Wheatgrass Nationally, Naturally I’m Sure

Chuck Zimmerman

USFarmsWhat is Wheatgrass? This is a new one on me. I’m just trying to picture a bottle of Wheatgrass juice and having a hard time with it. Here’s a website where you can learn more about it. Here’s another one. My gosh, a Google search brought up 84,700 results. Maybe these guys are on to something.

US Farms, Inc. announced today that it has entered the Wheatgrass market with plans to grow, market, and distribute Wheatgrass on a national level. Production growing for Wheatgrass is scheduled to begin later this month.

Yan K. Skwara, President of US Farms, Inc., stated, “We are very excited to be entering the Wheatgrass market as it is a very popular health product with many Americans today. Wheatgrass juice is considered one of nature’s most nutrient rich plants and has demonstrated exceptional health promoting and healing qualities. Wheatgrass is consumed in one form or another by thousands of Americans and animals across the US on a daily basis. Everything from selling wheatgrass shoots to health consumers to offering different natural juices that have Wheatgrass mixed into the juice blend are some of the many uses for Wheatgrass today.

Agribusiness, Food

Better Late Feed Than Never

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agricultural Statistics ServiceI thought it was interesting that in my USDA/NASS news feed today I got one for a report that was published on August 18. Kind of took a while to update the feed, eh?

Issued August 18, 2006 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Agricultural Prices 2005 Annual Summary, has been published and is available at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/
viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1003. This publication contains multiple years of price data for NASS estimated commodities.

USDA

Water Buffalo Man

Chuck Zimmerman

Water From ice cream to water buffalo milkman, he’s David Rachlin and he’s the new CEO of The Woodstock Water Buffalo Company.

How do you milk a water buffalo? “I’m told my first milking assignment already has been posted — in bold ink, underlined and with two explanation points — on my first week’s schedule at the dairy,” jokes David I. Rachlin, the newly tapped president and chief executive officer of The Woodstock Water Buffalo Company.

The company, headquartered in bucolic South Woodstock, Vt., is the nation’s first and only farmstead dairy whose herds consist exclusively of — yes –water buffalo. The dairy staff members, as well as premium-dairy aficionados, proclaim that The Woodstock Water Buffalo Company offers healthy and indulgent, mild-flavored yogurts and fresh buffalo mozzarella like none other in America. And, according to the incoming president and CEO, his early agenda includes increasing production of the super-premium yogurts and fresh mozzarella, expanding their availability at retail and in foodservice, and creating new offerings. “Feedback from consumers on Woodstock Water Buffalo Company’s yogurts is so passionately positive, that it’s thrilling to consider how high and how broadly our team can build the business,” Rachlin says.

Dairy, Livestock

Florida Fresh Tomatoes Available – Again

Chuck Zimmerman

Florida Fresh TomatoesIt looks like the advertising campaign the Florida Tomato Committee ran for field fresh Florida tomatoes was a successful one.

The Produce News says they’re going to do it again.

Thanks in large part to a national television ad campaign, Florida field-grown tomatoes have enjoyed an increase in market share over rival hothouse-grown beefsteak and on-the-vine varieties, Samantha Winters, director of education and marketing for the Florida Tomato Committee, said at the group’s organizational meeting during the 31st annual Joint Florida Tomato Conference held here Sept. 5-10 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Ag Groups, Food

Biomass Tractorcade

Chuck Zimmerman

American Agriculture MovementIt looks like more than just ethanol and biodiesel is being lobbied on Capitol Hill this week. The American Agriculture Movement biomass tractorcade has rolled into town.

A group of patriotic Americans left Missouri’s Knob Noster State Park near Kansas City on Monday September 25th to publicize the potential of bioenergy to replace foreign oil. They traveled on U.S. 50 with antique tractors and cars to Washington DC to raise awareness about the contribution agricultural producers can make to help bring energy security to the American people. The tractorcade reached Cherry Hill Park in Maryland September 30th. Participants will lobby Congresional staffers the week of October 2nd.

If America seizes this opportunity, the future will be brighter for all! Anyone who supports America gaining independence from foreign energy sources can get information from www.arbest.org or joining us on the Washington Mall on 3rd Street by the reflecting Pool on October 5th.

