Does your nonprofit need some free public relations assistance? If so, get your application if for the 2012 Seed to Succeed PR Grant, valued at $25,000, from Harvest PR & Marketing.
Any U.S. nonprofit organization connected to the production and/or marketing of food, commodities, or committed to the cause of promoting agriculture, is encouraged to apply by Oct. 31, 2011.
The idea for Seed to Succeed materialized in 2009 when Harvest PR team members expressed interest in annually committing to a nonprofit focused on food and farm, and whose goals were limited mainly by resources. “We are firm believers that big ideas can sprout from small places,” says Heidi Nelson, principal. “Coming alongside a nonprofit that shares our values and commitment to the betterment of the industry has been a tremendous experience for our team. Our Seed to Succeed work thus far has been quite meaningful and successful.”
Organizations interested in 2012 pro bono marketing services can download more information at www.harvest-pr.com. Applications are due Monday, Oct. 31, at 5 p.m. PST. The recipient will be announced Dec. 1, 2011.
The AgChat Foundation has been a recipient of the grant and as a board member I can say we have truly appreciated the work done for the Foundation by Harvest PR & Marketing. They played a key role in the early development of the organization.
Strong winds, dry weather and heat all combined to create some treacherous harvesting conditions in Iowa yesterday. Here’s an interesting video I found on YouTube that shows one fire and gives you an idea of how extensive these can be. Our sales manager, Dave, sent me a note yesterday that they had 160 acres burn on their family farm. Fortunately no one was hurt and it didn’t get to their homestead.
Seed World magazine has produced a series of video interviews that are now available on their website. These are part of their Giant Views of the Industry series and contain interviews taken at the International Seed Federation World Seed Congress, the American Seed Trade Association annual convention and the National Association of Plant Breeders annual meeting, as part of its Giant Views of the Industry video series.
Topics discussed by top industry executives from the American Seed Trade Association, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Applewood Seed, HM Clause, Monsanto Company, Syngenta and more include plant breeding, intellectual property, regulatory updates, seed trade issues, trends in the flower and vegetable industry and much more. Given today’s highly evolving business landscape, these interviews provide valuable insight and information to everyone involved in the U.S. seed trade.
Here’s an example of one of the clips you’ll find. North Carolina State University watermelon and cucumber breeder, Todd Wehner, talks about why more funding is critical moving forward.
Issues Ink has expanded its business development department to include two results-driven business development representatives, Jeff Hamilton and Hiten Shah.
Geosys is adopting a new visual identity in preparation for its 25th anniversary in 2012. The new identity was unveiled during the launch of Geosys’ new website on Sept. 12.
The Adisseo Group, one of the worldwide leaders in the animal nutrition additives, has just finalized the acquisition of 90% of Innov’ia shares.
NFocus Partners and Beck Ag recently partnered to hold the “NFocus Forum for Agribusiness” to allow ag suppliers from throughout the country to connect with some of the industry’s top producers.
“Producers no longer have the luxury of time for multiple supplier meetings. Now more than ever, it’s critical for suppliers to understand the purchasing patterns and input decision making of large producers. The NFocus Forum for Agribusiness allowed the industry’s leading suppliers and producers the opportunity to quickly and easily understand one another’s goals, challenges, and needs,” said Kim Nicholson, co-founder of NFocus Partners.
The Forum, which took place at Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Georgia, was a three day event where ag suppliers had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with a group of pre-screened growers. This format offered them the chance to hear unfiltered feedback and build a deeper understanding of the unique goals, problems and purchasing behaviors of some of the largest industry producers.
“I like this approach to marketing our company because we know what we’re getting for our money. Results can sometimes be difficult to measure with standard ad campaigns. With this Forum I know exactly who has heard my message,” said Scott Peterson, Marketing Manager, Bio-Rational Products, SipcamAdvan.
The Forum was designed to accommodate the time-sensitive needs of busy producers, while still offering direct opportunities for producers and suppliers to connect in a controlled environment with a dedicated agenda.
“Change is inevitable. Change is constant.” – Benjamin Disraeli
Let me say first off, I am not a climate change denier. There’s plenty of proof to satisfy me that the climate of the Earth can and does change over time. It has done so multiple times over the last four billion or so years of its existence – billions of years before we got to roam the planet. However, I do question the notion that humans are a) causing it or b) can do anything to reverse it. I also question why some people believe that any climate change would be catastrophic.
