Farm Progress has re-designed their websites. They’re calling it a new “internet portal.”
Farm Progress has redesigned its state and regional magazines’ Web sites to provide readers with a more feature-packed and flexible Internet portal. The introduction is more than a redesign and its functionality is not found elsewhere in agricultural media Web sites. The sites have a totally different look, feel and experience.
The internet portal thing makes me have to make a comment. Does that term still make sense in today’s new media world? I think it suggests an all-inclusive environment where the visitor never leaves because the site contains all they need. After a quick look, it does indeed contain a lot of information but . . . I think today’s web savvy farmers and ranchers surf all over the place and go to places that are their favorites for various kinds of information. Let’s take weather for example. How about Weather.com or AccuWeather.com? How about sports (ESPN, Sports Illustrated)? How about market prices (CME Group, MGEX)? What do you think about the portal concept?
You can now get more of The Progressive Farmer. The publication, owned by DTN, will start a January issue in 2009.
“An added publication date allows The Progressive Farmer to improve its overall coverage of the commercial farm market by bringing more value to our readers as well as offering advertisers the opportunity to increase their reach with our 100 percent circulation coverage in corn, soybeans, and livestock,” says Publisher Adrian Blake. “January is a critical time period for farmers who are preparing for the upcoming planting season, so we anticipate that our highly relevant editorial coverage will be extremely useful.”
The increased publishing frequency along with a tight editorial focus centered around “Your Farm, Your Land, Your Life” is expected to enhance the magazine’s stellar readership score of 90+ minutes per issue which positively impacts advertising effectiveness, Blake adds. The advertising close date for the new January issue is Nov. 19, 2008.
Farm Journal Media has acquired Implement & Tractor magazine.
First published in 1885, Implement & Tractor is a bimonthly publication providing news and insights for dealers, distributors, OEMs, engineers and the associations who make up the $40+ billion dealer and wholesaler equipment industry. Implement & Tractor also publishes the annual Ag Equipment Buyer’s Desk Reference, which provides the most comprehensive index of companies, organizations and associations involved in the agricultural equipment industry.
In announcing the acquisition, Steve Custer, Executive Vice President of Farm Journal Media, said the acquisition strategically positions the company to serve the entire equipment channel – from manufacturer to farmer. “This is an important step to help us more completely link buyers and sellers in the farm equipment market, and is the first of several announcements we’ll make in the equipment sector yet this year,” he said. (more…)
We’re not very focused on politics here but sometimes an interesting story comes along like this one. The Progressive Farmer has just conducted a Zogby International poll of rural American households (2,963 adults) to find out about the political leanings of farm country. The results are featured in the August issue of the magazine.
Commissioned by The Progressive Farmer, the poll of nearly 3,000 rural adults measures preferences for the fall elections as well as reaction to hot-button issues in farm country such as skyrocketing crop input costs, the assault on landowner rights and ethanol.
The most telling result of the survey, conducted in late may of 2008, is that 17 percent of respondents say they are switching parties from the one they voted for in 2004. This coupled with the fact that republicans are narrowly the party of choice for U.S. house and Senate races with 47 percent for republicans compared to 40 percent for Democratic candidates shows that rural america is shaping up to be a battleground for votes this fall, says The Progressive Farmer Editor Jack Odle.
“Rural america is definitely in play this year and not in any one party’s pocket—votes, particularly in congressional races, are up for grabs,” emphasizes Odle.
When asked about presidential preference, pollsters find Sen. John mcCain garners 50 percent compared to Sen. Barack Obama at 34 percent, with 11 percent of respondents saying they will not vote for either candidate.
There’s also a mirror survey online where you can compare results with the poll results.
Some web publications have been bought by Vance Publishing.
Vance Publishing Corporation has acquired two Internet-based businesses that market to and serve the farm and ranch communities, CattleNetwork.com and CattleStore.com. Both were purchased from Integrated Management Information, Inc., of Colorado.
“This is another significant acquisition for Vance Publishing,” reported company Chairman William C. Vance. “It reinforces our position as the premier business-to-business multi-media communications resource in the markets we serve. We will continue to pursue acquisition opportunities that will increase services to our customers and strengthen our existing product lines.”
