If you haven’t registered for the 2013 Agricultural Media Summit then now is the time. To learn what’s being planned I got an update from Steering Committee Chairman, Greg Horstmeier, past AAEA President. We did this during the recent Agri-Marketing Conference. There was no script used. We decided to Just Wing It.
Full registration for the 2013 Ag Media Summit doesn’t open until May 1 but you can get your hotel reservation made now. Just got mine taken care of.
If you’re looking for the best place to promote your company or organization’s products and services, then you’ll want to be at the 15th Annual Ag Media Summit in Buffalo, New York, August 3-7, 2013. This annual get-together, the largest meeting in the United States of the ag industry’s top writers, editors, photographers, publishers and ag communicator specialists, begins with pre-meeting events on Saturday, August 3, followed by the AMS program August 4-7. We invite you to participate as a sponsor or an exhibitor at our InfoExpo or both, and be a part of this important agricultural media event.
Here’s a Merry Christmas from the Livestock Publications Council Board of Directors. They’re looking forward to a wonderful 2013.
Speaking of 2013 and LPC:
Forrest Bassford Student Award
We are happy to announce that Alltech will again be the major sponsor of the Forrest Bassford Student Award. Scholarship applications for the award are available on LPC’s website. This scholarship will be awarded in Buffalo, New York, at the 2013 Ag Media Summit (AMS). Also, up to four travel scholarships of $750 each will be awarded to deserving students who must be able to attend the AMS. If you have questions, contact: Scarlett Hagins, committee chairman, scarlett@kla.org. Deadline is February 15,2013.
2013 Ag Media Summit – Just Wing it!
Congratulations to Brian Reid, The Showtimes Magazine, who designed the winning logo for the 2013 Ag Media Summit. He gets a $200 “Christ- mas bonus” for his efforts! Watch for next year’s announcement when the logo contest takes place. You too can win the money!
The 2013 Ag Media Summit will take place August 3-7 in Buffalo, NY.
This year’s drought has made it tough enough for farmers; the last thing they need is a breakdown or equipment failure when trying to get in what crop they can. Phil Jennings, the service manager at Kinze Manufacturing, reminded me at the recent Ag Media Summit that there are some basic items producers should be checking before they head out to harvest. “We’re going to look for wear on our augers. We’re going to check our hoses to make sure they’re not scuffed or leaking.” Plus, he said we need to check the belts on the auger and, of course, the warning lights, flashers and slow-moving vehicle signs. Phil also said that with tougher conditions out there, checking the tires and track systems, including wheel lugs and bearings, is always a good idea.
More information on Kinze equipment and how you can avoid a breakdown is available at www.kinze.com.
You can listen to my interview with Phil here: Interview with Phil Jennings
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Our friends at FMC are on the road with the Capture® LFR® Insecticide “Meat and Greet” Road Tour, a series of meeting events that are taking place at more than 20 retailer locations across the Midwest now through September 28. “We’ll be visiting retailers to talk with them and their growers about Capture LFR and the benefits of using Capture with a starter fertilizer to control seed and seedling pests,” FMC’s Amie Dunn explained to me during the recent Ag Media Summit.
Amie added they’ll be cooking hot dogs and burgers at these events, which are open to the public and have prize drawings for attending. Capture LFR insecticide is a unique at-plant, liquid insecticide that has been proven to significantly increase corn yields. It works by eliminating soil pests before they ingest (bite and damage) Bt or seed-treated crops. You can find out more about Capture LFR and the “Meat and Greet” Road tour by going to www.zoneofprotection.com.
You can listen to my interview with Amie here: Interview with Amie Dunn
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
It might be a few months off, but it’s certainly not too early to think about the coming AG CONNECT Expo, January 29-31, 2013 in Kansas City, MO. At the recent Ag Media Summit, I caught up with AG CONNECT show manager Sara Mooney, who says the show will include several co-located meetings and a chance to meet the Masters and Mavericks. “We’re bringing in some very high-level executives, thought leaders, industry experts, and top producers available to answer all kinds of questions,” she explained. Those agribusiness leaders won’t be around just during the numerous panel sessions and classes, Sara says expect to see them throughout the trade show as well.
More information is available at www.agconnect.com. You can also listen to my interview with Sara here: Interview with Sara Mooney
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
What’s new at TopCon Precision Agriculture is their System 350 which features their X30 console. TopCon was one of the exhibitors at the Ag Media Summit. The console features:
To learn more about it I spoke with Javier Hernandez. He says the system provides variable rate control, auto-steer and more. He wants people to know that TopCon is pioneer in the use of ISO control with plug and play options.
