It was an active week in Washington, DC for legislation affecting corn growers. In this week’s CornTalk, the weekly interview report from the Missouri Corn Growers Association I interview Samantha Slater, director of public policy for the National Corn Growers Association, who gives us an update on CAFT-DR, WRDA and RFS.
You can listen to CornTalk here 
CornTalk is also a weekly AgWired podcast which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar.
You know that ZimmComm has created the World Dairy Expo Blog and when you visit you’ll see an image of a cow that’s in the process of being painted. If you go to the World Dairy Expo website you’ll see an opening flash animation of that cow being painted. In this week’s ZimmCast I interview Brad Nellis, Distillery Design Studio, who has worked on the theme images of the Expo for about 10 years. He’s the creative talent behind the campaigns, including this year’s “The Art of Dairy” theme.
You can listen to my interview with Brad here
You can also subscribe to the ZimmCast using the podcast file in our sidebar.
There are a number of organizations that hold photography contests. If you’ve got pictures of sheep or goats you might want to consider this one.
Attention all photographers: There are only five weeks left to enter your pictures in the American Sheep Industry Association’s (ASI) 2005 Photo Contest. The contest is open to all who wish to enter, which means you don’t have to be involved in the U.S. sheep, lamb, and wool or goat industries to participate. The only rule is that your photograph must include sheep or goats. Entries must be postmarked by August 8, 2005. Entries will be judged on clarity, content, composition and appeal. A total of $1,000 will be awarded for the top photos in each of the four categories: action, scenic, people and sheep, and open category. New for this year’s photo contest, ASI will now be accepting high-resolution digital photographs.
For more information contact go to www.sheepusa.org or call Amy Trinidad at 303-771-3500, ext. 55.
By now I’m sure most of you are on your much needed holiday break. We’re ready to do the same but that doesn’t mean no news from AgWired. We’ll find something to let you know about. During the next week or so we’ll be moving a daughter to college (1 of 2 that will be moving out and into college this fall!). But even during the travel you’ll still get your daily dose of AgWired!
Have a very happy and healthy 4th of July from Chuck & Cindy. Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!
The Agri Council of American Business Media released their latest research on farmers use of media. If you’re wondering whether farmers use the internet and how much then wonder no more. Here’s a couple tidbits from the study as it relates to the internet.
*The Internet stands out as a source whose usage is on the rise – significant minorities of respondents indicate greater usage than several years ago and even more say they will increase their usage in the next 3 to 4 years.
*The Internet is growing in importance as a source of information used by farmers and ranchers as majorities are online or plan to be in the future.
*The Internet is currently used to check on markets and the weather, and research new products and services. In the next 3 to 4 years, respondents expect to spend more time using the Internet to keep up with key information that helps them to run their business.
This kind of information documents that farmers are really no different than the general public in regards to their internet use. Everyone is using it more and will continue to do so. That’s why technologies like blogging, podcasting and RSS exist and you’ll see even more to come. It’s really blurring the distinctions between media and forcing us to change the way we communicate!
Speaking of the WTO (last post). . . They just released their 2005 World Trade Report (executive summary)(pdf file). This is a lengthy document so if you want the full report you’ll have to go to their website. I have not read the full report but didn’t see anything very specific to agriculture in the summary. However, there is some interesting information you may want to check out. For example it looks like trade is picking up in other parts of the world as evidenced by the following excerpt.
Global output and trade grew more strongly in 2004 than in the previous three years. Global GDP growth amounted to 4 per cent in 2004, providing a solid basis for strong trade growth. For some regions, notably Central and South America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), this represented the best growth for more than a decade. In all seven regions defined in this Report, output and export growth were higher than the average annual rates for the 1990s. Real merchandise trade grew by 9 per cent, the best performance since 2000 and the third highest rate over the last decade. In line with the prevailing post-war pattern, trade growth outstripped GDP growth by a significant margin – on this occasion by 5 percentage points. As this pattern continues, trade becomes an ever more crucial component of global economic activity. The most dynamic traders in 2004 were in Asia, South and Central America, and the CIS. Average trade growth in all of these regions was in double digits. Africa’s trade grew strongly on average in 2004, buoyed in part by firmer commodity prices, particularly for oil and metals. Oil prices also had a strong influence on trade growth in the Middle East. North America’s exports gained further momentum in 2004 compared to previous years, but growth was below the global average. Similarly, improved merchandise trade growth in Europe in 2004 was also very important for world trade growth, but Europe’s trade and output growth remained well below the global average.
I just sent in my request for credentials for this December’s Hong Kong Ministerial of the World Trade Organization. I’m seeking a sponsor of my coverage of this extremely important event to all of U-S agriculture, especially from a marketing standpoint. Please contact me if you’re interested in becoming one of the AgWired Hong Kong sponsors.
There’s not a lot of information out yet on the conference but I’ll begin regular posts about is as we move closer. Here’s why the conference is important according to the WTO website:
Highest authority: the Ministerial Conference
So, the WTO belongs to its members. The countries make their decisions through various councils and committees, whose membership consists of all WTO members. Topmost is the ministerial conference which has to meet at least once every two years. The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.
The last conference I attended was the never-to-be-forgotten Seattle conference when I came in contact with protestors up close and personal. Here’s to hoping this conference will be a little different. I kind of think the authorities there will handle it differently than we did in Seattle.
Hot off the presses is today’s talking news release from Landec Ag.
LANDEC AG, INC. ACQUIRES SECOND LARGEST DIRECT MARKETER OF SEED CORN
HEARTLAND HYBRIDS TO JOIN FORCES WITH FIELDER’S CHOICE DIRECT
MENLO PARK, CA – June 30, 2005 – Landec Corporation (Nasdaq: LNDC), a developer and marketer of technology-based polymer products for food, agricultural and licensed partner applications, announced today that its agricultural seed subsidiary, Landec Ag, Inc., has acquired Heartland Hybrids, Inc., the second largest direct marketer of seed corn. Landec Ag, through its Fielder’s Choice Direct® brand, is the leading direct marketer of seed corn.
Under the agreement, Landec Ag will acquire the assets of Heartland Hybrids, which is based in Dassel, Minnesota. The agreement is expected to close before the end of August 2005.
Tom Crowley, Landec Ag’s President and Chief Executive Officer, says the acquisition of Heartland Hybrids solidifies Landec Ag’s market position in the direct-to-the-farm sales channel for agricultural seeds. . .
. . . Heartland Hybrid’s President, Jay Asplin, agrees that the agreement will be a great benefit for farmers. “We really believe the acquisition of Heartland Hybrids by Landec Ag is only going to enhance our ability to bring greater value to our customers. By combining both of our brands together, both of our companies, under the Landec Ag ownership, we’re really going to strengthen our ability to bring farmers across the country the opportunity to buy seed at a great value.” (full release)
For more information contact Bill Gass, Vice President of Marketing, (574) 583-2741 ext.107.
Lest you think the 2005 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo is mostly Expo, think again. They don’t always make for pretty pictures but there was a whole lot of educating going on.
Besides a keynote address to kick things off by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, the FEW offered numerous seminars on topics and issue important to anyone in the ethanol business.
It’s not unusual to see big iron at a farm show but the 2005 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo had exhibits by a lot of engineering, accouting and consulting firms. That’s why you bring in the big rig if you’ve got it!
In this case it’s the Shuttlewagon. This is a portable railroad car mover. It certainly got your attention.
