From Twitter:

currently, Pinterest RT @AgriBlogger: “Chuck. What’s the next “big” thing in ag communications/social media?” What do you think?

Rise of the App Internet http://bit.ly/xu9GSz MT @AgriBlogger: What’s the next “big” thing in ag comm/social media?” What do you think?

From Facebook:

If we knew, it wouldn’t be the next “big” thing. I think Pinterest is catching a lot of momentum though. Google+ doesn’t seem to be getting much traction though. Probably the next “big” thing hasn’t arrived yet or we just aren’t aware of it.

We almost have it today but a “reality tv” show about the farm. That is correct and unbiased (well maybe slanted a little our way)! You could be the leader Chuck. BTY, I don’t want to be in it.

So there seems to be one word that’s popping up enough to take a look and that’s Pinterest. Hopefully I won’t get in trouble here but I have been aware of Pinterest for a while since my daughters use it and have showed it to me. I looked at it and mostly saw fashion photos and thought, “This is not for me.” Interestingly, the responses above mentioning Pinterest are all from women. I’m not sure what to make from that but . . . If you search “agriculture” in Pinterest you’ll find a couple of boards and some pins. “Pinterest is an online pinboard.
Organize and share things you love.” How about agriculture photos and images? Maybe this is a good place to share your farm message!

You’ll also notice in the responses that mobile apps and 4G LTE are mentioned. I personally agree with this. We’re going to see more and more use from mobile devices and the apps that let us do customized tasks.

Please feel free to add your thoughts via comments.

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

State cattle and beef organization staff involved in communications were invited to the workshop and about 40 from around the country attended. In addition to Chuck’s presentation on the latest tools of the trade for communicators, the tech talk segment of the workshop also featured Lauren Chase of the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA).

Lauren has been Multimedia Outreach Specialist for MSGA for less than a year and has already made a name for herself in the agricultural social media world. She graduated in 2010 from the University of Iowa with degrees in both journalism and anthropology and while she has no agriculture background, she has become a strong advocate for agriculture.

One of the social media moves she made for the MSGA last year was to take advantage of the fact that current NCBA president Bill Donald hails from Montana to make him into a YouTube spokesman for the beef industry. It helps that Bill is a colorful personality with a great sense of humor and that, combined with Lauren’s talent with a Flip camera and video editing software, created the YouTube video series “Bill on Beef” which airs weekly.

Here’s a sample of “Bill on Beef.”

Follow the Cattle Industry Convention on Twitter using the #CIC12 hashtag.

2012 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

For more details or questions, follow the Association, CAB and API using the following Twitter handles, respectively: @AngusAssoc, @BlackInkBasics and @ABBeditor.

As of right now there are 49 tweeps signed up with 9 saying maybe. Go on over to the FB event page and let ‘em know you plan to attend. You can follow coverage of the 2012 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show via Twitter using the official hashtag: #CIC12

I spoke with David afterward. He says he talked about what’s next in regards to social media and digital and how some of the technology shifts are being dictated by our behaviors and the ways we now communicate and do business. He especially zeroed in on the changes in media and talks about a Media Cloverleaf (Mainstream, New Media, Social and Owned). He also shared some polling study information from what they call the Trust Barometer. One of the findings was that traditionally academics and technical experts have been perceived as the most trustworthy. Last year the third most trusted individual was a financial industry analyst but this year it’s someone like yours truly ie. someone like you! I think you’ll find some great information in my conversation with David.

Listen in on my conversation with David in this week’s program: Expert Opinion Via Social Media

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.

One cooperative that has taken the social media plunge and found it very worth their while is Frontier FS, which covers the area around Jefferson, Wisconsin – right between Madison and Milwaukee. I talked with Becky Wiedenhoeft, who is social media administrator for Frontier, about their experience.

“The first platform that we chose to work with was Facebook because of the high level of usage,” said Becky. “It kind of helps build stronger relationships and trust and a feeling of community.”