A new campaign by “This is Climate Change” (TICC) has posters up in Reagan National Airport showing glacial retreat in North America. “Consequences of glacial retreat include changes in local ecosystems,” TICC notes. Aren’t ecosystems changing all the time? Wasn’t most of North America covered in glaciers not so very many millennia ago? Had the climate not changed and allowed the majority of glaciers to retreat, we would probably have a much smaller United States of America and Canada probably wouldn’t exist. And, frankly, I think when you compare the photos it looks a whole lot more inviting without all that ice on it – but that’s just me. I’m not a big fan of ice.
As stewards of the land, humans have an obligation to care for our precious resources of land, air and water. However, we should not presume in our role as caretakers that we are omnipotent, or that we know what is best. The world has been evolving and the climate has been changing way longer than we have been here, both constantly and inevitably. It is very likely that the climate will continue to change, for better or worse (in our opinion), no matter what we do or do not do.
If you look up quotes about change, you will find many that say what change is, like Disraeli. Change is eternal, perpetual, immortal, sweet, the essence of life, the signal for rebirth – but it is also difficult, hard work and frightening. As humans, we tend to fear change, even when the change is good.
It was Charles Darwin who said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” I would think that includes climate change.
The FFA is taking advantage of the Alltech Ag Network to stream live from the convention in October. Here are (pictured left to right) Dwight Armstrong, CEO of the National FFA Organization, and Billy Frey, general manager of the Alltech Ag Network.
In a significant technological move forward for agriculture, the National FFA Organization will stream its 2011 National Convention in Indianapolis Oct. 19-22 live online via the newly launched Alltech Ag Network on iHigh.com. The televised convention will be accessible real time via computers, iPads and all iPhone, Android and BlackBerry mobile devices.
As FFA membership stands at more than a half-million students throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, iHigh.com expects this to be their largest telecast ever. Yet the significance of the convention broadcast goes beyond record-breaking metrics.
“Agriculture is taking the lead in communications, moving high tech to engage the world in its story,” said Billy Frey, general manager of the Alltech Ag Network. “iHigh.com’s unique platform enables it to, for example, on a recent Friday night, broadcast more than 170 high school football games simultaneously and live to mobile devices free of charge. This is a capability far beyond many major sports organizations and applications. FFA is now harnessing this power, broadening its reach at a time when our growing population is moving increasingly far away from the stories of the farm and the origins of their food.”
The precision ag arena has certainly been seeing a lot of activity in the development of new online and mobile tools. Here’sa new one from MyWay RTK called MyWay XChange.
Today MyWay RTK LLC officially launched MyWay Xchange, a new online tool that will connect MyWay resellers and customers in real time. MyWay designed the reseller portal to give resellers live information about their customers and base stations within their respective coverage areas, enabling them to ensure their customers’ RTK service is always performing at optimum levels. MyWay Xchange features a real time map that indicates the current or last known position of each customer. Having access to this live information allows resellers to specify a user’s proximity to surrounding base stations, so they can easily diagnose a connection issue in the event a user leaves the coverage area inadvertently. In addition, live streaming from base stations means resellers know at once if a base station ever goes offline.
“In the event a customer ever has a connection issue, the reseller now has the tools to resolve the matter quickly,” said MyWay RTK general manager, Andy Hill. “MyWay Xchange was engineered to not only alert resellers about current problems, but to also help them anticipate possible risks. Essentially, this tool helps minimize the chance a customer ever gets disconnected because of distance or weather problems.”
As MyWay Xchange features live Doppler Radar coverage for the entire United States, resellers can see both active customers and current weather conditions simultaneously on one screen. In the event severe weather conditions limit a user’s RTK service, the reseller can easily diagnose the problem’s source without leaving the office. Resellers can also use the radar coverage to view weather forecasts and warn customers of impending severe weather conditions beforehand.
A mobile version of MyWay Xchange – available at www.mywayxchange.com – has also been developed, providing resellers an easy and effective way to manage subscriptions, mount points, and login credentials while on the go. The mobile site offers benefits to subscribers as well, letting them manage their accounts and create custom profiles right from the field.
“These MyWay mobile tools let you manage your account without having to return to the office or farm during a hectic day,” said Hill. “It’s a convenience that will help MyWay customers and resellers to keep moving while they’re moving.”
As the National Corn Growers Association prepares to start a new fiscal year this weekend, some old faces (not OLD old!) are being replaced with new ones on the Corn Board. “Off the Cob” podcaster Cathryn Wojcicki did interviews with three retiring board members to find out what they learned and experienced through service and to ask for any advice that might benefit farmers considering stepping up to a leadership role.