You can listen to my interview with Javier here: Interview with Javier Hernandez
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Doug Jost is a Technology Development Representative for Monsanto and was visiting with us at the Ag Media Summit. Doug says what they do for the company is “test our new technologies usually in an experimental form and not commercialized yet . . . from cotton varieties to roundup formulations to drought tolerant cotton, things like that.”
When it comes to cotton he says they’re in phase two development of some drought tolerant varieties but that it’s still several years away from commercialization. In the meantime they’re looking at their existing varieties and seeing how they perform under different amounts of water.
You can listen to my interview with Doug here: Interview with Doug Jost
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
One of the YouTube Farming Rock Stars attended the Ag Media Summit. He’s Greg Peterson, one of the Peterson Brothers who made the hit, Farming and I Grow It.
Greg really does sing and showed his talent at AMS. Here’s Greg on stage singing the National Anthem during one of our lunches. Great voice and a great job.
I sat down with him to talk about the making of the hit YouTube video. Greg says that he and his brothers edited the video and help from their sister to shoot the video. It took a whole summer since there is a lot of work today between school and the farm. The video has been viewed over 6.6 million times as of this post.
If you haven’t seen the outtakes you need to watch them too: Outtakes 1 – Outtakes 2 Need the lyrics? Here they are.
Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Greg Peterson Farms & He Grows It
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Their were some very significant awards given out at the Ag Media Summit from the AAEA. Here are some of them.
2012 AAEA Distinguished Service Award, Sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
Jim evans, Phd
Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois
Dr. Evans is being recognized for his work in the development of the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center on the U of I campus, creating a multi-faceted compendium of information on agriculture in general and the profession of agricultural communication in specific.
“Jim Evans and his staff are the true keepers of agriculture’s historical attic,” said Larry Dreiling, chair of AAEA Legacy Committee. “AAEA has now authorized to ACDC to be the association’s archivists. Our rich history joins the history of so many other agricultural organizations. It’s to Jim Evans’s credit we who love this profession have this treasure trove to keep our industry’s legacy alive and vital.”
2012 AAEA Lifetime Achievement Award, Sponsored by CHS Inc.
Earl Manning
Mid-South Regional Editor Emeritus DTN/The Progressive Farmer
“Earl Manning was selected for his lifetime of devotion to his readers and to the profession of agricultural reporting,” said Larry Dreiling, Legacy Committee chair. Of special note, Dreiling said, is Manning’s work as AAEA president in 1985-86 and in the development of InfoExpo we know today, which changed the way 8 editors met with agribusiness companies and other ag organizations during the Communication Clinic, the forerunner of today’s Ag Media Summit.
2012 Andy Markwart Horizon Award, sponsored by the AAEA PIF and John Deere
Jennifer Shike
Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing University of Illinois College of ACES
This year’s winner, Jennifer Shike, is the adviser for the Illini Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow chapter and serves on the student committees for both AAEA and LPC.
Jennifer said in her Horizon Award application essay:
“It’s been an honor to receive awards in AAEA and LPC contests, but they pale in comparison to the satisfaction I receive from helping young people achieve success. If I were to receive this honor, I would use the stipend to attend the 2013 Ag Media Summit. And, if allowable, I would like to share the stipend with a student who
is not financially able to attend. I would not be where I am today without strong mentoring provided by my heroes in agricultural communications. That’s the legacy I hope to leave. I believe that’s the legacy Andy Markwart left as well.”
Other awards presented during our closing banquet included:
AAEA Designer of the Year: Jamie Cole, Massey Ferguson FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group
AAEA Story of the Year: “The Big Apple,” Richard Banks, Massey Ferguson FarmLife/Red Barn Media Group
AAEA Writer of the Year: Claire Vath, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
AAEA Photo of the Year: William DeKay, The Western Producer
AAEA Photographer of the Year: William DeKay, The Western Producer
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Let’s just say that their are a lot of award winners at the Ag Media Summit. For a full list follow these links: AAEA Awards (pdf) – LPC Awards.
Here are most of the first place winners from the AAEA contest. They were pretty excited with their achievements and we congratulate all the winners.
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Matt Foster, FMC, attended the Ag Media Summit InfoExpo to talk to ag editors about pre-plant weed control options. This summer’s weather has been brutal for field control of weeds and he says that growers are looking for options.
Matt says that although a good pre-plant program is not a farmer’s “salvation” it is a good tool in their toolbox. He says it’s really a no-till problem since some of the resistant weeds love the no-till environment. He says that farmers may also want to consider a fall application of a pre-emerge like Authority to have a wider planting window in the spring.
You can listen to my interview with Matt here: Interview with Matt Foster
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Once upon a time I worked in the same area at DTN with Captain Peter Shinn. That was a while ago. We always knew when Peter was in the office. He definitely has a voice for radio!
