Michael’s Real Life Tour

Cindy Zimmerman

Michael Real Life TourIt sounds kind of like a new reality show and in a way it is.

Country singer Michael Peterson’s “My Real Life, Strong For America Tour” is about spending several days in each town getting to meet lots of members of the community and sharing stories, music, motivation and great ideas about how we can all work to build better communities.

Instead of just coming in to a town and playing a concert and then leaving, Michael will be spending time at each tour stop really getting to know the people in the community.

Michael Peterson at Biodiesel ConferenceMichael was just at the National Biodiesel Conference in Orlando and I had the chance to visit with him about the tour, which kicks off February 18-23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is really excited about the opportunity to spend time with people all over the country – especially young people – in a week long celebration of community at each stop.

Stops on the tour include Greenville, SC; Charlotte, NC; Dothan, AL; Columbus, GA; Evansville, IN; Midland, TX; Waco, TX; Lawton, OK; and Lincoln, NE. Among the tour’s sponsors are the U.S. Army, American Legion, and our good friends at New Holland.

Find out more at myreallifetour.com.

Listen to my interview with Michael here: peterson-tour.mp3

Audio, New Holland

Feeder Handles Your Feeds

Chuck Zimmerman

FeederI know some of you are farm podcasting or thinking about it. Here’s a handy looking little program that you might find helpful.

I’m currently doing a trial with Feeder by Reinvented Software and it looks promising. I’ve tried several of these over the years (can’t believe I’ve been doing this for years now) and never been happy with the results.

I’ve imported the existing feed file for my weekly ZimmCast. I used the built-in forms in the software to add and change some elements of the feed, saved it and uploaded it to our server. I haven’t tried the automatic ftp feature yet but intend to.

With this first effort it showed how easy it is to create and manage your feed. The software will even upload your media file via ftp for you.

If you’re still intimidated by the whole thing then you can always just hire the experts at ZimmComm New Media.

Post Update: I didn’t notice but this is only available for Macs. Sorry PC users.

Podcasts

AgWired Survey 2008 Contest Giveaway

Chuck Zimmerman

I know I’ve mentioned this before but it’s your weekly reminder to take the very short AgWired Survey.

We did this a couple years ago and just need to update our records which will really help us out when it comes to working with new sponsors and supporters.

So, if you haven’t done it yet then go ahead and Git ‘er Done.

Thank you.

Uncategorized

National Farm Machinery Show Media Room

Chuck Zimmerman

National Farm Machinery ShowThe National Farm Machinery Show now has an official media room. Great news for those of us who will be there this week. Last year was my first year and not having a media room made it a challenge.

An official National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) media room designated to serve members of the working press at the NFMS and Championship Tractor Pull will provide hospitality to members of the media, allow stories to be filed online and provide an appropriate setting to conduct broadcast interviews.

WHEN: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, February 13-16

WHERE: Kentucky Exposition Center, South Wing B, Room 100

AMENITIES: Wireless Internet, computer access with printer, telephone, dedicated phone line for broadcasts, seating with backdrop for interviews, press rack and refreshments>

That’s what I’m talking about!

Farm Shows, National Farm Machinery Show

Starting and Running Your Own Small Farm Business

Chuck Zimmerman

Small Farm Business BookFreelance writer Sarah Aubrey has just published a new book for anyone who wants to start their own small farm business.

Good morning! Just wanted to email and let you know that my new book, Starting and Running Your Own Small Farm Business, (Storey Publishing, LLC) is now available. To order a single copy at $19.95 (plus shipping and state tax), feel free to contact me by phone or email and I can send you one. Or if you prefer, check out one of many book websites such as www.amazon.com, www.barnesnoble.com to order there. For larger quantities for organizations or groups, contact Storey Publishing’s sales team. Call or email Tina Parent at tina.parent@storey.com or call 1-800-827-7444, ext, 2175. I really appreciate everyone who has supported this endeavor and I look forward to your feedback and ideas for the next one!

Here’s where you find it on Amazon.

Publication

Angus Productions Getting MultiMedia

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-158 - Producing Angus ProductionsI don’t know about you but I’ve wondered just what Angus Productions, Inc. does. When I got into the media room at the Cattle Industry Convention early last week I saw these little cards promoting www.4cattlemen.com and they said it’s producted by API. That raised even more questions in my mind after visiting the site.

So to learn more I interviewed Shauna Hermel, Editor, Angus Productions Inc. before the convention ended last week. Shauna says they publish Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin. Additionally, they have a special services department and a newly created media department to help cattle producers promote their herd by providing things like custom writing services.

Shauna HermelShe says that www.4cattlemen.com is now in its 6th year and that they provide coverage of 4 major shows per year. Besides the Cattle Industry Convention they do the Beef Improvement Federation, National Angus Conference and Range Beef Cow Symposium and they’re thinking about adding more. She says they bring several staff members to the shows with some doing written summaries of the meetings and others doing video production which she says they’re doing more and more of.

