Passing The Banner To Japan

Chuck Zimmerman

Passing The BannerI know it’s sad to say goodbye but the last thing you do at a closing banquet is pass the banner. Here the banner is being passed from the Norwegian organizing committee to the leaders of the Japanese committee.

Next year we’re going to “Explore the Land of Mizuho.” There is a website set up for the IFAJ Congress 2007 already. Visit it to learn IFAJ 2007what this slogan means. You can see the schedule too.

Don’t forget to keep your eye on the website for this year’s Congress as it continues to be updated.

So long from Norway. It’s time to pack up and head out in just a few hours. It’s been another great experience, making new friends in agricultural communications from around the world and renewing one made last year. I hope to see them all in Japan.

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ

50 Years and 5 Whiskies

Chuck Zimmerman

Past Presidents of IFAJYou have got to like an organization that has custom labelled bottles of a blend of 5 fine scotch whiskies made to give to and honor their past presidents.

This is the 50 year anniversary of the IFAJ and the 5 whiskies in the blend each represent a decade of the organization’s existence.

Pictured with the past presidents is current president David Markey in case you’re counting.

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ

All The Way From The USA

Chuck Zimmerman

AmericansThis is a fine looking group from the United States. We waited until the last possible moment to get this picture taken.

The closing banquet was closing around us by the time we got around to it.

Most of us pictured are on the committee working on IFAJ Congress 2009. I’ll have a lot more on that in coming years!

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ

Some of the Canadians Attending IFAJ

Chuck Zimmerman

CanadiansI don’t have any of their names, but Owen Roberts, if you know feel free to post a comment and identify these Canadians attending the IFAJ Congress.

I had to post this because I’ll be in Ontario next month conducting an agriblogging and farm podcasting workshop at the University of Guelph. The two on the left are students there.

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

IFAJ

Green Tractors At This Dairy Farm

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere In NorwayI thought this would make Barry Nelson happy at John Deere.

The Norwegian dairy farmer I interviewed today made a point of making sure I knew he exclusively uses John Deere tractors. He seemed pretty proud of that.

Hey Barry, I think Ole Skallerud is making a pitch for at least a new John Deere cap or something!

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

Agribusiness, Equipment, IFAJ, Tractor

Dairy Barn Fashion

Chuck Zimmerman

Cow InterviewIt’s been a long trip and sometimes you start to get a little goofy. I tried to interview old Betsy here but she wasn’t interested.

As you might expect, we had to suit up to go into the dairy barn.

I wasn’t the only one thinking I looked pretty fashionable in my blue suit.

Barn FashionThis is public relations professional, Esther Rozeboom, PlusProject, Netherlands.

She was actually in the group after me to go into the barn. My group was going to take a turn going out into the field for a demonstration but it started to pour down rain so we stayed inside.

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

Dairy, IFAJ

Norwegian Cow Record System

Chuck Zimmerman

Torstein SteineOne of the companies helping sponsor the IFAJ Congress here in Norway is GENO Breeding and A.I. Association.

On our dairy tour today, Torstein Steine, Director of Breeding and Research, gave us an overview of the Norwegian Cow Record System. GENO is very involved in this project which has an immense amount of data online now.

Torstein says that over a third of all the dairy producers in Norway directly input their data via the internet, including the farm we were on today.

I interviewed him after his presentation so you can learn more here: Listen To MP3 Torstein Steine Interview (4 min MP3)

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

Audio, Dairy, IFAJ

Robotic Dairy Expert

Chuck Zimmerman

Gunnar PetterssonBefore we got to go into the dairy barn on today’s IFAJ Congress tour we learned about automatic or robotic milking from the expert.

He’s Gunnar Pettersson, Swedish University of Agricultural Science. He used a power point presentation but I recorded him anyway and am providing an edited version of that talk.

In his talk he mentions how much dairy producers like these automatic systems like the DeLaval one in use on the farm today. The main reason is how it changes the lifestyle of the farmer. It gives him/her more time for things other than managing the animals.

Pettersson says he been on many, many farms studying the best management practices and he’s found and helped quantify what a robotic system can mean to the producer.

You can listen to Pettersson here: Listen To MP3 Gunnar Pettersson Presentation (14 min MP3)

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

Audio, Dairy, IFAJ

Robotic Milking At Smestad Farm

Chuck Zimmerman

SkallerudsToday I got to visit a dairy operation which is pretty big business in Norway. We toured the Smestad farm. Pictured here are our hosts, Ole Kristian and Randi Skallerud.

The interesting part of the dairy is that they’re using an automatic milking system. So before we event went into the barn we learned more about robotic milking.

I interviewed Ole after we got into the barn. He milks 47 cows at this facility and says that the long cold winter is one of the challenges he faces. He also says that his farm has internet access and that Randi and his kids use it while he’s slowly learning how himself. They actually have wireless access which I found with my computer before leaving on the bus.

You can listen to my interview with Ole here: Listen To MP3 Ole Skallerud (6 min MP3)

I also have a little video clip of a cow in the robot getting milked: Watch WMV File Robotic Milking Action (1 min WMV)

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

Audio, Dairy, IFAJ, Video