The Elephant in the Cornfield

Chuck Zimmerman November 12, 2015

With the title, “The Elephant in the Cornfield,” Chris Clayton’s first book draws you in just to find out what it’s all about. Chris is the policy editor for DTN/The Progressive Farmer and an issue near and dear to his heart is climate change. I share that interest and was able to sit down with him at the NAFB convention to talk about the subject and what he has written.

The Elephant in the Cornfield is an e-book available now on Amazon.com.

Here’s an excerpt of the description of the book:

Midwest journalist Chris Clayton examines the conflict in rural America over climate change, farming and the increasing pressures on food production. Clayton’s reporting highlights the critical nature of agriculture in the country’s struggle over finding direction mitigating greenhouse gases and adapting to a more volatile climate. The Elephant in the Cornfield explains rural perceptions of climate change, resistance to the science and the outright push to fight attempts to deal with greenhouse-gas emissions.

Clayton looks at the pitched lobbying battle over failed climate legislation in 2009 and 2010 and how cap-and-trade became an almost toxic concept for farmers who are increasingly threatened by more extreme weather while also representing one of the few industries able to pull carbon dioxide from the air and sink it into the soil.

The Elephant in the Cornfield also takes the complex science of climate change and breaks it down by detailing research going back 50 years on greenhouse gases.

Listen to this week’s program for more: The Elephant in the Corn Field

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#NAFB15 Offers Better Blogging with Sabrina Hill

Kelly Marshall November 12, 2015

Members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters had the opportunity to learn how to better their blogs with the help of presenter Sabrina Hill. Hill shared her experience blogging and walked participants through the important steps of creating a successful online presence. For radio broadcasters Hill says its important to remember that a radio presence can feed your blog traffic, and a blog can grow your radio listeners.

When asked about her best tip for those interested in blogging Hill says, “One tip wold be to blog regularly. Make sure you are actually posting when your followers are expecting it. So get into a habit and blog with that habit. So for me it is its blogging on Sundays. Being regular with that, people will start to realize I need to check this out on Sundays.”

Listen to her full interview with Kindra Hall. Interview with NAFB presenter Sabrina Hill

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

Agribusiness, NAFB

TPP Big Topic for Ag Groups at #NAFB15

Cindy Zimmerman November 12, 2015

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is no doubt the biggest issue for ag groups at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City this week.

Representatives from six national farm groups joined USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Phil Karsting in Kansas City Wednesday for a press event to discuss the TPP. The event featured farmer leaders from the American Soybean Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Corn Growers Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, U.S. Grains Council and National Association of Wheat Growers, exploring the importance of the TPP for their individual industry sectors.

Needless to say, every one is in strong support of the trade agreement and what it can mean for farmers, ranchers and the entire country. “This is a huge deal,” said Karsting. “Everybody has skin in the game.”

Listen to opening comments from Karsting and all the ag group leaders here:
TPP panel at NAFB 2015

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

Audio, Corn, NAFB, NCBA, NCGA, Pork, Soybean, Trade, USDA, Wheat

New Board Leadership at USFRA

John Davis November 12, 2015

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has elected new leadership. The group, which is dedicated to leading national consumer dialogue on how America’s food is grown and raised, says the vote was taken at USFRA’s annual meeting.

The newly elected board leadership includes the re-election of Nancy Kavazanjian as chairwoman. Kavazanjian, a soybean farmer from Wisconsin representing the United Soybean Board, will be supported by a group of officers who include:

Brad Greenway, vice-chair – a South-Dakota-based pork farmer who also raises corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa, representing the National Pork Board
Lisa Lunz, secretary – a soybean farmer representing the Nebraska Soybean Association
Dawn Caldwell, treasurer – a Nebraska cow-calf operator representing the Federation of State Beef Councils
Mike Geske, director-at-large – a corn and soybean producer who will represent the Missouri Corn Growers Association

The remaining director-at-large seat on the board leadership group will be appointed by USFRA’s officers in the coming weeks.

During the elections, USFRA also confirmed the addition of three new affiliates – Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Association and Missouri Corn Growers Association. That brings the total number of agriculture commodity groups and industry partners that comprise USFRA to 94.

Ag Groups, USFRA

#NAFB15 Scholarship Winners

Cindy Zimmerman November 11, 2015

NAFB Convention Photo Album

NAFB Scholarship winners Kelsey Litchfield, Samantha Capoun, Bryce Doeschot, and Hli Young

NAFB Scholarship winners Kelsey Litchfield, Samantha Capoun, Bryce Doeschot, and Hli Yang

The first big event at the 2015 National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention Wednesday was the awarding of the NAFB Foundation Scholarship winners. The scholarships were presented during the NAFB Foundation Scholarship luncheon sponsored by the CME Group.

A brand new award this year is the Grow Smart Scholarship presented by BASF, which went to Samantha Capoun, a junior at Kansas State University studying Agriculture Communications and Journalism with a Minor in Animal Science.

Kelsey Litchfield, a junior at the University of Illinois and studying agricultural communications, received the Orion Samuelson Scholarship Sponsored by CME Group.

Bryce Doeschot, a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying agriculture and environmental sciences communication, received the Glenn Kummerow Scholarship.

Hli Yang, a junior at the University of Missouri studying science and agricultural journalism with an emphasis in broadcast, was this year’s recipient of the George Logan Scholarship Sponsored by The Samuel Noble Roberts Foundation.

