Elanco President Jeff Simmons wants people in agriculture to speak up and make it personal when it comes to safe, abundant, affordable food.
The NAMA Agribusiness Leader of the Year says it all boils down to those four words. “I do think that we need to get our of our bubbles, get off of our farms and speak up because we are center stage right now,” he said. “It is our time and it’s a hot issue.”
Jeff told the opening general session of the National Agri-Marketing Conference that Elanco has just unveiled a website focusing on food production, world hunger and sustainability called “Plenty To Think About”. The site includes a white paper that focuses on three rights – food, a human right; choice, a consumer right; and sustainability, environmentally right.
Listen to or download an enlightening conversation with Jeff here: Jeff Simmons Interview
The president of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is thrilled with this year’s conference attendance and the current state of the organization.
“It’s always good to be the queen when things are good,” said Vicki Henrickson of BCS Communications. “We have 1700 members this year, we haven’t had that many since the year 2000. We’ve got 1200 registrations for conference this year, we’ve not had that many since 2001. We had 155 plus first timers at the conference this year – amazing. Everything is good!”
The first educational session at this year’s Agri-Marketing Conference focused on “Becoming and 800-pound Gorilla: How To Dominate Your Market.” Our presenter was Bill Guertin, Chief Enthusiasm Officer, The 800-Pound Gorilla. Well I guess he should know how to do it then!
I talked with Bill before his presentation. He says that the 800-pound gorilla is “the dominate player in any marketplace whose tactics and techniques result in an unfair share of the available business.” So he was here to help us discover how to achieve this. He uses an anecdote from the sports industry to make a point of how you can do this. Listen in: Bill Guertin Interview
I’ve owned reversible jackets, pants and hats, but I’ve never owned a pair of cotton flannel double-thumbed gloves. They might look a bit of an oddity, but they were quite popular back in the day for husking corn. Corn picking was done by hand, and then you’d have to take the husks off before putting it in the sheller or grinder. What a chore for your hands!
Double-thumbed gloves to the rescue. Once you wore through the palm on one side, you’d just flip it over and get back to work.
And well aware that money only stretched so far back then, they would sometimes smear tar on the gloves to make them last longer.
I’m thinking a pair of these would be nice for avid gardeners.
And by the way, isn’t that what a combine is for these days?
It has been a great opening day to the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference. ZimmComm has continued to make Google Juice and actually shared a little with our fans and clients in the Connection Point trade show. So cheers from Kansas City, MO.
Cindy and I will be collecting stories and interviews throughout the meeting and probably won’t get them all posted until after the conference since we’re both going on to other locations before getting back to ZimmComm World Headquarters. However, photos are being updated and we’ll have a lot more coverage here as we work our way through the next couple days. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello this evening and we will see you from the show floor again tomorrow.
What would a NAMA Student Marketing Competition be without judges? Here are some judges hard at it this morning during the preliminary presentations. I spoke to one of them, Kelly Loganbill (center). She’s just another example of NAMA member volunteer in action.
Kelly says these students represent “the fantastic future of agriculture.” She got involved to give back to the organization and see the ideas these students come up with. Listen in to our conversation: Kelly Loganbill Interview
It takes a lot of volunteers work to put on an Agri-Marketing Conference and a student marketing competition. Nancy Barcus, Agriculture Future of America, Director of Leader Development Programs is one. She’s the hall monitor during the early round of student presentations. She has to keep the hallway clear during presentations to prevent distractions. This is important stuff here!
Nancy is a new member of the NAMA Careers Committee. I spoke with Nancy about her job: Nancy Barcus Interview
What is the one thing you like best about NAMA and the Agri-Marketing Conference? For me it’s the opportunities for networking and fellowship with clients and friends. That’s what I got to do at the Vance Publishing reception at The Cashew last night. While there I met Tim Tobeck, VP/Publishing Director. Tim is relatively new to Vance so with my trusty iPhone in hand we did a short interview so we could get to know him and learn what’s new.
Tim says he’s excited about coming to Vance since he’s been in business publishing for nearly 40 years. He grew up on a ranch and has been breeding livestock in Colorado. He says he came back to the business “because I saw Vance as a company that used old media and new media together to really build a sense of community” That’s speaking my language Tim!
The AgWired App is now available in the Android Market. You asked for it and you’ve got it. One of the new features we’re offering in this app (and soon to be added to the iPhone version) is the ability to share out stories via multiple mechanism like email, Twitter, etc. The first person to download the AgWired Android App to his phone was Deron Johnson, Rhea & Kaiser (AgWired sponsor), just prior to the student activities at the Agri-Marketing Conference.
