10-15 strawberries, sliced in half, in a decanter of vodka for at least three days. Strawberries can remain in the decanter for display.
Texas-tini with California Strawberries
1 lime wedge
Kosher salt
1/4 cup frozen sliced, sweetened California strawberries, thawed
1/4 cup crushed ice
1 ounce tequila
1 teaspoon Cointreau
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1 whole fresh California strawberry
Directions: Rub lime wedge around rim of martini glass; dip rim into salt. Combine sliced strawberries, ice, tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in blender container. Cover and process on high speed until smooth and frothy. Carefully pour into prepared martini glass; garnish with whole strawberry. Serve immediately.
Case IH Follows New Holland – Supports 100% Biodiesel
We reported several weeks ago on our Domestic Fuel site that New Holland is backing biodiesel 100%. Now it looks like sister company Case IH is coming on board with that idea.
Case IH has extended its recommendations on use of biofuels to include B100 — or pure biodiesel — on even more of its farm equipment models.
Farmers now can use B100 on nearly all Case IH medium- to high-horsepower tractors, combines, windrowers, and most self-propelled sprayers and cotton pickers — so long as proper protocols are followed for engine operation and maintenance.
“With record prices for crude oil, Case IH committed to exploring better ways to use environmentally-friendly biofuels made from renewable raw materials. We have conducted rigorous laboratory and in-field tests to evaluate how our engines perform with various biodiesel blends,” says Don Rieser, Case IH director of tractor product management. “As always, our ultimate goal is greater productivity for our customers. That’s why we also are committed to educating our dealers and customers on how to get the best results with biodiesel fuels — especially when using higher-level blends.”