This week’s program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. It’s called “Machinery” by the Might Could. I picked this song since I’ll be attending this week’s National Farm Machinery Show. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 158 (16 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:zimmcast158-2-11-08.mp3

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

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Publication, ZimmCast

Try to Guess Whose Boots These Are

Chuck Zimmerman

Whose Boots?Okay. Maybe this is too hard. So, I guess I can provide some clues. Such as, “she” works in farm broadcasting.

So here’s how it works. The first person to correctly identify Whose Boots these are and post it in a comment here will win a ZimmComm Logo speaker for their iPod.

Post Update: The guesses are good but not correct so I’m adding more clues. She is a northern farm broadcaster.

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board rolled out an information campaign aimed at providing “Kernels of Truth” about the role of corn ingredients in the nation’s food supply. The ICGA and ICPB rolled out their campaign at a press luncheon featuring hamburgers, potato salad, brownies and cookies. Growers at the event made the point that corn contributed just 22¢ to the cost of each lunch. The “Kernels of Truth” campaign breaks down the bill for commonly purchased products – breakfast cereal, hamburger, eggs, milk, soft drinks, and ethanol – to show how much of the consumer price actually goes to farmers. With the help of local farmers, the organizations plan to carry their “Kernels of Truth” to supermarkets in Iowa in the coming months.
  • Valent U.S.A. Corporation and its parent company, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., announced that they have filed complaints against Syngenta AG and a number of its subsidiaries in the International Trade Commission and against one Syngenta subsidiary in the U.S. District Court for Western Wisconsin. These cases seek relief for infringement of Sumitomo Chemical’s patent on an insecticide compound known as clothianidin, an insecticide used to control insect pests on plants. Valent and Sumitomo Chemical filed a separate complaint against Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, alleging that Syngenta’s later use patent on clothianidin is invalid.
  • Syngenta announced that it has entered into an agreement with Athenix Corp. for the discovery of novel corn insect and soybean cyst nematode resistance genes. Under the agreement, Athenix will screen its extensive microbial strain collection for the identification and initial development of novel gene leads in the targeted areas of corn rootworm, European corn borer, broad lepidopteran, and soybean cyst nematode control. The resultant gene leads will be provided to Syngenta for further development.
Zimfo Bytes

New CBB Chairman Dave Bateman

Chuck Zimmerman

Dave BatemanThe Cattle Industry Convention is about over. I’ve got some posts to do still but you can also find a lot of additional interviews over on the Checkoff website – Beef Board Meeting.com.

This morning the CBB welcomed a new chairman – Dave Bateman. Here’s Dave, hard at work at today’s annual meeting.

After the meeting I did a short interview with Dave.

He says he feels a mix of excitement and a little bit of anxiety because these are exciting times where there are a lot of programs and fewer dollars to work with. He’s going to focus on continuing to build beef demand while maintaining confidence and all of the things that are important to consumers.

He says they’ll continue to work diligently to improve the process of distilling what programs are most effective and can best use Checkoff dollars. Like many here Dave says that although there are some industry factors that don’t look too good right now the mood is very upbeat.

His administration will be one of collaboration using the collective wisdom of all the people who are involved. He also wants producers to know that they can contact any of the officers or board members anytime to offer their input.

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

2008 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

Audio

Barilla Cooks to Fight Hunger

Laura McNamara

The Celebrity Italian TablePasta lovers looking to spice up their pasta dishes with professional, chef-inspired recipes have a new cookbook from Barilla to try out. Barilla is offering its second annual downloadable cookbook for free in its campaign to help fight hunger.

Barilla, the world’s number one pasta maker, announces its second annual call on pasta lovers to help fight hunger with the launch of “The Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook.” Renowned chef Mario Batali, entertaining expert David Tutera and five Hollywood celebrities partnered with Barilla to offer unique recipes and stylish table concepts.

Throughout the month of February, the cookbook is available online for no charge at www.celebrityitaliantable.com. For every person who downloads a copy, Barilla will donate $1 to America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network (up to $100,000).

Tutera and Batali developed six three-course meals and table settings inspired by Hollywood celebrities Chris Daughtry, Debra Messing, Natalie Portman, Marisa Tomei and Stanley Tucci, which can easily be recreated at home. To thank the celebrities for their participation, Barilla is making an additional $25,000 donation to America’s Second Harvest on their behalf.

This year’s cookbook offers the following celebrity-inspired recipes and table settings:

— Romantic Night with Chris Daughtry’s Rigatoni with Basil and Gorgonzola
— Celebratory Feast with Debra Messing’s Penne alla Vodka
— Girlfriends Gathering with Natalie Portman’s Penne alla Puttanesca
— Dinner Party with Marisa Tomei’s Farfalle “alla Marisa”
— Family Dinner with Stanley Tucci’s Spaghetti al Tonno
— Babbo with Mario Batali’s restaurant favorite Fettuccine with Zucca

Tonno, by the way, is Tuna. Zucca is pumpkin. Zucca is an Italian favorite. In fact, it’s one of my Italian favorites. Puttanesca, well, is named after the prostitues of Napoli. It’s considered to be a robust, hot and spicy past dish.

Food