Just like its iPhone predecessor, the app offers one-touch access to all the latest news and information in the agribusiness and agricultural marketing world posted on Agwired.com, including audio, photos and video, and connections to other ZimmComm news sites. The AgWired App features a news tab drop down menu to select ZimmComm News Network feeds as well as individual news on AgWired.com by category.
You can find the AgWired App in the Android Market with this link. The AgWired iPhone App has been downloaded onto almost 3,000 iPhones/iPod touches/iPads since we introduced it and is being opened for viewing between 3 to 5 times per day, showing a high level of use by those who have it.
I’ve been asked who we worked with to develop the AgWired App and will point you to rock solid mobile app developer WillowTree Apps.
App sponsors are being sought. Contact ZimmComm for more information, including rates. First time and early sponsor discounts available.
Our last ZimmPoll asked the question, ” How should farmers respond to critical documentaries such as Food Inc.?” It’s not an easy question to answer really. Here’s what our poll results show. 45% said to Let their own actions shape their reputation, 43% said Promote ag through social media, 8% said Be informed but don’t initiate discussion and 3% said Ignore it, it will go away. Well, we know it’s not going away. What else can be done when faced with these types of attacks?
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What causes higher food prices?” Let us know what you think and thanks your your participation.
And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
I’m just saying that when it comes to Google Juice you just don’t need to look further than ZimmComm New Media. So plan to stop by booth 412 and let us introduce you to Google Juice ZimmComm style.
Farm Journal Media announces a new database comprising 32,122 U.S. agricultural retail locations, plus a new link between producers and their primary ag chem Dealer.
Massey Ferguson and Rural King will begin offering a select line of Massey Ferguson sub-compact, compact and light utility tractors through Rural King stores.
The 2011 Ag Machinery Conference has moved to Waterloo, Iowa. The annual three-day agriculture engineering and education conference will be held May 2, 3 and 4 at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in downtown Waterloo.
April is National Soyfoods Month, which makes it the ideal time for exploring the flavor, texture, healthy profile, versatility and convenience of soyfoods.
Let the NAMA games begin. Actually they have starting with today’s ABEF Golf Tournament. It was a beautiful day for it.
Registration has been busy, especially with all the student competitors arriving for their afternoon competition orientation. As you might expect, there are photos online and Cindy and I will be adding to them throughout the next several days: 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album
The National Agri-Marketing Association is thrilled to announce its all-new app, just in time for the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference. The app is available for iPhone, iPod, iPad or Android smartphone and Blackberry is coming soon.
Planting season has officially started with the first USDA crop progress report of the year released this week. Three percent of the nation’s corn crop planted – the same as both last year and the five year average. Cotton is running on schedule with seven percent planted and sorghum is 20 percent.
As the planters start moving through the fields, Precision Laboratories is reminding growers to get the most out of their fields by getting the most out of their weed control by following two simple steps:
1. Reduce costly tank-mix incompatibility issues by following the proper mixing sequence
Tank mix compatibility issues can cost you time and money – lost spraying time from plugged sprayer nozzles, lost product and the risk of cross contamination problems later. Precision Laboratories recently released a simple and unique way to identify the correct mixing sequence for your crop protection products. The new Mix Tank app for iPhone and iPod touch, is the first of its kind, helping you determine the accurate mixing sequence for pesticides, adjuvants and foliar nutrition products. With over 700 crop protection products from over 15 manufacturers, the new Mix Tank app can process any combination of products and determine the correct solution. Download the Mix Tank app at http://bit.ly/MixTank. And if you don’t have an iPhone, you can enter to win a free iPod Touch loaded with the app and other tank mixing resources. To register for the Precision Laboratories/ZimmComm iPod Touch giveaway, click here. (more…)
It’s time to consider a trip to Singapore for the World Agriculture Investment Conference Asia if you’re interested in agricultural investments.
Leading investors and fund managers from across SE Asia and Australia are coming to Singapore in June to discuss the investment opportunities and risks in agricultural markets. With the latest market insight on offer and 11 institutional investors already on board, anticipation is high.
On June 29-30, this unique forum will bring together institutional and private investors with top Ag fund managers, to debate strategies for participating in agriculture and surrounding investments.
Among timely discussions including, private equity investment in the full agriculture supply chain and the challenges and benefits of investing internationally, time has been set aside specifically for one-on-one networking for contacts and details to be shared and business to be done.
Confirmed participants already include: Emergent Asset Management, Macquarie, Duxton Asset Management, InvestAg Savills and many more. (more…)
There is a reason why Sullivan Higdon & Sink hate sheep.
