Category Archives: Ag Media Summit

Koch Agronomic Services to Acquire AGROTAIN International

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agrotain at AMS 11AGROTAIN International had some big news to talk about today at the Ag Media Summit Info Expo – the company has signed an agreement to sell its assets to Koch Agronomic Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Koch Fertilizer, LLC.

AGROTAIN VP of Global Marketing Jeff Whetstine, pictured here with Dr. Harold Reetz of Reetz Agronomics, gave Chuck the lowdown in an interview this morning. “It means that we’re going to continue the growth that we’ve experienced in the past,” Jeff said. “AGROTAIN has experienced a phenomenal level of acceptance in the last few years due to its benefits to farmers which is increased nitrogen efficiency.” In fact, Jeff says they actually sold out of product this season.

“Koch is basic in producing nitrogen and AGROTAIN is basic in protecting nitrogen from loss and so the combination of our two companies will offer new opportunities for our customers and for our growers,” Jeff said.

Find out more in Chuck’s interview with Jeff here: Jeff Whetstine Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

Ag Media Summit, Xbox 360 and BASF

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The Ag Media Summit, Xbox 360 and BASF adds up to something fun for one lucky ag journalist attending this year’s event. BASF, our conference coverage sponsor, has a drawing in their InfoExpo booth. While you’re there you can also take their Innovation Quotient quiz to find out if you’re Techie, Wired or Traditional. If you’re Techie you get a button that says “Fear No Gadget.” I’m wearing one!

This is the BASF team in the picture, (l-r) Dr. Dan Westberg, Nick Fassler, Pat Morrow and Dr. Scott Walker. You’ll be hearing from Dan, Nick and Scott later as we talk about what’s new with BASF. Right now you can hear from Pat talk about the activities planned for the ag media here.

Listen to my conversation with Pat here: Pat Morrow Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

Ag Media Summit Friends

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It is lunch time at the Ag Media Summit. I’ve been collecting interviews at the InfoExpo and will start posting them after lunch. This is a busy conference. We’ve got so many friends and clients here that it’s like old home week. Speaking of InfoExpo, there is a record number of exhibitors this year. I’m trying to visit them all but there’s so little time . . .

Here’s me with my good friend Gene Hemphill, New Holland. We’ve been talking about some exciting projects that you’ll learn more about in the future.

In the meantime, I’ve updated the photo album for you. Are you in there?

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

Ag Media Summit Update From USFRA

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One of our sessions at the Ag Media Summit is titled, “Of course our food is safe,” says modern ag – But is anybody listening? The presentation was made by leadership members of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. The Chairman is Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation, seen at the podium. I visited with him before the session started.

He says the presentation here is all about the kickoff of the USFRA communications program. He says there will be six phases the campaign will be running through. Phase one is in process which has two components. The first is to encourage farmer and rancher support and participation. The second is to lay out what the effort will do. He says farmers and ranchers need to change their way of thinking and “be willing to engage in a conversation with consumers, not just tell them what we think they need to hear but listen to what their questions are and what they want to hear and that’s going to be the crux of the initial phase.”

Bob says the “pace” has picked up and there are now 49 farmer led organizations that have joined USFRA as affiliates.

Listen to my conversation with Bob here: Bob Stallman Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

Jill Johnson, University of IL, Receives Forrest Bassford Award

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During the Ag Media Summit Student Awards and Recognition Luncheon Bob Giblin, Merck Animal Health, presented the Forrest Bassford Award to Jill Johnson, University of Illinois.

This award recognizes and rewards excellence, leadership and encourages professionalism among students. This opportunity provides the recipient face-to-face exchanges with leaders in livestock publishing. Forrest Bassford’s name was appended to the LPC Student Award in 1992 in honor of his contribution to LPC, and his particular interest in furthering the Student Award.

