You absolutely have to check out this post on Defamer to watch the video clip set to one of Matthew McConaughey’s new Beef radio spots. I’m sure NCBA won’t be upset for being given credit for the Beef Board’s work.
Did you stuff your face with enough beef over the holiday weekend? If not, Matthew McConaughey is gonna be mighty pissed off. Check out the new radio spot he recorded for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. You know, the dudes who came up with that “Beef, it’s what’s for dinner” slogan? Well, they got themselves a brand new golden-haired, A-list pitchman and the results have become a bit of an obsession here in the Defamer offices. Why does it fascinate so? Maybe it’s because McConaughey plays up his every vocal tic for maximum effect, like he’s trying to lure a small child into a windowless van with some candy.
Even better are the comments posted so far. Like:
The extreme close up of the braying steer. I weep. Want to hate the Matty, but can not, not with Andre Previn arranging the score.
Or
I’m going to Ruth’s Chris for dinner tonight and TOTALLY ordering “the power of protein in the land of lean beef”.
Sustainable iPhones
It might be stretching it a little to say that this story is really about agriculture and the iPhone but . . . for those of you who are already in line to get the new iPhone 3G on Friday, you might appreciate it. The story and pic comes from Macworld.
iPhones and sustainable agriculture don’t have a lot in common, but a bedraggled group of publicity-seekers and iPhone enthusiasts who want the next U.S. president to plant an organic farm on the White House lawn have connected the two as a reason to line up for Friday’s iPhone 3G launch.
Led by a fresh-faced sprite called David Bowman Simon—who looks more likely to be driving his father’s SUV than getting his hands dirty hoeing a row of seeds—Waiting for Apples’ mission is to encourage people to grow their own food while setting a Guinness World Record for the most time spent waiting in line to buy something.
I guess Macworld thinks organic farming is “sustainable.” Wonder what their definition of sustainable is. I’m all for gardening and if you don’t want to put some Miracle Gro on it then that’s your choice. Can’t say that would sustainable in my book, especially not financially. Okay. I’ll stop there. This is really going to help feed the world. Okay. Okay. I’m stopping.
These folks are really just trying to get support for a frivolous petition called The White House Organic Farm Project.
Trends In Agriculture
If you’re used to going to the NAMA Agribusiness Forum or already have it penciled in on your calendar then make a correction. It’s now the Trends In Agriculture. To learn why and what it means I spoke with Kenna Rathai, KBR Communications this morning. The meeting will be held, November 11-12 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. The conference logo was designed by Beth Burgy and her buddies at Broadhead+CO.
Why the name change? “We wanted to re-energize our fall meeting and felt that by focusing on trends in our industry, we could keep the information fresh, interesting and exciting each year,” according to Kenna Rathai, KBR Communications and chair of the Trends in Agriculture committee.
This year, Trends in Agriculture will focus on rural lifestylers, which is a significant growth market for many NAMA members. Sessions will cover some of the new research on this target audience, digging into their purchase drivers and motivations, and a panel will discuss their successes and pitfalls in marketing to rural lifestylers. There will also be speakers outside of agriculture who have faced similar challenges in shifting some of their focus to capturing a new audience in a changing marketplace. Stay tuned to the NAMA e-News for the latest information on the fall Trends in Agriculture meeting.
The program this week ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. Since we’re talking trends, you get to listen to “Trendsetter La La La” from Love=Action. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: 
ZimmCast 178 (11 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview With Kenna Rathai - ZimmCast 177
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
Agritourism Creates Rural Bounty
There is real bounty in rural America and Jane Eckert knows it. I’m happy to help spread the word.
Today, I think, marks a turning point in the agritourism industry. After more than a year of research and development, Eckert AgriMarketing has created a North American single source agritourism website, www.ruralbounty.com. The site is available for member listing to promote the rich bounty of our farms, ranches, wineries and farmer’s markets.
The directory will allow all agritourism operators to list their farm fresh products, activities, lodging, dining, events and much more. However, I need your help in spreading the word about this new site.
While the state and farm associations also have websites, Rural Bounty is meant to be a North American directory for the consumer and media to find us whether they live near or far. So here’s how you can help. If you have a regular method to communicate with your members, I would appreciate you informing them about this new website opportunity or passing this email along to the appropriate person.
There is a $45 annual cost to join, however, if farms register before July 31, 2008 they will get 18 months for the price of 12. Each member will have a full page listing with a description of their business plus an extensive listing of products and services. All information is completed online and can be updated with a user password.
