Hall of Fame Food

Chuck Zimmerman

Jay O'Brien - Photo courtesy of Scott Windus PhotographyHall of fame food is what I like. I made a nice roast beef in the oven last night in fact. It looks like the Beef Checkoff is getting some recognition for all the work it does in reaching out to the restaurant industry.

The Beef Checkoff Program is one of only five honorees and the first commodity to be inducted into the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) “Supplier Hall of Fame.”

Cattlemen’s Beef Board Chairman Jay O’Brien, a producer from Texas, accepted the award – which is produced by Nation’s Restaurant News, the weekly national news publication covering the foodservice channel – during the MUFSO conference in Dallas Oct. 15-18.

“Each day, nearly a million hardworking men and women go about the business of putting beef on America’s tables, and on their behalf, I’d like to thank the team at Nation’s Restaurant News for our 20-plus years of successful, groundbreaking partnership,” O’Brien said upon accepting the prestigious award.

Ag Groups, Beef, Food

So Long Trans Fat

Chuck Zimmerman

KFCI’m going to feel a lot better about ordering KFC Extra Crispy from now on. KFC’s decision to move to low-lin soybean oil is getting a lot of media attention today.

KFC Corporation announced today it is converting all of its 5,500 restaurants in the United States to a zero grams trans fat cooking oil. The new oil, a low linolenic soybean oil, will replace the partially hydrogenated soybean oil in current use in KFC restaurants. The conversion, which follows over two years of extensive testing of oil options to identify the same taste profile, has already begun in many KFC restaurants and is scheduled to be completed by the end of April 2007 nationwide.

This announcement has made the folks at Monsanto very happy for some very obvious reasons.

VistiveMonsanto applauds today’s announcement by KFC that it will reduce trans fatty acids in fried foods at its chicken restaurants by using oil from low-linolenic soybeans. “We’ve been very pleased with the level of interest from food companies in using VISTIVE™ low-linolenic soybeans in their efforts to reduce trans fats,” said Jerry Steiner, executive vice president of Monsanto.

KFC is the latest company to announce the use of low-linolenic soybeans to reduce or eliminate trans fats in its products. Kellogg Company, for instance, announced last year that it is using oil from VISTIVE low-linolenic soybeans as part of a major trans fat initiative.

Post Update: This statement just came out from Qualisoy:

KFC’s commitment to this new variety is an important step in continuing the development of trait-enhanced soybeans that will offer increasing health benefits and functionality for foods. According to QUALISOY CEO John Becherer, “We applaud Yum Brands Inc. on its movement toward eliminating trans fats from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) products by transitioning to a low-linolenic soybean oil. This is an important step towards making America’s favorite foods healthier.”

Agribusiness, Food

World Championship Appaloosa Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Appaloosa Horse ClubThe 2006 World Championship Appaloosa Show is underway now in Ft. Worth, TX. This is significant because by next year’s show there will be content from the event as it’s happening on a new website we’re developing for The Appaloosa Horse Club. And of course, it’s a blog. It’s not ready yet or I’d direct you to it.

So, if you’re “horsey” as a good friend of mine likes to say, you’ll soon have a place to learn more about what’s going on in the Appaloosa horse business. In the meantime you can see and hear what’s going on via their live web cam.

Ag Groups

Dairycast Is Online

Chuck Zimmerman

DairycastIt looks like Truffle Media Networks has their Dairycast program up and running. It got started in conjunction with World Dairy Expo just a few weeks ago. The farm podcasting choices continue to grow.