Becky notes that a good mix of content is important to keep people engaged. “They’re not feeling like they’re being inundated with advertisements, it’s more of a community than a place to post marketing ads,” she said. Frontier started its Facebook page last April and already has nearly 200 “likes” and Becky says they can tell by some of the tracking options for Facebook that there are lots more who check in on the page.

Some of the Frontier FS crop specialists have also branched out into Twitter as a way to keep people informed about conditions in the area such as possible disease outbreaks, and their Twitter feeds are linked to the Facebook page as well. “It’s an awesome way to share information with growers instantly,” Becky said.

You can listen to my interview with Becky about Frontier FS and social media here: Becky Wiedenhoeft Interview

So let’s meet Emily:

Zweber, an organic dairy farmer from Elko, Minn., will focus on furthering ACF’s mission of connecting farmers to diverse audiences via social media platforms. She also will provide day-to-day management oversight and fundraising support.
“Emily uses social media every day on the family farming operation, so she’s a great choice for this position,” says Darin Grimm, ACF president. “What began as an all-volunteer outcropping of an agricultural social media movement is growing into a professionally managed organization. Having Emily on board is a real boost.”

Established in 1906, the Zweber farm is a certified organic dairy. The family also runs a successful natural meat business for which Emily coordinates all social media and marketing.

I spoke with Darin and Emily by phone just a few minutes ago. Listen in on our conversation about today’s exciting news and get to know Emily.

I don’t know if you’ve registered but you can do so on the NCGA website.

Today’s growers have a whole new set of tools to use on the farm when it comes to communicating the importance of what we’re doing, and it’s vitally important that we know how to use these tools well and that we have then at hand when we need them.

Throughout 2011, the National Corn Growers Association will hold a series of hourly webinars – online tutorials – to help our members and others learn how to use some of these tools, such as Facebook and Twitter. This series of monthly webinars is provided free, courtesy the generous support of Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Business.

From Main Street to MTV, everyone is talking about food. Unfortunately, this conversation does not often include the people who grow it. CommonGround Conversations creates a space for America’s farm families, and the people who support them, to share the story. Here, we have a meeting ground that will let you discover the values and hard work that underlie our nation’s abundant, safe harvest. Help us share our story! By submitting photos of yourself, family and friends waving at the camera, join your voice with like-minded people to open a national dialogue saying, “Hi! I support farmers. Let’s talk about how we grow our food.”

Learn More About CommonGround

I “met” Steve via Twitter and enjoyed how he handled himself on a CNN interview and them talked with him myself. That was over two years ago. But I had not met Steve until the AgChat Foundation’s Agvocacy 2.0 Conference. So I visited with Steve to see what he thinks about the development of “agvocacy.” In the pic I’m sure Steve is busy cranking out a tweet. You can see what happened if you check out the conference hashtag – #ACFC11.

You can listen to my interview with Steve here: Interview with @Tykerman1

2011 AgChat Agvocacy 2.0 Conference Photo Album

Listen to my conversations with Michele and Amanda in this week’s ZimmCast: Agvocacy 2.0 Conference

While the conference was taking place, local news outlet, The Tennessean, had a crew come by and they did a story about what was going on that I thought you might enjoy. It’s titled, “Got a question about your food? Tweet your Farmer.”

2011 AgChat Agvocacy 2.0 Conference Photo Album

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.

One of the featured speakers at the event was Eve Mayer Orsburn, CEO of Social Media Delivered, one of the largest social media optimization companies in the world. Eve has developed this multi-national company in just three years, serving clients like GM and Sheraton with consulting, training and managing their social media services. Eve also hosts a weekly radio show called “Social Media for the CEO” and is author of a book by the same name.

Eve spoke to the Ag HR Roundtable about how companies can use social media in their recruiting efforts, as well as their marketing efforts. She will get more in-depth on that topic at an AgCareers.com workshop in Des Moines, October 12-13 titled “Implementing A Successful Social Media Strategy to Boost Recruitment.” The first 25 participants to register for the workshop will get a complimentary copy of her book “The Social Media Business Equation.”