Listen to interviews with all of these bright and talented young people who are the future of farm broadcasting.

Interview with NAFB scholarship winner Samantha Capoun Interview with NAFB scholarship winner Kelsey Litchfield Interview with NAFB scholarship winner Bryce Doeschot Interview with NAFB scholarship winner Hli Yang

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Audio, Education, NAFB

LPC’s Vision Event Tackles Food Issues

Jamie Johansen November 11, 2015

The Livestock Publications Council’s Vision event took place in Kansas City, MO where they brought thought leaders together for a panel discussion on agriculture. Panelists included Ryan Goodman, ag advocate, Karen Hanson, registered dietician for Hy-Vee and Margaret Zeigler, executive director of Global Harvest Initiative.

The panel explored the importance of the safety of our food supply and looked at critical social issues, the economics of agriculture and marketing.

Margaret Zeigler said, “We don’t think that producing more necessary means you have to have a negative impact on the environment. We believe that productivity and agriculture is foundational to not only providing more food, feed, fiber and fuel, but to being more sustainable.”

Listen to my complete interview with Margaret to learn more about Global Harvest Initiative’s efforts to spread the message of food security and global food policies. Interview with Margaret Zeigler, Global Harvest Initiative

Ryan Goodman has built quite the following through social media and has used that to talk agriculture with any and all who will listen. The door to social media is open, but it is challenging for some to step through that door and dive into sharing our ag story. “I think it is in the best interest for our overall industry to be involved in these conversations and convey the point that it is on each and everyone of us to have a responsibility to that.”

In the agriculture community, we are often very tied to the products we produce and the services we provide. So, when things get negative it is easy to want to fight back. Ryan reminds us about the importance of being proactive in our messaging verse reactive and defensive.

Listen to my complete interview with Ryan here: Interview with Ryan Goodman

Find a few photos from the event here: Livestock Publications Council’s Vision Event Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, Livestock, LPC

FarmHer, Inspiring Young Women in Ag

Kelly Marshall November 11, 2015

Lexi Marek attended the National FFA Convention representing FarmHer— an organization created to change the image of women in agriculture. Marek is interning with the company and she loves how her job lets her inspire other young women in the industry.

“The most amazing thing I’ve seen is women just being inspired by our booth and that is just the best. When they come up and say ‘Thank you. Thank you for doing this. Thank you for realizing that woman are a part of agriculture and they are just as important as men are,’ ” Marek says.

Marji Guyler-Alaniz, President and Founder, started FarmHer two and a half years ago in response to the lingering idea that farmers are always men. As a photographer she puts her skills to use taking pictures of women on the farm.

But the photos are just one aspect of the business. Marek’s area of responsibility is the community they are creating for women to connect to one another. Men and women can sign up to be part of this growing network.

“Its all about giving women a place to talk to each other and encourage each other to make a difference in the world,” she explains.

Listen to the full interview and catch Lexi’s excitement! Lexi Marek, FarmHer

Find photos from the event here: 2015 National FFA Convention Photo Album

Coverage of the National FFA Convention is sponsored by

Agribusiness, Farming, FFA

Welcome to #NAFB15

Cindy Zimmerman November 11, 2015

The 72nd National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) annual convention is officially underway, back in Kansas City as usual.

The man in charge of the convention is Brian Winnekins of WRDN Radio in Wisconsin, the president-elect of NAFB, who is especially excited about welcoming FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai on Friday. “Commissioner Pai has been a big proponent of the AM revitalization rule,” said Brian, who adds that he will also be talking about net neutrality and other issues. “So it’s going to be a great opportunity for not only the broadcasters but also for general managers of stations to find out what’s going on with FCC.”

The big event at NAFB is always Trade Talk and Brian says it’s bigger and better than ever. “This year’s Trade Talk is overfull again,” he said. “We always have a waiting list. My biggest challenge was trying to close off Pershing Avenue to try and extend the convention center so we could get another 100 Trade Talk booths but they wouldn’t let me close off the block!”

Brian is grateful for all the sponsors who make the NAFB convention possible and hold down the registration costs for members. “If we don’t have the sponsors here, we’re not here,” he said. “It’s a lot of work and a lot of costs to make it happen.”

As he looks forward to taking the NAFB president’s gavel for the coming year, Brian is focused on making sure the organization brings value for all three membership councils – Broadcast, Management and Sales. Listen to my interview with Brian here: Interview with NAFB president-elect Brian Winnekins

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

Audio, NAFB

BASF Again Sponsors #NAFB15 Media Room

Chuck Zimmerman November 11, 2015

Hey Farm Broadcasters. Let’s all thank Pat Morrow of BASF for once again making our fantastic media room possible.

This room has 45 booths in it (ten more than last year) including the AgWired team booth which is where I’m writing this right now. We have wired internet and wifi and it is working great. These are not sound proof booths but we don’t need them. So you hear loud outburst of commodity market reports or interviews. My favorite is watching and listening to farm broadcasters live interviewing each other. LOL.

BASF also has lots of giveaway goodies in the newsroom (like jelly beans!) and a chance to win one of three Shure gift packs that include sound isolating earphones and a stereo microphone for your iPhone. Just go to the BASF on-line newsroom to take a simple quiz and enter to win!

So thank you Pat and BASF for also sponsoring our coverage of this year’s NAFB convention.

NAFB Convention Photo Album

Coverage of NAFB Convention is sponsored by

NAFB

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