Beef, poultry, pork… pick your pleasure. The American Meat Institute is launching a new Web Site to demonstrate how the meat industry responds to consumers and constumers.
The American Meat Institute (AMI) today launched www.TheMarketWorks.org, a new web site showcasing how U.S. meat and poultry industry structure and practices are a response to signals from customers and make the U.S. meat and poultry supply the envy of the world. The site details the Institute’s opposition to legislative efforts to ban meat companies’ ability to own or contract for livestock.
According to the site, a number of bills have been introduced in Congress that would force divestiture of livestock by meat companies who own part or all of their livestock supplies; prohibit marketing agreements between packers and processors; require that a certain percent of livestock be acquired on the spot market; and create a ‘special’ duplicative prosecutor at USDA to look even more closely at these issues. Some groups and lawmakers are arguing for a “competition title” in the pending 2007 Farm Bill that would package these bills together.
“Legislative efforts to place restrictions on the marketing of livestock and meat will dismantle the progress that has created the most abundant and affordable meat supply anywhere in the world,” said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. “Congress needs to let the market work as it has so successfully for so long. We are launching this new web site to help educate lawmakers, producers, consumers and the media about the potential damaging effect of these misguided legislative efforts.”
Included in the new site are 35 studies done over the last two decades that have concluded that the meat industry is dynamic and competitive and that both packers and producers benefit from their ability to enter into contracts.
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It’s a fun way to get a wad of cash… well, a Savings Bond for $1,000 to be exact. Chick-fil-A wants to get consumers involved in it’s “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign, so the food chain is hosting an online photo contest. When you spot that clever little cow urging you to opt for the chicken, start clicking those shutters.
From June 25 through Sept. 30, children age 10 and younger are encouraged to work together with an adult to take and submit photos featuring the “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows in a creative way — whether it’s in front of the Statue of Liberty or at a family picnic. The cows can be costumed, stuffed or even a paper cut-out, as long as they’re included in the photo. The Web site will provide details about uploading photos for the contest.
If you’d like to pull for agricultural education then you might want to do it at this event coming up in Illinois.
It’s an authentic midwestern delicacy… well, a recipe borrowed from England actually. Tony Barnicle of Mary’s Home, MO has been selling his “Pickled Black Walnuts” for about five years now. It’s his claim to fame when it comes to value-added agriculture. The mid-MO farmer plucks black walnuts from his trees while they’re still green, pickles them, packages them and puts them on the grocers’ shelves. He likens his “Pickled Black Walnuts” to an habanero pepper. You don’t pop the entire pickled nut into your mouth, but use it more like a garnish. 
He suggests using chopped pickled walnuts to marinate steaks with or crushed pickled walnuts in a classic dip. You can also slice them to garnish crackers and cheese or grind them up on your salads.
This year’s 
Charles Johnson is the newest addition to join the TOP PRODUCER editorial team as the magazine’s national editor. The magazine has promoted another staff member, Linda Smith, to executive editor.
On the way to the Iowa Speedway last week I was driving along behind Alan Slunecka who was taking the EPIC mobile learning center to the track. All of the sudden he slowed way down. 
Since it’s been another wild week of alternative fuel blogging I thought I should point you to a relatively new alternative fuel blogger. She’s Kimberly Taylor at the