At the Ag Media Summit Captain Peter Shinn was our luncheon keynote speaker with the topic of “Agriculture and the gulf War—it’s a Matter of Security.” Peter talked about what the National Guard Agribusiness Development Teams are doing to improve agriculture in Afghanistan – and why it’s important for Afghanistan’s security and ours.
You can listen to an excerpt of Peter’s remarks here: Captain Peter Shinn
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Lindsay Calvert has been the AAEA intern this summer and was “working like a dog” at the Ag Media Summit. She worked at DTN/The Progressive Farmer which was the host company for the internship. After that experience she says she may want to change her mind about being in public relations and start her career on the media side.
In the photo Lindsay was being recognized on stage by JoAnn Alumbaugh.
You can listen to my interview with Lindsey here: Interview with Lindsay Calvert
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is still looking for entries in their “Faces of Farming and Ranching” contest. Here are a couple of them, Kristin Reese, Local Flavor Foods and Jeff Fowle, KK Bar Ranch. They were on hand at the Ag Media Summit to talk about the search to find new ambassadors of agriculture. You’ve got until September 8 to enter the contest.
USFRA is looking for standout farmers and ranchers who are proud of what they do, eager to share their stories of continuous improvement with others and who are actively involved today in sharing those stories. Farmers and ranchers who raise a variety of foods differently, at differing scale and in all areas of the country are encouraged to apply as it is important to show American agriculture and all of its diversity.
Entries will be accepted through September 8, 2012 at www.FoodDialogues.com. Ten to 15 finalists will be announced at the November 2012 Food Dialogues event in New York City. This national announcement will open a public online voting period where visitors can vote for their favorite candidates. Those votes will be factored into the decision to determine “The Faces of Farming and Ranching.”
Winners will be announced in early January 2013 based on votes and the recommendation of a panel of judges.
The public will get to know the USFRA “Faces” winners through national media interviews, advertising and public appearances. For their time, they will receive a $10,000 stipend as well as a $5,000 donation to their preferred agriculture-related or local charity in their name.
You can listen to my interview with Kristen and Jeff here: Interview with Kristin Reese and Jeff Fowle
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
I Love Farmers.org was one of the busiest booths during InfoExpo at the Ag Media Summit. T-shirt sales were doing well. If you didn’t get yours then go to their website to order.
Working the booth was Luke DeGroot who says that in the last year they’ve made some great partnerships with businesses “who believe in the same things we believe in.” With support from one of those organizations they’ve started Awareness Days on college campuses and plan to increase the number of these they do in the future. For an Awareness Day they get materials in participating students hands and have them distribute those materials in their school plazas while talking with their peers about where their food comes from. In their first effort they had 16 schools involved!
Has your company thought about supporting I Love Farmers – They Feed My Soul? I recommend it. We need to see this program grow. Please like them on Facebook.
You can listen to my interview with Luke here: Interview with Luke DeGroot
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
It’s time for voters to stand and be heard by casting their votes in the FMC Stand and Be Heard Anthem Singing Contest. Rick Ekins, FMC Product Mgr., says voting has been going well with over 61,000 votes so far. I spoke with him during InfoExpo at the Ag Media Summit.
All you need to do is go to the FMC Singing Contest web page and you can see the entries and vote for your favorite. Rick says FMC is ready to give away some scholarship money ($25,000 in all). There are about two weeks left to vote so let’s get it done.
You can listen to my interview with Rick here: Interview with Rick Ekins
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Let’s meet the new President of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, Lauri Bedord. Here’s Laurie presenting now past President Greg Horstmeier his plaque with gavel during the AAEA business meeting at the Ag Media Summit.
Laurie says she’s going to have several priorities that include the strategic plan which calls for an increase in membership. She encourages members to get involved. She says that although things have been great for AAEA they must not become stagnant. AAEA is also looking ahead to celebrating 100 years soon and making plans on how to celebrate it.
You can listen to my interview with Laurie here: Interview with Laurie Bedord
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
The new President of the Livestock Publications Council is Kathy LaScala. Her term started here at the Ag Media Summit following the organization’s board meeting.
Kathy is ready to get to work and make a difference at LPC. She says that under past President Scott Vernon they’ve done research to determine what the membership wants so they can bring them those programs and value and she plans to work on that. The organization is doing very well and she says she wants to increase the number of young members involved in LPC.
You can listen to my interview with Kathy here: Interview with Kathy LaScala
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
The 2012 Ag Media Summit is nearing the end. Tonight we had a lot of award presentations. I’ll have some of those posted for you soon.
After the awards banquet it was time to relax and we did that on the dance floor and in the hallways. Just another time to enjoy fellowship with friends and colleagues in the ag communications industry.
I’ve updated the photo album. So please feel free to enjoy and share. I have more interviews to share when time on the agriblogging highway allows.
2012 Ag Media Summit Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the 2012 Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC