What's Your Brand?

For as far back as I can remember, branding yourself as well as your business has been a key in how much success you will experience with whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. As I look foward to graduation, I realize I must brand myself in how I want to be portrayed to future employers. Just as farmers and ranchers brand their livestock so they know where they belong, we must brand ourselves so people know where we come from as well.

Now, when I say brand I don't necessarily mean brand as in hot irons, but more so, how you present yourself along with your business. Logos, taglines, colors, fonts, pictures, and symbols among several other factors all come into play when deciding on a brand for your company. You want to create something catchy that will stand out in the business world and then represent yourself in a professional manner. The next time you want to promote a company (this could be a farming operation, show livestock, or your place of work) remember to create something people will be attracted to. By doing this not only will you brand yourself, but you will also attract potential clients.

Flint wins media award

Flint serving 'beef sundays' at the Illinois Beef Expo

The world of agricultural communications is filled with opportunity, but more than that it is a community of people who all share the same passion. In my experience, writing for a newspaper, discussing general issues versus writing for an agricultural audience is completely different. While I enjoy writing for the newspaper covering different news stories, I really enjoy writing about agricultural issues targeted towards the agricultural community. I feel they are so much more appreciative of your work. I’m sure anyone working in agricultural communications can relate to this as they find themselves dealing with similar issues. One such journalist, Josh Flint, who is the editor of Prairie Farmer will be honored at the Illinois Commodity Conference on November 22 as he will receive the ‘Excellence in Media Award’ distributed by the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

Flint grew up in Rolla, Missouri which is about 100 miles southwest of St. Louis. Growing up in an agricultural environment, he wasn’t expecting to end up with a career in agricultural communications. He graduated from Truman State University with a degree in journalism. Flint had dreams of writing for a large daily newspaper, but as time went on he realized he wanted to write for a more tailored audience. Farm publications seemed to be a natural place for Flint to be as he grew up around agriculture and the values/morals of that particular community have been instilled within him.

Flint really enjoys the writing and photography aspect of his job. To take a story, to interview multiple sources, to discover the different entry points for the reader, and to take the photographs to go along with it is what Flint truly enjoys about his job. He explained how he fits right into the agriculture community.

“When I got into this industry I knew it was a great opportunity, but I have really been overwhelmed with just how tremendous, not just the farmers, but everyone in this industry is. It is one big group and whether it is a seed company, commodity group, a farmer, an equipment manufacturer, everyone is so nice. There is just a sense of community. Once you get into ag communications, I can see why people have stayed in the industry for 30 years because it is hard to leave. You feel like these are your friends, they’re not just your co-worker. In news writing, you worry about burning bridges with sources, but I have never once thought about that because everyone is so nice and friendly that you’d hate to do that because you’re friends with them. It really is a great community,” Flint said.

Flint also said, for all you future journalists out there, that publications are expecting you to be able to do everything. What you’re told in class is true, editors want you to know how to write, edit, take pictures, shoot video, and utilize social media. This isn’t so much true for the larger publications as it is for smaller staffed publications, but it is still important to have experience with every aspect of communication.

Josh and his wife, Tiffany, currently live in St. Clair County. He covers the entire state of Illinois talking with farmers and attending agricultural conferences.

To hear an interview with Josh Flint, click here http://www.box.net/s/sgx3kklde9921ly4cf0h.

Note: I have submitted this post to Corn Corps http://corncorps.wordpress.com/ but I wanted you all to enjoy it as well!

Medicinal healing from swine

Swine have been able to improve human lives since the beginning of time. Whether it's a pork chop, a baseball, shoes, paint, chewing gum, or make-up products among several other items the swine industry definately has an impact on the human population. Not only is all the above true, but now swine has been found to actually save lives through medical practices. According to an article in the DRIVE magazine, swine can be used as a skin substitute by providing an environment which helps the pateint's body to rebuild and repair damaged tissue. Whether patients are suffering severe burns, potential amputation, or any other ailment dealing with skin, a layer of the swine's small intestine can actually heal under these circumstances. It can even help heal the lining around the brain and spinal cord, hernias, abdominal wall, and replacement tooth procedures among other things. In what other ways can you utilize the entire hog?

Women of Achievement: Diane Murray

I have been told college is a time in your life where you get to explore the world. There are so many opportunities at your fingertips that seem to fade completely after graduation. In my experience, college is a time of finding yourself while you become the person you are going to be for the rest of your life. By taking advantage of opportunities as they land in your lap, you will get to do things you may have never dreamed about doing.

Cattle in French countryside

This is so true. Everyone have their own goals to obtain as they make the best of their college experience. One such student, Diane Murray, of Jerseyville, Illinois has become quite the accomplished student as she takes opportunities as they come. A junior, double majoring in accounting and agricultural business, Murray has been able to travel the world experiencing agriculture practices in both France and China. She is actively involved in several clubs in the agriculture department at Illinois State University as well as completing a credit analyst internship at ProPartners Financial.

Murray was able to experience what life is like outside of the United States as she studied abroad in France this past summer as well as touring China. She was able to learn how the famous French wine is made and bottled as well as submersing herself in the French culture. She said a typical Sunday afternoon activity is a 50 mile bike ride down a road that is shut off from traffic so bikers can enjoy their ride. In each town the road goes through, concession stands will be set up for the bicyclers. Murray noticed the agriculture practices vary greatly in France from the practices of the United States.

