Lamb Board Grants

Chuck Zimmerman

American Lamb Board LogoIt’s time to get your matching grant app in to the American Lamb Board.

The American Lamb Board (ALB) has approved $40,000 for their Matching Grant Program in FY 2007. ALB has made minor changes to the Matching Grant Program including extending the time between the grant announcement date and application deadline to a 60-day time frame and changing the grant program from a single cycle to 2 cycles per year. The first Matching Grant cycle will be solicited on October 1, 2006 and the second round will be solicited on March 1, 2007. The new application is available at www.americanlamb.com or by calling Rae at (866) 327-5262. A total of $20,000 is budgeted for the first round of FY 2007 grant funding. An additional $20,000 will be available for the second cycle of grants.

The grants require a 1-to-1 cash match from the grant recipient. In-kind contributions are not considered for the matching requirement. Industry organizations are invited to submit proposals that expand or strengthen the market for American Lamb. Creative marketing projects which include a collaborative effort amongst industry organizations and industry sectors are encouraged.

Ag Groups

HAT Radio

Chuck Zimmerman

Hoosier Ag TodayIt looks like Hoosier Ag Today is really on the air now.

A new concept in farm radio became reality on September 18, as Hoosier Ag Today began broadcasting on 20 radio stations across Indiana, 7 of which are 50,000 watt regional stations. Developed by Truitt Communications, Hoosier Ag Today (HAT) is a series of radio programs focused exclusively on covering Indiana’s agricultural industry. Hosted by veteran farm broadcaster Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Today offers listeners several unique features which are not being offered by other broadcast entities. Nothing impacts farmers and rural residents more than the weather. Hoosier Ag Today is the only program to have an in-state meteorologist producing a daily, customized, agricultural weather advisory. Rob Wasson is a native Hoosier and has been forecasting Indiana weather for 11 years. Hoosier Ag Today is delivered to stations in digital stereo using a web-based system which insurers quality and reliability. A mix of long and short form programs allow stations the flexibility to include Hoosier Ag Today programs into their schedule several times daily.

Media

Things Are Working Better Now

Chuck Zimmerman

Yellow FlowerSince it seems like a lot of my technical problems today are related to Internet Explorer I’ve switched over to Firefox. I like it a lot better anyway. It’s been one of those days that makes you say TGIF.

On a positive note I got my new cameral lens in today and immediately went into the back yard to test it. I do like flowers and whatever these are they grow like crazy. In case I don’t get to talk to you again today, have a very lovely weekend.

Uncategorized

Server Problems and Viruses

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m a little behind in my posting today due to multiple computer problems. My web hosting company is working on their issues and 2 of my computers got infected somehow eventhough I’ve got all the latest stuff to block it, including a hardware firewall. It just proves that anyone can get attacked.

So, be patient. I’m sure we’ll be back to normal soon. This is why we have backups to our backups.

Uncategorized

D&Pl Announce Exansion Facility

Chuck Zimmerman

The Delta and Pine Land Company keeps right on expanding.

Delta and Pine Land Company announced the acquisition of more than 500,000 square feet of warehouse space in Indianola, Mississippi, formerly owned by Modern Tool and Die Products (MTD). This is an extension of the company’s commitment to the Delta, which already includes facilities in Washington and Bolivar counties. The Indianola warehouse will be utilized immediately. The company expects to spend up to an additional $2 million to make necessary upgrades and modifications to the location.

“In the last several years, D&PL has been looking at the best means of managing our supply chain and the Mississippi Delta is a central hub for us,” according to Charles Michell, D&PL’s vice president – U.S. operations (pictured). “The Indianola warehouse will become our primary warehousing and distribution center for the Mid-South.”

Public Relations Tip: It helps get your story considered for posting on AgWired if you send me pictures like Janice at D&PL does!

Agribusiness

Screenshots Made Simple

Chuck Zimmerman

A Webshot ScreenshotI just thought you might be interested to see this. Ever wanted to create a screenshot to send to someone or use in a presentation or for any other reason? It is not always the easiest thing to do.

