I visited with them briefly before the session to get each of their thoughts on this subject and I think you’ll be interested to hear what they think about the importance of social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Agribusinesses will be interested to note the importance of using these channels to communicate with their farmer customers today!

Get more perspective on producer use of new communications technology in my interview with the panel here: Interview with NAMA Producer Panel

2012 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Guest speaking to the Florida NAMA chapter was Hugh Whaley, USFRA. As I understad it there were nearly 50 in attendance. That’s a fantastic turnout. It’s great to see this chapter that I was once a founding member of doing well!

Last week I met Florida Chapter President Lyn Cacella, Farm Credit. We spoke about the Agri-Marketing Conference coming to Jacksonville, FL in 2014 and the chapter is already working on some ideas for us during our time in the sunshine state. Listen in on my conversation with Lyn and learn more about how Florida NAMA is doing: Lyn Cacella Interview

If your chapter has an event please send along a photo to share here on AgWired and let us know how it’s going. We’d like to feature you.

After the committee meeting today I visited with NAMA President, Beth Burgy, Broadhead. We talked about the conference being in Florida in 2014 and the work that the executive committee is doing. This was my first meeting as a member of the committee and we cranked out a lot of work the last two days.

Listen in to my interview with Beth and learn more about what’s going on with NAMA: Interview With Beth Burgy

The committee will be meeting again tomorrow before finishing up and heading home. I’m really glad to have the opportunity to assist the organization that has meant so much to my career and looking forward to this year’s conference in April. Hope you’ve got it on your calendar!

Heather says that purchasing decisions are becoming more and more important for farmers trying to meet the food needs of a growing population. So Paulsen conducted this study to find out how farmers are making those decisions. The study verifies some of the logical assumptions you might make like how important the input is from older farm family members. They conducted fourteen interviews with farm families throughout the midwest.

Sara says one of the most fascinating thing that came out of their study is that there is a lot of brand assimilation in farm families and there are several reasons for that including, familiarity, consistency, integration and relationships. Basically, it’s influence that comes down through the generations. For agrimarketers, this offers some challenges to break through that influence. She says that decisions are being made throughout the year now without the traditional seasonality that we used to have.

You can listen to my interview with Sara and Heather to learn more about the study here: Paulsen Thought Paper

2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

Beth says the big project for NAMA is going to be implementing the new strategic plan. That plan includes three strategy areas that are: Increase our strategic partnerships on both the local and national level; Communicate with members and partners more effectively and Grow NAMA membership in non-traditional segments. Beth says NAMA is a growing organization and in great condition.

Listen to my conversation with Beth in this week’s ZimmCast: Beth Burgy New NAMA President

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, 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.

Matt does a lot of work in biofuels. One of his take aways from the session is that even though we’re going to see a lot of ethanol policy changes in the market soon with the end of the VEETC/Tariff, “There’s not going to actually be that large of an impact right now when that goes away.” He says long term there may be some impact. The RFS is a different animal though. He believes it needs to be re-opened on the cellulosic side but seems to be working on the corn ethanol side. Changes, however, could have a real impact on the corn side.

He says that when you look at the big picture of ethanol and the biofuels industry there aren’t simple answers. He encourages the industry to take a step back and “think about the fundamental reasons that are out there and what’s driving it and start with the questions.” He says everyone seems to start with an answer looking for a problem to solve with it instead of asking a question first and then seeking the answer to that question.

You can find Matt online at MatthewCRoberts.com.

You can listen to my interview with Matt here: Interview with Roberts

2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

Thank you Vicki for your service and congratulations to Beth for her election. I look forward to working with her on the NAMA Executive Committee in 2012!

I have an interview with Beth that will be featured in next week’s ZimmCast.

2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

I spoke with Margaret and asked her what her award meant to her and what she sees as opportunities in agriculture today. You can listen to my interview with Margaret here: Interview with Margaret Fogarty

Stephanie turned the tables on me and interviewed me about my award. Now how cool is that? I think she makes a good farm podcaster. You can listen to Stephanie interview me here: Stephanie Interviews Me

2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

Paul says one of the ideas he wants people to use to regain command of their day is removing the clutter from their workspace. He says it’s amazing how distracting things you see even in your peripheral vision can become. He’s got lots of good ideas and each attendee got a copy of his book by the same name as the session.

You can listen to my interview with Paul here: Interview with Paul Burton

2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

Marvin says those three strategies are; Increase our strategic partnerships on both the local and national levels; Communicate with members and partners more effectively and Grow NAMA membership in non-traditional segments. More information about the plan will be forthcoming from the organization as this plan unfolds.

You can listen to my interview with Marvin here: Interview with Marvin Kokes

2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

I spoke with Amber about what the workshop offers to member leaders. She says the theme of the workshop is “Progress Through Programming and Productivity.” The focus is how chapters can improve member attendance at events. One of the ideas she was offering was mixing up the time of day to hold a chapter meeting (lunch, evening social, etc.).

In addition to developing program development and member recruitment ideas Amber says the NAMA Executive Committee is participating to roll out the new NAMA Strategic Plan.

You can listen to my interview with Amber here: Interview with Amber Harrison

2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

I spoke with her after the meeting to find out some of the informational highlights from today’s meeting. Membership is up, meeting attendance is up and entries in the Best of NAMA competition are up. It’s all good. Vicki says the organization is in strong financial shape and the future looks bright.