Over the last several years, Iowa farmer Daryl Haack served as the Corn Board’s liaison to NCGA’s Public Policy Action Team, chaired the Ethanol Committee, and represented the organization to the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, the BNSF Railway Ag Business Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Daryl says that while board involvement does require a significant time investment, serving on the Corn Board presents an unparalleled opportunity to enrich the lives of its members through opportunities to work with some of the most influential individuals both in the industry and in the country as a whole. “If you do have the time to get involved, the Corn Board presents a unique opportunity in that it allows you to meet people with whom you may not ever have another opportunity to interact,” he said.
During his tenure on the Corn Board, Minnesota farmer Jerry Larson chaired NCGA’s Finance Committee and served on the Association Relations Committee, Ethanol Committee and Research and Business Development Action Team.
Jerry stresses that potential leaders must understand the value of communications to all stakeholders. “It is of the utmost importance that we communicate our message back home, be it state-by-state, farmer-to-farmer, or even to the general public,” he noted.
Finally, Off the Cob spoke with Dave Nelson, a farmer from Belmond, Iowa who served as the Corn Board liaison for the NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team, the Ethanol Committee and the Biotechnology Working Group, and as NCGA’s liaison to the National Pork Producers Council.
“During my years on the Corn Board, we saw some very good times for corn growers,” Dave said. “We saw the market for corn expand and ethanol become a mainstay, both utilizing corn and marrying with the livestock industry in the use of distillers dried grains as a valuable feed source.”
Over the weekend, we loaded up 10 bales of hay onto my husband’s flatbed trailer and took five kids under the age of 5 on a hay rack ride. For about an hour, we toured the 10 rectangular miles around our house and ended at our make-shift pumpkin patch. Since “real” pumpkin patches were too far away to drive to, we ditched some little ones and about 15 gourds in the field entrance up the road.
The kids had a great time and no one fell off, so that’s a success in my book. Here are some snippets of the conversations I heard along the way:
Look – corn!
Look – more corn!
Look – sunflowers (they were wild daisies, but to a 5-year-old, one in the same)!
Look – a bridge!
Look – rocks!
Look – soybeans!
What amazed me was how these two-word sentences held such great enthusiasm and amazement at what farmers do every day. If only everything in life were seen through a child’s eyes.
Little did they know that we were having a bonfire and s’mores later! Nothing like a full day of fresh air, pumpkins and chocolate to put a 3-year old to sleep.
To say that 2011 has been a rough year is an understatement, but the combines are rolling and the soybean harvest is underway. The first harvest figures for the season were reported by USDA this week and it is running behind schedule with just 5% complete so far. Nearly every state is behind both last year and the five year average, and the bulk of the crop is rated fair to good.
As we get closer to putting this year in the rear view mirror, it’s already time to look ahead and get a fresh start for 2012. BASF Herbicide Technical Market Manager Dr. Dan Westberg says the key is getting ahead of weed control with an effective fall burndown program. “Dense populations of winter annuals like marestail can interfere with or delay planting,” Dan says, suggesting that growers can combine fall burndown with fertilizer application. “If you have an effective fall burndown, you’re not losing the fertilizer you apply in the fall to those winter annual weeds and allows greater flexibility come spring.”
One option for fall burndown is Kixor® herbicide technology in a product like Sharpen. “Its unique chemistry provides broad spectrum, broad leaf weed control of more than 70 weeds, including winter annuals and weeds resistant to glyphosate ALS inhibitors and triazines,” said Dan.
To optimize the burndown performance of Kixor, Dan suggests the best practices known by the simple acronym A-C-T-T: Adjuvant, Coverage, Tank Mix, Timing.
One of my tour stops during the 2011 IFAJ Congress was Jackson Triggs Vintners. We had an excellent lunch and wine tasting that included some of their icewine. One of the take-aways was that Canada produces more than just good ice wine. We had a nice red and white wine during our sampling.
Following lunch we toured the wine making facility with our guide, Carlee. We started out in a vineyard and then moved inside to the production area and ended where the wine is stored before bottling. One of the interesting things I remember Carlee saying is that the vineyards are planted in north/south rows now due to the direction of the wind off Lake Ontario. We could see some older vineyards planted the opposite direction. You can hear Carlee talk about their wine making in this video.
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Can farmers effectively reach out to consumers with social media?” The answer was overwhelmingly positive with 75% saying Yes. However, there are some skeptics out there, 25% that said No. What do you think? Can we do it? Are we doing it? Are we making an impact?
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Do you think the world population will be 10 billion by 2050?” We hear all kinds of predictions on everything from population to climate change. How good are these models? Are they taking into account everything that might happen? Can they? How much stock should we place in them? More questions I know but these predictions are being used to shape policy decisions that have an immediate impact on us. What do you think? Take our poll and feel free to comment. Thank you.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
For you farm podcasters who want to turn your iPhone (or or other smartphone) into a work tool, here are a couple of products that can help. I conduct many interviews posted here using my iPhone and the Voice Memo app. The microphone on the iPhone is excellent. But, it does pick up a lot of room noise and you may not want that. It would also be nice to record from a mult box or other audio source too. So I’ve been looking for and testing some options. Here’s the newest ones. These are from VeriCorder Technology.
