Getting To Know Tom Ramey

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom RameyHe’s no Monte Reese but . . . He’s good and he’s the CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. This is Tom’s first summer conference in his new position which he took over after Monte Reese retired. Tom’s pictured here at the media reception last night. He’s speaking with Chelsea Good, interning at the Angus Journal.

Tom is not a newcomer to the CBB as you’ll hear him say and he’s really enjoying his new position.

In my interview with Tom after the CBB Update session he describes the attitude of producers not only from his own personal observations here at the conference but also with some information from the latest producer attitude study.

For example, he points out that 7 out of 10 producers continue to support the Beef Checkoff program.

Tom says that committees will be reviewing new advertising ideas here at the conference and providing their feedback which will be used to fine tune the message for upcoming advertising campaigns.

Listen to my interview with Tom here (7 min.): cisc-07-ramey.mp3

2007 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Pre-Conditioning With SureHealth

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Van RickettsHere at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference I learned more about Merial’s SureHealth program by talking with Dr. Van Ricketts. He’s Director of Corporate Accounts for the company. Let me take this opportunity to thank Merial for sponsoring the media room here at the conference.

The main message he had here for beef producers had to do with pre-conditioning of cattle prior to weaning. He says now is a good time to think about this. The SureHealth program is basically a program using products that will enhance the health of the animal and make it more valuable at market time. According to Dr. Ricketts even a producer with a small herd can benefit from the program.

You can get more information on the SureHealth website.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Ricketts here (6 min.): cisc-07-ricketts.mp3

2007 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

New Holland 2007 Ranch Stewardship Tour

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland 2007 Tour Ranch StewardshipThere’s still a couple events left on the 2007 New Holland Ranch Stewardship Tour. This is: “. . . a unique educational event with demonstrations and presentations that put Ag-Stewardship principles back into ranching. Using cattle, horses and equipment, experts from across the country cover a wide variety of topics related to everyday farm and ranch work. This 2-day experience highlights profitability and quality of life as the realistic rewards that can come when Grandad’s stewardship wisdom is blended with today’s Ag technology.”

The event is a production of The Joe Steward Group. Here’s where you can register.

Agribusiness, New Holland

Learning How NCBA Performs Beef Checkoff Work

Chuck Zimmerman

Terry StokesYou may know that the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association performs work for the Beef Checkoff under various contracts. The man who helps oversee that along with everything else that NCBA does is Terry Stokes, CEO. Terry is being interviewed here by Ron Hayes, Radio Oklahoma Network, in the media room this morning. BTW, Ron was just recently inducted into the Oklahoma Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Terry says that the projects they perform for CBB are meant to increase consumer demand. There are 3 key areas that he focused on. To start with new product development is an area where research is conducted to develop products that meet consumers needs.

Another area is nutrition. He says that they know how important healthy choices are to consumers so one way they’re working to help properly position beef in consumer’s minds is working with the dairy checkoff through efforts like the joint issues forum here to find ways the two groups can better accomplish this goal. Promoting beef in international markets through the U. S. Meat Export Federation is the other area he talks about.

Besides talking about Checkoff project work Terry also gives an overview of the issue facing cattlemen that NCBA is working on like the farm bill.

Listen to my interview with Terry here (9 min.): cisc-07-stokes.mp3

2007 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

USB Sticks with O&B

Laura McNamara

Osborn & Barr CommunicationsOsborn & Barr gets a vote of confidence in its communications capabilities. The United Soybean Board rewards a job well done from O&B by renewing the communication company’s contract.

The United Soybean Board (USB) selected Osborn & Barr Communications (O&B) to remain its communications contractor. The decision was made at the USB board meeting, July 5-8, in Columbus, Ohio following presentations by four finalist companies that responded to an open request for proposal issued in April by USB.

“With nearly two decades of experience in agrimarketing, Osborn & Barr knows how to communicate with producers across the country,” says John Becherer, USB chief executive officer. “In particular, O&B knows how to reach soybean farmers as the company has successfully developed and implemented communications and marketing strategies for USB for almost 12 years. During our recent contractor review period, O&B once again proved it is the right communications company for USB with the knowledge, drive and innovative thought to garner positive results for our organization.”

Agencies

AgriTalking at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

AgriTalkIf I didn’t post a picture of Mike Adams he might start to get a complex and think I’m ignoring him. I am not. Mike’s one of several farm broadcasters here at the conference.

Today he had CBB chairman Ken Stielow on as a guest. If you didn’t hear AgriTalk today you’ll be able to find it archived on the AgriTalk website.

Maybe I should start an AgriTalk category here on AgWired since we see each other so many places and I’ve now got a good Mike Adams photo collection going.

I really had to do this post because of Ken though. He’s my boss this week as I’m posting onto Beef Board Meeting.com for the CBB.

2007 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Media

How The Dairy Checkoff Works

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom GallagherI don’t know about you but I’ve always been a little confused about how the different dairy checkoff and promotion groups relate to each other. To help explain that I spoke with Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI).