This is Vance’s first solely digital acquisition; other recent purchases have included a mix of print, e-media, and events. The two new sites will become part of Vance’s growing Food360 group, which includes Drovers, Dairy Herd Management, Bovine Veterinarian and Pork print publications, web sites, e-newsletters, and the Doane forecasting and analysis product line marketed to the agricultural community, along with a host of other magazines, digital products and events.
Farm Journal has more than 40 agricultural journalists? Wow. Congratulations to Chip on his award.
For the first time in his life, Chip Flory was speechless. Winning the annual Wilmer Award caught the Pro Farmer Newsletter Editor and Publisher by surprise. “Chip is never at a loss for words, but the announcement caught him off guard,” said Andy Weber, Farm Journal Media CEO. “It is always powerful to be honored by peers for making a difference in farmers’ lives.“
The prestigious annual award honors a Farm Journal Media editorial team member who carries on the spirit and staunch service journalism principles of Farm Journal founder Wilmer Atkinson. The award, started by Earl Ainsworth in 1992, is coveted recognition among the editorial staff.
The Wilmer winner was named during the recent Farm Journal Media Editorial Summit when more than 40 Farm Journal Media agricultural journalists converged at Twin Lakes Lodge in Missouri. The annual meeting is used to map out the multi-media editorial strategies for covering the key issues in agriculture.
Pictured here with Wilmer Award winner Chip Flory, in center, are previous winners who attended the Farm Journal Media Editorial Summit are Pam Henderson Smith, Charlene Finck, Jim Dickrell, Jeanne Bernick, Ken Ferrie and Darrell Smith
Willie Vogt, ZimmComm NAMA iPod touch winner and Farm Futures Editorial Director, has a guest column that just showed up on the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. It’s all about farm podcasting with a title of “Tap Into Information On-Demand, Time to put that computer to work and pull in the information you need automatically.
You’re busy, yet you’re finding that the longer you farm the more information you need, and not always at the times it’s provided. Radio is a great tool when you’re in the tractor, the computer is great when you’re in the office. What if you could put both tools to work and get more information even easier?
That’s the value of a podcast. These controlled broadcasts of information allow you to subscribe to an information resource and listen when you want to - either on your computer or using an mp3 player in your tractor or pickup.
I know there are some of you reading this and saying “why hassle with it?” The answer is that there is a growing body of information from key information providers in agriculture offering news, in-depth information and more that you can listen to using this technology. So I’ll try to break it down so it’s easier to understand and you can then try it out.
He then proceeds to do just that in a way that shows that Willie gets it and he’s helping farmers get it. I find it interesting that more people with publication backgrounds like Willie are promoting podcasts than I see with farm broadcasting backgrounds. Add to that the fact that this is being promoted by Pioneer. But then, they’re not called Pioneer for nothing.
You may know that we produce a podcast for Pioneer called Forage Forum.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is reaching out to decision makers in the ag sector with a new newsletter.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is vitally interested in a profitable ag sector, and to show support the association has begun publishing a newsletter called Ag Executive Advisor. The newsletter focuses on the connection between ag equipment manufacturers and today’s key issues in agriculture.
Another one of the booths I visited at the recent NAMA Convention Connection Point was Fastline. Participating in this interview are Bill Howard, Publisher, Matt Coniglio, National Accounts Manager and Joe McWilliams, VP Sales and Marketing. Learn all about the company and publication. They’re celebrating 30 years this year!
This is one in a series of interviews we conducted in partnership with AgriMarketing Magazine and exhibtors in the NAMA Connection Point.
During the recent NAMA Convention I visited with Bob Van Voorhis, Associated Ag Publications. In the following interview with him we talk about who they are. They’re connected with Farm Bureau and Bob discusses why that relationship is special. Bob also talks about their coverage and audience using words like, “ruralpolitan.”
This is one in a series of interviews we conducted in partnership with AgriMarketing Magazine and exhibtors in the NAMA Connection Point.
While I was attending the Commodity Classic I met the crew from CNBC that’s been following Tyler Bruch who’s a farmer and columnist for Corn and Soybean Digest. I guess their production is complete and they’ve been promoting it with a series of video clips. You can find one of them here.
Corn & Soybean Digests Brazil columnist, Tyler Bruch, 28, will be featured in a special CNBC business news program this Sunday, May 4 at 9 p.m. central time. His company, Global Ag Investments, will be profiled. Also, Bruch will explain how he transitioned from being a young, Emmetsburg, IA, farmer to a 50,000-acre farmer in Bahia, Brazil. Click below to link to three promotional pieces about the full program. The program will also be featured, in part, on NBCs TODAY show Monday, May 5.
