RFA Ethanol Podcast

Creating Farm Podcasting Listeners

Chuck Zimmerman

Win an iPod at Schering PloughYou’ve got to love all the companies that are giving away iPods to producers so they can listen to our farm podcasts!

Take Schering-Plough which is giving away an iPod here at World Dairy Expo (Booth 3817). That’ll be one more dairy producer who can subscribe to our Milking Parlor podcast.

The idea of listening to content when you want and where you want and that you can’t get anywhere else is getting easier and easier to do and so more and more farmers are doing so.

2007 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
NutriDense Silage Charleston Orwig

Agribusiness, Podcasts, World Dairy Expo

Rhea & Kaiser Move Rewards Talent with Promotion

Laura McNamara

lynch_kim.jpgA look at the latest internal changes at Rhea & Kaiser would suggest the marketing communications agency rewards a job well done with a job on a higher rung of the company ladder. Rhea & Kaiser has promoted Kim Lynch from account supervisor to management supervisor of account services.

In her new role, Lynch will oversee all communication programs for the Bayer CropScience horticulture portfolio, which includes fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and seed treatments.

“Kim has a proven track record of excellent leadership and strategic planning capabilities,” said Kim Cooke, vice president and account management supervisor at R&K who oversees all Bayer CropScience business. “This expanded role enables her to contribute even more to this team and valued client.”

Advertising, Agencies

Hondo Grows Its Marketing Team

Laura McNamara

The Fort Worth-based Hondo Group is expanding its capabilities in marketing communications. Hondo now has a new account executive, a new junior designer and a new production and traffic manager. The company says it’s eager to put the fresh perspectives from these three new hires to use.

“We are very excited to bring in these three talented new employees,” said Lynn Balinas, president of The Hondo Group. “We look forward to expanding our account service and creative departments with a diverse team that will offer new perspectives to our clients and prospects.”

blackwell_cara.jpgCara Blackwell will serve as production and traffic manager for The Hondo Group. Prior to joining the company, Blackwell has served for more than 15 years in the advertising industry in Texas and California, working on accounts including Microsoft, Cingular, Sony, Kraft and Sears in various production management roles. Blackwell is an active volunteer with the Humane Society and graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.F.A. in Advertising.

woodward-ashley.jpgAshley Woodward joins The Hondo Group as an account executive. Woodward will be assisting with account service and public relations activities for Wyffels Hybrids and Badger Veterinary Hospital. Prior to joining the agency, she served as an intern at Remington Hybrid Seed Company. She recently completed her term as National President of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and holds a B.S. in Agricultural Communication from Purdue University.

hong_tina.jpgTina Hong will serve as a junior graphic designer for The Hondo Group. Hong specializes in brand identity, publication design and corporate identity packages. Hong previously served as a graphic designer for D. Anderson & Company, a local pharmaceutical company, and was a graphic design intern for Oregon State University’s Conference Services. Hong is an active member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts and earned a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Oregon State University.

The Hondo Group is dedicated to providing clients with strategic branding processes and procedures, and new products and technologies. The agency represents clients in a variety of areas including: commercial real estate, agriculture, western lifestyle and professional services. As a full service agency, The Hondo Group helps clients close the marketing loop between great products and satisfied consumers.

Advertising, Agencies

Monsanto Steps Up its Role in Ethanol Production

Laura McNamara

MonsantoMonsanto Company prides itself on being an industry leader when it comes to remaining on the cutting edge of agricultural technology. Now, Monsanto has announced it will be collaborating with Perten Instruments to ensure the company maintains its leadership in the emerging ethanol industry.

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) and Perten Instruments today announced a collaboration to develop advanced process analytical tools to help ethanol plants gain efficiency in their ethanol production process. The collaboration will focus on the development and application of technology to monitor the operating conditions and improve the efficiency of ethanol production. One area of focus will be to optimize ethanol yields based on incoming feedstock quality, such as Processor Preferred® High Fermentable Corn hybrids. The collaboration will also explore technologies to determine and improve the quality of ethanol co-products such as dry distillers grains (DDGS).

The collaboration will work to develop rapid analysis methods using Perten’s near infrared technology for process monitoring at over a dozen processing points in each ethanol production facility.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Ethanol, Technology

Badger NAMA Chapter Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

Betsy FrancoeurThe Badger chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association held a meeting here at Expo and members from other chapters around the country were invited to attend.

It provided a great opportunity for networking and we had a program too. On hand was Leigh Rubin, syndicated comic artist.

We were welcomed by chapter President, Betsy Francoeur, Bader Rutter.

Afterward some of us also attended the annual Fabulous Farm Babe party. I didn’t take many pics but there are a couple in the photo album.

