From Deauville to Caen, France I’m now spending a morning at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This morning there is jumping and vaulting competitions taking place. I got started out with jumping. This competitor is airborne over the Alltech jump, the first in the course, of course.
I’m adding photos to my Alltech Global photo album as I post this and will have some interviews from here as well as more from the Global Conference as time, travel and internet allows.
During the Alltech Global Dairy and Beef Conference this afternoon Dr. Pearse Lyons held an informal press conference. Some of the first questions asked dealt with Alltech’s future plans for growth in countries like Ukraine, Russia and Australia. He also talked about his philosophy of investing in an idea, sticking with it and watching it turn into reality and grow.
You can listen to the press conference which starts with Dr. Lyons talking about Ukraine here: Dr. Pearse Lyons Press Conference
While cash might not always be plentiful in some parts of farming country, grain certainly can be. That’s why the American Red Cross has partnered with grain growers in Iowa who might not be able to give money but can certainly donate a portion of their harvest and cooperatives, such as GROWMARK, through the Gift of Grain program.
The American Red Cross is very aware of the importance of grain in Iowa’s economy and that Iowa farmers can potentially donate grain (any type of grain is accepted) when they might not be capable of donating money. The ARC has established accounts with grain elevators, cooperatives, and ethanol plants across the state and is currently registered with nearly 600 facilities. These facilities have agreed to facilitate a gift allocation to the Red Cross. The Red Cross will immediately sell the grain on the day of the donation and will not be storing or trading grain.
American Red Cross officials point out that if donations are made prior to a disaster, $4 in disaster response and recovery costs could be saved for every $1.00 invested in disaster risk-reduction.
For more information on the Gift of Grain program, contact Bryce Sitter at the American Red Cross, Central Iowa Chapter – (515) 246-6307 or Bryce.Sitter@redcross.org.
Dr. Pearse Lyons says he has never worked a day in his life and he means it. This man loves what he does and it shows every moment you’re in his presence.
Here at the Alltech Global Dairy & Beef Conference he welcomed us and challenged us to pursue our dreams. He also talked about his dream, the Alltech dream, including the farm of the future which he say will be vertical, not horizontal.
You can listen to an excerpt from his opening remarks here: Dr. Pearse Lyons Opening Remarks
In this video supplied by Alltech you can also listen to Dr. Lyons talk about the conference, the Alltech Experience pavilion, the Alltech Music Festival and all activities surrounding the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy.
On this Labor Day holiday some people are working. This is sunset last night from my hotel room in Deauville, France.
The Alltech Global Dairy & Beef is taking place here through tomorrow and we’re very near some famous beaches. Omaha Beach is only an hour away for example. Even being just this close you can’t help but think of the lives lost or the bravery of the soldiers who fought to end World War II. They will never be forgotten.
The Alltech Global Dairy & Beef Conference got underway with a very tasty reception at the Centre International Deauville. Dr. Pearse Lyons welcomed us to France and then introduced some world class music.
The food here in Deauville is awesome. We had some great hamburgers at the reception. I am sure it was some local Normandy beef! But that was just a small part of the food we tasted last night. I hope I move on to Scotland this week without having added to many pounds.
During the conference we’ll hear relevant talks and engage with people from around the world to get a big-picture analysis of the global landscape for beef and dairy. There will also be evening discussion dinners and a visit to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
You can listen to Dr. Lyons and the first song here: Alltech Global Welcome
You can find my Global Dairy & Beef Photos here: 2014 Alltech Global Dairy & Beef Photo Album
Hello from Paris AgWired fans. I just arrived and am waiting on a shuttle to the Alltech Global Dairy & Beef in Deauville, France. This year’s event kicks off with a reception this evening (after I have a nap!). In addition to attending this event I will also be spending a day at the 2014 Normandy Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Most of my coverage from here will be published on our Animal Ag website, Animal.AgWired.com.
From here I’ll heading on to Aberdeen, Scotland for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress. So, pretty busy schedule for the next couple week, eh?
I had some fun times at the Farm Progress Show this week but probably no more than I had with Iowa State ag communications student Katie Johnson. She took a few days off school to work in the media center sponsored by BASF and help out the reporters as well as public relations professionals floating around the tent drumming up interviews for their clients.
She also drove us lazy people around the site on a golf cart and I talked her in to driving me around and stopping at a few booths to check out their wares. I must say, I was VERY impressed with how much Katie knows about agriculture. She grew up on a farm and her passion for ag was contagious.
So here is a short video of my Farm Progress Experience with Katie Johnson. BTW – We stopped at the Monsanto tent and they had ag questions all over their tent and Katie got nearly every question correct. Impressive. Oh, and she needs an internship for next summer and her ideal place would be with a corn growers association – hint, hint.
View the Farm Progress 2014 Flicker photo album.
The entire ZimmComm Team was present for this year’s Farm Progress Show and as expected it was packed with interviews, press conferences, photography and of course, lots of blogging. But don’t worry it wasn’t all work and no play. Leah and I took advantage of Farm Progress Show, Iowa State Center and Syngenta’s sponsorship of the first of many to come, Farm Progress Show concerts in Boone.
Before the monsoon of rain flooded central Iowa, Craig Campbell warmed up the crowd Wednesday evening on the campus of Iowa State University. Then Jerrod Niemann took the stage and we were front and center to take it all in. We captured some pretty cool pictures while there so it wasn’t all play.
“We are excited to showcase Syngenta and our Golden Harvest® and NK® seed brands alongside standout performers like Jerrod and Craig during the 2014 Farm Progress Show,” said Eric Boersma, head of corn seed product management, Syngenta. Leah had a chance to catch up with Bruce Battles, technical crop manager, in the Syngenta exhibit during the show.
A special thanks goes out to Stoller for hooking us up with the tickets.
You can hear Leah’s interview here: Interview with Syngenta's Bruce Battles
2014 Farm Progress Show photo album
