I can’t keep up with all the awards out there can you? In fact, a great blog would be one about awards. An awards blog. Today I learned about the NSF International, Third Annual Food Safety Leadership Awards.
NSF’s Food Safety Leadership Awards Program recognizes groundbreaking achievements throughout the food industry. The awards will be presented on Saturday, May 20, 2006 at 2:00 PM (CT) at McCormick Place Convention Center (Booth #3438) during the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show.
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Webcasting Is Not Podcasting
Just this morning I got asked about webcasting vs. podcasting. Well, here’s an example of how to use webcasting. Apparently, Sam Scott, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Corn Products International, will deliver a slide presentation via webcast at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time on May 18 at the Harris Nesbitt Agriculture and Protein Conference in New York.
Corn Products International will provide a live Webcast of the slide presentation through the Company’s Web site at http://www.cornproducts.com/ . Participants are encouraged to log on to the Webcast link about 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation. A replay of the presentation also will be available through the Company’s Web site.
That is webcasting. Cool, but you do have to be on your computer to watch or listen live and even for the replay since this is streamed. Podcasting would be saving that presentation as a file that we can download to our computer hard drive and load into our iPod or other digital device. Then we can watch and/or listen whenever and wherever we want.
Kind of like I’ll be doing on a plane tomorrow.
No Stinking Bird Flu Here
The USDA has a series of PSA’s on avian influenza. They don’t use the line in my title but they could.
You can listen to one of them here. (30 sec MP3)
Podcast Your News Release
I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while. I know some of you companies out there use PR Web. Heck, we’re a proponent and use them as an add-on to our AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service. I am also one of their subscribing reporters. It’s a different world than the old days in media!
The idea of podcasting for news release clients is an interesting one. We’ve considered it for AgNewWire. I still wonder who listens and how they find these podcasts. It’s PR Web Podcasts which is still in “beta.” Actually I think everything on the web is in constant beta.
I mean, we’re talking a lot of podcasts here. Just visit this site and have your iTunes ready. There’s pages of podcasts to subscribe to or download. I guess I’ll try a few myself to see what they’re like and then I’ll report back.
You won’t find bigger proponents of podcasting. I’m just trying to figue out how they distribute/promote these things. Look for more on this soon.
Canadian Farmer Biotech Advocate
At the recent BIO Convention I got to speak with Canadian farmer Jim Pallister. Jim was attending thanks to the Council for Biotechnology Information. Jim grows canola, edible beans and wheat. He’s an outspoken advocate of the benefits of biotechnology.
You can listen to my interview with Jim here: 
Jim Pallister Interview (3 min MP3)
AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by: 
Ultrasound to Measure Marbling in Pork
Researchers in Manitoba are attempting to harness the power of ultrasound to provide a live animal assessment of the amount of marbling in pork. Scientists with Swine Research and Development Corporation in Brandon have found marbling results in a distinct pattern in an ultrasound image.
Dr. Bob McKay says ultrasound can show whether or not there is marbling in the meat and now scientists want to quantify how much there is. Read More
Cotton Leadership Is Fabric of our Lives
It’s time to submit your application for the Cotton Leadership Class of 2006. This program is managed by the National Cotton Council through a grant to the Cotton Foundation from Dupont Crop Protection. You can find out how to apply on the Cotton Leadership Program’s web site.
The NCC’s Cotton Leadership Program is geared to individuals who have the potential and desire to become leaders for the US cotton industry. Participants receive developmental training during five week-long sessions across the Cotton Belt. The class interacts with industry leaders and visits farms, processing operations and research facilities. They also meet with lawmakers and government agency representatives during a visit to Washington, DC, and attend the NCC’s annual meeting and its mid-year board of directors meeting.
Commanding Attention
Only when someone like House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte talks do farm broadcasters listen.
That’s not really true or fair but considering the NAFB’ers pictured are Evan Slack and Bill Ray I’m okay with it. Just kidding guys.
I’m sure they have plenty of good information to bring back to their listeners after this Washington Watch session.
NAFB Goes To Washington
I didn’t get to attend the NAFB Washington Watch this year but thanks to Executive Director, Bill O’Neill, we’ve got pictures.
One of the highlights each year is gathering around the big table at USDA. In this picture NAFB members are meeting with Undersecretary for Rural Development Tom Dorr, Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner and Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.
At another meeting the group got to hear from Senate Ag Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss. These meetings always provide the reporters attending an opportunity to ask questions, learn more about what’s happening in DC and better serve their listening audience back home.
The next meeting for NAFB will be the annual convention this November 15-17 in Kansas City.
Mid MO Ag Leaders
For almost 2 years we’ve been coordinating (with a little help from our friends) the Mid Missouri Agricultural Leaders Luncheon. Yesterday was our next to last one before someone new takes over. Wayne Yokley, Chairman of the Missouri State Fair, Youth In Agriculture Foundation, was our speaker.
Each month we hold a meeting in either Jefferson City or Columbia, MO. We’ll have from 15 to 75 people show up. There’s no dues, bank account, committees or committment (except for the coordinators). I’m amazed that we usually have more people attend than many of the organizations I belong to that have a formal administrative and legal structure. I think people like the informality and lack of pressure.
BTW. Wayne did a great job and you are encouraged to always support youth in agriculture wherever you are.