You can listen to my interview with Vicki here: Interview with Vicki Henrickson

I’ve got a photo album started for the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference which you can find here: 2011 NAMA Trends in Agriculture Photo Album

Here’s the board of directors meeting. Presiding is outgoing President, Vicki Henrickson. One of the first items of interest I’ve learned is that NAMA membership is at its highest level since 2001. Now that’s a positive message. I’ll get a board update from Vicki later this morning to share with you.

The program for Trends in Agriculture kicks off at 2pm tomorrow afternoon. The NAMA board will be meeting prior to that in the morning.

Heading over to the NAMA Exec. Committee meeting I have already run in to members of the U.S Farmers & Ranchers Alliance which is meeting today and tomorrow. I hope to get an update on their activities to share later today.

This is going to be a fun week of agricultural marketing and communications.

To get a preview I spoke with Trends committee chair, Gardner Hatch, Bader Rutter. Gardner gives us a review of program highlights and talks about the differences between this fall conference and the spring conference. It’s not too late to register. You can go to the NAMA website or register onsite at the Hyatt Regency at Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. See you from there. And don’t forget to use the official Twitter hashtag for the NAMA conference, #NAMATrends. The one for the NAFB convention is #NAFB.

Listen to my conversation with Gardner in this week’s ZimmCast: Preview of NAMA Trends in Agriculture

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

The program ends this week with music from Music Alley, called “Work in Progress” by the Underdubs. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

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.

You can listen to my interview with Travis here: Travis Maier Interview

2011 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Download the Entry Form in a Microsoft Word document at www.nama.org/amc/bon/entryform11.doc (Word doc).

Here’s Susie Decker, Lisa Rigoni, Vicki Henrickson & Patty Kisner having fun in the shade.

I couldn’t make it, grrr! But I wanted to. Maybe in 2013?

To see who else had fun with Heartland NAMA you can see photos here.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Sheri says she is happy to be involved with the foundation because when she started her career she didn’t know what the opportunities were. The ABEF provides and supports ways for others getting started in their careers to find the opportunities that exist. Examples include the NAMA student marketing competition as well as scholarships, student training and internships. She encourages contributions to the foundation and there are many ways to do so. You can find out more online.

Go to nama.org/trends for more information and full speaker line-up.

Celebration of Life will be 1 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2011 at Easter Lutheran Church (on the hill), 4200 Pilot Knob Rd., Eagan, MN 55122, with Pastor Jim Borgschatz officiating. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society.

After I spoke with Ken and Brad, Sara Steever, Paulsen Marketing, took her turn (photo). I think you’ll enjoy hearing this father/son team talk about working together and transitioning from one generation to another. Brad has taken an increasingly active part in managing the farm while Ken is enjoying some “down time” and being a consultant to Brad. I hope Brad’s paying a good rate for the advice. We also covered topics like information channels they depend on and social media. Brad says it’s “internet and magazines” with the internet definitely in the lead. Ken is an iPhone/iPad guy who recently bought Brad an iPad!

Listen to my conversation with Ken and Brad in this week’s ZimmCast: Generations On The Farm

The ZimmCast ends this week with some music from Music Alley. It’s “Regenerations” by Ritchie Hernandez. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

NAMA Boot Camp 2011 Photos

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, 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.

Tom says it was very interesting to hear what types of media influenced these farmers. One thing that came through loud and clear was how important local information is. They want to know how information or news relates to them. He says that one of the farmers on the panel still has dial-up internet access but the others had good service and rely heavily on their smartphones for information. When it comes to that old fashioned media he says that print was a very important to them and radio too. Basically, what he heard backed up research that has been done.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: Tom Hudson Interview

I also spoke with one of the farmers on the panel, Jimmie Long, Cole Camp, MO. Jimmie is a cattle buyer and has a cow-calf operation. Jimmie explained to the group that radio ads that are “catchy” get his attention as well as nice colorful mailers and print ads. I think the takeaway is that good creative works! He says they will often see an item they want to purchase but then they’ll get home and research it on the internet. When it comes to his smartphone, he uses it a lot and checking weather is at the top of the list. He would like to get a tablet btw.

He was surprised at how many people in the audience did not have an ag background. He was shocked that no one asked him about DTN and it never came up in the discussion since it is still so important as a source for real time markets.

You can listen to my interview with Jimmie here: Jimmie Long Interview

2011 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album

Becky made us get to know each other at our tables. She said that networking can be likened to the idea of six degrees of separation since we all probably have something in common. We also did some “dating.” I was a little worried about that since I was sitting in between Jeff Jackson and Matt Coniglio. But we made it to our third date. ‘Nuff said about that. We also talked about quality vs. quantity.

You can listen to my interview with Becky here: Becky Johnson Interview

2011 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album

Erin says we’ve got a lot packed into the program which includes hearing from farmers themselves. She says “We design Boot Camp to offer not only an introduction but introductory information to the junior staffer or someone who is new to the ag industry where we want to show them the producer side of things.” She wants to remind people that when you register for Boot Camp you get a one year membership in NAMA.

In the photo our group attended a dinner this evening where we learned some networking skills. I’ll more on that tomorrow morning.

You can listen to my interview with Erin here: Erin Nash Interview

You can find photos from this year’s Boot Camp in my 2011 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album.

I’ll be here through tomorrow’s program and I’ll bet I can find some good interviews. If you’re tweeting here or would like to put tweets in the stream or just follow along, please use #NAMABootCamp.

All attendees will receive a notebook packed with agricultural terminology, facts, case studies and speaker presentations. This notebook has become one of the most popular aspects of the boot camp experience.

Register here.