DairyCast is an audio program specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s Dairy professional. We’ll talk about production practices, environmental stewardship, animal welfare and a lot more. We’ll tell you what others in the Dairy industry are thinking about and doing. DairyCast is:

* Convenient. Subscribe to DairyCast at home or office. Transfer it to your MP3 player to listen whenever and wherever best for you.
* Timely. DairyCast is delivered via the Internet, or “podcast,” twice a week. The targeted approach with this programming format ensures topical interest and allows for in-depth segments to more completely communicate the information.
* Interest-driven. DairyCast provides an overview of the stories that drive the market, including interviews with experts in the field. You’ll quickly discover that DairyCast does not waste your valuable time with unimportant or obvious information.
* Interactive. The input and experiences of dairy professionals are an important part of each program. DairyCast bridges the distance between dairy professionals and industry insiders by building a community of shared experience.
* International. DairyCast looks beyond the U.S. borders at production practices and economic factors around the world, as well as import/export requirements and legislative trends. DairyCast cuts through the clutter and covers the issues critical to economic success. We invite you to subscribe to DairyCast and join the conversation! It’s easy and free.

Here’s where you can join in the conversation.

Dairy, Podcasts

Farewell To A Friend

Chuck Zimmerman

I just learned that Gary Bradley passed away yesterday. Gary worked many years in the communications area of the National Corn Growers Association. Gary had been involved in a long battle with cancer which he wrote about on his page in Carepages. I will always remember him for his smile and laughter and the times we got to go jogging together at an NAFB convention or somewhere on the road. Since I know that many of you were also friends of Gary I’m posting the information that was last posted on Carepages.

Hello everyone. I wish that there was a way Gary could narrate this posting to me. I know he would use his sense of humor to ease his fears and to show us his strength.

Gary passed away Saturday morning, October 28.

Monday evening
Visitation 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Ambruster-Donnelly Mortuary
6633 Clayton Rd.
Saint Louis, MO 63117

Tuesday morning
Mass 10 a.m.
Our Lady of The Pillar Church
401 S Lindbergh Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63131

May you rest in peace my friend.

Uncategorized

New National FFA Officers

Chuck Zimmerman

New FFA National OfficersThere’s a new national officer leadership team at the FFA. They were elected during the final sesson of the convention.

Beau Williamson from California will lead a whole new slate of student officers in the coming year. Serving with Williamson will be; Kacy Baugher Illinois, Secretary; Janette Barnard, Arizona, Western Region Vice President; Jamie Cecil, Colorado, Central Region Vice President; Jennifer Himburg, Alabama, Southern Region Vice President; and Coty Back, Kentucky; Eastern Region Vice President. The officers were selected from among forty-one members vying for national office. They will serve as ambassadors for the agriculture industry and represent FFA and its members for the following year.

Ag Groups

Beef Board Appointments

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattlemen's Beef BoardI love getting these announcements on a Friday afternoon (not).

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner today announced 35 appointments and one interim appointment to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. All appointees will serve 3-year terms beginning Feb.3, 2007. The interim appointee will serve a 2-year term.

Appointed members representing cattle producers by state and unit are: Judy E. Prosser, Ariz.; I. Jack Cowley and Richard L. Nock, Calif.; Roger L.
Evans, Colo.; Jeffrey L. Clausen and Robert L. Johnson, Iowa; Jerald L. Bohn and Don H. Hullman, Kan.; T. Barrett Porter, La.; Charles E. Markley, Mich.; Aquilla M. Ward, Mid-Atlantic; John C. Schafer, Minn.; Charles R. Hull, Miss.; Jerry R. King, Mo.; Kristy L. Lage and David C. Lamb, Neb.; Preston T. Wright, Nev.; Margaret D. McKeen, N.M.; Roger M. Pendleton, N.C.; Lucinda M. Williams, Northeast; Bill D. Boyer, Okla.; Allen L. Walth and Myron J.
Williams, S.D.; Jennifer A. Senn, Southeast; Robert J. Reviere, Jr., Tenn.; Peter F. Case, Justin P. Dauer, Charles A. Kiker III, and Walter E. Lasley, Texas; Richard V. Nielson, Utah; Mark E. Riechers and Nancy L. Thomas, Wis.; Dianne S. Kirkbride, Wyo.

Appointed to represent importers are: Lawrence I. Bryant, Va. and Greg E. Silpe, Conn.. Michelle A. Gorman, Md. was appointed to serve the remaining 2-year term vacated by Mr. David Palmer, Wash., DC because of his recent resignation.

