Drug Awareness From the Progressive Agriculture Foundation

Chuck Zimmerman

Progressive Agriculture FoundationThe Progressive Agriculture Foundation has a new component of it’s “Progressive Agricultural Safety Days” which will help raise awareness of the problems of meth in rural America.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that is affecting every segment of society, especially rural America. To help educate rural children about the dangers of this drug and its manufacturing, which is often done in rural areas, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation is creating a new education module which can be offered through its Safety Day program.

“Methamphetamine abuse is a growing problem in rural America,” said Randy J. Bernhardt, executive director of development, Progressive Agriculture Foundation. “As the number of users and rural manufacturing increases, we see a bigger need for more education and awareness.”

The Progressive Agricultural Foundation, with the financial support of five leading agriculture organizations, is working to raise awareness of the dangers of methamphetamine by creating the Methamphetamine Awareness Program. Monsanto Company, Agriliance, Agrium, PotashCorp and the Rosen Family Foundation have joined forces to provide financial support for creation of the program which will help educate rural America about the financial, physical and mental damage meth does to users and their communities.

Ag Groups

Sec. Johanns at World Agricultural Forum Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

Sec. of Ag Johanns and JuliaU. S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns was on hand at the World Agricultural Forum Congress. Here he is getting interviewed by Mizzou Ag Journalism blogger Julia Shuck. His full comments are available online. Here’s an excerpt.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the Doha talks, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to really have a profound impact on hunger and poverty in the developing world. Two-thirds of the WTO member countries are developing countries; 32 of these are considered least developed countries, truly the poorest of the poor. In these countries, over 70 percent of the poor live in rural areas where agriculture is the employer.

The World Bank has calculated that roughly half of the global economic benefit from free trade would be enjoyed by developing countries. And more than 90 percent of their gains would come from reducing tariffs. The Peterson Institute of International Economics estimates global free trade could lift as many as 500 million people out of poverty and inject $200 billion annually into the economies of developing countries.

The simple fact is economic growth spurred by trade liberalization can have a profound impact, actually far more than voluntary aid donations although those are enormously important also. When the day comes that the nations of the world agree on greater trade liberalization, the United States is ready to be a good trading partner.

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups

Taryn Dameron Interning for Brownfield

Chuck Zimmerman

Taryn DameronBrownfield will have a summer intern. Her name is Taryn Dameron.

Taryn inherited her passion for agriculture growing up on a farm in western Missouri where her family raises crossbred cattle and row crops. She is currently finishing up her sophomore year at the University of Missouri where she is pursuing a degree in Agriculture Journalism.

Taryn has experience writing and taking pictures for school publications and served as a photography intern for Monsanto’s Technology Development group in the summer of 2006. Recently, Taryn found her way into radio as a reporter for NPR’s 91.3 in Columbia.

As student intern for Brownfield, Taryn will assist in promotions and coordination of several major summer events across the Midwest. She will also have the unique opportunity to work side-by-side with experienced agricultural journalists who will offer instruction in writing and interviewing skills for broadcast on the radio network as well as the Brownfield website and online e-newsletter, “Agriculture Today.”

I could use one too but I haven’t had time to seek one.

Media

Pioneer Sending Little Green Email

Chuck Zimmerman

Little Green EmailPioneer has started a “Little Green Email” for ag journalists. This is a great ideas because they’re providing us with contacts to make it easy to get more information when we want and need it. Here’s why they say they’re doing it.

Throughout the growing season, we receive regular requests for contact information for local Pioneer agronomists. This e-newsletter is a way for us to share current contact information for those agronomists. They are happy to provide you with timely field updates. This e-newsletter also will share key resources and contacts at Pioneer.

I’m signed up Jerry. Thanks.

Agribusiness, Pioneer

The Golden Plow Goes to Saxby Chambliss

Chuck Zimmerman

AFBF Golden Plow AwardAny award with a name like the Golden Plow deserves a post on AgWired. This is an American Farm Bureau Federation legislator award.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was honored today for his unwavering commitment to U.S. farmers and ranchers. American Farm Bureau Federation board member and Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall presented Chambliss the “Golden Plow” award for his distinguished agricultural leadership and support of Farm Bureau’s farm and ranch families.

“Senator Chambliss has a stellar record when it comes to supporting American agriculture,” said Duvall. “While he has always been a strong advocate on behalf of Georgia farmers, many of the programs and legislative initiatives carried out by Sen. Chambliss are equally relevant to all American farm and ranch families.”

The AFBF “Golden Plow” award recognizes members of Congress – regardless of party affiliation – for their distinguished agricultural leadership and support of Farm Bureau policies.

Ag Groups

More On Missouri Flooding

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri FloodingI think the national news has certainly drawn people’s attention to the flooding problem here in Missouri. I was out and about today and took a few pictures along a couple different parts of the Missouri River.

