A Fighting Slogan For R-CALF

Chuck Zimmerman

R-Calf USAR-CALF has an official slogan. They say it was approved along with all the resolutions proposed at their annual convention in January. The votes were handled via mail-in ballot.

The record 23 resolutions dealt with topics ranging from animal health to animal identification to marketing to property rights to international trade issues – and to the organization’s now-official slogan: “R-CALF USA: Fighting for the U.S. Cattle Producer,” a proposal brought forward by the group’s membership committee.

The R-CALF USA Membership Committee brought forward the resolution to establish an official slogan, which passed by a vote of 3,177-98. It reads: “WHEREAS, R-CALF USA was formed by U.S. cattle producers in 1998 because they believed that the largest segment of the U.S. cattle industry – the producer segment – was in need of a national organization representing the interests of U.S. producers exclusively; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that R-CALF USA membership adopt this official slogan: “R-CALF USA: Fighting for the U.S. Cattle Producer.”

Ag Groups

Missouri River Flooding

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri River at Jefferson CityHere in central Missouri we’ve all the sudden become river watchers. Who knows how high this is going to go.

AgWired fan, Lane McConnell was out and about today with her camera and got this picture of the state capitol from underneath the Hwy. 63 bridge over the Missouri River just outside Jefferson City. The river has definitely risen since I was in town yesterday morning. Lane says there were about 50 people standing around watching the river when she was there talking about the floods of 1993 and 1995.

Flood stage here is considered to be 23 feet and right now we’re at 26.9 with a crest expected by Sunday according to the National Weather Service. If we reach the level predicted our local airport would be under water along with a whole lot of river bottom farm land.

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Address By Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Ag Commissioner

Chuck Zimmerman

Mariann Fischer BoelThe Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development for the European Economic Union is Mariann Fischer Boel. She was the keynote speaker on the program today here at the World Agricultural Forum.

You can listen to her speech here while she’s finishing up with questions and answers. In her talk she tries to clear up misconceptions about farmers, farming and the policies of the EU. In particular she provides some historic detail on the EU CAP (Common Ag Policy). She says they’re continuing the move to reduce subsidies. One of the key words heard here is sustainability and she does make a point about the care the EU needs to use in moving forward so that their farmers sustain their prosperity.

You can listen to the speech here: world-ag-forum-07-boel.mp3

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, International

Grower Perspective on the World Agricultural Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

Dick McWardOne of the directors of the World Agricultural Forum is Dick McWard. He’s taking notes during this morning’s speech by Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Dick is a producer from Illinois who is also retired from Bunge North America where he worked in industry affairs. I asked him for his perspective on an event like the 2007 World Congress of the World Agricultural Forum (that’s the official title of the event). He says that this event provides growers like him with the opportunity to open up new markets around the world.

You can listen to my interview with Dick here: world-ag-forum-07-mcward.mp3

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio

Rex Parsons Passes Away

Chuck Zimmerman

I have to take a moment to post about the passing away of Rex Parsons, former Executive Director of the National Agri-Marketing Association. The full information as posted by the NAMA office is included below (click on “more”). I would dare say that any of us who were members during the Rex era have our stories to tell. I will never forget the first time I met Rex. It was at an Orlando NAMA convention. At the time Gary Cooper, Southeast AgNet and myself were registered as members who worked for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. Just prior to attending the convention our employment at FFBF was terminated (which is another story for another time). Since the NAMA membership is corporate and not individual Rex wouldn’t give us our name badges and said we’d have to leave unless we paid a full non-member registration. Anyway, Gary and I left and let’s just say my Rex relationship got off to a rocky start.

Several years later after Gary and I helped start the Florida NAMA chapter and I had served as chapter president for 2 years I had the honor to receive one of Rex’s annual leadership awards which he would give to someone he thought had done a good job for the organization in a leadership position. I was pretty proud of that award, especially considering how my relationship with Rex started out.

Rex, you were one of a kind and I’m sure I’m not the only one who is sad to hear of your passing. I’m sure you’re in a better place now though. We will keep you, Violet and all your family in our prayers. Read More

NAMA

Flowers From Columbia

Chuck Zimmerman

Ernesto VelezThe flower man from Columbia is Ernesto Velez, Columbian Association of Flower Exporters. He gave us a presentation at our evening reception at the World Agricultural Forum here this evening.

He said that there was a 90+% chance that the dozen carnations I bought Cindy on Sunday came from Columbia.

If you’d like to learn about where a major source of our cut flowers come from here in the United States you might be interested to hear his presentation.

You can listen to the Ernesto Velez presentation here: world-ag-forum-07-velez.mp3

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, International

Sunset in St. Louis

Chuck Zimmerman

St. Louis SunsetIt is definitely the end of the day here in St. Louis at the World Agricultural Forum. We had a very nice reception. Just check out the photo album.

The top of the hotel has a very nice outside area from which we had a good view of the city and the sunset.

The best part was the ice sculpture filled with shrimp. You’ll have to find that in the photo album.

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, International

Rich Keller On The Job

Chuck Zimmerman

Rich KellerOne of the people covering the World Agricultural Forum is Rich Keller. Rich is the editor of AgProfessional and AgLender, Vance Publishing. I think he dared me to take his picture as he was enjoying a big soft pretzel on a break.

I’m sure there are some dares I won’t take but it’s nice to see Rich in action.

It’s almost the end of the first day of the Forum and it’s been a pretty busy one. The last session is just finishing up before tonight’s reception.

Don’t forget to check out the online photo album.

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, International

Bunge North America CEO Wants Us To Think Global

Chuck Zimmerman

Carl HausmannThe President and CEO of Bunge North America is Carl Hausmann. He was part of a panel today at the World Agricultural Forum that addressed the needs of food, fuel, fiber and water.

I interviewed Carl after the session and asked what he thought one of the main concerns was that people expressed here. He says that when it comes to biofuels the subject needs to be more than a national issue, that it’s a global issue. He says that when countries individually deal with it through things like subsidies that it tends to distort world trade. He would like to think that this forum will not only be an exchange of ideas among the participants but that they will leave and effect the political debate in their countries. He believes biofuels will be with us well into the future. He also says that the rapid increase in the price of corn has been a shocker to many but that the commodity has been undervalued for years and that the world will become used to $3.50 to $4 corn.

You can listen to my interview with Carl here: world-ag-forum-07-hausmann.mp3

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, International

WAF President Sees Ag As Economic Engine For Growth

Chuck Zimmerman

Raymond Cesca and Leonard GuarraiaThe president of the World Agricultural Forum is Raymond Cesca, pictured here to the left of Leonard Guarraia.

I interviewed Ray in between sessions earlier today about what he hopes to see accomplished. He says the theme of investing in agriculture is meant to be about more than just food and fuel but about successful business models and food production. He says they hope to see agriculture as the economic engine for growth and that investment in agriculture can be the driver for it.

You can listen to my interview with Ray here: world-ag-forum-07-cesca.mp3

World Agricultural Forum Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, International