2007 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
NutriDense Silage Charleston Orwig

NAMA, World Dairy Expo

America’s Heartland Kicks Off Third Televised Season

Laura McNamara

AmericaAmerican farmers and ranchers who not only dedicate their lives to their craft, but who also play vital parts in furthering the U.S.’s developing agriculture industry will again be featured on T.V. for the third season of America’s Heartland. The weekly public television series has just launched its third season of programming, highlighting key contributions from the people who make up the heart of American agriculture.

Twenty-two new half-hour segments will be featured in the magazine-style program this year. By the middle of the third season, America’s Heartland will have profiled unforgettable people, places and products of U.S. agriculture in all 50 states.

Season 3 segments include stories about five members of a hard-working North Dakota ranch family located in a remote corner of the state; a young Kansas farmer who’s laboring to keep his family’s farm going; a Las Vegas casino buffet operation that illustrates the farm-to-consumer connection on a very large scale; and an Anchorage, Alaska innovator who figures out something profitable to do with the scraps from the state’s salmon industry.

The program is made possible with funding from the series’ two flagship supporters – Monsanto Company and the American Farm Bureau Federation. The series also receives support from the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, United Soybean Board, the National FFA Organization, the U.S. Grains Council and National Association of Wheat Growers.
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Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Education, Farming, Media

Learn the Nuts & Bolts …

Melissa Sandfort

bc9d.jpgThe American Agricultural Editors’ Association and Livestock Publications Council are pleased to host the latest Midwest Regional Design & Writing Workshop. The Nuts & Bolts of Ag Communication will be held April 10, 2008 at Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Johnston, Iowa. Be a part of the design and writing tune-up! For more information, contact: Diane Johnson (LPC) at dianej@flash.net or Den Gardner (AAEA) at ageditors@aol.com.

AAEA, Education, LPC

LPC Meets With Dairy Woman of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

LPC With Deb ReinhartThe Livestock Publications Council met for breakfast with the Dairy Woman of the Year, Deborah Lee Reinhart, a producer from New Holstein, Wisconsin. She’s pictured third from the left in the front row

Diane Johnson, LPC Executive Director gave us an update on some of the regional workshops as well as the Gala Banquet at the American Royal in a few weeks. Then we heard from Deb about her award which she received last night.

Listen to the “Milking Parlor” podcast with Deb here: Listen To MP3 Interview with Deb Reinhart (MP3)

To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, here are some instructions.

2007 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
NutriDense Silage Charleston Orwig

Audio, Dairy, LPC

Farm Podcasting at World Dairy Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

DairyCastI’m not the only farm podcaster here at World Dairy Expo.

You can find DairyCast on display in the main exhibit hall building. If you’re feeling all stressed out then you should stop by for a stress release cow.

Host Ned Arthur is wandering around recording sessions and interviews for current and upcoming episodes of the program. I’m sure the folks at Truffle Media Networks are still getting questions from agricultural marketers who wonder if “anyone is listening.” I know I am. Well, while they’re wondering we’re out and about creating the web-delivered content that is fueling the new media phenomenon in our industry. By the way, yes producers are listening. We’re out here talking to them and that’s what they’re saying.

2007 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
NutriDense Silage Charleston Orwig

Podcasts, World Dairy Expo

Osborn & Barr to Promote Becker Underwood Bio-agronomic Development

Laura McNamara

Osborn & BarrOsborn & Barr is now the marketing firm of choice for Becker Underwood. The global leader in bio-agronomic development has named Osborn & Barr its agency of record.


“When we initiated the search for a new agency of record, it was very important to select an agency with a winning track record of effective brand management and marketing communications within the agricultural market,” said Paul Holliday, Becker Underwood, Business Unit Head – Inoculants. “After a thorough search and analysis, we selected Osborn & Barr because of the agency’s in-depth knowledge and understanding of the agricultural market and their tremendous success in representing some of the most widely recognized brands in the industry.”

Becker UnderwoodOsborn & Barr’s expertise will assist in increasing awareness of the innovative solutions Becker Underwood’s products offer the agriculture market. “Becker Underwood’s objective is to grow market share and build brand awareness among growers and retailers in both the United
States and Canada,” said Steve Barr, chief executive officer of Osborn & Barr. “Osborn & Barr will partner with Becker Underwood to develop and implement initiatives that fulfill the company’s goals.”

Becker Underwood, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, employs approximately 317 employees globally. For more than two decades, the company has provided unique and valuable products for niche markets in 60 countries, including agriculture, turf and landscaping, horticulture, and lawn and garden. Becker Underwood strives to develop new technologies and products through continuous scientific research that naturally improve customers’ end products, whether it’s higher crop yields or a more visually appealing golf course.

Advertising, Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Farming, Public Relations, Seed, Technology