Custom Cotton Reports For Monsanto

Chuck Zimmerman

Stewart DoanWhile last week’s Beltwide was going on Monsanto not only had Kara Willis doing student blogging but Stewart Doane was producing custom audio reports for their website. Called, “Daily Beltwide Cotton Conferences Audio Recap with Stewart Doan,” customers were able to find fresh news from the event each day. Great concept and a very good application for a company website don’t you think?

I asked Stewart if he was ready to start his own blog. Since he’s well known for reporting on cotton I think he could develop a real niche cotton news website and not only would growers be interested but companies like Monsanto would be willing to be sponsors. What do you think?

Agribusiness, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, Media

Country Living Association 1 Year Old

Chuck Zimmerman

Country Living AssociationSay Happy Birthday to the Country Living Association.

The Country Living Association is celebrating its one-year anniversary, according to Courtney Yuskis, director of Country Living Association. “Country Living Association had a great first year. The organization continues to expand and deliver additional value to our members and our sponsors,” Yuskis said. “It’s an exciting time to be involved in the rural lifestyle market and 2008 promises to be a great year for all involved with the association.”

People are passionate about the lifestyle they have chosen. Country Living Association has learned from members that while people are moving to the country for several reasons – their love of pets, space to raise horses, a safe environment to raise children, enjoyment of the great outdoors, etc. – the prevailing reason is that the quality of life they find in the country cannot be matched in a city. The NAFB Rural Lifestyle Report estimates that there are over 69 million people (27 million households) living in the country with the numbers increasing daily.

Ag Groups

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • DuPont has named Nicholas C. Fanandakis group vice president – DuPont Applied BioSciences. In this newly created position, Fanandakis will lead the company’s accelerated efforts to commercialize a range of bio-based products and technologies to meet growing global demand. Fanandakis, 51, currently vice president of planning, previously served four years as vice president and general manager of DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise. He has held a range of business leadership roles since joining the company in 1979.
  • North America’s Premier Farrier Educational Event, the 37th Annual AFA Convention, will be held Feb. 27 – March 1, 2008 in Lexington, Ky. Attendees have the chance to meet the world’s top farriers, see in-depth hoof care demonstrations, hear incredible lectures, and experience educational opportunities second to none. Click here for registration information. Veterinarians and vet tech’s in attendance qualify for 39 continuing education credits.
  • The Nebraska Pork Producers Association is proud to announce the members of the 2008 Pork Industry Mentoring Program. The Pork Industry Mentoring Program is an educational program that provides opportunities for agriculture youth leaders to explore areas of the pork industry by shadowing industry professionals and helps youth identify future careers, while developing their skills to be strong agricultural advocates. Members of the 2008 class include: Emily Arkfeld, Dunbar; Amareese Bettin, Leon, IA; Spencer Bolte, McCool Junction; Dana Christensen, Hardy, Mathew Habrock, Wayne; Meredith Jordan, Chelsmforth, MA; Danielle O’Neel, Friend; Kayla Rubenthaler, Gothenburg; Emily Tschida, Omaha; and Laura Witte, Scribner.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Learning More ABout Cotton Precision

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Pat SikoraOne of the new product development guys at John Deere in their precision area is Patrick Sikora, John Deere Ag Management Solutions Group. He was one of the guys I interviewed at last week’s Beltwide.

    Patrick says that cotton growers have been some of the earliest adopters of precision farming technology but that there may be some not familiar with products like Harvest Doc Cotton.

    With the Harvest Doc Cotton system, cotton producers will be able to document and map their cotton yields with the GreenStar™ system and their John Deere 9986 and 9996 cotton pickers. The Harvest Doc Cotton system enables producers to generate detailed cotton yield maps to help them make better and more informed management decisions.

    Patrick suggests that growers make sure they visit StellarSupport.com for all the information they need.

    You can listen to my interview with Patrick Sikora here: Listen to MP3 Patrick Sikora Interview (3 min mp3)

    You can also watch the interview if you’d like as well:

    Agribusiness, Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, Equipment, John Deere

    Monsanto Student Cotton Blogger

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Janice Person and Kara WillisMonsanto once again took their student bloggers on the road. This time to the Beltwide Cotton Conferences. The intern is Kara Willis who attends Prairie View A&M in Texas (right of Janice Person).

    You can find Kara’s blog on the Monsanto website. I spoke to her after she interviewed me for her blog. Kara is an ag econ major who feels like she really needs to get out in the field with people to gain valuable experience. She’s sure doing that. She also came to a cotton conference knowing nothing about the subject. That changed over the course of the week.

    I think you’ll enjoy listening to what Kara has to say about her agriblogging experience: beltwide-willis.mp3

    Cotton

    NAMA Seeking Manager Chapter Services/Membership

    Chuck Zimmerman

    National Agri-Marketing AssociationHave you got what it takes to do chapter services/membership work for the National Agri-Marketing Association? If so, then get your resume in. Just don’t call them.

