So I finally decided to sit down with Mike and talk about the conference we’re currently attending which is the National Biodiesel Conference and how things have changed in the media world we live in. Certainly technology is a key part of that as you’ll hear us reminisce about taking handsets apart on public telephones to connect our tape recorders for feeding audio back to the studio. Really, we’re not that old. I think it’s our active lifestyle and meeting some of the most wonderful people in the world that keeps us young!

BTW. I’m wondering if Mike has just a touch of Golden ZimmComm Microphone envy. What do you think? And thanks to John Herath, AgriTalk Producer Extraordinaire, for the photo.

Listen in on my conversation with Mike in this week’s program: AgriTalking with Mike Adams

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 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.

AgFax is “Where Ag Goes For Information” and their mission statement is “Make it as easy as possible for our community of readers to find and/or receive needed information.” Owen says they started publishing a cotton newsletter in California 21 years ago. After realizing everyone had a fax machine they started using the mechanism to distribute a growing number of newsletters and information. Then came a website and then came social media. Sound familiar? They work with a number of universities and have developed AgFax.com into a clearinghouse for ag information. And you may not be surprised to learn that they no longer send faxes!

To learn more about AgFax listen in to this week’s program: Getting The AgFax

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.

2012 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

Craig says this is the second year they have shortened the production conference and added more seminars and educational sessions. There are a lot of them! Workshops were very well attended and in fact Craig says they had to add chairs to some of them. He mentioned the social media sessions which is a first. As Craig puts it, “everyone here’s got something strapped to their hip,” referring to all the smartphones in use. It sounds like the Cotton Council is getting ready to go more “social!”

We also discussed the major changes coming to Beltwide after next year’s event. Starting in 2014 Beltwide will only be a 1 1/2 day event without the production conference and trade show. It’ll focus in on technical sessions. This decision has come after a lot of study and thought during the last couple years.

To learn more about the changes coming to the Beltwide listen in to this week’s program: Beltwide Cotton Conferences

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.

2012 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

To start off, Diane says that things are going well with the celebration this year of a couple of milestones with various clients like GROWMARK – 30 years and Bayer at 26 years. Another development is the agency diversification into different industries like construction equipment and higher education. Diane says they’ve also been going through a cultural revolution internally. One example is a renewed effort to liven up client presentations so they become more enjoyable and educational.

There are a number of additional changes that have taken place at the agency during the last year. To learn more about them listen in on my conversation with Diane: Rhea + Kaiser a Year Later

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.

Among the many ways BASF supports NAAA is by sponsoring the convention kick off breakfast, which always features a speaker with an aviation theme. This year, that speaker was Brian Shul, pilot and author of the coffee table book Sled Driver – Flying the World’s Fastest Jet, which is a compilation of the best photos that he took over many years flying the SR-71 Blackbird. It would make a great Christmas gift for anyone on your list who appreciates military aircraft and/or breathtaking photography! You can order yours at SledDriver.com.

I interviewed Brian at the NAAA about the plane, the book, how he got such great shots, and his continuing love of photography – listen to that conversation in this week’s ZimmCast: Pilot and Author Brian Shul

See more photos from the NAAA convention here – 2011 NAAA Convention 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.

I spoke with Paul Welbig, Director of Marketing and Slingshot Operations this morning. He says that as it relates to information, reaching customers and new technology, the sponsorship of our smartphone application fit right in with Raven’s strategy moving forward, “We thought it was a great avenue to communicate with customers through that venue because a lot of those customers using those types of tools are also going to be customers using Raven and the Slingshot solution in the future.” When it comes to social media Paul says Raven has ample evidence that it is helping them engage with their customers, “That’s what it’s all about is making those connections and really helping support those folks as well.” He says Raven actively watches their social media channels and responds quickly to their customers.

When it comes to the new Raven website Paul says they’ve included a brand new section that provides technical help which you can find at RavenHelp.com. The company is also running a promotion right now where farmers can enter to win a complete RTK system that includes: Cruizer II™ guidance with sub-inch RTK accuracy — delivered by Slingshot® via wireless networks. The company will be exhibiting at a majority of the winter farm shows if you need to see them in person. You can find their schedule here.

Listen to my conversation with Paul in this week’s ZimmCast and learn more about what’s going on with Raven: Raven Simplified

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

This week’s program ends with a song called “Raven” by Mark Shepard from Music Alley. I hope you enjoy it and thanks 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.

This morning I sat down with Tom to have a conversation about the state of NAFB, the convention just held in Kansas City and what he sees for the future of farm broadcasting. When it comes to the membership of NAFB Tom says things are in great shape. In fact, membership is up from a low point a couple years ago. He wants to “see the NAFB continue to be and increase in value to its members. I want people to look at their membership in the NAFB as essential to what they do.” One of the ways Tom says NAFB can accomplish this is to continue to develop professional improvement opportunities in addition to promotional ones since they both will add value to the member’s company bottom line. At this year’s convention I chaired the professional improvement committee and we held five sessions on professional improvement that included smartphone technology, streaming audio/video and video production/editing.

I also asked Tom if NAFB has considered becoming part of the Ag Media Summit since we are seeing so much convergence in all of media today. I know it has been discussed and according to Tom “We keep courting. We keep watching one another.” He says things are working well for the organizations involved both at the Ag Media Summit and for NAFB and its convention. That probably is making it difficult to decide that there should be some formal joining of forces. I like to think of NAFB joining the Ag Media Summit like when the Commodity Classic expanded with the addition of sorghum and wheat grower organizations. Maybe the time just isn’t right yet. What do you think?

Listen to my conversation with Tom in this week’s ZimmCast and learn more about what’s going on with NAFB: Tom Steever New NAFB President

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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.

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

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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.

Rick says it’s really exciting to see what’s happening. At the first board meeting the attendance was about twelve or so people and at this year’s meeting there were over twenty with about eighty other people sitting in. He says they raised over $10 million dollars in the first year and have a second year budget of $11.1 million. That’s a big number for farm groups to “put in a pot.” Rick says that a lot of the annual meeting dealt with plans for 2012. In our discussion he talks about what some of those plans are.

Listen to my conversation with Rick in this week’s ZimmCast: USFRA A Year Old

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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.

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.

Steve started the new venture just last month. Steve says he’s focusing on small to mid sized businesses and wants to help them, “Stand Out In A Crowded World.” He’s offering a “complete array of implementation services, from mainstream advertising and public relations to new media, interactive services, motion media and more.”

Listen to my conversation with Steve in this week’s ZimmCast: Engle Creative Solutions

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

The program ends this week with music from Music Alley, called “Natural Solution” by RION-I. 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.

At this year’s World Dairy Expo I visited with Brittany Unterweger, Account Supervisor for the agency. The agency was having a very busy week since they work with about ten different clients that are involved with World Dairy Expo. Brittany says the agency focus goes beyond the dairy industry though, into overall food systems, “from farm to plate, from producer to consumer.” She says there has been an internal shift within the agency to move beyond just agriculture. Interactive has also grown tremendously and that includes app building and the further development of their blog, Field Assignment.

Brittany says that she’s excited to have a more holistic approach with the food systems concept so they can helpt their clients see the big picture. She says their client list has been growing and that it’s an exciting time at Charleston|Orwig.

Listen to my conversation with Brittany in this week’s ZimmCast: Visiting With Brittany Unterweger

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

The program ends this week with music from Music Alley, called “Make You Happy” by The Milkmen. 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.

2011 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

To get a full wrap-up report on how the competition went I spoke this morning with Sarah Bohnenkamp, project coordinator. Sarah provides an overview of the purpose of the program and describes the group of contestants and the different types of activities they participated in. You can see a photo of the new team with a list of their names here. We’ll get to see the new team at the Cattle Industry Convention, the first of many events they’ll attend in 2012.

Listen to my conversation with Sarah in this week’s ZimmCast: New National Beef Ambassadors

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.

In the photo both Lilian and Owen were thanked during our closing ceremonies and received gifts for all their hard work. Of course, they point to all the other people who volunteered to make this a great event. But it does take good leadership to help bring it all together.

Lilian says the Congress was fantastic on a number of levels, including the fact that there were 260 people from more than 30 countries. She also wanted to thank all the sponsors who made it possible. There were a lot of stand out moments for her. One of them was when the native dancers performed during the opening reception. Another was during the closing session when all the country flags from IFAJ member countries were displayed. Lilian also pointed out that this was the IFAJ Congress with the most amount of social media participation. You can still see tweets happening with the Congress hashtag.

Listen to my conversations with Lilian in this week’s ZimmCast: IFAJ Congress 2011 Review

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

This week’s program ends with with music from Music Alley. It’s “New World Blues” by Aeons Promise. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

2011 IFAJ Congress 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.

In the program you can hear Owen describe the difference between the two pre-Congress educational activities, IFAJ Master Class and IFAJ Boot Camp. Then he runs through what all the ag journalists will be doing the rest of the week. We split apart into groups for farm tours upon leaving Guelph but meet back up in Niagra Falls.

Listen to my conversations with Owen in this week’s ZimmCast: IFAJ Congress 2011

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

This week’s program ends with with music from Music Alley. It’s “Journalism 101″ by Highah Seekah. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

2011 IFAJ Congress 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.

David has just recently started a new business called Growth Enterprises. He works directly with companies to create a strategic growth plan that’s very comprehensive. He also works on a pay for performance basis. In our conversation he provides a phone number if you want to reach him. His business is so new the website isn’t ready for prime time yet. David says new communications technology have certainly changed the way you do marketing today. I think you’ll appreciate some of his comments.

Listen to my conversations with Dave in this week’s ZimmCast: Growth Enterprises

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

This week’s program ends with with music from Music Alley. It’s “Oh Canada” by Danny Fong. 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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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.

In this week’s program we’re going to meet the new Presidents of the American Agricultural Editors Association and Livestock Publications Council. Let’s start with AAEA and new President, Greg Horstmeier, DTN/The Progressive Farmer. Here’s a picture of Greg during the AAEA board meeting.

Greg says the membership continues to grow. He says the AAEA board discussed what ways they can engage membership, especially those who couldn’t attend the Ag Media Summit. He says one of the things they are focusing on is how social media is playing a role in the job of agricultural journalists. You can learn more about what he’ll be working on in his year as President in the program.

The new President of LPC is Dr. Scott Vernon, Cal-Poly. Here’s Scott talking to the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow group that is meeting here too. Scott echoed some of the same comments that Greg made. He says LPC went through a long range planning process recently. One of the things coming out of that process was a plan to create more educational opportunities for members in the form of more regional workshops. He says LPC is rolling out a new tag line, “Advancing the livestock media professional.” Learn more about what’s going on with LPC in the program.

Meet Greg and Scott in this week’s program: Meet New AAEA & LPC Presidents

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.

Pictured are Chris Tucker (left), Precision Earth and Aaron Hutchinson, Cogent3D, Inc. holding an iPad showing Precision Earth in action. I visited with Chris to learn more about how this application got started. Chris has been a diehard Microsoft guy who got his first iPhone last year. He’s been in the precision ag industry for a long time. The iPhone “opened his eyes” that it could be used as a data collection device. He sees lots of farmers carrying them around. So he got started working with Aaron’s company to develop what is now Precision Earth. He sees it evolving beyond just soil sampling to a full fledged crop scouting device. The app uses shapefiles which can be managed by iTunes or a local computer app they can provide. The feedback that Chris received at the InfoAg Conference was far more positive than he even hoped for. That’s a good sign. There are plans to utilize other mobile platforms in the future.

Precision Earth should be available in the iTunes Store soon. It will also work on an iPhone!

Learn more about it in this week’s program: Precision Earth on an iPad

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

The ZimmCast ends this week with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Eliptical White Tablet” by Elika. 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.

PAQ Interactive is a technology services company specializing in Web and GIS solutions. Our web design and development work focuses on the web as a communication tool. More than static pages, we assist our clients through the design of interactive, content rich, fully customizable web sites that allow our clients to use their web technology investment for internal and external communications. In GIS services, PAQ consults with clients in creating and maintaining a business-level GIS. We provide training, custom programming, data analysis, and GIS project management solutions to create or expand on our clients initial investment in GIS.

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 just feel like it’s a very exciting time to be in agribusiness,” says Eric Spell, president of AgCareers.com. He should know, since they have been specializing in human resource services to the agriculture and food industry for nearly 15 years now, starting out as a print newsletter. “Year to date, we’ve had 23,000 jobs posted on our site, and we’ve had just over 50,000 applications to jobs on our site,” said Eric. In 2010, there over 36,000 agribusiness jobs in North America were posted on AgCareers.com with nearly 22,000 jobs posted in the Midwest region alone!

In addition to the job board, AgCareers.com offers a number of other services and tools for human resource professionals, including the upcoming 9th AgCareers.com Ag HR Roundtable, August 1 – 3, 2011 in West Lafayette, Indiana, which is being hosted this year by ADM and Purdue University. Eric says the event brings together agribusiness employers, professional organizations and college career counselors “to talk about issues facing the recruitment and retention of entry level and professional level talent in our industry.”

This year for the first time, the HR Roundtable will be followed by the 2011 National Academic Programs Summit with the theme of “Creating Change: Reforming Curricula for a 21st Century Education” where participants will be able to receive input from the agribusiness employers at the roundtable on what changes they would like to see in preparing young people for careers in the industry.

AgWired will be blogging the Ag HR Roundtable this year and finding out more about this important topic that impacts everyone in the agribusiness industry. In the meantime, listen to this edition of the ZimmCast featuring my interview with Eric Spell of AgCareers.com: Growing AgCareers with Eric Spell

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.