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

ACT Update

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Since we met the new leadership of AAEA and LPC, how about saying hello to the leaders of the ACT? Here’s the leadership team for the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. I spoke with Jessica England, President and Lauren Greaves, First Vice President. I met them earlier this year during National Ag Day Activities. The ACT holds meetings in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit which provides an excellent opportunity to network with many of the people who may one day hire them. In fact, there is a married couple here who met as members of ACT at an Ag Media Summit and are now working in the industry. We’ve got a big group from ACT this year. It’s great to see so many students looking forward to a career in agricultural communications!

Listen to my conversation with Jessica and Lauren here: ACT Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

The Ag Media Summit Romp at the Swamp

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Actually the Romp was our welcome party which is now immediately famous. We wandered in to our swamp romp past warehoused Mardi Gras floats and figures before getting inside a really nice facility for a big party.

As you can imagine there are fresh photos for your viewing pleasure as agricultural media professionals took an opportunity to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

New AgVocate Nick Lowery

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Attendees at the Ag Media Summit heard from former NFL All-Pro Nick Lowery today. He talked about turing adversity into victory. I made it to the very end of his presentation due to another event that I’ll be writing about later. However, I did ask him what message he hoped AMS folks took away with them. I’ll let you listen in because I think he makes a very good “agvocate.”

Listen to Nick Lowery: Nick Lowery Statement

I’m getting ready now for the opening “Romp at the Swamp” welcome party. I’ll have lots more photos later tonight. Just finished adding a batch from today.

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

Ag Media Summit Kicks Off In Big Easy

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The Boelte Bull (Don Norton) greeted us as we arrived in New Orleans for the 2011 Agricultural Media Summit. I did not make it in time for today’s tours but will be here for the duration. We had rain this afternoon and after walking around the French Quarter all I can say is that it’s nice to have a break from the extreme heat at home.

I’ve started a photo album which will be added to during the coming days as we make our way through another Ag Media Summit: 2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

BASF Sponsoring Coverage of Ag Media Summit

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The man who started us using the term googlable is none other than Nick Fassler, Technical Market Manager, BASF. In fact, he’s also the inspiration for the google juice served at the ZimmComm booth during the Agri-Marketing Conference this year. So let’s make him even more googlable, especially because BASF is one of the sponsors for my coverage of the Agricultural Media Summit that I’m about to hit the agriblogging highway for. Also sponsoring my coverage will be AgHaven!

I saw Nick during the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies in Malcom, IA. BASF was one of the companies supporting and displaying at the event. Here’s Nick talking about all the products the company is offering corn growers today. He offered advice for growers facing challenging weather this season. “Now more than ever it’s important to protect that crop from stress and add in late season disease control,” he says. I know I saw a number of planes flying fields traveling to Iowa and back. I’m betting they were applying some Headline fungicide! Someone’s taking his advice. I sure saw some corn showing some effects of stress. I hope we get a little temperature break and some moisture.

You can listen to my interview with Nick here: Nick Fassler Interview

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011 Iowa Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven

AG CONNECT Expo 2013 Set for Kansas City

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AG CONNECT Expo is going to Kansas City in 2013.

The third AG CONNECT Expo will be held January 29-31, 2013 at the Kansas City Convention Center, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which started the global agribusiness trade show in 2010. The show is now on a biennial schedule synchronized with Agritechnica, the global agriculture trade show in Hanover, Germany, owned by the German Agricultural Society, DLG. The two global agriculture trade exhibitions – Agritechnica in Europe and AG CONNECT Expo in North America – coordinated timing of their show dates for the convenience of exhibitors and attendees with global business interests.

“Agriculture today is increasingly global, and AG CONNECT Expo is a global trade show offering industry professionals the best information and the best people possible, without boundaries,” said Tim Merrett with Deere & Company, who is serving as AG CONNECT Expo 2013 chair. “We have succeeded with this goal and will continue to provide a quality gathering place for sharing global agricultural ideas and management trends.”

Exhibit space sales for AG CONNECT Expo 2013 are now open, and deadline is September 15, 2011 to receive priority status with the first round of exhibit space assignments.

AG CONNECT Expo and AEM will be visiting with attendees at the 2011 AMS InfoExpo next week in New Orleans, so we will be sure to find out more there!