Zimfo Bytes
- The United States Animal Health Association is making plans for its 112th Annual Meeting in Greensboro, N.C., Oct. 23-29, 2008. The meeting is held in conjunction with the 51st Annual Conference of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The feature of this year’s meeting will be Foot-and-Mouth Disease: If “When” Happened. For questions or more information about the USAHA/AAVLD Annual Meetings, click here or visit the Web site.
- EMD Crop BioScience has placed renewed focus on Product Development with the hiring of Patrick Reed, new Director of Product Development for North America. Reed had previously served in various roles with EMD Crop BioScience and its predecessor companies for more than 17 years.
- To kick off the 2008 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, the Brown County Heritage Equipment Association will host a tractor parade beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. The three-day event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including practical applications of recent research findings and technological developments.
Team Ethanol Wins at Watkins Glen
Although I wasn’t there to cheer him on, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Team Ethanol scored their first IndyCar Series win Sunday at the Camping World Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, NY. Picture is courtesy of Indy Car Series.
Appropriately on Independence Day weekend, it was an all-American win for the Rahal Letterman team, which is sponsored by the ethanol industry – including ICM, POET and Fagen.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hunter-Reay said after the race. “American kid winning with ethanol on the side of the car. It’s an American team – Bobby Rahal gave me the job and now we’re in Victory Circle.”
Hunter-Reay is the third driver for Team Ethanol, which was initiated by Paul Dana in 2005. Dana was killed in a pre-race wreck at the start of the 2006 season in Homestead. Jeff Simmons took over for him the rest of that season and most of 2007 before he was replaced mid-season by Hunter-Reay who went on to become Rookie of the Year.
This is the second year the IndyCar Series has been fueled with 100 percent ethanol, so the victory is especially sweet for corn growers and the ethanol industry.
AgNite at RNC
It looks like republicans will be getting a dose of agriculture this fall when they get together for their convention.
The Minnesota Agri-Growth Council is hosting AgNite, a celebration of America’s food and agriculture industry, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008, during the second night of the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities.
The evening event will showcase the food, agriculture and energy industries in a unique and exciting club atmosphere, featuring high-tech, interactive displays, cutting-edge visual effects, top-notch food and beverage selections and headline entertainment at the end of the evening.
“AgNite will be a grand celebration representing the scale and diversity of today’s food and agriculture industry,” says Daryn McBeth, president, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council. “The historic significance of The Depot, located in the heart of Minneapolis’ original milling district, will provide an inspiring setting for what will be the food and agriculture event when 50,000 visitors are in town for the GOP National Convention.”
Boelte Boys Ready For Ag Media Summit
In just a few short weeks it’s going to be time for the Ag Media Summit once again. Are you ready for the games to begin? The boys for Boelte-Hall are and they’ve arranged for some airport transportation once again.
We will again be at the airport providing transportation to Saddlebrook Resort. Our complimentary service will be available all day Friday and Saturday and until 5 p.m. on Sunday.
To ensure we are there to meet your plane, please let us know your arrival day, time, airline and flight number. If you have friends or co-workers attending AMS that we have not contacted, please share our offer with them . . . and their schedule with us.
Hoping to see you in Tampa . . . and be sure to join us at the InfoExpo Booth #500-502 for a game of darts and a chance to win prizes.
Don, Terry and Garrett
Boelte-Hall, Inc.
913-766-7726
Go Celebrate
Since my email box has been a little less full than normal I know that means that most of you are on break now. Well, it’s time to take a break here at ZimmComm World Headquarters too.
Of course that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come back during the weekend. You never know what you’ll find.
But if you choose to go “off the grid” I don’t blame you and Cindy and I and all the ZimmComm team wish you all a very happy 4th of July celebration.
Rural Broadband Grows 23 Percent
High speed internet access is growing in America and according to a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project the overall growth was 17 percent in the last year. It was 12 percent the year before. It also looks like rural America is getting wired (and AgWired!). Here’s some interesting tidbits:
Some 55% of all adult Americans now have a high-speed internet connection at home, according to a May 2008 survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The percentage of Americans with broadband at home has grown from 47% in early 2007 and 42% in early 2005. Among individuals who use the internet at home, 79% have a high-speed connection while 15% use dialup.
Older Americans: Those age 50 and over experienced a 26% growth rate in home broadband adoption from 2007 to 2008. Half of Americans between the ages of 50 and 64 have broadband at home. Some 19% of those 65 and older had home broadband access as of April 2008.
Rural Americans: 38% of those living in rural American now have broadband at home, compared with 31% who said this in 2007, or a growth rate of 23% from 2007 to 2008.