This little tool makes it pretty easy. It’s Webshots Pro. When you create your webshot it gives you choices on sizes and a url to the picture. Pretty cool tool. This picture is one of AgWired I had made as a test.

via Micropersuasion

Uncategorized

Healthy Agri-Culture

Chuck Zimmerman

Agri-CultureHealth.comWith all the buzz about spinach lately this seems like a timely project. Get you locally grown produce from a healthy sounding source Agri-CultureHealth.com!

In today’s fast paced world, getting a product in front of the public, especially on the web, is a highly competitive proposition. Even produce growers and Farm Markets that sell fresh produce to consumers have a tough time of it—adding another layer of complexity to a busy schedule (create the website, pay for the website, update the website, search engine optimization, more updates, etc.). Even if they already have a website, many farm and/or market operations worry about getting lost amid the web-clutter, but www.agri-culturehealth.com offers Delmarva growers and marketers a chance to either get an initial web presence or enhance the one they already have. The site offers free accounts to populate the site’s database that can be searched by crop, location or market name, a powerful tool that developers hope will spur usage of the site and help get fresh local produce to the consumer.

The website was originally designed by the Mid-Atlantic Consortium, a group of educational institutions and organizations dedicated to promoting healthier populations via local fresh produce consumption. “Our intent was to create a user-driven site,” notes project director Carl German of the University of Delaware’s Department of Food & Resource Economics. “It’s more than just a list,“ he said. “It’s a powerful tool for markets and growers with in-depth information on planning farm markets, links to food safety and health resources, daily and weekly market and crop reports and wholesale auction information.

Internet, University

A Celebration indeed!

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensLast Sunday I attended an event in the City of Winkler [Manitoba Canada] Park that thrilled me. Why, because I witnessed, participated with, experienced the thrill of celebration like I haven’t seen in a while with over 2,000 new Canadian immigrants, mostly from Germany.

Canadian CelebrationStar 7 International is an immigration consulting firm whose primary goal is to assist skilled workers, business persons, farmers, and professionals from abroad to immigrate to Canada and settle in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Adele Dyck, who started the Winkler, MB firm in 1996, has helped over 1200 families with their immigration to Manitoba, 10,000 people represented by the 2,000 who came together in Winkler to celebrate. “We have gained extensive experience by counseling families from western and eastern Europe and Latin America, to realize their dream of living and working in Canada,” says Dyck on her website. “The immigration process can be a time-consuming and costly undertaking. We encourage those interested in immigrating to Canada to carefully consider this life-changing decision together with family and friends.”Read More

International

A Date Palm Festival in Iraq

Chuck Zimmerman

Iraq Date Palm FarmI really think these reports from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team on assignment in Iraq, are fascinating. It’s helping provide a behind the scenes look at agriculture in a country where we’re getting almost nothing but political spin news from the mainstream press. This story is about the revival of the date palm farm business in Iraq.

The date palm tree has long been the cherished symbol of Iraq. Dates are the second largest export after oil. During the 1950s, Iraq’s palm orchards produced more than 600 varieties of dates and, by some estimates, accounted for nearly 80% of the world’s supply. During the country’s golden era there were more than 30 million fruit producing trees. But wars, neglect, improper drainage, and the scurvy of the dreaded Dobas bug left the industry in shambles. Particularly hard hit was southern Iraq where 16 million date palm trees were cut down, burned and transformed into battlefields during the Iran-Iraq was in the 1980s.

You can listen to his report about what’s being done to revive these farms here: Listen to MP3 Iraq Date Palm Farms (4 min MP3)

Audio, International

There’s Joy At The Pork Board

Chuck Zimmerman

National Pork BoardShe’s too new to have a picture available yet in case you’re wondering. She’s Joy Johnson who has joined the National Pork Board as vice president of marketing.

She brings more than 17 years of marketing experience, serving most recently as vice president of market strategy for Osborn and Barr Communications, one of agriculture’s largest marketing agencies, and also was head of their Des Moines office. Johnson’s responsibilities will be focused on domestic marketing. She will manage the National Pork Board demand enhancement staff, which promotes pork to a wide variety of audiences through market and consumer trend research, the Don’t be blah campaign, the work of the Pork Information Bureau and activities in the retail, foodservice, niche and culinary markets.

Ag Groups, Pork