A Smoked Pork Loin Martini

Chuck Zimmerman

Taste of Elegance WinnerI am very behind in posting the winner of the 6th annual Mid-Atlantic Taste of Elegance contest that was held in Baltimore, MD. The winner was James Matthew Wolff, executive chef at Innovative Gourmet Caterers, Owings Mills, Md.

A smoked pork loin and sweet potato martini served in a martini glass earned Wolff the title of Chef Par Excellence. He will now compete in the National Taste of Elegance competition in 2006, which will be held at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. He was also the recipient of the People’s Choice Award voted on by approximately 250 invited guests from the foodservice industry, media and related industry.

Wow. That’s sounds awesome. Hey Pork Board. Do you have your Orlando judges picked out yet? If not, I can be tempted very, very easily.

Ag Groups, Pork

WTO Hong Kong Style

Chuck Zimmerman

Pascal LamyThe WTO Hong Kong Ministerial is about to kick off and I’m sure we’ll have some good stuff for you. To kind of get you in the mood you need to watch/listen to Mr. Lamy, the WTO Director General. He’s got a nice little pre-conference video for you. (Hint: drink a Red Bull before watching)

You probably know someone who’s over there don’t you? In fact, I’m wondering how many of our readers are there. If so, could you post a comment from the big show and fill us in?

Uncategorized

Stockton Ag Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Stockton Ag ExpoThis image is all I got via email (a picture speaks a thousand words) but thankfully it has a website listed. It’s the Stockton Ag Expo. If you print out the “ad” you get $1 off admission and on opening day you also get a pancake breakfast!

The very first California agricultural show of the year is just weeks away! Join us in celebrating the farm industry at Stockton Ag Expo on January 19, 20 and 21, 2006. This year, Stockton Ag Expo is expanding its reach by not only hosting our much valued exhibitors serving our large growers, but also including exhibitors catering to those family ranchers who farm five acres or more. We are also moving our show days from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday to a Thursday, Friday, Saturday in hopes of allowing those who aren’t able to visit our expo on a weekday the opportunity to take it all in on Saturday.

You’ve got to love the fact that they’ve got some numbers to show like:

What Did Ag Expo Visitors Come To See?
(Based on a University of the Pacific Survey)

17.8% Agricultural chemicals
12.4% Computer Accounting / Financing
42.0% General Information
17.9% Harvesting & Tillage
22.0% Irrigation Equipment
36.7% Orchard Equipment
8.8% Processing
16.5% Seeds and Nursery
39.4% Tractors
12.9% Transportation and Hauling

Farm Shows

Learn From Users On LawnCafe

Chuck Zimmerman

Lawn CafeThis is sort of related to agriculture. Have you ever wanted to start your own lawn care business? It’s how I made money in high school. I think I mowed about a gazillion yards. I think I wore out 3 or 4 lawn mowers in the process. This is actually about really making a business out of it and LawnCafe is a website that’s all user forum baby.

What would be better than being able to ask and read what other lawn and landscape professionals do to make their business successful? Industry specific forums manage to gather thousands of business owners in one place to share ideas in one disucssion board. Simply put, asking people with the knowledge in your same line of work is what a discussion board does without even having to leave the comfort of one’s house or office. Being able to connect with others thru peer to peer interaction is golden when the need to know is all in one place.

With all the millions, even billions, that Americans spend each year, why wouldn’t lawn care be a good business to start? Whether it is lawn maintenance, or providing lawn treatments, you can make a good income. Who better to ask advice from than other people that are in the lawn care or lawn service business? One such forum, Lawn Café, can help you with what your trying to accomplish in starting your own lawn care company.

Agribusiness

DTN Hires Sally Behringer

Chuck Zimmerman

Data Transmission NetworkDTN has hired Sally Behringer, yes, the Sally Behringer, as part of their agribusiness team working on advertising sales. This effectively brings their advertising sales in-house again under the capable management of Kim Lang.

Behringer brings a seasoned understanding of agricultural marketing to DTN, including success in the media planning, public relations, and creative arenas. She will be based at her home office in St. Louis, and can be reached at 800-485-4000 extension 7025.

