Find Out About GEOSS Friday

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m not entirely sure what to make of this but it has the involvement of a lot of people in agribusiness. It’s an invitation to for an event this Friday in Washington, DC. The invitation was emailed out from the National Cotton Council. If we get some more information from it I’ll pass it along.

EPA Seal

WHO: National Cotton Council Advisor Kenneth Hood, a Mississippi cotton producer and founder of InTime, a crop input management services firm, joined by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns; Vice Admiral USN (Ret) Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere/ National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration administrator; and business leaders representing: John Deere, Monsanto, Bunge, National Corn Growers Association and DigitalGlobe.

WHAT: Seminar – AGRIBUSINESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY – New Global Earth Observation System Will Change Face of Agriculture

WHEN: Friday, May 20, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: U.S. Chamber of Commerce/International Hall of Flags
1615 H Street, NW
Washington, D.C.

Breaking new ground, top government and business leaders will underscore how the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems, now supported by nearly 60 countries, can revolutionize the face of agribusiness in the 21st century. Focus will be on improving agribusiness’ ability to meet accelerating world needs for food and fiber, cope more effectively with rapid changes in international markets, and reduce vulnerability to extremes of weather, climate and pests. Advances in Earth observations, science and service are transforming agriculture, helping farmers to farm even when there are several thousands acres over several counties to cover!

Kenneth Hood states: “This technology gives the farmer the tools to make intelligent management decisions on applying crop inputs by knowing when, where and the exact amount needed in the field as opposed to blanket treatments. This results in a proven 20-50 percent savings in a farmer’s application of chemicals as well as a direct cost savings to the farmer through increased labor efficiency and reduced chemical costs.”

For more information contact David Logsdon or Madelyn Appelbaum.

Ag Group, Government

Blogging 101 Coming To Midlands NAMA

Chuck Zimmerman

If you’re in the Omaha area tomorrow plan to attend the Midlands NAMA meeting. I’ll be giving a presentation I call Blogging 101. The meeting will be at 3pm at Quarry Oaks Clubhouse. Directions are on the NAMA website.

Quarry Oaks Ball Image

If you have no idea what a blog is or even if you subscribe to many, you’ll want to come to the meeting to learn how this website format works and how you can use blogs in your marketing communications. The presentation will include the use and demonstration of live, online blogs and various components and features that include: Blogging Software Options, RSS, XML, Podcasting, Trackback, Search Engine Optimization, Archiving and more.

If you’d like to have this presentation at your meeting or for your staff just give me a call and we’ll see what’s available on the schedule.

Blogging, NAMA, Podcasts

The Bike Belongs To Mike

Chuck Zimmerman

Congratulations to Donna Taylor with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica for correctly indentifying the owner of the motorcycle that was parked in front of the BCS Communications office during their open house last week. Donna knew it belonged to:

Mike Gustafson

Mike Gustafson, John Deere

Nice bike, Mike! Donna wins an “I’ve been blogged by AgriMarketing Pros” t-shirt. Mike already has one.

Agribusiness

World Ag Forum Seeks Key To Peace, Security and Growth

Chuck Zimmerman

The World Agricultural Forum gets started today in St. Louis but I’m going to miss it this year. I’ll try to have some images and information sent to me so I can update you on what the discussions are like. The theme this year is “The Key to Peace, Security and Growth: Local, Regional AND Global Agri-Food Systems.”

World Ag Forum Logo

World Agricultural Forum CEO, Leonard Guarraia, has put together another list of very interesting representatives from a variety of countries. You can see the program here: World Agricultural Forum Program

Ag Group, Agribusiness

Latest ZimmCast From A Very Small Room At BCS In KC, MO

Chuck Zimmerman

BCS Moose

In our ZimmCast this week I interview the three principals of BCS in Kansas City. Illinois Blasdel, Leigh Ann Cleaver and Kelly Schwalbe hosted an agency open house last week. I just wish I could have stayed for the whole party but that would have meant getting a hotel room and I had to get back home. You can look at the comments from my first post about the open house last week to find out how long the party actually lasted!

You can listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast

BCS Logo

Only one person has responded so far about who owns the motorcycle in the picture I posted last week. She’s already got a T-shirt so I’m hoping for at least one more entry!

The current edition of ZimmCast is always available in our “Audio Programming” sidebar.

