We also heard songs tonight from Dr. Everett McCorvey, University of Kentucky, and his students. There were many standing ovations. These are world class voices and a real highlight to the start of an Alltech Symposium. I’ve got photos from all of them in the photo album. I’ll add a link to them later after they finish uploading.

Listen to Ronan sing here: Ronan Tynan Sings Danny Boy

Post Update: Here are photos from the conference, including the International Dinner: 2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Then tomorrow morning we start very early if the weather cooperates with the Fun Run. I haven’t run since my little bicycle accident but I think I can do it. I know I need it. It’s a great way to get the day started before we get to the opening general session.

Some things to keep in mind for the next several days include:

Alltech Symposium Twitter hashtag is #AgFuture.
Live streaming via the Alltech Ag Network.
Get the Alltech Symposium App.

Also, remember you can follow me on Twitter @AgriBlogger and Jamie Johansen @MyLifeNTheHills. This is Jamie’s first ZimmComm adventure so expect to see/hear a lot more from her starting this week!

The alliance provides seamlessly integrated services that increase companies’ efficiency and effectiveness by optimizing planning, management, marketing and measurement efforts. Organizations can learn more by contacting Linda Snell at (847) 274-3061.

• 1. Food matters to everyone: Symposium will focus on exploring new strategies for food production and examine how current agricultural practices will need to change to feed the growing world population. Sessions will also explore topics related to new insights into the relationships between nutrition, genetics and health.
• 2. Symposium offers sessions ranging from broad-level topics to more specific scientific information, and with more than 150 presentations, there will be something to pique your interest and your audience’s.
• 3. It is a unique opportunity to network and interact with people from all over the world and find great stories.
• 4, Be among the first to hear news and announcements about what’s next for Alltech.
• 5. The registration fee is waived for the media.

So, for these reasons and more I’m heading to Lexington, KY again to cover the 2012 Symposium and learn more about Alltech’s vision for the future. The challenge is going to be to cover all the great presentations, take lots of photos, do lots of interviews and still find time to network with friends I’ve made over the years who come from many different countries. Of course we can’t forget the Alltech team led by Dr. Pearse Lyons. I’m looking forward to it!

Sally says MustangRED works with a network of industry professionals to provide full service communications services. Sally has been in the business for a long time and really understands a wide variety of types of agricultural businesses, including government relations work. So, if you’re in need, give Sally a call!

This weekend has officially been declared “Thank Domino’s Ag Pizza Party Weekend” by the agriculture social media community. It is our way of saying thanks to the pizza corporation for not caving into the demands of HSUS (Humane Society of the U.S.) Last month, Domino’s Pizza shareholders voted against a resolution that would have required pork suppliers to stop housing gestating sows in stalls. Domino’s made that decision after consulting industry experts about what is best for the animals. “We rely on established industry experts and the USDA to determine best practices in this area, and will continue to do so,” they said. Yes!!!

Thousands have joined “The Truth About Agriculture” movement called “Farmers Paying it Forward with Pizza” and are planning to purchase pizza from Domino’s this weekend to say thanks! They have even created a custom thank you note for people to print out and deliver to Domino’s.

When you get your pizza this weekend, make sure to take photos and share them on the Pizza Party FB page and tweet using the hash tag #agpizzaparty with handle @dominos.

Released every two weeks, the Farm Wars! Podcast includes in-depth interviews with news and policy makers along with news coverage and discussion segments like “This Week In Insanity” and “Warm Fuzzy/Cold Prickly.”

Take a listen to the latest episode here: Farm Wars! Podcast

The company fully expects to continue normal operations throughout this process. All LightSquared distribution partners and customers, including public safety, emergency response, government and military users of LightSquared’s satellite-based communications services can continue to rely on LightSquared to provide them with mission critical communications services.

LightSquared intends to work with all key constituents to conduct an orderly restructuring process to maximize its asset value and to exit Chapter 11 in the quickest and most efficient manner possible.

Read a previous reaction from agricultural and farm equipment organizations as they urged the Federal Communications Commission to withdraw the conditional waiver granted to LightSquared in 2011 and modify the company’s satellite license to prohibit the building of a ground-based network.

37.5% of respondents said they don’t have resistant weeds (at least not yet!). However, the same number said they would be using a mix of methods to control or prevent resistance – pre-emergence herbicide, additional sites of action, and working with a consultant on a plan. Another 25% said they would be using a pre-emerge application for control.