The Iowa Corn Growers have done something about this. Last week they hosted a group of “guest bloggers” to Iowa and I met them during Iowa Corn Indy 250 weekend activities. Pictured in the center is food blogger, Allison Loesch along with her husband on the right and Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chair, Dick Gallagher.

I know that many of you want to know how to reach out to and engage consumers more. How about reaching out to those very involved in social media on the consumer side? In this week’s program you will hear Mindy Willamson, Iowa Corn Growers, talk about the group they hosted and from Allison. I think you’ll find what they have to say interesting.

Listen in and learn more about food blogging: Guest Blogging with Iowa Corn Growers

If you’d like to get to know this group of guest bloggers here is how you can find and follow them. Their names are links to their blogs:

• Laurie Johckheer
• Shanda Bauman
• Allison Loesch
• Lisa Grant
• Susan Whetzel
• Tanya Gordon
• Vanessa Druckman

Hopefully they will join #FoodChat which is the Twitter conversation that takes place the third Tuesday of each month from 8-10pm, ET. All other Tuesday’s it is AgChat!

This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Food” by Deirdre Flint.

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.

Lane grew up on an Iowa farm and has founded a company that uses technology developed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The corn-based structural composite technology was invented by the university’s Dr. Nancy Sottos, Dr. Scott White and Dr. Thomas Mackin. CornBoard™ is a version of wood composite board that uses corn husks and stalks, prepared by mixing the fibrous corn component with a polymer matrix, laminating the mixture, and applying heat and pressure.

Skate boards are the first product and Lane even rode one to a world record more than 78 mph on a towed Stalk It™ longboard, made from corn stover. He envisions CBMI manufacturing facilities in rural communities where corn is grown. He hopes it will become a real rural development business. Besides skate boards, other products on the horizon include pallets, building materials and furniture. Lane is working on USDA Bio Preferred labeling and points out how using corn stover is a great way to lessen environmental impact.

Listen in and learn more about CBMI: Corn Board Manufacturing

This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Skate” by Mano Reza.

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.

Damien is just one of the many agricultural journalists I’ve had the pleasure to get to know through my involvement with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). I thought it might be interesting to talk with him about what he does and get his perspective on the technology changes in communications today, especially since he’s in the broadcasting business. He shares a good anecdote about an Irish farmer who had an impact on the food discussion in the country all because of one tweet on his Twitter account! He says that there is always a revolution in the media business and a need to keep up with new technology and that is always a challenge. I couldn’t agree more.

Listen in and learn more about agricultural journalism in Ireland: Irish Ag Journalism

You can listen to archived Countrywide shows that Damien has hosted on the RTE Radio 1 website.

This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Racing Heart” by Joe Tunon.

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.

Of course we talk about social media mechanisms since they now allow companies like Alltech to do their own branding without being completely dependent on traditional media channels. Billy says his number one message is “we have to listen to the customer.” These new tools that allow companies to engage with their customers make that easier than ever. At the same time they allow for very targeted and streamlined advertising efforts. There are ag media representatives from many countries that attend the Alltech Symposium. I asked him if he thought they are “getting it” when it comes to social media. He thinks they are or that they are at least in the process of making changes necessary to survive in the new media world. He’s proud of the ag media for embracing new media. In the photo Billy (left) is chatting with Dave Russell, Brownfield Ag News in the Symposium press room.

Billy thinks that the new media mechanisms provide an opportunity and a challenge since the younger generations are starting out with them while the older generations are only just coming around to accepting them. He echoes a belief I’ve had since we got into new media and that is that it’s just an evolution of the best form of marketing – word of mouth.

We also talk about the new Alltech App which currently provides unique information for pork producers and markets and weather. Basically, this means that Alltech has created their own information channel for their customers who can choose to get it and use it how and where they want.

Learn how Alltech is using new communications elements in the company’s marketing program: Alltech and New 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.

Gibbs & Soell conducted a survey this year on the subject of how consumers perceive what a company is doing to be more sustainable. The agency has a Greentech & Sustainability Practice to assist customers in this area.

The 2011 Gibbs & Soell Sense & Sustainability® Study – the annual survey that gauges consumer and business perceptions on the corporate commitment to “going green” – shows a disturbing gap in communications.

The message is crystal clear: Many companies have taken steps on the path toward sustainability, but their stakeholders remain skeptical of their progress. More details about the study can be found online here.

Learn what else is new with Gibbs & Soell in this week’s program: Getting With Gibbs & Soell

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.