Agency, Audio, ZimmCast

Looking Forward To Switzerland

Chuck Zimmerman

I just got a bunch of information from the people handling the upcoming International Federation of Agricultural Journalists meeting in Thun, Switzerland. Now if I could just find that sponsor to help cover the final expenses of the trip . . .

Thun Switzerland

This is going to be a great trip and a long one. I’ll be blogging my way from central Missouri there and back. I am actually seeking a sponsor to cover primarily travel expenses. Cindy will be going with me on this one too!

If you would like to discuss a sponsorship please let me know. Since we don’t sell advertising at present I’m going to make sure that the posts I do related to this trip contain a reference to our sponsor(s). A sponsorship package will include Talking News Release service so we’ll make it very worthwhile. Just let me know.

Blogging, IFAJ

House Ag Committee Dems Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

The House Ag Committee Democrats get it! Yep, Congressman Colin Peterson kicked it off. They’re blogging! Earlier this week I was contacted by their press secretary by email to discuss blogging and am looking forward to talking about it with her.

Just one more example of how such a great communication technique can be put to use.

House Ag Committee Democrats

Plowing the Hill…

Date: May 12, 2005

Today, we launch the House Agriculture Committee Democrats’ website. I hope that the information and features on this website will be helpful and informative for people who are interested in news on American agricultural policy.

One of the many features of this website is this blog that I and other Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee will use to communicate regularly with website visitors. The blog provides a forum for us to discuss new and ongoing issues of importance to agriculture.

I hope that you will take some time to look at all of the information that our website has to offer. Also, come back to our site often to read the latest on our blog and to check out new features that will be coming soon.

Don’t forget to sign up for news updates and information from the Agriculture Committee Democrats using the form on the main page.

Posted by: Congressman Collin C. Peterson | Feedback

My feedback Congressman is “blog on!”

Blogging, Government

Support Corn, Eat Beef & Pork

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s an item from the Illinois Corn Growers Daily Corn Industry Update that I just had to post and agree with. I like to say that I love soybeans and corn, especially after they’ve been processed by a tasty animal! It’s good to see corn growers openly acknowledging this. I know the soybean folks do and even have a special animal ag initiative.

So support corn growers and eat your beef and pork!

Illinois Corn Industry Update

May 12 – CORN GROWERS SEE PORK & BEEF AS GRAIN EXPORTS: Grain is one of the United States’ most important exports, but grain producers are appreciating more and more that when the United States exports beef and pork, it’s really exporting grain, according to Illinois Corn Marketing Board Executive Director Rodney Weinzierl.

U.S. corn growers, including Weinzierl, recently visited the European Union (EU), in a team put together by the U.S. Grains Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), for face-to-face meetings with EU officials, importers, traders and farmers.

Since the high-quality, mouth-watering flavor of U.S. beef and pork is mostly a product of the animals’ grain and soybean diets, in the past decade, 2.6 million bushels of corn have been exported in the value-added form of $43 billion of U.S. beef and pork exports, according to a story in the Drover Journal this week.

For more information contact Lori McCubbins.

Ag Group

FFA On The Way

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s not too early to plan for the FFA Convention, October 26-29, Louisville, KY. They’ve got a website that’s chock full of information so check it out.

FFA Logo

Welcome to the 78th National FFA Convention’s
Planning Guide

This convention’s focus on learning, leadership and success will be reinforced through an exciting array of speakers, programs, activities and workshops that offer insights and information for students and teachers alike. The interactive Agriscience Institute, which made its debut in 2003 at the Career Show will return in 2005.

As the nation’s largest annual student meeting, there is no question that the national FFA convention is a life changing experience for FFA members, inspiring them to reach for goals never considered. Advisors mark October on your calendars and start making your plans for the 78th National FFA Convention today. Remember to invite your principal, counselors, parents, alumni and sponsors so they can all experience the Blue and Gold legacy — Learn. Lead. Succeed.

For more information contact Kristy Meyer.

Ag Group

Who Owns This Bike?

Chuck Zimmerman

I know who owns it. Do you? He came to the Blasdell Cleaver Schwalbe open house astride this bad boy, strutting inside pulling off his biker’s gloves. I know you know him well. The first person to comment or email me with his identity will receive a “I’ve been blogged by AgriMarketing Pros” t-shirt. (We’ll identify him in a future post)

Bike

Agency