FAO & Partners Launch Pastoralist Knowledge Hub

Chuck Zimmerman

Pastoralists HubDo you know what a pastoralist is? Here’s one definition: a grazier or land-holder raising sheep, cattle, etc, on a large scale. Kind of sounds like a rancher to me. Why do I bring it up? Because the FAO and partners announced an online Pastoralist Knowledge Hub today. Their hope is that this will provide a platform for these folks to have a bigger voice in international policy debates and share valuable information to strengthen their agricultural livelihoods.

The Pastoralist Knowledge Hub – launched today by FAO, the European Union, Germany and other partners – will enable mobile livestock keepers to connect, to meet and discuss issues like agricultural innovations or land regulations and find shared solutions to common challenges.

“Pastoralists are able to produce food where no crops can be grown. Yet, their concerns are poorly heard by the international community,” Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, said on Monday. “This hub is an important platform to help them project their voices, share knowledge, and affect policy debates.”
The hub also offers a growing database of research on pastoralism, contacts for a worldwide network of pastoral representatives, and discussion forums for pastoralist networks and partnering institutions.

You can learn more about it by listening to this FAO interview with Pablo Manzano. He is the Coordinator of the Pastoralist Knowledge Hub. In the interview, conducted by Sandra Ferrari, he elaborates on some of the challenges facing pastoralists today and how the knowledge hub can potentially support them. Interview with Pablo Manzano

Audio, International, Livestock

Plant Geneticist Wins CAST Communication Award

John Davis

Prakash1A plant geneticist is being recognized for his efforts to communicate. Dr. Channapatna Prakash, an honored faculty member at Tuskegee University in Alabama, will receive the 2015 Borlaug Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Communication Award for decades of using the written word, public presentations, and TV and radio and social media to deliver clear, science-based information to the public and policymakers alike.

Colleagues focus on the widespread influence Prakash has had in the agricultural community. As one nominator points out, Prakash’s position involves research and teaching, but he has “arguably done more than anyone else in academia or industry to promote agricultural technologies that can help feed the world’s growing population.”

Prakash was instrumental in establishing the prestigious plant biotechnology research and training program at Tuskegee University, and he has a long list of influential publications and presentations—he has presented his messages about agriculture in more than 70 countries. Through teaching, research collaboration, and lectures, he has worked especially hard to promote biotechnology research and policy in the developing countries of Asia and Africa.

Educated in India and Australia, Prakash has a strong connection with those who have made an impact on global food production. Norman Borlaug once praised him for “bringing common sense into the use of biotechnology,” and Julie Borlaug Larson says that Prakash—much like her grandfather—is “dedicated to utilizing science and technology to improve the standard of living and quality of life for the world’s most impoverished and marginalized populations.”

Prakash will be honored at the World Food Prize Symposium on October 14, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Research, World Food Prize

Goldberg to Receive IFAMA Service Award

John Davis

goldberg1A man described as a visionary is being honored for his 60-year career teaching, working with industry, research and international development in agribusiness. The International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) will recognize Dr. Ray Goldberg as its Distinguished Service Award recipient on June 16, 2015 at the 25th Annual IFAMA World Conference President’s Award Dinner in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“I am honored to be celebrating the distinguished service of one of the visionaries of our field, who not only founded IFAMA, but has made invaluable contributions over a 60 year career to teaching, industry, research and international development,” said Thad Simons, President of IFAMA and CEO Emeritus of Novus. “ It is especially fitting that we present the Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Goldberg in St. Paul, considering that at the beginning of his illustrious career he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.”

A native of North Dakota, Dr. Goldberg received his A.B. from Harvard University in 1948, his MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1950 and his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Minnesota in 1952.

Together with John H. Davis he developed the Agribusiness Program at Harvard Business School in 1955. From 1970 to 1997 he was the Moffett Professor of Agriculture and Business and head of the Agribusiness Program. Since July 1, 1997, as emeritus professor, he has chaired the Agribusiness Senior Management Seminars at Harvard Business School and continues to teach courses. He is the author, co-author and or editor of 23 books and over 110 articles on positioning firms and institutions in the global value added food system. He also has authored and supervised the development of over 1000 case studies on various private,public, and farm cooperative firms and institutions in the global food system.

The IFAMA World Conference, sponsored by CHS and Novus, will also feature a Student Case Competition, a Symposium and a World Forum focused on the theme “Become the Solution: Food Security 2050.” An international audience of students, academics and industry leaders will gather from June 14 – 17, 2015 at the St. Paul River Center in St. Paul, Minnesota for the event.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Novus International

Ward on Wine Launches Website

Chuck Zimmerman

Ward on WinePairing wine with people is a very good concept. I have found that most people I know like certain wines and will choose them regardless of the food being served. That’s why Ward on Wine caught my eye. Mike Ward is a St. Louis-based Wine Educator. He just launched a website at WardonWine.com.

