Here’s a very cool holiday greeting from Alltech.
You can find the online greeting card here.
It says:
We at Alltech wish you good health, happiness and prosperity and look forward to working with you in 2008. Seasons Greetings.
Thanks Matt.
Farm Fresh News From American Farmland Trust
We’re on a roll with the holiday greetings. I like this one from American Farmland Trust’s latest email.
Best wishes for the holidays from American Farmland Trust and the Farm Fresh News team! Take a few minutes to watch a video about farmers helping the urban poor, learn a few ways to celebrate the holidays in a greener, farm-friendly way and get the latest on what beets are doing for our streets.
Here’s the link to the video.
More Holiday Greetings
Here’s the latest holiday message from my friend Goran who I’ve met through my involvement in IFAJ.
Dear friends and colleagues all around the world,
I wish you marry Christmas, happy and successive 2008 year. I hope that the ending year was good enough, but less then the next year.
All the best,
Goran Djakovic,
Vice – president of AGROPRESS
PR manager of AGROZIV Company
Member of IFAJ Executive Committee
Holiday Greetings
New Holland sent out happy holiday greetings today. Does your company have a holiday greeting you’d like to share here on AgWired? If so, send ’em along and it’ll be posted.
I’m in a very warm climate for the next couple days and enjoying it! Let’s just say that the white stuff on the ground here isn’t snow.
I’ll be home for the holidays though which are Christmas and New Year’s. There I said the words. Oops, I guess I’m not that politically correct.
New Website For Australian Council of Ag Journalists
The Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists has a new website.
The site at www.acaj.org.au not only brings together information about Australia’s five state-based rural media clubs but also provides a single access point for international colleagues. Plans are already in hand to expand the facility with a register for freelance Australian writers, photographers and consultants who specialise in covering agricultural issues.
The Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists Inc (ACAJ) is the national umbrella organisation for press clubs which focus on issues affecting rural and regional Australia. It also links members in all mainland States to a global network through the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ).
Zimfo Bites
- Tractors and other farm equipment can be a challenge to start in cold weather, so many farmers install block heaters to preheat their engines. However, using a timer on a block heater can save up to 85 percent on energy costs. A simple 24-hour clock timer can automatically turn the heater on so it’s ready when needed. The energy savings will typically pay for the timer in 1 to 3 months. A calculator on the Wisconsin Public Service web site can help farmers estimate what they’d save by using a block heater timer. Just go here and click Energy Saving Tools & Ideas, then Savings Calculators.
- Farmers in four pilot states who plant a majority of their corn acres using hybrid seeds that feature YieldGard Plus® with Roundup Ready® Corn 2 or YieldGard VT Triple™ technology from Monsanto Company will be able to lower their crop insurance premiums in 2008. The Risk Management Agency of the USDA announced the planned implementation of the Biotech Yield Endorsement for the 2008 crop year. The pilot will initially be available in four states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota. To be eligible, farmers must plant at least 75 percent of their corn acres on an insured unit basis to corn hybrids containing YieldGard VT Triple or YieldGard Plus with Roundup Ready Corn 2 technologies. EPA-mandated refuge requirements must also be respected.
- DuPont Crop Protection has received federal registration approval from the EPA for two soybean pre-emergence herbicides designed to provide growers with a better tool for managing weed resistance. The new products, DuPont™ Enlite™ and Envive™ herbicides, feature two modes of action that will provide growers with longer lasting, more consistent early season control of weeds that have developed tolerance and/or resistance to glyphosate and ALS chemistries.
Mac ‘n Cheese Expertise Earns Mississippi Woman $5,000
Tillamook County Creamery Association has named Lorie Roach of Buckatunna, Mississippi the winner of the National Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Contest. The title of best mac n’ cheese chef earned Lorie $5,000. Who knew cooking mac n’ cheese could be so lucrative?
Lorie Roach of Buckatunna, took home $5,000 and the title of Grand Prize Winner last week, in the 2007 Tillamook Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Contest.
