MyBeefCheckoff.com Launch and Zimfo Bytes

Chuck Zimmerman

Lynn HeinzeThe Zimfo Bytes you see several times a week have been a very well received feature of AgWired. It allows us to post more nuggets of news to help keep the agrimarketing community informed. Melissa Slage, Cattlemen’s Beef Board, is the author of Zimfo Bytes. She’s pictured with Lynn Heinze at yesterday’s CBB Admin Subcommitte mtg.

This morning I talked to Melissa about what she does at CBB and their new website, MyBeefCheckoff.com. Melissa is Trade Media Manager which means she’s responsible for news releases and trade show activity. She’ll be at the upcoming Ag Media Summit for example.

I’ve logged in to MyBeefCheckoff.com and am glad they finally got a website that’s intuitive and easy to find things I need.

You can listen to my interview with Melissa here: cisc-08-slagle.mp3

You’ll find more posts on the CBB’s Beef Board Meeting website.

Feel free to check out and use photos from my Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Old Friends and New at the Peanut Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

Michele TreptowAt the Southern Peanut Growers Conference this week, I had a chance to meet up with one old friend I hadn’t seen in over 20 years – and one new friend that I knew but had never met.

Those of you in the ag journalism business may recognize this lady – formally the voice of the American Farm Bureau Federation once upon a time. You knew her then as Michele Brooks, but for the last 20 years she has been Michele Treptow, married to Rick Treptow of the Georgia Farm Bureau. Michele and I spent a few short minutes catching up and reminiscing about the “dot heads” at the 1985 annual AFBF meeting in Hawaii – and the infamous “Saturday night massacre” later that year when Chuck, Gary Cooper and I were forced out of Florida Farm Bureau after getting approval from the board to take their radio network independent. Ahh, the memories!!!

Tyron SpearmanThis gentlemen is known as “Mr. Peanut” in the Southeast and he wears many hats in the peanut industry. Tyron Spearman has been the peanut industry reporter for Southeast Agnet for at least as long as I have been reporting for them – but we had never met until this meeting. It was a great pleasure to meet him and get a chance to chat. He is extremely well respected in the peanut industry.

The SPGC was one of the very best conferences I have ever had the pleasure of attending. The agenda allowed for free afternoon time on the beach, the general sessions were very informative and well attended, the food was great, and the blues bash closing dinner and entertainment was great fun. This group is really a family and they obviously enjoy getting together at this great venue in Panama City every year. I will have more information about the conference in future posts. Not having internet access in my room was a drawback, but I had great access in the conference center.

Be sure to check out the Southern Peanut Growers Conference blog as well as the SPGC Conference Photo Album

Media, Peanuts

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Jay Stauffacher, a dairy producer from Darlington, was re-elected chairman of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) at its annual reorganization meeting. Stauffacher’s term is for the 2009 Fiscal Year which began July 1, 2008 and concludes June 30, 2009. Connie Seefeldt, Coleman, was re-elected vice chairperson, and Ed Jasurda, Phillips, was elected Secretary. Romona Averbeck, Fond du Lac, was elected Treasurer. Click here for more information.
  • People who work in the pork industry can now benefit from www.pig-international.com for the most immediate and relevant information available. From the publishers of Pig International magazine, the Web site complements the print edition with daily updates, an online forum and extensive collaboration between readers and editorial staff.
  • The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced that the state’s corn growers had overwhelmingly voted to increase the state’s corn checkoff from a half-penny to three-quarters-of-a-cent per bushel. Preliminary results show 73% voted in favor of the increase and 27% voted against it.
    Zimfo Bytes

    USDA Undersecretary at Home in the Southeast

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Gale BuchananUSDA Undersecretary Dr. Gale Buchanan may work in Washington, DC but his heart is in the southeast. “I spent 21 years at Auburn University conducting research in peanuts and other crops,” said Buchanan. “Then went to the University of Georgia as the director of the Coastal Plain Experiment Station and dean at the college of agriculture.” He also attended the University of Florida, so he is a “triple Southerner.” I guess that makes him a cross between a Tiger, a Bulldog and Gator.

    His main message to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference this week in Panama City was that the “future is predicated on information, knowledge and technology gained through research and education programs.”

    He had much more to say about the potential for peanuts in feeding the world and playing a part in the biofuels industry as well.

    Listen to my interview with Dr. Buchanan here:
    spgc-buchanan.mp3

    Be sure to check out the Southern Peanut Growers Conference blog as well as the SPGC Conference Photo Album

    Uncategorized

    Cattlemen’s Beef Board Down To Business

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CBB Admin SubcommitteeThe Cattlemen’s Beef Board Administration Subcommittee got things started here at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver today. I spoke with CBB Chairman, Dave Bateman, about what we can expect to see happen during this meeting.

    Dave says that producers come together here at the summer meeting to do the work of the industry.

    He says that the committee structure of the CBB is part of the groundwork of what happens here and that part of the process is to get the most bang for the buck while increasing beef demand.

    One of the exciting topics they’ll be talking about is international markets. Dave says that the current value of the dollar, coupled with some real opportunities, makes for some interesting challenges. He says that attendance is expected to be slightly higher this year.

