First Press Conference with Acting Ag Secretary

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Chuck ConnerIt didn’t go off quite as planned, but Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner held his first telephone press conference with the media on Monday afternoon. After a brief opening statement, it was opened to questions, but there weren’t any! Even though there were nearly 100 reporters on the line.

That was because they apparently had some technical difficulties and an hour or so later they got us all back on the line to ask questions.

Nevertheless, the Acting Secretary was acting like a secretary and promised a “seamless transition” from Secretary Johann to Conner’s, at least temporary, leadership. However, the scuttlebutt around DC is that Conner may be the front runner for the nomination, so you might get used to seeing this face for the next 18 months or so.

Listen to Acting Secretary Conner’s press conference opening statement:
chuck-conner.mp3

Audio, USDA

My Second Chance

Harry Siemens

harry-sept-24-07-9-23-2007-1-37-48-am.jpgOn Day Three of my recovery from my quadruple by-pass surgery, my partner in the next bed, who was going home that day, received a visitor who had the same surgery several years back.
He looked at both us, and said, “Guys, listen up! Appreciate the fact you have just received a ‘Second Chance’. Wow what a statement and what a sobering thought. Me, a second chance – One who often took pride in developing chances and taking advantage of them, was now going to get a second chance from the hand the hand of a surgeon’s skill. Read More

International

American Hereford Association Media Day

Chuck Zimmerman

American Hereford AssociationWith a theme of “The Power of Black Only Better” I’ll be attending the first ever American Hereford Association Media Day starting with a get together this evening in Kansas City.

We’ve got a news conference tomorrow morning early and presentations with AHA representatives during the day. I’ll be bringing it all to you as it happens.

Of course we will also be sampling some American Hereford beef. I can’t wait.

Ag Groups, Beef

IFAJ Congress Wrapup Interviews

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-138 - IFAJ Congress FarewellIn this week’s ZimmCast you get to hear from Masaru Yamada, the main coordinator of the IFAJ Congress that just concluded and a number of the American delegates. Masaru is happy with how the event went and I don’t think he’s ready to do it again anytime soon. I can only imagine what it was like to conduct one of these for the first time.

Also included in this week’s program are short interviews with Greg Lamp, Kurt Lawton, Harlan Persinger, Joann Alumbaugh, Diane Johnson, Paul Queck, Den Gardner, Denny McClintic, Billy Frey and Marcia Taylor. I think everyone was surprised by the culture and how many small farms there are in the country as well as some of the problems which include a very aged farmer population.

The program concludes this week with music from the Podsafe Music Network. This week’s song is “Cost Cut Japan” by a group called Reggae Far East.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 138 (24 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast138-9-24-07.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


IFAJ Congress 2007 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2007 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

Audio, IFAJ, International, Pioneer, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • Those in the ag industry following the movement of western bean cutworm (WBCW) are not surprised by the latest find in Frankfort, Mich. In the last decade, WBCW has moved from the dry bean fields of western Nebraska into eastern Nebraska and throughout Iowa. Within the last two years, WBCW crossed the Mississippi River and became a pest of cornfields in northern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. After capturing WBCW moths the past two years in Indiana, Purdue University entomologists confirmed in August that they had identified western bean cutworm larvae in a Jasper County cornfield, located in northwestern Indiana, officially marking WBCW as a pest of Indiana. Insecticides can control WBCW; however, the window of application is narrow. Once larvae hatch, they quickly get to the cob. The husks provide protection and cover from the insecticide. Farmers need to proactively scout fields to see whether they have a WBCW infestation. Usually, WBCW isn’t detected until it’s too late. A better way to protect corn from WBCW damage is with an in-plant trait. Farmers who grow corn hybrids with HERCULEX® Insect Protection in-plant traits have built-in protection against WBCW. A 40 percent yield loss is not uncommon, and even a 5 percent loss can cost a grower $25 per acre at today’s corn prices where yields run about 175 bu./A. You can learn more about WBCW by viewing a slide show from Iowa State University extension.
  • The Meyocks Group has added two people to its team. Justin Stevens joins as a web development manager. He previously was a web and graphic designer with EFCO Corp., Des Moines, and also has several free-lance credits. Stevens earned an associate’s degree in visual communication at Brown College in Minnesota. He’s a Des Moines native. A’Leisha Stycket joins as a media coordinator after two years with the in-house agency for Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny. Stycket received her education at Drake University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in marketing. She’s also a Des Moines native.
  • Elanco Animal Health has announced the promotion of Dr. Bill Platter to the position of manager of technical consultants for beef cattle. In this role he will lead a team of professionals conducting post-product-approval research, and providing technical services with a feedlot and stocker focus in the United States. These activities focus on work with veterinarians, nutritionists and meat scientists to improve animal health, production efficiencies and profitability within the beef industry. Platter has relocated to work from Elanco’s global headquarters in Greenfield, Ind.
  • Shauna Trusas has joined Allflex USA as Associate Western Regional Manager. Shauna will be responsible for supporting Allflex’s sales and marketing efforts in the western U.S. including the states of Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Trusas is an Animal Science graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with an emphasis in livestock production and agricultural communications.
  • David Loos has been hired as Technology and Business Development Director by the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB). In his new position he will be responsible for collecting and analyzing technical, economic, regulatory, political and social information relevant to market development projects for both boards. He will act as a liaison with public and private companies and various industry organizations and individuals which have projects involving new and innovative corn-related technology. He will also manage the ICMB research program as well as solicit and evaluate research proposals and work with universities and industry on patent and royalty issues representing the ICMB.
Zimfo Bytes