Roach’s “Jumbo Shell Pasta Stuffed with Baby White Cheddar and Chicken Macaroni” recipe won the top prize December 7 against five other regional winners from across the country. Roach’s recipe was selected out of thousands of recipe entries in this year’s national contest.
“It’s essentially double-stuffed macaroni and cheese. The idea hit me in the grocery store. I was in the pasta noodles aisle and thought the two would go well together,” said Roach.
The cook-off was held at Hotel Lucia and sponsored by Typhoon! Restaurants, where local celebrities and culinary experts, including author Gerry Frank and Tillamook CEO Harold Strunk, judged the six regional finalists’ recipes for taste, presentation, unique use of ingredients and other judging criteria.
Energy Bill Pleases and Disappoints
The farm bill isn’t the only legislation of interest to ag groups right now. In fact, I think I’ve had more email over the energy bill lately. Of course it’s now on it’s way to the President to sign tomorrow morning and who knows when that will happen with the farm bill. Here’s a sample of comments just sent out after the House passed the energy bill this afternoon. I’m sure more will be sent out by tomorrow.
“Getting an energy bill across the finish line is no small accomplishment and one in which this Congress should take great pride. By coupling increased renewable fuels use with improved efficiency standards for automobiles, Congress is making a bold statement about the future direction of energy policy in this country. By seizing on the potential that renewable fuels offer to reduce foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions and provide meaningful economic opportunity across this country, this Congress has put America firmly on a path toward greater energy stability and sustainability.” (Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen)
“We are ecstatic that a robust energy bill is finally within reach,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “The passage of this historic bill is a major step toward energy independence. We eagerly await the president signing this legislation into law.”
“On behalf of the American Coalition for Ethanol’s nearly 2,000 grassroots members nationwide, I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for taking action on this energy bill and including the critically important Renewable Fuels Standard that will increase America’s energy security through the expanded production and consumption of ethanol. Congress’ bipartisan spirit has made energy progress possible for the good of all Americans who deserve better, more cost-effective choices at the pump than expensive, imported oil and gasoline. Ethanol is a win-win-win for the U.S. economy, environment, and energy security.” (Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE) Read More
Reminiscing With Brenda Curtis-Heiken
This week the ZimmCast hits a milestone with episode number 150. Hard to believe I’ve been podcasting for almost 3 years. It has been a blast though as we pioneer new ways to communicate to farmers and consumers. That’s why it’s kind of fitting that this week’s program contains an interview with my good friend Brenda Curtis-Heiken, USDA Radio.
Brenda is retiring from USDA right after the first of the year. Before she got away I wanted to have a chance to chat with her about what she does, her career highlights and reminisce a little about it all, including an international trip we were on a number of years ago.
That trip was taken prior to digital cameras so I had to go to my print archives to find this picture of Brenda (middle) with Cindy and me. It was taken at a reception in Rome where we attended a World Food Day activity among other things.
Yes we can tell some stories and still do at farm broadcaster get togethers. We wish Brenda all the best and have enjoyed working with her throughout our careers in farm broadcasting. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
At the end of the program I’ve got some music from the Podsafe Music Network that fits into the holiday spirit I hope you’re in. It’s called “Regifting For The Holidays” by the The Alice Project. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: 
ZimmCast 150 (20 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:zimmcast150-12-18-07.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
Get Ready For IFAJ Congress 2008
Let’s see an even bigger group of United States agricultural journalists and communicators at the 2008 Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. Next year it’s in Austria/Slovenia and the program looks like it will be great. Here’s the welcome message from the Congress President:
I would like to invite you to the 52nd IFAJ Congress “From the mountains to the sea” to Austria and Slovenia from 10 – 14 September 2008.
These two neighbouring countries will present to you forms of farming in the Heart of Europe which have orientated themselves less by global markets than by quality and sustainment and by partnership with the consumers in the regions. The country and its inhabitants will be the central points of presentation – and we would like to demonstrate this with concrete examples.
I am looking forward to welcome you in Austria and Slovenia in September 2008.
Yours sincerely,
Franz Fischler
President of the Congress
You can find the program here. Online registration will become available after January 1.