Talking New Media With Weed Agronomists

Chuck Zimmerman December 13, 2007

Hello from St. Louis Union Station and the North Central Weed Science Society convention.

We’re currently setting up for the symposium session on communications in which we’ll be talking about new media tools to communicate with. Here’s some of the happy crew up bright and early getting breakfast. I hope they had plenty of coffee.

The man who invited me to participate is Purdue University PhD student, Vince Davis. I spoke to Vince a couple minutes ago to find out more about NCWSS and our session.

You can listen to my interview with Vince here: ncwss-07-davis.mp3

Ag Groups, Audio

‘Top Chef’ Goes Mobile

Laura McNamara December 13, 2007

The culinary arts have taken over T.V. They’ve become one of the latests fads for video game consoles. And now, you can even “cook” from your mobile phones. LimeLife and Bravo are launching their new mobile game ‘Top Chef Challenge,’ which is available to download on most major U.S. carries for $6.99. And if you find you can’t tear yourself away from the new game based on the hit reality series, you can also subscribe for a monthly fee of $2.99.

Bravo partnered with LimeLife to develop the TV network’s first downloadable mobile game because of LimeLife’s history of creating successful mobile experiences for big brand media and innovations in the mobile industry. “Top Chef Challenge” further solidifies Bravo’s leading presence among progressive broadcast media companies, by combining its popular series such as “Project Runway,” “Shear Genius,” and “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” with expanded digital tie-ins.

“Top Chef Challenge” is set behind-the-scenes of Tom Collichio’s fictional new restaurant. Players customize their character and enter the game’s virtual kitchen as an entry-level dishwasher. With commentary and advice from show host, Padma Lakshmi, players can rise from dishwasher to “Top Chef” and gain 5-star status and fame along the way. A series of mini-games and kitchen drama test reflexes, memory and patience to prove you have what it takes to be the next “Top Chef.” As an added bonus, the Trivia Challenge mini-game lets players demonstrate their culinary knowledge to earn extra points.

Food, Technology

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort December 13, 2007

The Agricultural Leadership alumni of Kings and Tulare counties are pleased to host the 14th annual fundraiser breakfast to benefit the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. This year’s speaker is Keni Thomas. Sgt. Thomas was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, during the summer of 1993 as part of Task Force Ranger, a special operation package to find and capture Mohammad Farrah Aideed, a criminal warlord. His experiences were later retold in the popular book and movie “Blackhawk Down.” Using the motto “Train as you fight. Fight as you train,” Thomas shows how an emphasis on training and continuous improvement plays a vital role in survival and success both in battle and in life. The fundraiser breakfast will take place at the Heritage Complex on Thursday, Feb. 14 during World Ag Expo. Table sponsorships are $500, individual tickets are also available for $50 with proceeds benefitting the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. Tickets are available by calling April at (559) 735-9700 or by email at april@lagomarsino.com.
As a result of the combined vision and partnership between SOYGENETICS and Bayer CropScience, U.S. growers can anticipate planting LibertyLink® soybean varieties in 2009. LibertyLink soybeans also will offer growers the opportunity to use the in-crop, weed-control option available with Liberty herbicide. The Liberty/LibertyLink system will enable growers to enjoy similar benefits of Roundup Ready, such as less tillage, labor, and equipment, as well as the ease, convenience and efficacy of over-the-top, non-selective, weed control.

Zimfo Bytes

Negotiating Skills Moe Russell Style

Chuck Zimmerman December 12, 2007

Here’s the latest episode of “Managerial Insight with Moe Russell.” It’s part of the Business Skills Series from Asgrow which you’ll find on Farm Industry News.

This is part one of a two parter on this subject. Look for a post on part two soon.

Agribusiness, Publication, Video

Kellogg Institute Expands

Chuck Zimmerman December 12, 2007

This is the kind of stuff you need in a news release today.

Give me some pictures and some embeddable video too. This clip starts with b-roll-like footage of the facility, followed by some sound. I’m happy to see that they not only sent it out in a multi-media news release but they’ve made it available on their own website so their customers can view it themselves.

Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) today announced that it is expanding its W.K. Kellogg Institute for Food and Nutrition Research (WKKI) located in Battle Creek, Mich., to continue to meet business needs and to achieve continued growth. The 157,000-square-foot pilot plant and office space addition will expand Kellogg Company’s existing global center for research and innovation activities. The $40 million expansion and $14 million investment in pilot plant equipment (over the next 10 years) falls within Kellogg Company’s previously reported capital expenditure guidance.

Since the WKKI facility opened in 1997, Kellogg Company’s net sales have doubled from $6 billion to almost $12 billion, and net sales from innovation have also almost doubled. In addition, numerous process capabilities have been added to WKKI as the company extended its business into new categories, and the number of employees in the facility almost doubled to support these new technologies and the company’s growth.