Tom spoke at the joint beef/dairy issues forum held here yesterday. He starts out explaining that DMI is a combination of the national dairy checkoff group working with state and regional groups to market dairy products around the world. He says they’ve created a membership partnership called the U. S. Dairy Export Council to handle international marketing.

On a domestic basis he says they’ve really focused on school nutrition, especially with all the concerns over childhood obesity.

Some of the stand out projects they’ve conducted include the conversion of fast food restaurants from cardboard milk containers to plastic containers containing milk and flavored milk. On the internet they’ve developed several nutrition information destinations like one called 3-A-Day of Dairy for moms that has over 100,000 registered.

He says that with all the heightened interest in nutrition the staffs of the two checkoff organizations have worked to develop a coalition of groups including USDA to help consumers make good nutrition decisions and combat negative efforts by some other groups that have proven harmful to farmers.

Listen to my interview with Tom here (6 min.): cisc-07-gallagher.mp3

2007 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Dairy

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • Thanks to a new incentive package, timed-event ropers at the 2007 World Championship Appaloosa Show will compete for more than $40,000 in added cash and prizes. This year’s show is set for Oct. 26 to Nov. 3 in Fort Worth, Texas. Contestants in five open and non-pro roping classes will divide a cash purse of $10,500. Fund donors include Mike Mataya, M&C Ranch; and Hyman and Julia Young, owners of Appaloosa performance horse Last Day Lite. The prize list also includes an S&H horse trailer from Sundowner of Texas; one ton of Nutrena feed; trophy saddles from Luskey’s/Ryon’s and Coats Saddlery; roping dummies from Hot Heels; trophy buckles from Gist; and saddle pads from Classic Equine.
  • Merial announced today that IVOMEC® (ivermectin) 1% Injection for Cattle and Swine now features new package advantages, making it more convenient for veterinarians, dealers and producers to use. Bottles of IVOMEC 1% Injection have added security measures to prevent tampering and counterfeiting, and can now stand alone or be hung from the top or bottom of the bottle. “These changes are all part of the innovation-driven approach Merial takes as a leading animal health company that produces high-quality, user-friendly products that help further the industry.” says Dr. Steve Lerner, Director of Marketing for Merial Large Animal Businesses.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection announced brand names for its newest fungicides, both of which target diseases which often develop on vegetables and fruits during the growing season. Revus™, a new foliar fungicide, is intended for use as a preventive spray against downy mildew diseases on lettuce, brassica crops, onions, grapes and cucurbits. Revus Top™ will control late blight and early blight on potatoes and tomatoes. Due to the ability to bond quickly to the wax layer of plants, Revus and Revus mixtures offer consistent disease control even under extreme weather conditions. The second of the new fungicides, Inspire®, uses a triazole mixture proven effective in other countries. Inspire and Inspire mixtures will provide broad spectrum control of leaf spots and powdery mildews while acting as resistance management tools in the pome fruit and vegetable industries.
Zimfo Bytes

Win $25,000 for Culinary Expertise with the Cranberry

Laura McNamara

Ocean SprayGot a passion for cranberry? How about just a great cranberry recipe? Submit your cranberry concoction in Ocean Spray’s Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest and you could win $25,000.

Ocean Spray has announced its first ever Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest seeking original cranberry creations from those passionate about the little, red wonderberry. Consumers willing to indulge their passion for cooking with cranberries are eligible to earn $25,000 for the winning recipe! Consumers can enter from July 12, 2007 through August 23, 2007 online.

Recipes must be original, use a minimum of 1/2 cup of any Ocean Spray product (beverages 1 1/2 ounces), and fall into one of the following categories: Beverages, Snacks and Appetizers, Salads, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Desserts and Baked Goods. Recipes will be judged on creativity, use of product, taste, overall appearance and ease of preparation. Entries must be postmarked by August 23, 2007 and received by August 31, 2007.

Four semi-finalists will be chosen and flown to New York City early November for a final judging. The winner of the $25,000 grand prize will be announced at Ocean Spray’s “Bogs Across America” event at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Each finalist will receive a trip for two to New York City and a one-year supply of Ocean Spray product. Each finalist recipe will also be featured on Oceanspray.com.

Food

The Synergies of Beef and Dairy

Chuck Zimmerman

Beef-Dairy Issues ForumA little bit of history is being made here in Denver today at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. The Cattlemen’s Beef Board is collaborating with the National Dairy Council to put on a joint beef/dairy issues forum.

It’s called “Beef & Dairy: Harnessing the Synergies on Nutrition.” Some of the topics include:

The New Nutrition Environment: Common Challenges and Opportunities Looking Ahead to 2010

The Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition (NRFC) – A Case Study of the Combined Power of Dairy and Beef

The Power of Protein and the Challenges of Fatty Acids

The session will go all afternoon and I’ll have some audio from it later this evening or tomorrow.

2007 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Dairy