    This position manages the relationship of NAMA headquarters with 24 professional and 35 student chapters. The qualified individual is responsible for assessing chapter needs, monitoring chapter activity, communicating products and services and providing guidance as needed. They will also be responsible for managing membership recruitment and assisting chapters with their recruitment efforts and will work directly with Chapter Services, Membership and Careers committees. Heavy travel is required.

    This position requires a bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years related experience in member/chapter relations, marketing, client services or event planning. Association experience is a plus but not a requirement. The individual must be able to meet deadlines and manage details of multiple projects simultaneously. Should have strong verbal and written communications skills.

    Interested candidates should send resumes along with a cover letter to: NAMA, 11020 King Street, Suite 205, Overland Park, KS 66210 or via e-mail to info@nama.org.

    NAMA

    Henry Domke Fine Art

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Health Care Fine ArtI know a lot of you out there are photographers, some are even professionals. That’s why I thought you might be interested to see how someone has turned their passion for taking pictures into a new career. I first met Henry Domke when I went in to my local doctor’s office for some kind of checkup and my primary was off that day. So he’s a doctor with a long career locally here in Jefferson City. I remember starting to see these awesome nature prints adorning their walls and learned that he’s a photographer and a darn good one. (I want to be like Henry)

    He’s also a blogger and a podcaster. I listened to his Living Healthy podcast which he has since discontinued but you can still listen to. Now you can find him via his Health Care Fine Art blog.

    Henry gets outside and finds opportunities for great photos that are turned into art when printed and displayed at medical institutions all over the country. That’s what he does now and from what I understand it’s more lucrative than even his successful medical career. You can see his work and arrange to purchase it on his main website.

    I realize this doesn’t have much to do with agriculture on the surface but . . . if you’re looking for a shining example of how you can use new media then look no further.

    Uncategorized

    Rich Jefferson Joins AEM

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Rich JeffersonRich Jefferson has joined the AEM in a newly created position. We’ve had a chance to talk on the phone and he’s certainly getting into the swing of things already.

    The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has named Richard Jefferson to the newly created position of Senior Director of Public Relations. He will oversee the trade group’s efforts to expand the scope of its activities for increased awareness to represent equipment manufacturers, particularly in the areas of public policy, global business development and workforce issues.

    Jefferson most recently served as Director of External Affairs for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Office of Public Affairs in Washington, DC. He has also managed the public relations activities of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, was legislative liaison with Virginia’s secretary of natural resources, and early in his career was a newspaper reporter and photographer in Summerville, Georgia and Greenville, Tennessee. Jefferson is an Illinois native.

    Ag Groups, Equipment

    No-Till Likes YieldGard VT Triple

    Chuck Zimmerman

    No-Till FarmerThe folks at No-Till Farmer have announced their best performing products of 2007 according to readers.

    The readers of No-Till Farmer have weighed in on the products that performed the best in their no-till operations in 2007, citing YieldGard VT Triple insect protection as the “No-Till Product of the Year.”

    In addition to the Product of the Year award, no-till products in 10 specific categories were also selected for outstanding performance. Each of the products and their manufacturers were honored during an awards ceremony before an estimated 800 no-tillers at the 16th annual National No-Tillage Conference in Cincinnati on Friday.

    Following are the 2007 award winners by category:

    • No-Till Product of the Year: YieldGard VT Triple, Monsanto.
    • Equipment: Early Riser Planters, Case IH
    • Planter/Drill Attachments: Keeton Seed Firmer, Precision Planting
    • Strip-Till: Blu-Jet Strip-Till Unit, Thurston Manufacturing
    • Spraying: Turbo TeeJet Tips, TeeJet
    • Residue Management: The Spreader, The Spreader Inc.
    • Fertility: Agrotain, Agrotain International
    • Insect Protection: Herculex, Dow AgroSciences/Pioneer Hi-Bred
    • Herbicides: Liberty/Liberty Link, Bayer CropScience
    • Fungicides: Headline, BASF
    • Seed Treatment: Poncho, Bayer CropScience

    Agribusiness, Publication

    Food For Game Day

    Laura McNamara

    Sam’s ClubFootball fans looking for the perfect game day eats are in luck. Sam’s Club and the Food Network Kitchens are teaming up to offer football enthusiasts some tips for festive party treats and more.

    Sam’s Club kicks off the playoffs by helping football fans meet their food and party needs this season with the Big Game Playbook showcasing great and easy tips to help even the newest rookie plan a great party for “any given Sunday,” playoff match or the big game.

    Restaurateurs and cookbook authors Jamie & Bobby Deen, sons of Food Network celebrity Paula Deen, are included in the playbook along with a special pizza recipe for Sam’s Club that brings a new twist to a game day tradition.

    The Playbook highlights everything a party-planner needs to know, from how to prep, get guests engaged and clean up. Sam’s Club is offering the playbook free to members and guests in club or at samsclub.com/biggame. *A service fee of 10 percent may apply to non-member purchases in club, and membership is required to purchase items online. Annual membership starts at $35.

    The playbook even offers football terminology, touchdown trivia and games for halftime.

    Food