Country Living Olympics

Chuck Zimmerman

Country Living AssociationI’m not sure what you do at a Country Living Olympics but I’d sure like to find out. It must have something to do with animals though since it’s going to happen during the American Royal Livestock and Trade Show. Besides country living sports the Country Living Association is planning a full day of speakers and panel discussions to help us better understand this growing marketplace. Make your plans to attend now by registering online.

More and more Americans are buying the farm – literally. Whether looking to get away from the city, enjoying the outdoors and their animals, or seeking the privacy and safety of the rural setting, country living consumers are becoming a growing and important market segment.

Individuals and businesses looking for ways to develop strategies to reach out to this growing rural lifestyle market are invited to attend two upcoming events sponsored by the Country Living Association (CLA): The Country Living Outlook Conference and the CLA National Event and Country Living Olympics.

“As the country living segment revives small towns across America, it is becoming an increasingly prominent buying segment,” says Courtney Yuskis, director of Country Living Association. “The Country Living Outlook Conference will help businesses and other entrepreneurs appeal to this burgeoning group and its unique needs and priorities. The National Event and Olympics is for families and individuals interested in the rural lifestyle, whether currently living in a rural area or considering a move to the country. It’s an opportunity to meet others, share information and have fun.”
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Ag Groups

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • Railroad Commission of Texas, will test an innovative power generation system on a Texas dairy farm. “The Railroad Commission of Texas is honored to receive funding both from PERC and NRCS,” said PERC Agriculture Advisory Committee member Dr. Steve Jaeger.” The support of both organizations proves we are on the right track to find environmentally friendly technologies for the U.S. agriculture industry.” NRCS provides grants to organizations that will develop or utilize innovative technologies to provide solutions to environmental issues affecting the agriculture industry. PERC also supported the project with a grant. The Railroad Commission of Texas’s Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division (AFRED) will manage the project to monitor the efficiency of a combined heat and power (CHP) system in generating electrical power and supplying hot water to the dairy. The CHP system will utilize three propane-fueled micro-cogenerators to produce the electricity.
  • Farm Aid, The New School and Food Systems Network NYC gathered community food and farm activists, local and state policy makers and policy analysts Wednesday to identify strategies for strengthening family farm agriculture, advancing food security and helping connect more people with family-farm identified foods. The New York Food Policy Forum: Fresh Ideas on Farms and Food emphasized the importance of strengthening family-farm agriculture through New York and federal policy changes. “The New York Food Policy Forum is a vibrant example of this legacy of encouraging cooperative action among activists, advocates and political figures. Together, we’re building a good food future for New York City and the nation,” said Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar.
  • Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and Exelixis Plant Sciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelixis, Inc., has announced that the companies have signed a major research collaboration agreement which includes the purchase of selected assets by Dow AgroSciences’ affiliate Agrigenetics Inc. The agreement is focused on the development of new tools for gene discovery and validation of novel crop traits. The asset purchase by Dow AgroSciences includes certain intellectual property and physical assets used for crop trait discovery.“This asset purchase and collaboration will accelerate our gene discovery and validation efforts as we work to bring revolutionary solutions for our customers,” said Daniel R. Kittle, Ph.D., vice president of Research and Development for Dow AgroSciences.
Zimfo Bytes

Autofarm and Raven Industries Expand Collaboration

Chuck Zimmerman

AutofarmIt seems like the precision agriculture companies are doing a lot of collaborating these days. It makes sense when you consider how many different components have to work together from software to satellites to hardware. Here’s the latest announcement from Autofarm and Raven Industries.

AutoFarm and Raven Industries announce the expansion of a collaborative agreement for product development opportunities following the successful launch of the new Raven steering system, QuickTrax. The collaborative team is finishing development and test of a new system which will provide full-featured sub-inch accurate RTK automated steering designed by AutoFarm and state-of-the-art displays and controls such as Viper Pro and Envizio Pro by Raven Industries.

This expanded effort will take advantage of expertise and existing products from both companies: Raven, offering the displays plus sprayer and planter section control, boom height control and variable rate control for sprayers, spreaders and planters; AutoFarm, offering market leading technology in sub-inch accurate RTK steering systems.

“The system will be marketed mutually and will be available through the distribution channels of both Raven and AutoFarm by mid winter, which will expand the GPS steering market for both companies domestically and internationally,” says Justin Larouche, AutoFarm Director of Product Management.

Agribusiness, Precision Agriculture

Missouri Beef Industry Council Video PSA

Chuck Zimmerman

Tour of MissouriThe Missouri Beef Industry Council has been a client of ours since we started ZimmComm New Media going on four years ago. They called last week needing a video psa to use in the upcoming stage 4 event of the Tour of Missouri, a professional bicycle race across the state.

So with a little help from iMovie and iDVD it was easy to create some photos with the Beef Checkoff logo, use a Sam Elliott audio spot, add a tag and there you have it. Fast, easy and it works. The event in Columbia, MO will feature the video running on as a loop on a screen that’s managed by the Columbia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. So whenever you make a video what do you do with it? That’s right class. Put in on YouTube.

If I were competing in the race I’d sure want a nice steak to give me power and energy. MBIC will be serving beef samples at the event.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Video

I’ll Be Your Geek Marketer

Chuck Zimmerman

Many AgWired fans know I recommend Micro Persuasion written by Steve Rubel. The man has more insight into how new media can be used as corporate marketing tools than anyone else I’ve found. I have tried diligently to apply his ideas to the agricultural marketing world. He also writes a column for Advertising Age and his latest one is right on the money in my opinion.

He writes about a new career path that’s emerging on the advertising/PR agency and client sides called the Geek Marketer. “My thesis is this: it’s very difficult for anyone in marketing to keep up with all the twists the digital space because technology changes so darn fast. It’s like chasing a cheetah. Most marketers – be they clients or agency side – are heads-down running their business. Therefore, companies are creating a new role. They’re hiring people who act as translators between the ultra geeks and the marketers, if you will, and shepherd the development of pilot programs.”

He says about people like us, “They are marketers by trade, yet they also have a hard-core interest in technology and social anthropology. As curious individuals, they are constantly studying how digital advances are changing our culture and media. Armed with these insights, they regularly apply them in a marketing context by working closely with brand teams to codify new best practices.”

So, do you have a Geek Marketer on your staff? Are you willing to let that person try some new marketing programs that use technology you’re not familiar with or that you don’t use yourself? If Geek Marketer is not on your corporate flow chart then keep the Godfather of ag blogging in mind.

Advertising, Public Relations

Get To Know Laura Mayfield

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-135 - New President at McCormick CompanyI had an opportunity this morning to talk with the new President of McCormick Company, Laura Mayfield. Our conversation will help you get to know her.

Laura MayfieldLaura says she’s worked with some of the staff at McCormick on projects over a period of several years so she’s not a complete stranger. She says that clients can expect the same great service they’ve come to expect from McCormick. Mark Perrin, will now serve as President of JLM1926 Holdings, the parent company of the agency.

You can also find out where the ZimmComm crew will be in coming weeks on the show. I’ve also included music this week from the Podsafe Music Network. Since we’re talking agency this week’s song is “Path Way” by a group called Space Agency.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 135 (17 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast135-9-4-07.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

Agencies, Audio, ZimmCast

New Leadership At John Deere

Laura McNamara

James M. FieldVarious members of Deere & Company’s senior management have become, well, even more senior. The company also opened up a new position.

Deere & Company has announced the appointment of two new senior officers as well as new assignments for other members of the senior management team, including the creation of a position to leverage several key disciplines across the four divisions of the company.

“As has been Deere’s practice for generations, we continue to strengthen, deepen and broaden leaders at all levels of the Company, including the senior management team,” said Robert W. Lane, chairman and chief executive officer. “These changes will expand the experience of these individual leaders and enhance our ability to achieve high levels of sustained performance by distinctively serving John Deere customers.”

Mark von PentzJoining the senior management team will be James M. Field, who will become President, Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division, and Markwart von Pentz, who will become President, Agricultural Division, Europe, Africa and South America and Global Harvesting Equipment Sourcing.

Von Pentz replaces H. J. Markley, who is being named to a new position of Executive Vice President with responsibility across the entire Deere enterprise for worldwide parts services; global supply management and logistics; enterprise information technology; and corporate communications.

H.J. Markley“In the face of significant competitive challenges, it is essential that Deere focuses senior leadership on these four specific areas that serve the entire enterprise,” said Lane. “In this new role, H. J. Markley will help ensure that Deere’s remarkable power of aligned high performance teamwork is maximized across the enterprise.”

Von Pentz has been serving as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Product Support for Europe, Africa and Middle East. He has held a number of positions in marketing leadership for John Deere both in Europe and North America.

John J. DalhoffDeere also said that John J. Dalhoff will become Vice President and Comptroller to replace Field. Dalhoff has most recently served as Director of Finance, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division.

Additional changes in leadership include the assignment of Advanced Technology and Innovation and Intelligent Mobile Equipment Technologies to Samuel R. Allen, who is President, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division and John Deere Power Systems; and the assignment of Corporate Human Resources and Industrial Relations to David C. Everitt, who is President, Agricultural Division, North America, Australia and Asia and Global Tractor & Implement Sourcing.