Ag Groups, Beef, USDA

Premium Beans

Chuck Zimmerman

CHS, Inc.CHS, Inc. gets on AgWired twice today! They’ve got a lot going on.

CHS Inc. has announced that it will be contracting low linolenic soybeans from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., for the 2007 growing season to provide the food marketplace with low lin soy oil to support the demand for healthier foods. Contracts for these opportunities will be made through elevators as Pioneerwell as directly with growers in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. CHS will pay a $0.40 per bushel premium for the identity-preserved beans upon delivery to the CHS crushing plant in Fairmont, Minn. Growers with interest in this program can also contact their local Pioneer sales representative for more information. Growers will have multiple Pioneer brand low linolenic soybean varieties to choose from in this region; these include 92M41, 92M73 and 93M01. All of these low lin varieties contain the Roundup Ready trait.

Advertising

AgWired’s Focus

Chuck Zimmerman

During a conversation this week about AgWired I was told “You’re not trying to reach farmers.” That is correct and I was kind of glad to hear this person say it. That doesn’t mean I’m not reaching a growing number of farmers btw. I’ve had some farmer leaders tell me that they’re fascinated to learn how companies are marketing to them. However, since I made the decision and commitment to move forward with AgWired I’ve focused on the professional agrimarketer. I’m trying to provide a place to get ideas and information to help you in your job or your business. I’m not trying to compete with traditional online farm news outlets whose sole focus is informing the farmer. In fact, the people who are doing that are some of the ones I’m targeting here in the hopes they’ll find something valuable to take away from the time they spend on AgWired.

I just checked and we’re approaching 14,000 unique visitors here on the website this month. That’s fantastic and I’d like to think that the people who want and need to know what’s going on in agribusiness like what they see and hear. Traffic just keeps growing.

Beginning next week you’ll see some display advertising on AgWired. I waited a long time to pursue advertising. I wanted to develop the AgWired community first and make sure that this channel of communication was viable and had legs. It does. I love the challenge of feeding the “blog monster” every day. Now, in order to continue to grow and develop this sense of community within our business I want and need support and am thrilled at the initial response I’m getting. You who visit, subscribe and pass us along to your friends and colleagues are making AgWired possible. Together we’re helping each other become better at what we do and that’s good for our clients.

If you agree with what I’m saying please feel free to contact me to discuss ways we can work together in this online community. I’m reaching out as fast as I can but don’t be shy about reaching in. And thanks for all your support.

Uncategorized

Put Some Ethanol in my Latte Please

Chuck Zimmerman

Mountain Mudd EspressoWell now, it’s about time you’re able to get a nice espresso when you drop off your grain. Can you say, “After you get done checking the moisture content can you fix me a nice cappuccino?” It looks like this fits into the “Energy” component of the CHS business. I know I need some each morning to get going. I put a little caffeine in me and some ethanol in my vehicle. In fact, I think I need another cup right now.

CHS Inc., a leading energy and grain-based foods company, announced today it has formed a joint venture with Mountain Mudd, LLC, which operates drive-thru specialty coffee kiosks in 22 states. Under the agreement, CHS will partner with the present owners, Brenda and Dennis Burkhartsmeier, who will continue to manage and operate the business in Billings, Mont. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

Mountain Mudd Espresso, was formed 13 years ago and has over 70 branded specialty coffee kiosks, the nation’s largest in its sector. “We believe this is an excellent opportunity to enter this growing niche market,” said Leon Westbrock, executive vice president, Energy, for CHS. “Our involvement with Mountain Mudd kiosks provides a unique way for both convenience stores and other businesses to expand their retail offerings.” “The specialty coffee market is one of the fastest growing food service segments and is projected to expand by 7 percent annually,” said Brenda Burkhartsmeier, president of Mountain Mudd Espresso. “This joint venture with CHS will help us reach the rapidly growing drive-thru portion of the specialty coffee market.”

Agribusiness, Food