Getting a New Media Fix

Chuck Zimmerman

Podcast & New Media ExpoIt looks like I’ll be able to attend the third annual Podcast & New Media Expo. I’m finding it hard to believe we’ve been doing this new media thing in agribusiness for over 3 years now. Starting Friday, I’ll be getting my new media fix with educational sessions and a trade show.

I’ll be attending the conference with longtime friend and former business partner (now client), Gary Cooper, Southeast AgNet. You can be certain that there will be some posts from the event here on AgWired.

Uncategorized

It Feels Good To Be Home

Chuck Zimmerman

Name BadgesAt least for a few hours. Once upon a time gunslingers notched their pistol for fights they’d won. Agribloggers just add another lanyard/name badge to the stack.

These are actually just from the last year or so since I start it over once the trophy I’ve got it hanging from falls off the book shelf. Now it’s got a 2007 IFAJ Congress one on top that also has an Alltech pin in it.

I think it took Cindy and me about 27 hours to get back from Japan. Nothing like leaving Sendai on a Sunday. I hope everyone made it home safely regardless of which country you are from.

You can look for some good stuff to come here on AgWired this week. Tomorrow I’ll be on the road again. I’ll be adding a couple more to the stack. See you then.


IFAJ Congress 2007 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2007 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ, Pioneer

Americans in Japan at IFAJ

Chuck Zimmerman

Americans in JapanHere’s a fine looking group of Americans don’t you think?

We numbered 17 of the total in attendance. Maybe next year some more U. S. ag journalists will attend the IFAJ Congress? I interviewed the chairman, Franz Fischler, former Ag Commissioner for the EU and will be posting that later. He provides an overview of what we can expect and it sounds like it’s going to be a great event just like here in Japan.

Today we’ve got to take a cab to a train, train to Tokyo, pick up our bags from a hotel at the Tokyo train station and take a bus from there to the airport.

Since it will be a while before I’m back online I want to thank Masaru Yamada and all the Japanese delegation that worked so hard to put on this Congress and host people from so many countries. We learned a lot. I also interviewed most of our group here and will be posting their comments in my ZimmCast which should be up tomorrow.


IFAJ Congress 2007 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2007 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ, Pioneer

Passing the IFAJ Flag

Chuck Zimmerman

Passing The FlagThe IFAJ Congress is over and we’re about to head on out for the long trek home. Here’s the ceremonial passing of the IFAJ flag from the Japanese to the Austrians.

Our events yesterday were held in different locations without me being able to get online again. So, I’ll be working up some posts with interviews and some video clips on the way home to post later.

In the meantime there’s about 450 photos in the photo album you can enjoy.


IFAJ Congress 2007 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2007 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ, Pioneer

Final Day in Sendai

Chuck Zimmerman

International SymposiumToday we had a free morning to shop or just plain relax here in Sendai. Our IFAJ Congress is coming to a close with tonight’s final reception. I’ll have some more posting to do which might have to wait until I’m home. Tomorrow is a travel day. The photo album is up to date though.

This afternoon we were bussed to the Sendai City Welfare Plaza for the International Symposium, “Japan’s Food and Agriculture From a Global Perspective.” Cindy was a participant in the first panel discussion. She’s seated 2nd from the right. She got to ask a question about biofuels which was answered mostly by Kazunuki Ahizumi, Professor, Miyagi University. He was sort of the featured 1st speaker on the program.

I’ll have more on the day’s activities later. For now though I’ve got to get moving to the final reception.


IFAJ Congress 2007 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2007 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ, Pioneer