First up is the VeriCorder Mini Mic. This thing is small and in my test it provides a slightly better audio interview recording by picking up less room noise. I’ve included short test examples below from a test I did this morning at Coffee Zone.
Compact mobile microphones are designed to transform the latest smart phones and MP3 players into a portable sound recorder. Provides improved sound quality and range. Will work with any smart phone MP3 player having a 3.5 mm, four-pin jack, such as the iPhone, iPod Touch 2G, iPod 5G, Blackberry or Nokia. Ideal for recording interviews, lectures, voice memos and more.
Use with 1stVideo or VC Audio Pro recording and editing software for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad to create sophisticated audio & video projects. For use in moderate volume environments because of it’s high sensitivity levels. It is not recommended for recording loud music.This mic will also turn your iPod touch into a Skype™ phone. It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3. Insert Mic, make call and when call connects press speaker.
Next, I tested the VeriCorder Technology XLR Adapter Cable. This allows me to plug in the much sought after Golden ZimmComm Microphone! Of the three test examples you can hear below this is by far the best quality. The audio level was lower than the other test options that included using the built in microphone. However, that’s a simple fix since I edit all audio anyway.
Connect a professional XLR microphone to the headset jack of the iPhone or smart phone. Provides separate headphone output for monitoring the playback levels of the recording. Use with 1st Video, ShowCase or VC Audio Pro editing software Apps for iPhone.
The XLR Adapter includes a preamplifier circuit with 6.1dB gain that allows a low-impedance dynamic microphone to be used as a high quality audio source for recording on the iPhone. The preamplifier also includes RF noise suppression circuitry to enhance the quality of the recordings. The preamp is also compatible with self-powered condenser and wireless microphones. Note: This is NOT an official “Works With iPhone accessory” (iPhone and microphone not included).
My work flow for this is to record on the iPhone using the Voice Memo app, sync to iTunes and use iTunes to convert to an .MP3, then import to Adobe Soundbooth to edit. So here are a couple of test examples. See what you think.
Broadhead is celebrating ten years in business by moving into new office space in the Colwell Building in Minneapolis.
It’s been said that the best minute you spend is the one you invest in people.
Dean Broadhead knows this all too well, as evidenced by his commitment to invest in top-notch talent for the past decade. It’s just one of many reasons the communications agency that bears his name is celebrating 10 years in business with a move into a new 20,000-square-foot office space in the Colwell Building in Minneapolis.
“I’d like to think I have a patented formula for success that I can attribute to my years of experience and education,” says Broadhead. “But in all honesty, what distinguishes this agency day-in and day-out is an experienced staff.”
Such thinking has resulted in the agency more than doubling in size in the last three years. Even more impressive is that only 10 years ago, Broadhead started his agency as a solo act, operating out of a converted spare bedroom.
Forty employees later and with a great deal more square footage than the spare room in the house, Dean Broadhead is still enjoying the ride.
“It’s been a thrilling 10 years, but I firmly believe the best is yet to come,” says Broadhead.
BASF will be sending some lucky farmer to the 2012 Daytona 500.
BASF Crop Protection today announced the launch of the Kixor® herbicide technology Road to DAYTONA® sweepstakes, which celebrates the fast, complete burndown and residual control growers get with Kixor. BASF will award the sweepstakes winner a trip to the 54th annual DAYTONA 500®. BASF will also be awarding $100 gift cards to 10 additional sweepstakes entrants.
“BASF is dedicated to providing the solutions, technical support and tools that help growers implement a weed management program based on herbicide best practices,” said Bryan Perry, Kixor Marketing Manager with BASF. “By providing burndown that is three to five times faster than 2,4-D or glyphosate, plus strong residual staying power, Kixor herbicide technology helps growers win the race against weeds in their fields — the way high-powered engines win races for drivers.”
The winner of the sweepstakes will receive four tickets to the race on February 26, 2012, as well as an expenses-paid three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, Florida.
The sweepstakes is open to all growers 18 years or older with an operation of 250 acres or more. For the official rules and to enter, participants should go to http://www.road-to-daytona.basf.us and fill out a brief entry form. Entries are due by Dec. 31, 2011.
GROWMARK is helping 35 college students from throughout the Midwest to continue their educations in agriculture and business.
