Paul McKellips Report From Iraq

Chuck Zimmerman

Paul McKellipsIt is great to hear from Paul McKellips again. He’s back for his 3rd stint behind the scenes in Iraq and finding the good news our mainstream media doesn’t want us to know. Good news just wouldn’t do in their politically motivated style of reporting. So as long as Paul keeps doing it, I’ll keep posting it.

You can listen to his latest report featuring MAJ Kevin Wellington, a large animal vet who is running an A-I program to improve genetics in Iraqi dairy cows here: iraq-wellington-dairy.mp3


Hi everybody. I’m back for my third – and as my wife likes to remind me…final – deployment to Iraq. Things are much different now then they were even a few months ago. I sense two key differences: (1) the tone and constant drum beat of the Iraq War debate back home is now evident on the faces of soldiers and diplomats alike. I just got back from a mission to Ramadi in Anbar Province and I heard several Marines and soldiers discussing the futility of public support; and (2) safety in the Green Zone has been rather perilous for the past 30 days. Incoming rocket attacks have become much more accurate. Six of our civilian colleagues have been killed and dozens injured in these violent attacks. As civilians, we haven’t trained and drilled for countless days and months to prepare for combat. So when “war” lands at our feet in the form of incoming rockets, it probably affects us differently than our brothers and sisters in the military. Read More

Audio, Dairy, International

New MU Agricultural Journalism Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill AllenIn case you don’t at first notice, Bill Allen here has a Mac. As a Mac user now I’m seeing them everywhere. But that’s not the point of this post.

Bill teaches at the University of Missouri and he and his students have started the MU Agricultural Journalism Blog. I’m very proud of them. It seems like it was just a couple weeks ago that I did a presentation for them on this very subject. We’ll get to see them first in action at the World Ag Forum starting today or tomorrow. I’ll be there early tomorrow morning but it’s my understanding that Bill and his crew will there for the duration.

So I’m expecting to see some pictures and hopefully hear some audio. In fact, I’m counting on them to supply AgWired with some content, especially on Thursday when U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns will be speaking.

University

BIO 2007 Blog In Progress

Chuck Zimmerman

BIO 2007Well I’m going to miss BIO 2007. But here’s some interesting notes.

They have a blog now. Can you imagine an organization like BIO having a blog? Last year at their convention I was basically the only person there blogging it. Now they have their own.

Oh, and here’s another interesting thing they’re doing. An online Flickr photo album and they’re encouraging others to upload their photos and tag them with BIO2007. What a great idea. If you can’t be there then how about a photo? Why not let your members or customers see what you’re doing? Depend on someone else to do it for you? Never!

Biotech

This Babe Partners With Pioneer

Chuck Zimmerman

Babe WinkelmanThis guy sounds like a person I can get along with. Babe Winkelman has partnered up with Pioneer Hi-Bred to provide more forage for Minnesota’s wildlife.

“We’re planting seeds for all types of wildlife – deer, turkey, pheasants, ducks, geese, bear,” says Babe Winkelman, host of “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets.” “It’s far beyond a small plot that offers food to a few animals in the wilderness.”

The “plot” on Winkelman’s 262-acre ranch in Perham, Minn., comprises approximately 60 acres of fields and 55 acres of native prairie grasses plus the woods of his property. Winkelman has maintained this forage refuge for five years, with 2007 being the first year Pioneer has participated in the project. The company has provided Winkelman with Pioneer brand soybean and corn hybrids with the Roundup Ready gene, grain and forage sorghum, alfalfa and sunflowers. The progress of this plot also will be featured on upcoming episodes of “Outdoor Secrets.”

“There aren’t a lot of crops grown especially for wildlife,” explains Winkelman. “A lot of us who want to be immersed in wildlife choose to plant these plots ourselves.” “We’re happy to help Babe provide food to more species by expanding the number of crops grown in his plot,” says Marty Lovrien, Pioneer account manager for central Minnesota. “He recognizes the importance of a high-quality forage refuge, and we want to assist by providing seed with the highest yield potential.” In addition to high-quality seeds, Winkelman also understands other steps needed to assure a quality refuge spot for wildlife in his area.