Designed to help people find a wine they appreciate, pair that wine with food, and help them enjoy that wine to the fullest, Wardonwine.com was developed with the mission of ‘Pairing wine with people.’ Utilizing the website on a mobile device enables the user to search for a specific wine by grape variety, food pairing, or region, and helps them to locate the wines they love quickly and easily in a restaurant or retail store environment. Whether searching for a favorite wine, or perhaps a new one, the website’s database also provides useful information to enhance the experience, such as a customized tasting note, tips on how to enjoy the wine at its best, as well as the wine’s general price point and rating.

The website is equally useful for both wine novices and full-blown oenophiles. According to Ward, “A little education can go a long way in ensuring your ultimate gratification of and appreciation for wine,” hence, the website also refers the user to local wine classes, tastings, and events.

Ward on WineMike began his career in the restaurant industry managing such establishments as Mike Duffy’s Pub and Grill, Remy’s Kitchen and Wine Bar and Cafe Eau and Eau Bistro in the St. Louis Chase Park Plaza. He also served as Director of Purchasing at The St. Louis Adam’s Mark Hotel, and Food and Beverage Director at The River Port Doubletree Hotel. From early on, Mike had a fascination with, and a passion for, all things wine. This fascination and passion led him to his position as Missouri State Wine Educator for Major Brands, Inc., a distributorship in St. Louis. Ward on Wine was founded in 2014 when Mike made the decision to branch out on his own.

On his philosophy of pairing wine with people, Ward said, “There is a wine out there for every person, every occasion, every journey, every place in time – Ward on Wine is designed to help you discover those wines, learn about those wines, and share those wines.”

Food

Monsanto Announces Top 5 Farm Mom’s of the Year

Jamie Johansen

farm mom of the yearWhen Monsanto opened its search for the 2015 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year, the company knew it would get a lot of fantastic nominations. This year, though, the judging was particularly difficult because of all the amazing women who were entered. Monsanto, along with the American Agri-Women (AAW) are proud to announce its new 2015 class of regional winners. Beginning today, America can begin voting online for one of these women to be named “National Farm Mom of the Year.”

“Every year we receive such heartfelt nominations about people’s favorite Farm Mom,” says Tracy Mueller, corporate brand manager for Monsanto. “But this year, we’ve especially been overwhelmed by the number and quality of the entries we received. These women have different backgrounds and ways they contribute, but one thing was always clear – their strength, perseverance and dedication to their families, farms, communities and the industry they love.”

The 2015 regional winners of the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year contest include:
– Northwest Region: Shelly Davis (Albany, Ore.)
– Southwest Region: Shelley Heinrich (Lubbock, Texas)
– Midwest Region: Sara Ross (Minden, Iowa
– Northeast Region: Amy Kelsay (Franklin, Ind.)
– Southeast Region: Megan Seibel (Roanoke, Va.)

Each regional winner will receive a $5,000 award. Their biographical information and original nomination is currently posted online at AmericasFarmers.com, where visitors can click to vote for their favorite farm mom based on the judging criteria provided in the contest rules. The woman who receives the most votes between April 24 and May 5 will be named the “National Farm Mom of the Year” — just in time for Mother’s Day. As a bonus, she will also receive an additional $5,000 prize.

Ag Groups, Farming

Become a Rebel Agrimarketer with Alltech

Chuck Zimmerman

Rebel AgrimarketersHello agrimarketers. You know I’ve been a big fan of Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech, for years. Dr. Lyons realized the strength of new media and immediately took advantage of it by including it in all his marketing plans and bringing in a little old agriblogger to cover his annual customer symposium. This May I will attend my 9th event in Lexington, KY and perhaps you’d like to join me.

Alltech has issued an invitation to agrimarketers to participate in the Alltech REBELation from May 17 – 20, 2015. Join us for a time of innovation, inspiration and world-changing ideas. Become a Rebel Agrimarketer! Use the registration code you’ll find below.

Get inspired as you join experts from around the world to transform business through communications.