Kathryn Doan coordinates social media efforts for AgCareers.com from the company’s Guelph, Ontario office. Kathryn grew up on a dairy farm and is now a turkey and cash crop farmer with her husband in Ontario. She talks about the AgCareers.com social media strategy and their goals to create conversation within the agriculture and food industries.

Listen to my conversations with Eve and Kathryn in this week’s ZimmCast: Social Media and AgCareers

2011 AgCareers Ag HR Roundtable photo album.

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

Anyone with an interest in North American agriculture may register for and use the free site. The mobile application will be available for iPhone and Android platforms in late summer.

I spoke with Shelly Kramer, V3 Integrated Marketing, an integrated marketing and social media agency. She spoke to a full house and answered questions for a while afterward.

Shelly says that to measure your social media ROI you need to have a plan. I know that’s tough but if you don’t know what your goal is, then how do you know if you met it? To help her clients better understand digital marketing and especially the social channels she encourages them to act online just like they do in real life. However, that’s not easy for companies to do.

Listen in on my conversation with Shelly in this week’s program and hear more about her perspective and thoughts on using social media in your marketing efforts: Integrating Social Media & Measuring ROI

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

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

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.

I asked her how their social media efforts are going. Wyffels has started with Facebook and Jill says, “Our personality comes out on Facebook.” That’s exactly what social media can do for a company and why I recommend using it to put a more personal face on the brand.

You can listen to my interview with Jill here: Jill Loehr Interview

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011 Iowa Photo Album

To start with, it’s like all things new. Not everyone is there so who are you going to talk to? That will change and is already changing as they allow more and more people in. I think the early adopter have jumped on Google+ and they are writing a lot about it. Reactions are mixed. Some love it and some already hate it. I’ve only been in it for about a week and with relatively little time to get the full experience. At first take it seems a little like Twitter on steroids.

Since social networking is all about having conversations I liken this to looking at a new house and wondering if I want to live there. I kind of like the house I live in now but is this one better? Does it have more room and better appliances? Do I want to have two houses (Facebook and Google+)? Some people are very comfortable with a primary residence and a vacation house at the lake or the beach. I’m not so sure I want that. But since my business is all about using social media I will use them both.

Getting started with Google+ is relatively simple, especially if you are already an active Google user. I am. I use Google for all kinds of things. My first thought was that Google+ might be a good fit and integrate with all my other Google apps (Gmail, iGoogle, Analytics, etc.). Since we’re still in the beta stage of Google+ I’m sure there will be a lot more development work as Google gets the feedback so many users are providing. For example, I’d like to be able to have a Twitter post update Google+. I like that and so do many of my followers on Facebook. However, I’ve seen comments from people wanting to keep Google+ “pure” from apps that allow this to happen.

I think it’s too early for me to provide a point by point comparison between Google+ and Facebook. I don’t see Google+ competing with Twitter that much yet btw. There are too many 3rd party apps for Twitter that make it such a useful tool and Google+ doesn’t have them yet. Emphasis on yet.

Google+ makes it real easy to add friends and group them which is called Circles. Yeah, there’s some new language to learn. I’ve already got around 50 friends and families connected to me but only a few are very active yet. Most of them are already active in Facebook and seem to be staying there most of the time.

So, should you join? Why not? Whey not create an account and at least take a peek? You can even create a nice little vanity url for yourself on Google+. Here’s mine: http://gplus.to/ChuckZimmerman.

Have you joined? What do you think? Feel free to add comments.

So this is the stage from this morning when Paul Schrimpf, Croplife Media Group, Jeremy Wilson, Crop IMS and I conducted back to back session on social media. I want to thank all the folks who tweeted in using the conference hashtag – #InfoAg. Click on the link to see what the conversation was all about.

