Airing on the Side of Agriculture

Will there be enough water to survive? Thirsty Land is a new documentary that tells the story of the water crisis and drought in the Western U.S., its impact on agriculture, communities and the global food supply. “The story of drought needs to be told! Our global food supply and our very survival of humans depend on clean, abundant fresh water.  I want to make the audience think about it every time they take a drink of water, enjoy a shower or water their lawn,” says Conrad Weaver (Allied Industry Member, Conjostudios, LLC, Emmitsburg, MD), who is producer and director of the film. The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska is partnering with Weaver in the production of Thirsty Land film. DWFI, along with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have provided startup sponsorship funds for the project to move ahead.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts plans two international and two domestic trade missions a year as part of his mission to grow Nebraska. Jesse Harding (KRVN/Rural Radio Network, Lexington, NE) traveled with the first mission hosted by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Department of Economic Development. For the Governor’s first international trade mission, the delegation went to Italy, Belgium and Denmark. The goals were to meet with companies who already use Nebraska products, have trade talks and to hopefully bring business into the state. Jesse was invited to join the mission as the only media participant. She said her most interesting takeaways came from visiting with European officials about American and Nebraska agriculture.

“Titles have changed this past year for the three of us that make up the RFD Radio Team,” reports Rita Frazer (RFD Radio Network®, Bloomington, IL). “In January, I became the Director of Network and Audio Services as Alan Jarand (seated) transitioned from Director to Part-time Audio Specialist. We feel very lucky to have Alan remain on the team with his golden voice, wisdom and institutional knowledge.” She added, “Kansas native DeLoss Jahnke joined our team in March of this year. It has only been a few months since he joined us here in Bloomington, but it feels like we have worked together forever. DeLoss and I have so much in common, including a love for farmers, agriculture, a passion for farm broadcasters and NAFB.

Veteran Illinois Broadcaster, Hayward Talley passes away. Talley who with a partner put WSMI (Litchfield, IL) on the air in 1950, has died at age 91. His son Brian is running the show now, but Mr. Talley was active in the station’s management and operation until late 2013.

When her father established the radio station in 1961, General Manager Stacey Smith said the call letters were chosen as an abbreviation for World’s Greatest Farming Area (WGFA). “We have always strived to bring quality ag news and information to our listeners,” she said. “Ken Root joined our team in 2010, replacing Colleen Callahan who went on to head the USDA Rural Development in Illinois. As Ken planned his retirement in April 2015, WGFA knew that having an NAFB farm broadcaster is important to the local ag communities. With Ken’s help, we are proud to introduce John Gooding as the WGFA new NAFB Farm Broadcaster, a familiar name to many residents of the Illiana area.” 

Recent May rains threaten KSIR (Fort Morgan, CO) transmitter. Lorrie Boyer, Farm Director and Morning Show Host, said water came within inches of their station’s transmitter. “We were shutting it (transmitter) off at night as a safety precaution, but did not have to turn it off during the day.” She said they contracted out with an FM frequency to have KSIR simulcast on it in case they have to turn it off.

Tom Nicolette (Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network, Waco, TX) reports in the first 27 days of May, it rained 21 of them in certain regions of Texas. Wet conditions have washed out livestock fences, and cattle are losing weight from energy expended in trudging through muddy pastures or pens. Some wheat farmers will not be able to harvest a crop.  Cotton planting is behind schedule in south Texas and the Texas Panhandle. In the Coastal Bend area, grain sorghum planting is behind schedule. Tom said, “Wet weather is making it tough for Texas farmers and ranchers in both crop and livestock operations.

Erica Irlbeck (Allied Industry member, Lubbock, TX) and a group of college students are working with the National Ranching Heritage Center to produce a mini documentary on the 2011 drought and the impact it had on the agricultural industry. Erica is an assistant professor of agricultural communications at Texas Tech University. She is teaching two courses this summer: video production and advanced imaging and design. During the regular term, she teaches three courses: Video Production in Agriculture, Agricultural Communications Campaigns and Professional Development. Her research interests are risk and crisis communications, agriculture in television media and agricultural communications campaigns. Erica started her duties in September 2009 after earning her Doctor of Education degree in agricultural education from Texas Tech. Prior to her academic career, she worked in agricultural television news for AgDay Television and KLBK-TV (Lubbock, TX), farm radio for Clear Channel Networks, public relations and advertising.