New Media is New to Me

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello! My name is Margy Fischer, I’m a senior at the University of Missouri – Columbia studying Agricultural Journalism, and I’ll be blogging on this site during the 2006 Commodity Classic thanks to a student fellowship with Monsanto. It was almost three weeks ago that I learned of this opportunity from Bill Allen and am very grateful for this trip.

Blogging is completely new to me. The closest I may have ever come to posting a blog would be the weekly e-mail updates I would send my friends this past summer while interning in Washington DC. If those e-mails can serve as any precedent, then my posts will be full of anecdotes and observations of my surroundings. But my lack of experience with “new media” could be interesting enough that you’ll want to stay tuned.

Commodity Classic

The Journey Begins

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello, My name is Mary Irelan and I am a student at the University of Illinois. I am currently a sophomore and I am majoring in Ag Communications. I would like to start off by thanking my sponsor, Monsanto, and specifically Tami Craig Schilling and Mica DeLong for allowing me to take part in this amazing experience.

Commodity Classic

Dont Expect CWB Changes Anytime Soon

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensIt looks like Canada’s new Ag Minister is retreating from making changes to the Canadian Wheat Board, at least not quickly. In meeting with CWB officials, Manitoba’s Ag Minister Rosann Wowchuk, and reporters after the meeting, Strahl said, “What I said to the wheat board’s board of directors is the same thing that I’ve been saying publicly . . . that our campaign promise was to move toward dual marketing.”

International

It Feels Like Spring Today

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri RiverI sometimes get asked how you can find something to write about everyday, much less multiple times a day. I’ve been blogging over a year and haven’t run into that problem yet. There’s inspiration everywhere, like alongside the Missouri River today. Since it was so warm here in Missouri I took a break for some biking on the Katy Trail. All I had was my Treo phone camera.

Uncategorized

Student Bloggers Sponsor Interview

Chuck Zimmerman

MonsantoKicking off our coverage of Commodity Classic 2006 is an interview with Tami Craig Schilling, Monsanto Public Affairs Director, about their Future Ag Journalist Fellowship program which is sponsoring our student bloggers, Mary Irelan and Margy Fischer. Tami explains how the program came about, why they picked Mary and Margy and what the objectives of the program are. She said that if this works well it might be something they’ll do again. If so, AgWired is ready, willing and able to do our part to help.

Agribusiness, Commodity Classic

Blogs Not A Passing Fad

Chuck Zimmerman

Thanks to one of our subscribers for the heads up on this excellent article on blogging posted today on the Wall Street Journal. It’s not long and I suggest you read it. I couldn’t even begin to cover all of it here. Basically, the author, Jason Fry starts out talking about all the recent main stream media articles that suggest that the blogging “fad” is fading. As it regards that he has this to say:

Uncategorized

This Quasimojo Member Won’t Be Forgotten

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a post I really wish I didn’t have to do. I received an email a little while ago that Andy Markwart, the editor of John Deere’s “The Furrow” magazine just passed away. I only just got to know Andy in the last year or so since I’ve become involved with AAEA and IFAJ. Andy was one of the members of the popular Quasimojo band that played at their events. I know I will join many people in missing Andy. The news was a shock and he and his family will be remembered in our prayers.

Agribusiness, Publication

E-Watch Your Release Results

Chuck Zimmerman

E-WatchThe folks at PRNewswire have been listening to their clients and are now offering users who send a news release a “complimentary” service to find out about online “use” of a release that’s sent via their US1 wire. It’s called E-Watch Media Monitoring.

Media