2011 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

The third component of the Chatterbarn Exchange allows you to submit questions into the network, which can be responded to by others, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, best practices, and information throughout the industry. You will use the Chatter Button throughout the site to make things happen. It will help you post your comments to the Chatterboard and submit your items to the Chatterbarn Exchange. So, are you ready to Chatter?

Subscribe to the Chatterblog, find ‘em on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Illinois Farm Families (IFF) will equip the “Field Moms” with video cameras so they can record and share what they see and learn. Their videos, stories, and photos will be available to everyone on the IFF website WatchUsGrow.org. The Field Moms will also be participating in media interviews and offering insights about their experiences on Twitter and Facebook.

Chicago-area Moms can apply for the opportunity to become a Field Mom at Watch Us Grow. To be eligible, a Mom must be an Illinois resident at least 18 years old, with at least one child under the age of 13 living at home. Applications will be accepted until August 21, 2011.

Even if you can’t commit to being a Field Mom, you can subscribe to follow the Field Moms on their farm tours, and communicate with them online. Illinois Farm Families will send you email alerts when the Field Moms are on the move, posting thoughts, pictures or videos, or when there’s other news to share.

Sounds like a great way to address that disconnect that non-farmers have with the people who feed them.

Our dinner discussion provided an interesting insight into what people in agribusiness know, or think they know, about social media. Most of those in the room were either personally involved or professionally in their business. Some comments that caught my attention included:

A European participant said that not many farmers are involved in social media. I don’t know what the environment is across the pond but here in America I would disagree with that to a certain extent. So many farm companies and member organizations have been conducting training programs and encouraging farmers to get involved in the online discussion that I believe we have “a lot” of farmers involved in social media.

Another participant wanted to know how you “control” what people are saying about your company or products. Control is a red flag word to me. You have no control! No matter what your desire is, you can’t control what people are saying. However, Billy made a good point about how you can “manage” the conversation by being involved and engaging people even if they write something negative about you or your company. I always say that they’re going to talk about you whether you join the conversation or not.

A student participant startled everyone by telling us to “get off Facebook.” She said there’s no way you can believe anything you read on it and she didn’t like the idea that a company would check up on an applicant by looking at their Facebook page. Sorry, young lady. Facebook along with other social media channels are open to everyone and I highly encourage you to be careful about what you post anywhere. On the point of believing what you read, I agree to a certain extent. You need to be careful about what you read and that includes product reviews. One participant was sure that his competition was paying people to write negative comments about his products online. He didn’t have proof though. But I certainly believe it does happen. I’m just not sure how much.

It was a very good discussion but showed me that there is a long way to go when it comes to companies integrating social media into their marketing communications mix. One other comment that I appreciated was on the subject of ROI for social media expenses. He asked why it is that companies don’t have a clue what the return is on their advertising expenses for traditional media and yet want to know exactly how many widgets they sold by investing some dollars in social media. Good question. It’s kind of like a double standard. Several participants said that their use of social media had positive returns for their business.

Follow the action on the Alltech Innovations Blog, including photos, interviews and there will be live streaming of certain sessions.

2011 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Follow the action on the Alltech Innovations Blog, including photos, interviews and there will be live streaming of certain sessions.

2011 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Debbie here: Debbie Lyons-Blythe Interview

Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit Photo Album

When I saw on Twitter that the Royal newlywed getaway car was an Aston Martin converted to run on 85 percent ethanol, I was first amazed that there was a biofuels angle to the wedding. When I went searching for official photos and releases, I was totally amazed by the wall-to-wall, immediate social media coverage provided on the official level. The official Royal Wedding site includes links to constantly updated videos on YouTube and photos on Flickr, in addition to frequent posts on Facebook and tweets on Twitter. I have to wonder how many people were involved in this effort – and how much it cost! It takes the kind of event coverage we do to a whole new level! Wondering if Pope John Paul II’s beatification on Sunday will be as impressive. They do have an official Vatican Facebook page for the beatification and the events reportedly will be live-streamed at many of the sites.