“American agriculture definitely strives on being economical where French agriculture is more eco-nomical. They want to focus more on the betterment of the environment and not necessarily how they produce it, or who they produce it for. In America we’re all about the economy in that we want to produce the most for our dollar,” Murray said.

In China, Murray was able to take in the sites on a two week educational tour of the country. She said China is a lot more crowded than the United States.

As she looks into the future, Murray plans on seeing where the road takes her. She would like to ultimately end up working for an agriculture firm in the accounting aspect, or to continue on to law school to become an agriculture lawyer.

To hear an interview with Diane Murray, click here http://www.box.net/shared/xq967y2b4k05vvdyxujh

Vilsack celebrates USDA anniversary

Yesterday marked an exciting day for the United States Department of Agriculture as Tom Vilsack, agriculture secretary, kicked off the yearlong 150th anniversary celebration of the USDA in 2012 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.

Springfield is the home to of the USDA founder, Abraham Lincoln as he created the USDA in 1862. Lincoln realized the importance of agriculture as he noticed new ways to work land by means of new technology. Today, the USDA works to provide food for everyone by utilizing several food assistance programs including school lunches, food stamps, and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). They also support many programs including agricultural education, 4-H, conservation community development, homeland security, and global trade. The USDA supplies food in times of disaster and leads the world in food safety.

 As the state of Illinois derives most of its income from farming practices, it is no surprise the USDA was founded here. During this next year take a moment to appreciate everything the USDA has accomplished, is accomplishing, and hoping to accomplish by visiting a historical website that has been created to highlight their accomplishments over the past 150 years.

Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture

Tree Campus USA

Last week, I had the opportunity to help plant 50 trees across the Illinois State University campus. The university has every single tree native to Illinois planted on campus. ISU was chosen by the Arbor Day Foundation to host this large tree planting event because of how the groundskeepers effectively manage their trees, foster urban forests, and promote service learning through forestry management.

Along with several volunteers from various agriculture clubs to sustainability clubs, I was able to have an active role in this event. Beginning at 9 a.m. volunteers gathered and planted tree after tree. There was a press conference where the president of the university spoke along the horticulture club and student government presidents, and an Arbor Day representative.

To be part of something so huge was very rewarding. It was nice to step back and do something for others as this fast-paced society makes it so hard to do. I encourage you to find different ways you can give back to the community, or do something to benefit somebody else just because you feel like it. For years to come, people will be able to enjoy the trees that I have helped plant, and for that I am so glad I was able to get involved.

Peanut prices on the rise

According to the USDA, after unfortunate growing conditions of Runner peanuts, raw peanut prices went from $450 a ton in 2010 to costing almost $1200 a ton this year.

            Runner peanuts are used to make peanut butter so both consumers and producers will be affected by this change in price. Rick Whitacre, professor of agricultural economics, explained the reason behind the poor peanut harvest.

           “There are two things working here. First of all, in the southeastern portion of the United States, Georgia specificially, which is the largest peanut producing state, had a very difficult summer weather wise. Not enough rain fall and some very hot temperatures had a very dramatic impact on yields of peanuts. It resulted in a 2% increase in yields, but on top of that they had a reduction in acreage harvested of 11%,” Whitacre said.

            He concluded it was a combination of poor weather conditions and the 11% decrease in acres harvested than a year ago contributing to the low peanut yields.

Runner peanuts

            Tracy Widergren, marketing coordinator for Campus Dining Services, explained how this shortage will affect individuals from a consumer stand point.

            “In general, consumers will see changes in retail (grocery) stores in terms of packaging sizes, prices, or availability. For example, peanut butter companies may raise prices, or they may shrink packaging sizes but keep prices the same. You might also see higher prices in products that use peanuts as an ingredient, such as peanut M & Ms or Snicker bars. These products may become limited in availability, or the manufacturers may reduce the number of pieces/size of the products sold.  It will be interesting to see how manufacturers who produce peanut-related products will adjust to this shortage,” Widergren said.

            As far as a precautionary measure campus dining has taken, she said the executive chef keeps a close watch on the food industry in terms of crop and food production as well as manufacturing.

            “As soon as he [executive chef] became aware of the shortage, he immediately began making plans with our director to purchase a large enough peanut butter supply to keep our dining centers stocked with peanut butter through the end of the academic year (end of spring semester). The order was based on our average consumption in the dining centers, so we expect the supply to last through the spring semester. Any increase in student consumption could change these predictions and/or our supply, but we believe we have prepared sufficiently for the shortage,” Widergren said.

            Whitacre added this change in peanut yields/prices has left producers with mixed emotions.

            “They [producers] did have a decrease in production of 13%, but at the same time had an increase in prices of 100%. From a producer’s point of view, they may find themselves actually making more money this year than they did last year simply because of the higher prices they are receiving for their output,” Whitacre said.

            Both Whitacre and Widergren said there aren’t a lot of good substitutes for peanut butter.

            “There really aren't alternative options available to foodservice operations.  Many students may suggest a substitution such as Nutella. What students need to understand is that products like Nutella are available to retail customers (i.e. in grocery stores), not to foodservice operations like Campus Dining.  We buy peanut butter in such large quantities, so there is really no comparable product in terms of our usage/quantity needs,” Widergren added

Whitacre added that parents will continue to purchase peanut butter no matter the price since children consume such large amounts. 

Note: This is an article I wrote for ISU's newspaper, the Daily Vidette, but thought it was interesting to share.