    I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more about this, but Dave also mentions the process that has been started here for recommending improvements to the Beef Checkoff Program.

    You can listen to my interview with Dave here: cisc-08-bateman-1.mp3

    You’ll find more posts on the CBB’s Beef Board Meeting website.

    Feel free to check out and use photos from my Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

    Denver Soul Food

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Evan SlackThe first thing I did after getting into Denver today was go to lunch with my buddy, Evan Slack. He took me out for some excellent comfort food. Catfish, greens, cornbread, candied yams and sweet tea. Mmm, mmm. Tom’s Home Cookin’

    Then he and I went to the Apple Store and AT&T store. I’ve got to wait until the end of November to be eligible for the iPhone discount (unless I can sweet talk my local rep into a deal). The iPhone data plan will save me almost $20/month so it’ll pay for itself if I can git ‘er done. We’ll see.

    When I got to the downtown Sheraton there were a couple of poor, bedraggled protesters on the street. Before I could get my camera out they were ushered away by the local cops I think. They just kind of disappeared. Gotta feel sorry for those people. It’s a free country and they’re entitled to their opinion. But the animal rights wackos don’t ever quit trying to get in your face. Hey, have your opinion but just don’t try to stick in my space, eh?

    Cattle Industry Conference

    Using New Media to Reach Peanut Farmers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Joy Carter at SPGCFarmers and others in agriculture are just like everyone else these days. For the vast majority of us, computer usage is becoming a part of our everyday lives, if it hasn’t already taken it over!

    That’s why the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation made the decision to use the new media tools of blogging and podcasting to reach out and provide information on this year’s Southern Peanut Growers conference to anyone and everyone who has access to the World Wide Web on spgc.wordpress.com.

    Joy Carter with the Georgia Peanut Commission, who is also editor of Southeastern Peanut Farmer magazine and responsible for outreach to media and growers, came up with the idea of using the blog for conference coverage.

    “We wanted to open the door for more farmers and industry representatives not able to attend the conference to be able to see who the speakers are, see photos from the conference and hear more about issues within the peanut industry,” Joy said. The website is also being promoted to agricultural media who can download the photos and audio to use.

    Joy says the Georgia Peanut Commission has also had great success in educating producers about legislative issues with AmericanPeanuts.com.

    Listen to an interview with Joy here: spgc-joy.mp3

    Peanuts

    Public Affairs Division at Osborn & Barr

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Osborn & BarrOsborn & Barr has created a public affairs division led in part by Missouri’s just-past Director of Agriculture.

    The new group will allow O&B, North America’s largest agency focused on agricultural and rural markets, help its current and future clients manage critical public policy priorities.

    Specifically, the public affairs group will monitor key issues as they relate to agriculture, alternative energy and other rural priorities. It will provide strategic guidance for its clients as they manage particular issues, including grassroots communications efforts and community support. The group will do this while working closely with O&B’s public relations discipline in order to maximize all outreach opportunities and deliver the greatest value for its clients.

    Co-leading the public affairs efforts for the practice will be Katie Smith, who most recently served as the Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Smith’s strong background in agricultural and energy issues is a natural fit for O&B.

    Smith will co-lead the new public affairs group with Neil Caskey, who currently oversees O&B’s growing government client roster. Caskey, who joined O&B almost two years ago, previously served as an association executive and legislative assistant.

    Agencies

    New Media Musings

    Chuck Zimmerman

    One of my favorite new media commentators is Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine. Here’s some comments from his latest post.

    My most striking realization since getting my iPhone (love it, thanks for asking) is that radio is doomed. Pandora is a wonder, creating my own radio station, live and on the fly without need for a broadcast tower.

    And then there’s TV. Comscore just said that Americans watched 12 billion videos in May, up 45 percent over last year. Say that again: 12 billion. It’s a mass medium, still: the mass of niches comes to life.

    So what are you doing to make sure your customers see you, hear you, find you? Or are you still one of those who says, “I know a farmer who doesn’t even own a computer”? Yeah. I know one who doesn’t know how to read either.

    By the way, I’ve read his comment about Pandora on the iPhone in several places. Free music, no commercials, just the kind you like, in fact, you fashion your own unlimited “stations.” No, you can’t listen to farm programs on it. Not my point though.

    Uncategorized

    Peanuts on the Beach

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast-179 - Peanuts on the BeachSouthern peanut growers know the place to party and this week that’s Panama City, FL. While I get ready to go west to Denver, Cindy is attending the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. In this week’s program you can hear several of her interviews. We’ve got Randy Griggs, Alabama Peanut Producers, several guys from Trimble and Ag Technologies, the companies sponsoring the conference blog we built and Wesley Powell, past president of the National Peanut Buying Points Association. Wesley talks about grilling peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

    The program this week ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. Since we’re talking peanuts, you get to listen to “Peanuts” from one inch from midget. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

    You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 179 (18 min MP3)

    Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview With Peanut Growers - ZimmCast 179

    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

    Ag Groups, Audio, Peanuts, ZimmCast