Agribusiness, Food, Video

New Media For Weed Scientists

Chuck Zimmerman December 12, 2007

Tomorrow morning I’ll be making a presentation to the North Central Weed Science Society annual meeting in St. Louis. I’m really glad the weather has settled down although I wouldn’t call it balmy by any stretch. Here’s what the session I’m participating in looks like:

Communication Development: Message Delivery to Weed Science Colleagues and Clientele Symposium
Room: Grand Ballroom C Moderator: Vince Davis

8:55 Introduction and Purpose of Symposium. Vince Davis, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
9:00 Blogging and Podcasting in a World of “New Media.” Chuck Zimmerman*, ZimmComm New Media, LLC, Holts Summit, MO. (210)
9:20 Scientific Writing: Meeting the Reader’s Needs. Kent Harrison*, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. (211)
9:40 Presenting Research to a Scientific Audience. Karen Renner*, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. (212)
10:00 Crafting the Perfect Poster: Catchy, Clear, and Concise. Christy Sprague*, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. (213)
10:20 Targeting a Certified Crop Advisor Audience: Is this Some Middle Ground? Bryan G. Young*, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. (214)
10:40 Delivering a Message to the Producer: Present the Facts, You are the Authority! Fred Whitford*, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. (215)
11:00 Interviewing with the Media: Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say. Steve Leer*, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. (216)
11:20 Open discussion with presenters
11:40 Adjourn

Ag Groups

Mobile Recipes From Mobio

Chuck Zimmerman December 12, 2007

Here’s my new Blackberry Curve showing the beef recipes that came up when I keyword searched the new Mobio mobile recipes. I like things that are simple and just plain work. So if you’re in the kitchen and need a recipe now you can just grab the phone off your belt and tap for it. Just think of all the applications that are being created to make that little mobile device your information and communications center.

Mobio Networks today announced that it has launched a new Recipes application within the GetMobio lifestyle portal for users across major U.S. carriers. From classic Christmas cookies to creative casserole ideas, Recipes provides instant access to hundreds of thousands of recipes anytime, anywhere. With Recipes you can search for recipes by keyword, occasion or course, save them to your handset for quick access and even create detailed grocery lists for last-minute shopping trips.

“Online communities are great for the millions of savvy chefs and inexperienced cooks alike who don’t want to spend hours flipping through cookbooks to plan a meal, but people aren’t always in front of a computer to access their favorite recipes,” said Ramneek Bhasin, CEO of Mobio. “Whether you’re browsing cocktail recipes on the train or searching for the perfect side-dish at the supermarket, Recipes is designed to provide all the functionality of a website with the mobility needed while on the go. And with features that let users find and download recipes, and even create custom shopping lists, we’re hopeful that Recipes will make your life a little easier this holiday season.”

Mobio’s applications are created to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of users – from those using the most popular and widely available mobile phones on the market, such as the Motorola RAZR, to more sophisticated smart phone models and interfaces including the BlackBerry Pearl. By simply entering their information once, users can personalize their experience across all GetMobio collections to create a more intuitive, seamless interaction.

Visit http://www.getmobio.com to download the Recipes on GetMobio lifestyle portal from the Web or getmobio.com/now on your mobile phone.

Food

Aerial Applicators Hear About Fungicide Spraying From BASF

Chuck Zimmerman December 12, 2007

I have got to believe that the National Agricultural Aviators Association convention is a party place. These folks are meeting in Reno this week and BASF was there to present a new study.

Dr. Gary Fellows, technical manager with BASF, addressed the National Agricultural Aviators Association (NAAA) at their annual convention this week to present the results of a study by BASF and university experts on the spray coverage of aerially applied fungicide in corn.

The study, conducted in Iowa, Nebraska and Louisiana corn fields this summer, looked at how low-volume aerial applications impact spray coverage in the corn canopy. Testing of this kind is part of ongoing research by BASF to help improve the success of aerial fungicide applications.

“The preliminary findings indicate that when water per acre applied is lowered, calibration and accuracy become more important to ensure excellent coverage,” said Dr. Fellows. “That’s important because we want to help aerial applicators deliver the maximum value to their customers of Headline® fungicide in corn while being able to take full advantage of the efficiencies of the lower volume label.”

You can listen to Dr. Fellows in this clip from his talk at the convention: basf-aerial-fellows.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort December 12, 2007

Farm Bureau membership across the country has surpassed the 6 million mark for the second consecutive year—6,231,176 member families. The milestone was passed as state Farm Bureaus reported 30,838 additional members registered for Farm Bureau membership in 2007. The membership gain of nearly 31,000 member families is due primarily to the growth of several state Farm Bureaus in the South. The Tennessee Farm Bureau continues to claim the title of the country’s largest state Farm Bureau, with 629,027 member families. Other “top 10” membership states are: North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Illinois, Texas, Indiana, Ohio and Mississippi.
Ag Leader Technology, Inc. has donated the latest precision ag equipment to the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University for use in educating students on precision farming systems. The donation starts a new lab at ISU, complete with hardware and software.
Beginning in 2008, Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) is joining forces with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) to bring greater value to ApHC memberships through the Appaloosa Member Advantage program. The Appaloosa Member Advantage program offers discounts to ApHC members for products on premium brands including Dodge, John Deere, UPS, Sherwin Williams Paint, Toshiba and Office Depot. To begin saving, ApHC members must call (888) 304-SPOT (7768) to activate the Appaloosa Member Advantage.

Zimfo Bytes

PA Invests in Youth in Agriculture

Laura McNamara December 12, 2007

Pensylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell has announced the state will invest $110,000 in Youth in Agriculture. Rendell says the investment is integral for providing youth with the skills and knowledge they need to sustain a bright future for Pennsylvania agriculture.

Youth organizations may continue to enhance leadership and career development programs thanks to a $110,000 investment in aquaculture, animal science, food safety and other agricultural projects, announced Governor Edward G. Rendell.

The funds are part of the Agricultural and Rural Youth Grant program, which provides matching and direct grants to organizations whose projects promote development in the areas of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational training or peer fellowship.

Recipients may be awarded direct grants of up to $2,500 for educational outreach efforts. Matching grants of up to $10,000 are given to those groups needing assistance with building and equipment funds.

Ag Groups

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