I’ll update this post with a picture of the lovely and talented Sally as soon as I receive it.

Ahh, DTN, I remember those days when . . .

Media

Sara Wyant At WTO In Hong Kong

Chuck Zimmerman

Sara WyantI wanted to go to Hong Kong but business is very, very busy and then there’s that bird flu thing . . . but Sara Wyant is there and she’s letting her subscribers to Agri-Pulse know what’s going on each day. I’ll have more about the WTO Ministerial here as I find time and something worth letting you in on. Here’s an excerpt from Sara’s update today.

Just blocks from my hotel, I found several markets where fresh poultry, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables were being sold. There seemed to be plentiful supplies and Hong Kong cooks were busy going from stand to stand, picking up supplies for their daily meals or to serve in local restaurants. However, when you witness the unsanitary conditions under which some of the meat and fish is being handled, it really makes you wonder how government officials in other countries can question the safety of U.S. food
products. Plus, it didn’t do much for the appetite!

Uncategorized

Missouri Beef Producers Benefit From Open Japan Market

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Beef Industry CouncilWith today’s announcement about the opening up of the Japanese market to U. S. beef the Missouri Beef Industry Council wanted to make sure the word got out about what it means on the local level with this release.

MISSOURI BEEF PRODUCERS STAND TO BENEFIT FROM
REOPENING OF JAPANESE MARKET

Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire.AgWired.com) News that Japan is reopening its market for U.S. beef products is good for Missouri beef producers, according to Missouri Beef Industry Council Executive Director Steve Taylor. “With the full export market available to us, there’s an additional 50 to 75 dollars per head added to the value of a carcass, so that translates back to Missouri producers. It does put money on to the value of the cattle that they sell here.” (Full Release)

This is a Talking News Release so you can download the full release which contains the audio links if you want to listen.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef

Japanese Border Open To U. S. Beef

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAYou’ll be hearing a lot about this today and over the next couple days so I thought I’d give you a heads up. The Japanese border is open to U. S. beef. That’s big news for our cattle producers.

It was just announced this morning and you can hear it directly from U. S. Secretary of Ag Mike Johanns. There was a press conference early this morning. I’m sure more will be held soon by groups like NCBA and others.

Johanns also said “”Japan’s action today provides sets an excellent example for other countries in Asia whose markets remain closed. Now is the time for Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and others to open their markets to U.S. beef. I urge all countries to take a science-based approach and adopt OIE standards for allowing beef trade.”

Post Update: Here’s a comment from NCBA which will be holding a joint press conference with the U.S. Meat Export Federation in a little while: ““While the process has been lengthy, we are pleased to be on the road to regaining this valuable market for U.S. producers,” says Jamie Willrett, Illinois cattle producer and chairman of NCBA’s International Markets committee. “Our cattlemen produce great-tasting, safe beef, and we are eager to give Japanese consumers a chance to enjoy it once again. We’re confident consumers and the Japanese government will find it goes above and beyond their expectations.”

Audio, Beef, USDA

A Quick Lesson On Quickfarm

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast46 - Matt WalshIf you’re considering ZimmComm’s AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service you may be wondering about what we call the Quickfarm network. In fact, you may wonder just what Quickfarm is. Well this week’s ZimmCast will answer your questions. I interviewed Quickfarm’s VP of Sales/Operations, Matt Walsh last week at the NGFA Country Elevator Conference. Matt describes the company, how it got started, where it’s going and what it’s doing with ZimmComm to help distribute news release material directly to farmers.

You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Download MP3 File

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also now find the ZimmCast on CoolCast Radio.

Agribusiness, Audio, Podcasts, ZimmCast

Missouri Wall of Brands

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Wall of BrandsHere’s another picture from the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Convention that’s concluding today. It’s the Missouri Wall of Brands. I don’t really know much about it except that it looks pretty cool. I don’t know if it contains all the brands in Missouri or what. Anyone know?

Ag Groups