Ag Groups

Slim Jim Snapalope

Chuck Zimmerman

SnapalopeHere’s one animal you can hunt at your local grocery or convenience store. It’s the Snapalope. Brought to you by the Snapalope Hunting Association of America. You’ll find lots of fun and helpful information on their website.

Snapalope are part of the family Snap. Skittish by nature, these herd dwellers stand thirty-one inches tall and graze extensively throughout store habitats across the United States. Distinguishable by their long antlers and slender bodies, snapalope have no known predators aside from man who hunt them for their delicious spicy meat and exquisite yellow and red hide.

Thanks Adrants.

Food

Army Officer Has a Heart for Farming

Chuck Zimmerman

Ltc. Chris JohnsonHere’s the lastest story from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team on assignment in Iraq. In this one he talks with Lieutenant Colonel Chris Johnson who works as one of the deputies to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Diyala province.

I met Chris at 2:30 in the morning in the middle of a pitch-black airfield. A Chinook helicopter crew woke me up and said, “Out.” I walked down a ramp and out onto a cement pad surrounded by sand. The two Chinooks took off. The horizon was completely dark in all directions. I knew I was in the middle of the hornet’s nest, a bad part of Iraq to be in. I was only miles from where terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a June airstrike. I assumed I was close to a base but I couldn’t see it. Suddenly a hand grabbed my shoulder from behind. It was Johnson. He could’ve sent any number of junior soldiers to stay up late and pick me up. But that’s not his style. Johnson takes pride in everything he does. Later that morning, as we were driving in an eight Humvee convoy to the Baqubah Dates Festival, he sat front right looking for IEDs while passionately talking about the progress Iraqi farmers are making. Listen to report here: Listen To MP3 Iraq Farming Report (1 min MP3)

Audio, International

A Blog For Cheese Addicts

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast87 - Cheesaholics AnonymousDo you like cheese? Want to know more about it? Maybe you’re addicted. If so you may need Cheesaholics Anonymous. I found Nadia Muna Gil and her blog through Leon The Milkman.

Nadia started out her career studying finance at MIT and then spent six years on Wall Street before her fascination with cheese pulled her into an entirely new career. She’s back in a finance job but has a cheese & wine event catering business in New York called Waldemar & Nadia. It was with this company that she started blogging about cheese. I think you’ll enjoy the interview and learning how Nadia has incorporated a blog into her marketing strategy for her business.

Listen to this week’s program: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 87 (18 min 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.

Audio, Dairy, ZimmCast

Beef Industry Scholarships

Chuck Zimmerman

National Cattlemen's FoundationAre you looking for a scholarship to help you with a career in the beef industry? Know someone who is? Then let then know about the 2007 Beef Industry Scholarship Program, sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Twenty scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to young people pursuing careers in the beef industry. The program welcomes applications from talented and thoughtful students who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in the beef industry, either through classes, internships or life experience. Graduating high school seniors or full-time undergraduate students enrolled at a two-year or four-year college for the 2006-2007 academic school year are encouraged to apply. All entries must be postmarked by October 10, 2006. Read More

Ag Groups

Royal Gala Time

Chuck Zimmerman

Royal Gala FundraiserThe Livestock Publications Council invites you to A Royal Gala, October 20, 2006 ~ 6–10 p.m. It’s going to be held at the American Royal Headquarters, 1701 American Royal Court, Kansas City,MO. You should plan to dress up for a High Class Casino Evening with your friends while raising funds for the development of the new Livestock Publications Heritage Center.

The invitations are in the mail, but go ahead and mark your calendar for the Royal Gala and Casino Party in Kansas City on October 20. This is the continuation of fundraising efforts to create the new Livestock Publications Heritage Center. The new plaques in the Hall of Honor will be unveiled during the Gala which are the formal photos of the winners of LPC’s Hall of Fame and Headliner winners. The announcement of the 2007 winners will also be a part
of the evening.

For more information: Amber Spafford, 816/410-5166, spafforda@osborn-barr.com.

LPC