“GROWMARK invests more than $45,500 annually on scholarships. We’re investing today for a return tomorrow,” says Steve German, GROWMARK member employment manager, pictured here at the scholarship luncheon during the recent GROWMARK annual meeting. “There’s a need for agriculture businesses to support formal education to strengthen agriculture.”
The students from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin all received GROWMARK-sponsored scholarships this year, joining hundreds more who have been helped by the cooperative over since the early 1960s. Today, they are awarded to students majoring in agriculture or accounting at 15 universities and colleges. Each educational institution is responsible for the selection process and awarding scholarships. University scholarship recipients are honored each year at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago.
I Make America. Well, not me but the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and their members do. It’s the first anniversary of the campaign and AEM is not only thanking supporters but holding a “virtual march” on Washington this week.
To mark the occasion, I Make America is holding a Virtual March on Washington this week, and has called on its supporters to send letters, sign a petition, and call their elected officials in Congress to demand they take a stand for American jobs by passing a comprehensive, well-funded highway bill.
On September 29, 2010 in Washington, D.C., AEM – along with Mike Rowe of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs – launched I Make America, a national grassroots campaign to promote manufacturing jobs through infrastructure investment and export agreements as proven ways to create and sustain jobs for American workers. The campaign has enlisted the support of more than 13,000 people nationwide so far, AEM’s 850+ member companies, and industry organizations.
I Make America will continue to demand Congress takes action and passes a well-funded, multi-year highway bill. Their inaction is hampering American workers and manufacturers’ efforts to get back to work rebuilding and modernizing our roads, bridges and highways. America’s stagnant economy, high unemployment and the declining resources in our communities demand a sense of urgency from our political leaders in D.C.
The American Dietetic Association has released the results of their “Nutrition and You: Trends 2011″ survey. I’ve only skimmed some of the results so far. There’s a lot of information in there. One section of special interest focused on where consumers get nutrition information and what sources they view as credible. Pretty timely information to add to the “Food Dialogues” discussion!
Where does the American public get its information on food and nutrition? Are the most popular sources also the most credible? Are consumers doing all they can to eat well and exercise? If not, why not? Have people increased or decreased their consumption of fruits, vegetables and other foods in the past several years? What do people think about organically grown products, low-fat foods, allergen-free foods, probiotics and other foods and nutrients?
In nationwide public opinion surveys since 1991, the American Dietetic Association has asked consumers these questions and more. The answers are now available as ADA releases the findings of its 20th anniversary survey, “Nutrition and You: Trends 2011.”
ADA’s 2011 survey presents a vivid look at consumers’ current knowledge and attitudes, and offers an opportunity to view two decades of trends in the ways Americans regard food, nutrition and health.
One of the major agricultural communications activities of the year is coming soon. It’s the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) convention taking place November 8-11 at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. This will be the first convention for Tom Brand as new NAFB Executive Director. But it is far from his first convention since Tom has been behind the microphone for twenty years as a broadcast member.
I spoke with Tom about his new job and to get a preview of the program (pdf) for this year’s convention. One of the issues facing all ag media groups is the convergence between print, broadcast and web as well as social media. That issue will be addressed during the program this year with presentations like one scheduled with Mark Ramsey a research and strategy provider to media companies. It’s time to get registered if you haven’t and to get your hotel room reserved.
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.
Does your nonprofit need some free public relations assistance? If so, get your application if for the 2012 Seed to Succeed PR Grant, valued at $25,000, from Harvest PR & Marketing.
The Forum, which took place at Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Georgia, was a three day event where ag suppliers had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with a group of pre-screened growers. This format offered them the chance to hear unfiltered feedback and build a deeper understanding of the unique goals, problems and purchasing behaviors of some of the largest industry producers.
Over the last several years, Iowa farmer 
During his tenure on the Corn Board, Minnesota farmer 
Finally, Off the Cob spoke with 
To say that 2011 has been a rough year is an understatement, but the combines are rolling and the soybean harvest is underway. The first harvest figures for the season were 
One option for fall burndown is 
BASF Crop Protection today announced the launch of the Kixor® herbicide technology 
“GROWMARK invests more than $45,500 annually on scholarships. We’re investing today for a return tomorrow,” says Steve German, GROWMARK member employment manager, pictured here at the scholarship luncheon during the recent GROWMARK annual meeting. “There’s a need for agriculture businesses to support formal education to strengthen agriculture.”
One of the major agricultural communications activities of the year is coming soon. It’s the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) convention taking place November 8-11 at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. This will be the first convention for Tom Brand as new NAFB Executive Director. But it is far from his first convention since Tom has been behind the microphone for twenty years as a broadcast member.
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