Getting back to the Dukemobile, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Buckingham Palace for the royal residence Clarence House, they drove off in a “convertible Aston Martin Volante DB6 MKII in Seychelles blue is owned by his father HRH The Prince of Wales” that runs on 85 percent ethanol. That according to the official update on the Royal Wedding website, adding that in “June 2008, at the specific request of The Prince of Wales, who is keen that his cars should be run on sustainable fuel, the Aston Martin was converted to run on E85 bioethanol, made from English wine wastage.”

They even have a Royal Wedding YouTube video of the couple leaving in the car:

United Fresh 2011 attendees that have GPS-enabled mobile devices can download the foursquare app, connect with the contest and “check in” with The Core Blog at various points of interest throughout the week to win prizes.

To top it off, each of The Core Blog’s foursquare friends will be entered into a drawing for a $250 VISA gift card. For every new friend of The Core on foursquare, DMA Solutions will also give $10 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans, up to $500. DMA Solutions will host a booth at the Global Conference on Produce Technology and Innovation on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at the Hilton Riverside Hotel. The booth will feature DMA Solutions’ new PLUG IN campaign designed to help fresh produce companies plug into consumers utilizing social media marketing.

The cost is $30. To register, click on the following link: http://cama.org/Default.aspx?tabid=262&ModuleID=788&ItemID=63&mctl=EventDetails.

Shaun is a founding board member of the AgChat Foundation.

I spoke today with Jeff Fowle, President, AgChat Foundation and California farmer (that’s him under the hat probably tweeting away) to get an update on where we’re at and where we’re going. I also serve on the board of the Foundation and we had a very well attended and exciting board meeting by conference call last night.

Americans may have noticed a new social media trend this past year: more Facebook posts from the farm, more tweets from the tractor and more blogs from the back forty.

The timing of this social media “stampede” couldn’t be better, says Jeff Fowle, president of the AgChat Foundation. Celebrating its one-year anniversary this week, the AgChat Foundation is a 100-percent volunteer organization formed to empower farmers and ranchers to effectively tell their stories using social media. He says in one 2010 study conducted by the Hartman Group, 59 percent of consumers purchasing local said they wanted a “connection to the farmer.”

Bring yourself up to date on what’s going on with the AgChat Foundation by listening to this week’s program: ZimmCast 298 - AgChat Foundation Turns One

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

The program ends this week with a song from Music Alley called “Chatshow Queen” by Stuart Willmott.

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

Here are some of the facts:  I’m the daughter of a fourth generation family farmer.  I think I have the greatest job in the world. I get to tell the story of American Agriculture.  Whether it is educating the consumer about the real facts of agriculture or talking to the farmer about new and exciting things related to their industry every day seems to be an adventure.  I am the Agri-Business Director for WMBD and WIRL located in the heart of corn country (Peoria, Ill.).  And the fun stuff… I like to think I’m eccentric.  A little artsy.  I like funky music, even funkier jewelry and creating art from behind the lens of camera. That’s me in the photo with my friend and fellow NAFBer Rick Coyle with Northern Ag Network.

One of the great things about my job – I constantly hear about “new and innovative things”.

While Farmer’s Markets may not be “new and innovative” they are certainly a “hot” topic all year long.  John Aikman became a statistic of the recession.  After Aikman lost his job he says his idle time and over active mind came up with the concept of “Home Grown Cow”.  So what is it?  He’s created a virtual meat market of sorts with a goal or pairing farmers with eaters (what a concept, huh?!) with  some networking along the way.

Often times when I hear ideas like this and it is aimed at promoting organic farming practices only.  What caught my attention with John’s site and business venture – it supports all types of farming practices.  Traditional or organic.  Beef, chicken or lamb. Bulk or cuts.  You decide.  Find a farmer that suits your eating needs.  Aikman says his goal is to make farmers the price makers instead of price takers.

Aikman’s vision will soon become a reality.  While they aren’t quite ready to take orders yet – they are signing up farmers and hope to be fully operational soon.

You can check them out at Home Grown Cow and listen to John’s story here: John's Story