Right next to the ZimmComm New Media booth you’ll find Successful Farming. They’re not only exhibiting at the Connection Point but are the sponsor of the NAMA Blog which yours truly will be filling with interesting Conference information starting tomorrow.
So keep up with what’s happening at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show in KC, MO this week both right here and on the NAMA Blog.
There’s going to be a whole lot of blogging and tweeting going on if you know what I mean. If you don’t, then come talk to me and I’ll explain.
Thanks you SF and Jana Reiker for taking on the NAMA Blog sponsorship.
Thanks to University of Missouri graduate and former AgWired student blogger, Margy Fischer, Farm Journal
Machinery Editor, Test Plot Assistant Director for the heads up on this. This is from the text of an email announcement from Mizzou professor Bill Allen. He also sent along the picture of Katherine.
I just wanted to let you folks know that Journalism graduate student Katherine Harmon won a major award last weekend for a story she began reporting during the 2007 Sonja Hillgren/Farm Journal Ag Journalism Field Reporting Institute.
In Ames, Iowa, on Saturday (April 5), Katie was awarded first place in the In-Depth Reporting category of the annual Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards for Region 7. (Region 7 covers Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.)
Her story, Murky Waters, published Nov. 10 in the Columbia Missourian, detailed the evolving scientific understanding of Missouri River sediment and the impact that understanding is having on resource management, agriculture, public policy and people. (See http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/11/10/murky-waters/ to read the story.
Thanks to all of you for helping to make this achievement possible and for strengthening the wonderfully cross-fertilizing partnership of Ag Journalism and Journalism that Sonja represents.
After having been to South America and feasting on grass-fed beef, I say, give me some corn fed beef any day. I personally don’t care if the corn was genetically modified or not, treated with insecticides or anything else. So I’m not too sure about this green grilling book.
But, Cindy says she did a great interview with the author today and it’s really interesting. So I’m keeping an open mind. I think that growing grass fed for those who want it is fine but I don’t think it’s any healthier than the “regular” stuff.
The book was written by Shannon Hayes, a farmer who lives in Upstate New York, and runs a sustainable farm that raises and sells only grass-fed meats, including beef, pork, lamb and poultry.
The cookbook is broken down into six chapters, which are filled with both tasty recipes as well as important facts on the difference between factory and grass-fed meats.
Hayes points out that the average person cooking a steak is used to cranking up the gas or firing up the coals, just throwing it on the grill, and not thinking about it. Grass-fed steaks require a bit more thought and attention. Hayes recommends cooking slow, low off heat.
Can you tell the NAMA Convention is getting close?
i Got It! is a “popular, fast-paced Q&A game punctuated with ag history and facts.” You need to visit them at their booth (200and 202). You have to play to win and they’re having a drawing for an ipod touch (just like us).
So you’ll have more than one chance to upgrade your iPod hardware (you do have iPod hardware don’t you?).
The game’s questions are pretty difficult like this one: Q. Who is your favorite Farm Progress sales representative?
(A. There’s no wrong answer.)
No-Till Farmer is now producing video. Another publication joins the multi-media producer ranks. It’s a great idea but you do have to fill out a registration form to see it. I know why that is but it does put up a barrier for farmers or anyone who wants to see the video. I’d recommend letting them be public guys. You’ll get a lot more eyeballs on the content that way. And if you’re going to be doing a lot of them then consider putting them into a podcast feed or using an online service like YouTube to host them.
The editors of No-Till Farmer announced today that they have launched their first informational video at No-tillfarmer.com. The video features a presentation from this past January’s National No-Tillage Conference with Vincennes, Ind., no-tiller Ray McCormick outlining his steps to success at no-tilling continuous corn.
“We think the information we’ll be able to provide through video will be of great interest to no-tillers,” says Darrell Bruggink, managing editor and publisher of No-Till Farmer. “Our readers like to share information and learn from each other, and this new tool will be an impactful way to do that.”
In addition to providing several more video presentations from the conference in the near future, Bruggink says editors see an opportunity to share information right out of the field, such as no-till equipment setup demonstrations or on-camera interviews with no-tillers talking about techniques they’ve used to improve their no-till management.