Agribusiness

The Weather Is Wacky

Chuck Zimmerman

Water in Corn FieldI suppose things could be worse than a little water standing in your field. However, an active bunch of storm systems has certainly made it wet around the midwest. This is a field near my house. When I flew in to St. Louis yesterday some of the nearby fields looked like lakes.

I’ve got one project pending since the conditions in north central Missouri haven’t been real conducive to planting soybeans yet. It’s not looking like that’s going to change in the next couple days.

Early CornI guess the extent of planting for corn or soybeans is pretty mixed right now around the country. The southeast is dry the upper midwest is wet.

One thing this weather also affects is flying. How many of you have had weather problems with flights lately?

A strong band of thunderstorms also interfered with my bike ride today too. These pics are actually from the Katy Trail. I didn’t get too far though. There’s just something about lighting and being on a metal frame that bothers me.

Farming

Monty’s Plant Food Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman

Monty's Plant Food PodcastAnother former farm broadcaster is doing the farm podcasting thing. This time it’s Price Allen, Monty’s Plant Food. I stopped in and spoke with Price after the National Farm Machinery Show and it looked to me like he was equipped and ready to go.

Now he’s got Monty’s Plant Food Podcast. Here’s a link to the post with his first show (just last week). For those of you who are podcast pros, here’s the RSS link.

Let him know what you think. He’s looking for feedback.

Podcasts

Demanding Fruits & Vegetables

Chuck Zimmerman

Produce For Better Health FoundationActually the produce isn’t demanding but the Produce For Better Health Foundation wants you to demand more of them. And now BASF is helping them out by partnering up. It’s part of their support for the fruit and vegeatable industry.

As part of this partnership, BASF recently committed to a five-year $100,000 sponsorship to help fund the foundation’s research. BASF is already an active member of the foundation, and this $100,000 commitment will fund new research concentrating on women ages 25 to 41 with families. The goal of this research is to find ways to overcome barriers to increased fruit and vegetable consumption. The Produce for Better Health Foundation is a non-profit consumer education foundation whose mission is to motivate Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. The organization recently unveiled a new public health initiative, Fruits & Veggies—More Matters.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Food

Ethanol On Stage At National Press Club

Chuck Zimmerman

Dean Broadhead and Bobby Rahal at National Press ClubMany of you may know Dean Broadhead, Broadhead+Co seen here next to Bobby Rahal today at the National Press Club. Dean’s company is an AgWired advertiser and also does work with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. He and Tom DiBacco were on hand at today’s event.

Just in case you’d like to hear the whole speech and question and answer session I thought I’d post it here for you to listen to. It’s 50 minutes long but I think you’ll find it very interesting and entertaining, especially when it gets to Q&A. Bobby did a great job and showed what a true professional he is. He’s got some great anecdotes about his days in racing for example.

You can listen to the whole event here:

nat-press-club-07-conf.mp3

Bobby Rahal at National Press Club Photo Album

Agencies, Audio, Ethanol

Bobby Rahal Talks About Green Racing

Chuck Zimmerman

Bobby Rahal at National Press ClubIt’s been a while since I’ve been to the National Press Club. This was a fun event today.

For the first time ever an Indianapolis 500 winner spoke at the National Press Club today. Bobby Rahal spoke about “The Greening of Racing: Ethanol Powers the Indianapolis 500.″I’ll be there to watch it happen and chronicle it here and on Domestic Fuel.

Today Bobby put in another great performance as he spoke about his passion for racing and what the IRl is doing with ethanol.

Bobby said that he is proud of what the Indy Racing League has done to move to an environmentally friendly fuel because it means they’re focused on more than just entertainment and on what matters and is important to people in their everyday lives here in our country.

You can listen to an excerpt from his speech here:

nat-press-club-07-rahal.mp3

Of course I’ve created an online photo album from the event you are welcome to visit: Bobby Rahal at National Press Club Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol

Getting Ready For Lunch With Bobby Rahal

Chuck Zimmerman

Bobby RahalGood morning from Washington, DC. We were having a little server work done this morning (if you noticed). That’s done now.

I’ll be attending a lunch presentation with this guy in about an hour and will be back online this afternoon with some posts.

The greening of racing is a very interesting phenomenon and Bobby Rahal is going to talk about it. I’ll be recording his remarks and taking pictures. Of course you know that.

Ethanol