Jazz It Up At Ag Media Summit in 2011

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As we deal with cold why not think ahead to a warm New Orleans and an awesome Ag Media Summit? Here is some new information taken from the latest Livestock Publications Council newsletter. Thank you Diane!

The AMS program committee has been hard at work since the conclusion of the 2010 AMS and there are some exciting announcements of speakers who have been confirmed. We are taking a unique angle with this year’s keynote speaker at Tuesday’s luncheon and will hear from Ted Jackson who is a staff photographer for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He paddled into the Lower Ninth Ward just after the levee broke and spent harrowing days in the devastation that followed, challenging himself both as a photographer and as a human being. He’s going to share his stories and images with us. According to program chairman, Steve Werblow, “We are in for an unforgettable look at Katrina and New Orleans that will touch us personally and professionally”. For some insight on Ted, click here.

Other news:

Ann Wylie is back! She is a dynamic and insightful writer and coach and will conduct four workshops on Monday.

Photographer Peter Krough will deliver two sessions on digital workflow management. The step after shooting a photo is knowing what to do with it and where to find it next. Krough is expert at every step of the process.

Other topics for the 2011 Jazz It Up Ag Media Summit are:

Measuring results in digital media.
Sales and marketing
“How-to” session on surveys and statistics
Ethics case study review
“Nuts and bolts” session with photography

These are just a few teasers to whet your appetite for AMS 2011! Have a topic you want more
information on? Let us know we might still have time to get them on the docket.

2011 Ag Media Summit Logo Contest

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Ag Media SummitHey AAEA and LPC members. Want to pocket $200? Enter a design in the 2011 Ag Media Summit logo contest.

This contest is open to any LPC or AAEA member or student member of either organization. ACT members, you may participate if you are a student member of either organization.

Things to consider:
Theme: Jazz It Up! NOLA 2011
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Dates: July 23-27, 2011

Keep in mind this logo is used in a variety of mediums from signage to the website to give-aways so don’t make it so complicated that it does not reproduce well. It’s a good idea to design it so it looks good in black and white too.

Deadline for submission: Wednesday, October 20, 2010; to dianej@flash.net, please put “AMS 2011 logo submission-“your name” in the subject line. Please submit as a pdf but keep it so that you can modify it slightly if the committee requests. You may submit as many entries as you wish.

The AMS Steering Committee will vote on the entries and their decision is final. The logo then becomes the property of the AMS and it will be the logo for the 2011 event only.

AG CONNECT Connects at AMS

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The youngest agricultural education and trade show is growing up and will be bigger and better in 2011.

agconnect at amsAG CONNECT Expo representatives Rich Jefferson, with show organizers the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and show director Sara Mooney were connecting with agricultural journalists recently at the Ag Media Summit to tell them what will be new and different about the second expo coming up January 8-10, 2011 in Atlanta.

For one, Sara says the show will be co-located with the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting. “They’re going to have a special Farm Bureau pavilion on the show floor and the Farm Bureau annual meeting attendees are welcome to come and visit the AG CONNECT exhibits,” she said. There will also be lots of new educational and innovation sessions at the expo as well as forums such as the Corn College for the South. She adds that as of the end of June, they already had 25 percent more exhibitors than the first show, held in Orlando in January.

AG CONNECT is an international event that is coordinated with partners AgriTechnica, the big European farm show that is held every other year.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Sara from AMS here: Sara Mooney Interview

BASF Survey Identifies Grower Concerns

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What causes farmers the most headaches? That’s what BASF Crop Protection set out to determine in a survey they recently completed and released at the Ag Media Summit in St. Paul earlier this week.

basfMore than 600 corn, hay, soybean and wheat growers from 44 states participated in the survey, which questioned them about their concerns about the future and specific challenges they face with regard to crop production.

According to BASF Technical Services Regional Manager Dr. Gary Fellows (pictured center) says the survey asked farmers their major concerns looking ahead in the next five years. “Two of those, which occupied them 52 percent of the time, was controlling input costs and maximizing yield,” Gary says. Three other concerns the farmers mentioned were the future of their farm, land issues, and whether they want to expand.