With soybean planting running way ahead of schedule already – 46% planted, nearly twice the five year average – our new poll asks what farmers are doing to protect that crop this year. Let us know!

Lyons-Blythe was nominated by her children (Meghan, Allie, Trenton, Tyler and Eric), and also by her aunt, Mary Ferguson, who she describes as “more of a friend than an aunt.” Both nominations summarized in 300 words what makes Lyons-Blythe so special to her family, farm, community and the agricultural industry.

Debbie and her family run Blythe Angus, near White City where her husband Duane’s family homesteaded in 1890. They raise 250 registered Angus cows and sell registered bulls, along with a commercial heifer development program. They also have a diversified cropping operation, including hay, for the cowherd. Although all five of her children help on the ranch, it is Debbie who provides the daily labor. Duane works in town and she said she is “blessed” to have a husband supportive of her passion for ranching. A graduate of Kansas State University, Debbie serves on the board of directors for the Kansas Livestock Association and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and is an active member of the American Angus Association. She authors an online blog, “Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch,” with which she strives to give consumers a glimpse of life on a family farm.

The other four regional winners were Danni Beer, Keldron, S.D., Sherri Lynn Kannmacher, Martinsville, Ill., Sarah Peterson, Niles, Mich., and Delores “Dee Dee” Clements Darden, Smithfield, Va.

Here are the results, 50% said Recently (I do frequently). Wow. Keep it up. But 22% said Never (Waste of time) and just over 9%/each said, Recently (I rarely do); Long time ago; Never (I will now though).

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Who should be responsible for child nutrition?” This question was inspired by last night’s FoodChat Twitter conversation. I appreciate the school lunch program and what USDA thinks it is accomplishing by creating rules but somehow it doesn’t sit right with me. There would be no need for this if parents would take some personal responsibility for themselves and their children. More and more government control of our lives just won’t work in the long run. At least that’s my opinion. What’s yours?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

With the Market Strategies app, producers will receive in-depth information on 15 different commodities, including corn, dairy, soybeans, wheat and even inputs like fuel, feed corn and soybean meal. The app also offers customizable features to create a market advisory plan that meets the unique crop and input needs of each producer, giving them clear marketing and purchasing recommendations to maximize profitability.

The first spot called “Island” is full of sizzle and beauty shot that brings our hero – beef – to life. The intended message – that Lean Beef has the power to elevate the everyday – comes through in a clear and engaging way.

The second spot called “Invitation” features a new child star who convincingly and earnestly conveys the message about beef. The spot’s message – that Lean Beef has the power to bring people together – is a feel-good message that will surely resonate well with consumers.

The new commercials can be seen on ABC.com throughout the top 10 ABC Network programs that score high against adults age 25 to 54. Programming will include shows such as: The Bachelorette, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, Happy Ending, Last Man Standing, Modern Family, Once Upon a Time, Private Practice, Revenge and Suburgatory. The two spots will also be shown via a two-month long sponsorship of the ‘Moments’ sections of Modern Family and The Bachelorette, a popular feature on ABC.com.

To watch the celebration live, please visit www.usda.gov/live. For more information on the 150th anniversary celebration, please visit www.usda.gov/usda150. Additional information on USDA’s work to strengthen the American economy can be found at www.usda.gov/results.

Please thank Mary for her service at NCBA and join me in congratulating her as she begins an exciting new career. Her last day at NCBA will be May 25.

So, if you think you can fill Mary’s shoes at NCBA here’s where you can get more information.

Anderson-Wise was formerly director of program services for Dairy Council of CA, managing its school programs. She has been with the organization 15 years. She replaces Peggy Biltz, who is retiring after spending 27 years with Dairy Council of CA, 22 as chief executive officer.

The organization reaches millions of children each year with a professional staff of 50 through its nutrition education programs in schools, collaboration with health professionals and through digital communications. Some 90 percent of California schools use Dairy Council of CA nutrition education programs.

Anderson-Wise steps into the chief executive officer position July 16.

My husband is all about blood lines and being able to trace back her lineage, so we need a father with papers. That means poor momma is going to have another baby (hopefully) next year. I know she’s designed to do that, but we got a girl the first time out of the gate and who’s to say the next five won’t be boys? (We’d hoped for a female because they’re a bit more docile than boys. You know, those boys are trouble-makers!)