  • What do millennial consumers really want, and how can my organization deliver?
  • How do you maximize your organization’s reach through social media while minimizing the associated risks?
  • How is the face of media changing? What do names like Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm, Peter Baniak the editor and VP of the Lexington-Herald Leader, Damien O’Reilly of RTE, and Frank Mulrennan the CEO of Celtic Media have to say about the future of media?
  • Every business has a brand that defines it. Are you managing yours, or are you letting it fall to the wayside?
  • Are you managing your personal brand, especially in the age of social media? What impact does it have on your success, and that of your organization?

In 2014, over 2,000 professionals from 59 countries attended. Join the conversation and be a REBEL.

We look forward to welcoming you in Lexington, Kentucky, USA this May!

Use code MARKETING2015 to register.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Animal Health

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • The North American Equipment Dealers Assn. (NAEDA) has announced the recipients of its Dealer’s Choice Award and Gold Level service awards for 2015.
  • Twelve U.S. cotton industry members have been chosen to participate in the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) Emerging Leaders Program for 2015-16.
  • KatieAnn Sievert of Bonduel, Wisconsin, has been named the Wisconsin state winner of the 2015 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members.
  • Syngenta published a broad range of data on the six ambitious commitments in The Good Growth Plan with the aim of unlocking environmental, social and economic value.
Zimfo Bytes

USDA Presents Climate Change Initiative

Cindy Zimmerman

usda-blocksIn a speech Thursday at Michigan State University, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack introduced “Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry”, an initiative that will utilize voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors.

“American farmers and ranchers are leaders when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and improving efficiency in their operations. That’s why U.S. agricultural emissions are lower than the global average,” said Vilsack. “We can build on this success in a way that combats climate change and strengthens the American agriculture economy. Through incentive-based initiatives, we can partner with producers to significantly reduce carbon emissions while improving yields, increasing farm operation’s energy efficiency, and helping farmers and ranchers earn revenue from clean energy production.”

Joining Vilsack at Michigan State was Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the President, as well as agricultural producers and other private partners. The framework announced today consists of ten building blocks that span a range of technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon storage and generate clean renewable energy.

Listen to or download announcement here: White House Climate Change initiative announcement

Audio, USDA

Farm Team Goes to Bat

Cindy Zimmerman

mfc-team-1The St. Louis Cardinals’ new roster this season includes some homegrown talent from the Show-Me State.

Missouri Farmers Care (MFC) and the St. Louis Cardinals are proud to bring to Busch Stadium the Farm Team, comprised of mascots Captain Cornelius, Simon the Soybean, and Sweet Bessie.

The Farm Team is part of the “Race to the Plate” educational campaign to increase awareness and understanding of today’s food production.

mfc-team2The mascots will be jockeying for bragging rights at each Friday night home game in Busch Stadium and racing to educate fans on Missouri agriculture. As the mascots vie for the win, in-stadium video boards will highlight facts about modern pork, dairy, soybean and corn production. Missouri’s farm families are also encouraging fans tuning into Cardinal Radio to learn more about today’s agriculture through radio spots highlighting farm facts and Friday night races. Print ads are also featured in the Cardinals Gameday Magazine and scorecard.

Missouri Farmers Care is a joint effort by Missouri’s agriculture community to stand together for the state’s top industry.

Corn, Livestock, Soybean

Granular Acquires AcreValue

John Davis

granularAgriculture software and analytics company Granular bought farmland real estate evaluation business AcreValue. This company news release says the deal enhances Granular’s service offerings to the farmland market and gives farmers and potential investors valuable information into land values across the country.

The free service allows buyers, sellers, agents and other interested parties to browse AcreValue estimates using a map-based interface. Users will also be able to download reports on each field that includes valuable data on soil type, topography, crop history, basis trends and other important features, as well as produce estimates of the value of individual fields. These estimates have proven accurate to the level where they provide useful guidance to farmland buyers and sellers.

“Acquiring or leasing more acres at the right price is a top priority for members of Granular’s professional farm network,” said Sid Gorham, Granular’s CEO. “We believe that AcreValue will make the farmland resale and rental markets more convenient, transparent and efficient. This is an exciting new service the market has been waiting for and we will continue to invest in its expansion so it can benefit Granular subscribers and the agriculture industry more broadly.”

“The idea for AcreValue came out of my own family’s discussions about valuing our farmland in Iowa,” said Christopher Seifert, AcreValue’s CEO. “Granular’s vision of adding technology innovation to the farmland and agricultural market makes it a perfect acquiring partner for AcreValue. I’m excited to build out the service as part of the Granular team and to work with its base of industry-leading farmers. We hope AcreValue helps the farmland market like Zillow has the residential real estate market.”

As part of the deal, Seifert joins Granular to head the agronomy data science team.

Agribusiness