“This new video feature will enhance the value of our Web site to both our loyal readers and visitors seeking the latest no-till information,” says Frank Lessiter, editor of No-Till Farmer. “It’s a wonderful complement to our print publication and our annual conference.”
In just a few weeks we’ll be attending the 2008 National Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show. ZimmComm will have a booth there so stop by and see us. In this week’s program you can learn all about the trade show from committee Chair, Rosemary Schimek, Corporate Marketing Manager, Farm Progress Companies.
Rosemary says that this year’s trade show is the largest in years. If your company hasn’t pulled the trigger on joining then you still can. Listen to the program to find out how. You can also hear about the activities planned for the trade show this year. It’s got a western theme so there will be cutouts you can have your photo taken with as well as some kind of calf roping thing which ought to be fun to see after a few drinks.
This week’s program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. It’s called “Charge” by a band called Seven Thousand Miles. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 164 (20 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes
What is your company doing to promote or celebrate National Ag Week and National Ag Day? Are you having a party? Running a special promotion? Send me your pictures, images and audio files or links to them, including video and I’ll do my best to feature it here on AgWired over the coming week or so.
Here’s something Successful Farming is doing. They’ve recorded the Ag Day PSA’s to run on Successful Farming Radio.
You can hear one of them here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Successful Farming will deliver a series of National AgDay promotional mentions on The Successful Farming Radio Magazine and also make the promos available on Podcast through iTunes and on the Successful Farming(r) Web site Agriculture Online. The SF Radio Magazine has been on the air for nine years, and provides coverage in 22 states.
Want more SF Radio? Click here to subscribe to the SF Radio podcast. Need help? Click here for our podcast FAQ section.
What do Bret Oelke, George Rehm, Jochum Wiersma and Mark Whitney have in common? They all blog for AgBuzz.com. It’s published by Minnesota Farm Guide in conjunction with the University of Minnesota.
The purpose of AgBuzz is to gain interaction between producers and extension service staff. The benefits of AgBuzz are to everyone, bloggers, readers, and extension services. Comments are a key element in blogs, everyone is welcome to leave their comments, in a tasteful manner.
While you’re at it you might also want to check out what Laura Roti and Cody Wright are doing with the Tri-State Neighbor South Dakota Ag Blogs.
Cindy attended the AEM AgExecutive Forum in St. Louis and captured it in photos.
Dairy Expo Talk
This week's program features a couple of interviews from World Dairy Expo.
First up is Stephanie Gable, who talks about her new job with Novus International, then it's Lindsay Hill, who talks about the new website and brand decisions at ABN Radio.
Farm Progress has re-designed their websites. They’re calling it a new “internet portal.”
You can now get more of 
Some web publications have been bought by 
Willie Vogt, ZimmComm NAMA iPod touch winner and 
The 
While I was attending the Commodity Classic I met the crew from CNBC that’s been following Tyler Bruch who’s a farmer and columnist for 
Right next to the ZimmComm New Media booth you’ll find 
Thanks to University of Missouri graduate and former AgWired student blogger, Margy Fischer, Farm Journal
After having been to South America and feasting on grass-fed beef, I say, give me some corn fed beef any day. I personally don’t care if the corn was genetically modified or not, treated with insecticides or anything else. So I’m not too sure about this green grilling book. 
Speaking of NAMA invites. You’ll be able to play i Got It! with 
No-Till Farmer is now producing video. Another publication joins the multi-media producer ranks. It’s a great idea but you do have to fill out a registration form to see it. I know why that is but it does put up a barrier for farmers or anyone who wants to see the video. I’d recommend letting them be public guys. You’ll get a lot more eyeballs on the content that way. And if you’re going to be doing a lot of them then consider putting them into a podcast feed or using an online service like YouTube to host them.
In just a few weeks we’ll be attending the 2008 National Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show. ZimmComm will have a booth there so stop by and see us. In this week’s program you can learn all about the trade show from committee Chair, Rosemary Schimek, Corporate Marketing Manager, 
What is your company doing to promote or celebrate 
Here’s something Successful Farming is doing. They’ve recorded the Ag Day PSA’s to run on Successful Farming Radio.
What do Bret Oelke, George Rehm, Jochum Wiersma and Mark Whitney have in common? They all blog for 
This week's program features a couple of interviews from World Dairy Expo.