I will leave it up to my husband to separate momma and filly when it’s weaning time. A clean break – that’s best, right? But since I work from home, I’m the one who will get to listen to momma’s neighs, wondering where her baby is.

Such is life on the farm. Another baby will come along and I’ll gush over how cute it is, take pictures, write a little something and life will go on.

Until we walk again …

Additional findings of the Media Usage Update Survey study as well as raw survey data and available cross-tabulated findings, including geography and age-specific results, are available by contacting becki@nafb.com or at (816) 431-4032. The data is projectable to each state and by county within a state.

Visitation will take place on Monday, May 14, from 6-8 pm at the Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock, AR 72205. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 15 at 4:00 pm at Faith Spring Church, 501 South Bowman, Little Rock.

To contribute, please make checks payable to:
Stewart Doan’s Children’s College Fund
c/o Peoples Bank
20409 Arch Street
Little Rock, AR 72206

According to Sara Wyant, president of Agri-Pulse, where Stewart had been senior editor, they do not have all the details, “but we know that he had not been feeling well and saw his doctor Wednesday to undergo tests related to having shortness of breath and related health concerns. He fainted at his home yesterday morning and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he later died.”

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack praised Stewart in a statement to Agri-Talk this morning. “Stewart was a voice that people depended on and that people listened to,” said Vilsack. “And he used his voice to advocate on behalf of America’s farmers, ranchers and producers.” Listen to Visack’s comments here:
Secretary Vilsack on Stewart Doan

The most common word being used to describe Stewart is “professional.” He was a first-class reporter, the master of the :45 news story with :10 sound bites. I loved that. He was kind, down-to-earth, passionate about agriculture, and a good friend to all. We were at several events together just this year and he was always working very hard and always in a good mood. I remember being very impressed with his presentation on the presidential candidates at the Farm Bureau annual meeting where he played sound bites from them addressing various issues. It was probably the best presentation incorporating audio that I have ever seen.

Besides being a colleague and friend to so many of us, he was also a dedicated husband and father. I snapped this photo of Stewart with his wife Leslie, their two daughters Lauren and Sarah and a couple of their friends at Sara and Al’s house a couple of years back.

Stewart was only 52 years old and for more than 30 years of his life, this Kentucky native covered agricultural news for a variety of media, beginning with radio. He was president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in 1998, and was named 2006 Farm Broadcaster of the Year. But, most of all, he was a great guy and we will miss him. Rest in peace.

As a play on our everyday profession as Farmers we have created “Just Farmers…”. Just Farmers is not specifically about the agricultural meaning of farmer and really is a more broad look at how through the use of different social channels conversations are being grown into crops of relationshipsand the harvest are the communities brought together in the end. More simply Just Farmers… includes those people interested in farming communities of engaged committed individual people by engaging in conversations.

Just Farmers is a project of:

Jeff Fowle
Mike Haley
Ray Prock, Jr.

American Farriers Journal has also posted a certificate for National Farriers Week that horse owners can download and personalize for their farriers. It can be downloaded at http://www.americanfarriers.com/file_open.php?id=173.

Here’s a photo I took of Stewart (center) talking with Sen. Pat Roberts and Sara Wyant during their reception the night before National Ag Day Activities in Washington, DC. So it’s a shock to learn of his abrupt passing just earlier today. I can already see on Facebook a significant amount of emotion being expressed in sorrow for the loss of a great person and professional. Stewart, we pray for you and for your family.

Here’s the message sent out by the NAFB office just now.

Dear NAFB members,

Details of Stewart’s passing are unclear at this time, but we will provide more information and details about services as soon as they become available.

Here are the cooperatives that hit the charts in the top 5:
CHS Inc., Saint Paul, Minn.
Land O’Lakes Inc., Saint Paul, Minn.
Dairy Farmers of America, Kansas City, Mo.
GROWMARK Inc., Bloomington, Ill.
Ag Processing Inc., Omaha, Neb.

Leading the revenue increase from 2009 to 2010 were dairy cooperatives, which saw 2010 revenue climb more than 14.5 percent from the previous year, to $29.5 billion. Dairy cooperatives accounted for more than half of the revenue increase recorded by the top 100 ag co-ops in 2010.

Click here for the complete listing or read more in the USDA Rural Cooperatives magazine.