The rest of the survey asked growers about the challenges they face, and they identified three major areas – stress tolerance of crops, unpredictable weather, and residual control of weeds. Fifty-four percent of growers indicated that disease pressure is a major concern and 75 percent of growers indicated that stress tolerance of crops is a difficult issue to manage.

Gary says that BASF already offers products, like Headline and Kixor, that can help growers meet the challenges they face. But they survey helped them to make sure they are looking for the right products down the road. “And we’re pretty excited, because in the next four years we have 28 new products we should be launching, with nine brand new active ingredients,” said Gary.

Listen to or download Chuck’s interview with Gary Fellows from AMS here:
Gary Fellows Interview

Meet New AAEA and LPC Presidents

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ZimmCast 268In this week’s program we’ll get to meet the new Presidents of the American Agricultural Editors Association and Livestock Publications Council. They’re both Missouri boys!

First up is Steven Fairchild, MFA Incorporated. I asked him what his goals are for his year in office and he wants to focus on membership since increasing membership is a key goal of the organization.

He says the meetings at AMS reflect the hard work of outgoing president, Karen Simon. He says AAEA will have a new website this fall.

Next is Andy Atzenweiler, Missouri Beef Cattlemen Magazine. He says things are in good shape at LPC and they’re going to “tweak” their website. They want to promote their contest more since there were a lot of changes this year.

At the annual meeting there was some discussion about changing the by-laws to get rid of the language referring to the ratio of service to publication members. It is now about 50-50.

ZimmCast 268

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems 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 a Subscribe page

Get To Know Golden ARC Awards

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The Agricultural Relations Council, Golden ARC Awards Contest Manager is Amy McDonald, McDonald Marketing Communications. She put together a really good contest and is already working on the next one.

I spoke with her about the awards program so we get a better understanding of what these awards are for, how they are judged and what to look for in the future. The contest began in 1990. This year there were 40 entries and there were 19 Golden ARC Award winners and 9 Golden ARC Merit Award winners. The judging was done by the Florida Chapter of PRSA so these were looked at from the standpoint of the “science of PR.” It’s a more objective judging strategy than other awards in the industry. Next year’s awards will be presented at the ARC annual meeting so the deadline for entries will be announced soon.

Amy McDonald Interview

2010 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Ag Media Summit Concludes

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3 Gregs at AMSThe 2010 Agricultural Media Summit has concluded but that doesn’t mean the coverage on AgWired has ended. So much posting to do and so little time . . .

I’ve got a lot more to post from AMS but I’ve also got 3 more events to attend in the next week before getting back to ZimmComm World Headquarters. So, I’ll be posting interviews and photos when time allows. I’m heading to Denver early in the morning for the Cattle Industry Summer Conference where I’ll be Beef Board Blogging and hoping everything works out okay with the groups participating in the meeting. I’m sure more information on that will be forthcoming.

In the meantime I have updated the AMS photo album. There are some great photos in there and I hope you enjoy it. Like this one of the “3 Gregs” during the closing banquet tonight. All of tonight’s award winners are in there and I’ll try to find a way to post who they all are when I get a listing. You’ll know many of them.

2010 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

ZimmComm Wins Two Golden ARC Awards

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The revived Golden ARC Awards were presented today at the Ag Media Summit. The Agricultural Relations Council is very pleased with the participation and ZimmComm New Media is very happy with the judges (Florida PRSA Chapter).

ARC President Deron Johnson, Rhea & Kaiser and Golden ARC Awards Contest Manager, Amy Keith McDonald, McDonald Marketing Communications, presented the awards. ZimmComm New Media won two awards in the Tactics Division. Working with BCS Communications for John Deere we won for the blog, DriveGreenTractors.com. Working with the Renewable Fuels Association we won for the podcast, The Ethanol Report. These are the first Golden ARC Awards we’ve ever won and Cindy and I are very excited about it.

I interviewed Amy about the awards program and will post that for you soon. Photos of all the winners are in the AMS photo album. Thanks to Mike Opperman for taking my photo!

2010 Ag Media Summit Photo Album