Speech By Sec. of Ag Mike Johanns

Chuck Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Mike JohannsOur U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, was on the program early today here at the Cattle Industry Convention. He spoke for about 25 minutes before taking some questions from the floor.

One of the things he focused on was an animal ID system. He said that he’s put about $100 million dollars into the budget for the development of a national system. He said the budget will be available to look at by next Monday when President Bush announces his proposed budget.

I recorded his comments for you. The audio feed for the press was a little distorted but it’s very clear. You can listen here: Listen To MP3 File Mike Johanns Speech (25 min. MP3 File)

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, USDA

Cattle Industry Convention Media Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

Media ForumThis is a big head table. Kind of hard to get into one shot. You’ll have to listen to the audio to hear their introduction by Joe Schuele, NCBA. This is the Cattle Industry Convention Media Forum just prior to our reception this evening. The event was sponsored by Merial.

The event provides an opportunity for the media to ask questions of the leaders from both NCBA and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. A lot of the questions were about the coalition of groups coming together to provide input and recommendations on the Beef Checkoff. It’s still too early in that process to know what they’ll come up with but it’s clear that NCBA is taking a lead role in the effort.

You can hear the whole press conference here. It’s about 25 minutes long. I edited it down at least some. We had the lights go out in the room 3 times which was a little odd. Anyway, here it is: Listen To MP3 File Cattle Industry Convention Media Forum (12MB MP3 File)

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Media

Time Out For Recepting

Chuck Zimmerman

It has been a very busy day here in Denver. At least for this agriblogger. I’ve posted content onto 6 different blog sites today. I’ve got a lot more to post but it’s time for a break. The Cattle Industry Media reception is coming up in a few minutes. Then it’s on to several other receptions and the CBB Banquet. I’ll have a lot more pictures and interviews just as soon as I get back online.

Until then, stay AgWired!

Uncategorized

Update On The R-Calf Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike CallicrateSince I’m doing so much coverage of the Cattle Industry Convention and since I couldn’t attend the R-Calf convention Cindy interviewed Mike Callicrate, NoBull Enterprises about the activities of that meeting. It’s only fair since the organizations do have some very divergent viewpoints. Mike was a founder of R-Calf and he’s also a sponsor of World Dairy Diary.

The interview with Mike is about 13 minutes long. You can listen to it here: Listen To MP3 File Mike Callicrate Interview (9MB MP3 File)

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef

Interview With CBB Chairman

Chuck Zimmerman

Al SvajgrThe chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is Al Svajgr. I caught him for just a couple minutes this morning in the media room. He’s one busy man this week. In my interview Al talks about the new long range plan and what he most wants cattlemen to know about the Checkoff. He also explains why they decided to blog.

You can listen to my interview with Al here: Listen To MP3 File Al Svajgr Interview (4:24 Min. MP3 File)

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner

Chuck Zimmerman

Sam ElliottWe had a secret mystery guest here at the convention. He’s Sam Elliott. You have hopefully heard his voice on a beef commercial somewhere, sometime. Sam didn’t prepare a speech. He spoke in a very genuine voice about his past, including his first memory of riding a horse. He spoke about how full circle he feels like his career has come to now be the spokesperson for the beef indusry. You can hear his unforgettable words at the end of his remarks.

You can listen to what Sam had to say here: Listen To MP3 File Sam Elliott Speaks (5:22 Min. MP3 File)

If you don’t have the time to listen to Sam for his full remarks, click here to hear him utter his famous words.

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Bourbon Barrel Ale From Alltech

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattle Industry Convention 23If you know you’re going to be entertaining clients a lot then why not buy a brewery? That’s what Alltech did. In their booth they are serving some very fine Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.

I think they’ll be serving again at 3pm tomorrow afternoon. Stop on by.

Agribusiness, Cattle Industry Conference

Bayer Booth Pool Shark

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattle Industry Convention 24There’s all kinds of activities in the booths this year. The Bayer booth had a very amusing pool shark. He had quite a crowd so I guess he was entertaining.

I’m going to let you be thejudge.

Here’s a little less than 2 minutes of video from his performance: Watch WMV File Trade Show Video (.wmv file)

Agribusiness, Cattle Industry Conference, Video

Trade Show Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattle Industry Convention Trade ShowThe Cattle Industry Convention Trade Show got underway this evening. Thank you Allflex for letting me set my bags in your booth for a while.

If you’ve never been to the show, it’s a big one. I took a short video clip for you to get a sense of how busy this place is.

Here’s a little less than 2 minutes of video from this evening’s trade show: Watch WMV File Trade Show Video (.wmv file)

Cattle Industry Conference, Video

CBB Member Explains Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Charles MillerAs you probably know I’m also blogging the Cattle Industry Convention for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board on their Beef Board Meeting Blog. In case you’re wondering how that came about I interviewed Charles Miller, who’s a cattleman from Kentucky and chairman of the Administration Subcommittee.

In my interview with Charles he describes why the CBB decided to blog. You can hear what Charles had to say here: Listen To MP3 File Charles Miller Soundbite (MP3 File)

Audio, Cattle Industry Conference