This is a country road that’s covered by the creek that flows into the Missouri. With the river rising many of these creeks back up and flood out of their banks. This one is north of Glasgow, MO. Our Governor, Matt Blunt, held a press conference today to address the flooding problem.

Missouri Governor, Matt Blunt, on flooding: blunt-flood-press.mp3

Audio

Racing and Food On The ZimmCast

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-118 - Bobby Rahal and World Ag ForumThis week on the ZimmCast (I know I’m a little late) you can hear an anecdote from Bobby Rahal about his racing career and learn more about the World Agricultural Forum.

Bobby says that his best time in racing was when he won. That’s not surprising. I’m sure I’ll see him again later this month in Indianapolis at the Indy 500.

Also in the program I’ve got interviews with Ray Cesca, President of the World Agricultural Forum and Leonard Guarraia, founder of the WAF. They talk about the mission of the organization and what they hope to accomplish as this week’s World Congress taking place in St. Louis.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 118 (13 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast118-5-10-07.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.

Ag Groups, Audio, ZimmCast

May is Beef Month

Chuck Zimmerman

Beef Month in MissouriWe can’t forget that May is Beef Month and here in Missouri our governor, Matt Blunt, made a proclamation at the state capitol. Missouri beef cattle industry representatives presented Governor Matt Blunt with the Healthy Beef Cookbook in honor of May Beef Month. Left to right: Governor Blunt, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association president Merrel Breyer, producer Jimmy Long and son Jack, Missouri Beef Industry Council staff member Dawn Thurnau, and MBIC board member David “Blue” Geier.

May is Beef Month in Missouri. Representatives of both the Missouri Beef Industry Council and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association were recently at the state capitol to receive the official proclamation from Governor Matt Blunt.

Cole Camp cattleman Jimmy Long and his eight-year-old son Jack helped to present Governor Blunt with a copy of the Healthy Beef Cookbook during the proclamation.

“We are number two in cow-calf production and this proclamation is the recognition of the fact that we are one of the leading agricultural industries in the state of Missouri,” Long said.

Missouri Beef Industry Council board member David “Blue” Geier of California said it helps to have the governor’s support for the industry. “I think the governor realizes the importance of agriculture, not just beef, but all aspects of agriculture,” Geier said. “It’s important to the Missouri economy all the way through.”

Ag Groups, Beef, Food

Pork Taste of Elegance Winner Again

Chuck Zimmerman

Joseph RoyerLet’s go from chicken to pork now. Here’s Joseph Royer who just won the 2007 Taste of Elegance contest sponsored by the Pork Checkoff.

Joseph Royer, executive chef at the Saturn Grill in Oklahoma City, won top honors in the 18th annual national Taste of Elegance contest May 7 in San Diego, Calif. The competition, sponsored by the Pork Checkoff, featured 24 chefs, all winners of state and regional Taste of Elegance contests. Royer earned Chef Par Excellence honors with his winning entrée of Modern Noodle Bowl with Shoulder, Ribs, & Belly and a check for $5,000. This is the second Taste of Elegance title for Royer. He won in 2004 for his Confit of Smoked Pork Belly with Asian Spiced Pork Tenderloin entrée.

Pork Elegance“The national Taste of Elegance contest brought some of the nation’s best chefs together to share their talent using pork,” said Dianne Bettin, a pork producer from Minnesota and National Pork Board member. “By reaching chefs through Checkoff programs like this, the goal is to increase pork items on menus.”

In the national contest, competing chefs from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin created original pork entrees that were judged for taste, appearance and originality. The Taste of Elegance contest was created to encourage chefs to use pork more frequently in creative, non-traditional ways.

Ag Groups, Food

47th National Chicken Cooking Contest is Inspiring

Chuck Zimmerman

National Chicken Cooking ContestBirmingham, AL was the place to be for the 47th National Chicken Cooking Contest.

A “spectacular” dish combining boneless chicken breasts with jasmine rice, shredded coconut and a crunchy Thai-style slaw took first place and the grand prize of $100,000 in the 47th National Chicken Cooking Contest here Friday.

National Chicken Cooking Contest WinnerMichelle Anderson, a training analyst from Eagle, Idaho, created the dish -“Thai-Inspired Stuffed Chicken Breast and Slaw” – and prepared it for a panel of food writers and editors in a competition involving a contestant from every state in the Union and the District of Columbia.

“The dish looked spectacular and tasted delicious,” said Nancy Dell’Aria, food editor of Woman’s Day magazine and chairman of the panel of media judges. “It had several different textures and a delightful crunch. We knew it was a contender from the first bite.”

The contest is sponsored by the National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, with the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association serving as local host. Elise Durbin, secretary-treasurer of the Marshall Durbin Companies of Birmingham, is chairman of the Contest.

Ag Groups, Food