As a way to honor the late Sonja Hillgren, Farm Journal has set up the Sonja Hillgren/FARM JOURNAL Ag Journalism Field Reporting Institute. This “will allow the spirit of the late Sonja Hillgren to live on in future reporters at her alma mater, the University of Missouri-Columbia.”
The Sonja Hillgren/FARM JOURNAL Ag Journalism Field Reporting Institute is the backbone of the “Field Reporting on Food and Natural Resources” course in the University’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Designed to get students into the field to practice their craft, the Institute features a three-day, expedition-style design that allows producers, practicing journalists and students to interact and work together. The Institute explores the vast scientific, economic and social changes under way in U.S. agriculture and their impact on the food supply and the environment. Students meet, learn from and interview leading researchers, government officials, food industry representatives and others – out in the fields, on the rivers and at the facilities where these issues take shape.
You can find out more information and make a contribution of your own here.
I’m A Godfather Again
Here’s me with the Mizzou agribloggers Julia and Nicki from earlier today at the World Agricultural Forum. According to their blog, I’m the Godfather of ag blogging. Now that’s a catchy title don’t you think?
Besides writing for their blog Julia and Nicki are helping the World Ag Forum staff by writing reports from the “Breakout Sessions.”
The World Ag Forum On AgriTalk
Mike Adams, the host of AgriTalk (center) thought I must be going through AgriTalk withdrawal on AgWired since I haven’t posted a picture of them in so long. No, they don’t pay me to do this (they should). I just run into them so many places.
This is Mike interviewing World Agricultural Forum Chairman, James Bolger, this morning. Next to him is the producing machine, John Herath. He’s got a nice camera btw and takes good pictures which you’ll find on their website. An extraordinary thing for a radio show.
I am no longer at the World Congress of the World Agricultural Forum but am expecting to obtain some coverage via the Mizzou Ag Journalism Bloggers.
A Fighting Slogan For R-CALF
R-CALF has an official slogan. They say it was approved along with all the resolutions proposed at their annual convention in January. The votes were handled via mail-in ballot.
The record 23 resolutions dealt with topics ranging from animal health to animal identification to marketing to property rights to international trade issues – and to the organization’s now-official slogan: “R-CALF USA: Fighting for the U.S. Cattle Producer,” a proposal brought forward by the group’s membership committee.
The R-CALF USA Membership Committee brought forward the resolution to establish an official slogan, which passed by a vote of 3,177-98. It reads: “WHEREAS, R-CALF USA was formed by U.S. cattle producers in 1998 because they believed that the largest segment of the U.S. cattle industry – the producer segment – was in need of a national organization representing the interests of U.S. producers exclusively; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that R-CALF USA membership adopt this official slogan: “R-CALF USA: Fighting for the U.S. Cattle Producer.”
Missouri River Flooding
Here in central Missouri we’ve all the sudden become river watchers. Who knows how high this is going to go.
AgWired fan, Lane McConnell was out and about today with her camera and got this picture of the state capitol from underneath the Hwy. 63 bridge over the Missouri River just outside Jefferson City. The river has definitely risen since I was in town yesterday morning. Lane says there were about 50 people standing around watching the river when she was there talking about the floods of 1993 and 1995.
Flood stage here is considered to be 23 feet and right now we’re at 26.9 with a crest expected by Sunday according to the National Weather Service. If we reach the level predicted our local airport would be under water along with a whole lot of river bottom farm land.
Address By Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Ag Commissioner
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development for the European Economic Union is Mariann Fischer Boel. She was the keynote speaker on the program today here at the World Agricultural Forum.
You can listen to her speech here while she’s finishing up with questions and answers. In her talk she tries to clear up misconceptions about farmers, farming and the policies of the EU. In particular she provides some historic detail on the EU CAP (Common Ag Policy). She says they’re continuing the move to reduce subsidies. One of the key words heard here is sustainability and she does make a point about the care the EU needs to use in moving forward so that their farmers sustain their prosperity.
You can listen to the speech here: world-ag-forum-07-boel.mp3
Grower Perspective on the World Agricultural Forum
One of the directors of the World Agricultural Forum is Dick McWard. He’s taking notes during this morning’s speech by Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Dick is a producer from Illinois who is also retired from Bunge North America where he worked in industry affairs. I asked him for his perspective on an event like the 2007 World Congress of the World Agricultural Forum (that’s the official title of the event). He says that this event provides growers like him with the opportunity to open up new markets around the world.
You can listen to my interview with Dick here: world-ag-forum-07-mcward.mp3
Rex Parsons Passes Away
I have to take a moment to post about the passing away of Rex Parsons, former Executive Director of the National Agri-Marketing Association. The full information as posted by the NAMA office is included below (click on “more”). I would dare say that any of us who were members during the Rex era have our stories to tell. I will never forget the first time I met Rex. It was at an Orlando NAMA convention. At the time Gary Cooper, Southeast AgNet and myself were registered as members who worked for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. Just prior to attending the convention our employment at FFBF was terminated (which is another story for another time). Since the NAMA membership is corporate and not individual Rex wouldn’t give us our name badges and said we’d have to leave unless we paid a full non-member registration. Anyway, Gary and I left and let’s just say my Rex relationship got off to a rocky start.
Several years later after Gary and I helped start the Florida NAMA chapter and I had served as chapter president for 2 years I had the honor to receive one of Rex’s annual leadership awards which he would give to someone he thought had done a good job for the organization in a leadership position. I was pretty proud of that award, especially considering how my relationship with Rex started out.
Rex, you were one of a kind and I’m sure I’m not the only one who is sad to hear of your passing. I’m sure you’re in a better place now though. We will keep you, Violet and all your family in our prayers. Read More
Flowers From Columbia
The flower man from Columbia is Ernesto Velez, Columbian Association of Flower Exporters. He gave us a presentation at our evening reception at the World Agricultural Forum here this evening.
He said that there was a 90+% chance that the dozen carnations I bought Cindy on Sunday came from Columbia.
If you’d like to learn about where a major source of our cut flowers come from here in the United States you might be interested to hear his presentation.
You can listen to the Ernesto Velez presentation here: world-ag-forum-07-velez.mp3
Sunset in St. Louis
It is definitely the end of the day here in St. Louis at the World Agricultural Forum. We had a very nice reception. Just check out the photo album.
The top of the hotel has a very nice outside area from which we had a good view of the city and the sunset.
The best part was the ice sculpture filled with shrimp. You’ll have to find that in the photo album.