As a play on our everyday profession as Farmers we have created “Just Farmers…”. Just Farmers is not specifically about the agricultural meaning of farmer and really is a more broad look at how through the use of different social channels conversations are being grown into crops of relationshipsand the harvest are the communities brought together in the end. More simply Just Farmers… includes those people interested in farming communities of engaged committed individual people by engaging in conversations.

Just Farmers is a project of:

Jeff Fowle
Mike Haley
Ray Prock, Jr.

GROWMARK was honored with the first CropLife America and AgGateway Information Technology Innovation Award for CropNAtion

The new design won GROWMARK first place in the Heartland region NAMA competition this year and GoFurtherWithFS.com won the Merit award in the same category. CropNAtion.com was selected by CropLife America (CLA) and AgGateway to receive the first annual CLA Information Technology Innovation Award. “It’s neat to be able bring these technologies together and then get recognition and positive feedback,” Scott said. “That’s really strong affirmation.”

CropNAtion has been a very ambitious project for GROWMARK to create a social media platform that serves as a 21st century “coffee shop” for today’s farmers. “It’s about what they want to talk about, not what someone else is putting in front of them to talk about,” he said.

Scott says they have new projects in the works, such as designing a new website platform for member cooperatives, but just staying on the cutting edge of communications technology keep them busy. “Technology and social media are moving so quickly these days that by the time you begin to evolve something there’s three other things out there,” he said. Tell us about it!

Listen to my interview with Scott here: Scott Bross Interview

“Social media has allowed us to continue to enhance our traditional recruiting efforts,” says University Relations Manager Ashley McClintock. “We utilize Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to connect with individuals who may not have met otherwise and it allows us to stay in touch when we’re not on campus.”

Ashley says they also use social media to inform students about career fairs and other events. “We’ve also handed out cards that show the event so students can partake in conversation and even win prizes,” she said.

The 12-week GROWMARK internship program allows students to get hands-on experience in various areas. “This is a win-win for the students and GROWMARK as it allows the students an opportunity to clarify their career goals and gives us a chance to see if they could have a successful career with the company,” Ashley says. The 53rd annual GROWMARK internship program will kick off May 20 with 51 students representing 21 universities across North America, working in a number of different areas.

Listen to my interview with Ashley here: GROWMARK's Ashley McClintock

Another social media tool GROWMARK uses to recruit is YouTube. Take a look at the video below about the internship program.

Contact farmersfight2012@yahoo.com for more information.

Follow on Twitter and Facebook.

Those interested in more information about how they can contribute to the “Meet America’s Farmers” YouTube channel can contact Mark Crouser at Mark.Crouser@foodintegrity.org.

I picked out one of the videos on the channel that features our good friend, Andrew McCrea. Here’s what he says about farming.

The best thing about being a farmer: Being around family, bringing kids with you in the combine or tractor and giving them rides on the horse, and living in the country. It’s hard work, but a good living.

So what do you think about this effort?

In January, USDA launched www.USDA.gov/energy to serve as a one-stop shop for data and information about energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. This site allows individuals to learn more about USDA’s programs and see how their community can get involved in an expanding renewable energy and bio-based economy that is creating jobs and driving economic growth across rural America. To learn more about USDA’s accomplishments in renewable energy, read the results document HERE.

Remember to tune in online by following @USDA and using #askUSDA and #energy.

Be sure to check out the UM students in collaboration with PROpenMic on our main page, Facebook and Twitter (@PROpenMic)!

Trent says the app is available for both iPhone and Android. It allows you to upload photos from your smart phone, view all your Kodak Gallery photos, share your photos either individually, by photo album or group sharing. He says they are continuing to update the app based on feedback from users. Right now the new update is sharing to Pinterest which is only available for Android. It will be available for iPhone in the future. Trent says the Kodak Gallery app tries to combine all the different features you can find individually in other apps. One of the upcoming updates for the iPhone version will be the ability to print your photos.

AgWired fans know I’m a power user of Flickr and I don’t see that changing. However, I can see this app being very appealing to the agricultural community. For example, organizations running events might want to consider using it to create a shared photo gallery that allows attendees to add their photos.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: An Interest in Pinterest

KODAK Gallery is the leading online destination for storing and transforming photo memories—at their most life-like best—into a more high-profile part of people’s everyday lives and environments. Anyone can express their creativity by making a wide variety of personalized gifts such as photo books, greeting cards, and wall décor for themselves and others to enjoy. It’s also easy to share creative projects with friends and family through direct access to social media including Facebook, Twitter and many others.

KODAK Gallery is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastman KODAK Company.

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.

I wondered what my first tweet was but have no idea and gave up trying to find out after spending some time trying. None of the services I tried would find that first tweet. Twitter hasn’t made archives available to search like I’d like that I know of. Kind of makes sense when you think about how many tweets there are at this point. I believe the maximum number of tweets Twitter archives via it’s API is 3,200. That would only take me back to 2010!

I don’t have enough time to create a comprehensive list of things you should or shouldn’t do on Twitter but here are a few that come to mind right now.

Do

Test any link you put in your tweet first. Very irritating to click and nothing happens.
Tweet at least once what the hashtag you’ll be using a lot means.
Read your tweet before you publish it. Does it make sense? Spelling issues? Know what I mean?

Don’t Do

Tweet, “Must read . . . ” Turns me off and no, I don’t think I “must” read whatever it is.
Tweet, “Very excited to . . . ” Kind of like press releases that say it.
Ignore @replies, especially if they ask a reasonable question. Same for DM’s.
Tweet every feeling you have in a day. Some okay, all of them, not.
Assume everyone following you reads all your tweets.

Share your story. Many people are not connected to what really happens in agriculture or rural America. Others can attempt to tell your story, but it is better told by the true expert – YOU!

He has been keeping plenty busy these days with a variety of freelance gigs sharing his Canadian commentary with audiences all over North America. “I’m in my 41st year as a farmers’ advocate in Manitoba, Canada,” he says. Among his many activities, Harry appears regularly with Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson on RFD-TV’s ‘This Week in Agribusiness’ giving his unique Canadian perspective. He can also be heard regularly on the Linder Farm Network in Minnesota and that was how he happened to be at the NFMS this year, replacing Lynn Ketelson as the host of a bus tour for 49 Minnesotans.

Harry’s relationship with Max and Orion and Lynn goes back to 1978 when he took a trip to Minneapolis to meet the late farm broadcast legend Maynard Speece of WCCO to ask him what he could do to become a better broadcaster. “He says ‘Join the National Association of Farm Broadcasters of America,’” Harry recalls. “That fall I was at the meeting and for the next seven meetings.” And that was where he met Max and Orion and Lynn and “all the good people there.”

As a communicator, commentator and journalist, Harry has been quick to adopt new communications technology and the use of social media. He’s on Twitter and has his own blog “SiemensSays.com” where he posts regular news and commentary – like the video he did with fellow bus traveler Machinery Pete at NFMS. He says he also uses his iPhone to do interviews, take photos and shoot video.

Find out more about Harry in my interview with him from NFMS: Harry Siemens Interview

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

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.