We, at SHS, hate sheep because they remind us of marketing that follows instead of leads, communication that blends in and old thinking that’s best put out to pasture. Don’t follow the flock. Choose to hate sheep, too. Choose to make your brand stand out.
So they’re bringing back the Hated Sheep Project to this week’s Agri-Marketing Conference.
The rules are simple and if you keep playing throughout the conference, you could be a big winner. But to share the love, you have to bring on the hate. It’s easy to get started – here’s how:
Check out the Hated Sheep Project located between the hotel and exhibit hall for the current challenge.
Tweet your response to @hatedsheep with the #11AMC hashtag.
Every tweet helps unlock “unsheeplike” surprises for everyone.
Be back at the specified time to get your share of the love.
For those with a competitive streak, keep playing to gain access to a secret VIP event for exclusive hobnobbing and impressive elbow rubbing.*
“Last year, our Sheep-A-Nator display was so well received by NAMA conference attendees, we felt compelled to raise the bar this year,” said John January, Senior Vice President and Executive Creative Director for SHS. “Using our own brand as a test subject, we came up with an attention-grabbing game that combines digital elements with dynamic real-world experiences. In the coming months, marketers will hear more and more about game dynamics and how they will be integrated with social media to engage and influence behavior. The Hated Sheep Project will provide attendees with a glimpse of what is to come in the industry.”
The AdMavericks at Lessing-Flynn have teamed up with Eight Seven Central to introduce Socially AWear, a joint venture that aims to raise money for local charities through online sale of t-shirts that feature local brands.
Through nearly a dozen partnerships, Socially AWear looks to capitalize on support for local brands, with all proceeds being split between charitable donations and the production of additional t-shirts. A different central Iowa charity will be the recipient of the proceeds each month.
In addition to social media promotion efforts and the website SociallyAWear.com, Eight Seven Central is offering a discount in order to drive t-shirt sales and maximize charitable donations. “We like helping people who are active in the Des Moines community,” said Zach Anderson of Eight-Seven. “Socially AWear is a great way to recognize that activity.”
“Helping non-profits is the jam,” said Joe Winn of Lessing-Flynn. “Giving people the chance to rock a sweet tee to help non-profits is just good for everybody. We wanted to do something good for the community. This helps Des Moines brands get more exposure while raising money for Des Moines charities at the same time.”
Current t-shirts offered include: Children’s Cancer Connection, DSM: SUSHIBOMB, Gusto Pizza, Urban 515, vineme, DesMoinesIsNotBoring.com and Lessing-Flynn’s AdMavericks.com.
I registered to arrive in time for a day at the Outdoor Farm Show and hope to be on the Lake Huron Tour. If you’ve never attended an IFAJ Congress then this is the time. You will have a chance to create lasting relationships with agricultural journalists from all over the world. It’s a two way benefit since you’ll learn from them at the same time they learn from you.
I’m happy to report that Pioneer Hi-Bred will once again be the sponsor of AgWired coverage of this major international agricultural communicator event.
Guess who the sponsor of AgWired coverage of the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference will be? You are so right. How did you guess? Brownfield Ag News is sponsoring our coverage of the “main event” in agricultural marketing this week in Kansas City, MO. I’m on my way there today with Cindy arriving tomorrow.
Here’s a little news from our sponsor.
Brownfield Ag News introduces “Healthy Living,” a radio program that answers consumer questions about agriculture; helping to address the growing divide between consumers and those who grow their food, fiber and fuel.
“For many years Brownfield’s product offering has included programs designed to bridge the gap between farmers and those who consume farm products,” said Brownfield Farm Director Cyndi Young. “The goal of Healthy Living is to educate, not advocate. Instead of pushing the story Agriculture wants to tell, Healthy Living is produced with consumers interests and needs in mind.”
Healthy Living program topics range from food safety to heritage, heirloom and organic foods; from eating healthy on a budget to government food programs and obesity in America. This program also covers current legislation and issues as they affect the consumers’ choice and pocketbook.
In addition to the Healthy Living feature program, Brownfield Ag News has added another agricultural weather program, two additional agribusiness headline news programs, and two South Dakota agribusiness news programs.
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
David conducted a presentation on delivering expert opinion via social media to an audience at the start of International Poultry Expo week. He's got some great information about who consumers trust and how you can use today's consumer behavior to help communicate your message.
Elanco President Jeff Simmons wants people in agriculture to speak up and make it personal when it comes to safe, abundant, affordable food.
The president of the 
This app just in … the NAMA App!
It’s time to stop procrastinating and get your registration completed for the 
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