John Deere

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • As National Rice Month kicks off this September, busy consumers can explore their adventurous side with award-winning recipes that are quick-to-fix and perfect for any occasion. The USA Rice Federation is now offering consumers Rev Up Your Rice, a free recipe brochure featuring seven new award-winning rice recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes using six ingredients! For the 9th Annual “Rev Up Your Rice!” recipe contest, USA Rice selected seven winning recipes from more than 1,300 dishes submitted by home cooks. Winners were selected based on taste, ease of preparation, creativity and appearance. A total of $12,000 in cash prizes and Aroma 10-cup Sensor Logic Deluxe Rice Cookers were awarded. Teresa Ralston of New Albany, Ohio won both honors for her Maple-Glazed Chicken with Cranberry Arugula Rice. This brown rice recipe features delicately-sweet, maple-glazed chicken, tart dried cranberries, and is accented with flavors of arugula and Gorgonzola cheese.
  • Catalyzing an entire new industry for North Carolina is the long-term task of the newly established Biofuels Center of North Carolina, which moved to reality today following its first board of directors meeting. Funded with a $5 million initial appropriation from the 2007 General Assembly, the non-profit corporation will in coming years implement North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership. The Plan was mandated by the General Assembly in 2006 and presented to its Environmental Review Commission in April of this year. The Plan offers a challenging goal: by 2017, 10 percent of liquid fuels sold in North Carolina will come from biofuels grown and produced within the state. At current usage rates, production of almost 600 million gallons will be required. The Strategic Plan was shaped by a 24-member steering committee and more than 80 public and private participants from across North Carolina.
  • The Iowa State University Research Foundation (ISURF) and Monsanto Company have announced an agreement that resolves a patent dispute related to low linolenic soybeans and establishes a relationship that paves the way for future technology development. Under the terms of the agreement Monsanto will receive a commercial license from ISURF for current and future low linolenic acid product lines developed by Iowa State University. The University will receive a research license for the use of Roundup RReady2Yield™ soybeans.
Zimfo Bytes

Ethanol God-Father Hits the Airwaves

Laura McNamara

David BlumeThe man known as the “Ethanol God-Father” is set to tackle the “myths” about ethanol in Oregon, Illinois, Wisconsin and California. Blume will be giving speeches at various Renewable Energy Conferences and Seminars. The “Bio-expert” will also be featured on XM radio and T.V.

The International Institute for Sustainable Agriculture has announced that its founder and current Executive Director, David Blume has been asked to appear on radio, TV and as a lead speaker for a number of renewable energy symposiums in the coming two months. Blume is globally acknowledged as the “god-father” of ethanol and is a leading advocate and expert on renewable solutions to the global need for inexpensive, non-polluting, and sustainable energy and food sources.

Blume’s coming talks provide unrivaled insight into the practicality of transforming US energy production and use to a totally sustainable model. Blume presents myth-busting facts, scientific data, and proven methodologies that give audiences a revolutionary first-person look at truly sustainable solutions to global warming, green house gas emissions, food resource issues as well as provide them with a road-map to a new post-oil economy.

As part of his coming in-person appearances, Blume will be a featured guest on the Thom Hartmann Radio Program. Now in its fifth year of national syndication and heard globally on XM and Sirius satellite radio, Hartmann’s program is carried in 7 of the nation’s top 10 media markets and 14 of the top 25 markets. Hartmann is also a featured commentator in the new Leonardo DiCaprio environmental documentary The 11th Hour.
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Ag Groups, Ethanol, Farming

Scholarship Contest Honors National Rice Month

Laura McNamara

National Rice MonthThe U.S. Rice Federation hopes a grand prize of $3,500 will entice high school students to join the campaign to promote rice for National Rice Month. The contest will dole out a total of $10,000 in scholarship money.

Scholarship opportunities await high school students in rice-growing communities as they head back to school. September is National Rice Month, and the USA Rice Federation is sponsoring a scholarship contest to encourage rice promotion and support education.

High school juniors and seniors whose families are directly involved in the rice industry are eligible for the USA Rice NRM scholarships. To qualify to win, students must run a promotion in their local community during September with U.S.-grown rice as the central theme.

The contest will be held in the six major rice-growing states: Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. Nine scholarship prizes totaling $10,000 are available. The grand prize is a $3,500 scholarship. Additional prizes are: second place, $2,000; third place, $1,500; fourth place, $1,000; fifth place, $750; and sixth place, $500. Three honorable mention prizes of $250 each also are available.

The grand-prize winner and a chaperone will receive an expense-paid trip to the 2007 USA Rice Outlook Conference, December 2-4, in Orlando, FL, for the scholarship presentation.

Initiated by an act of Congress in 1991, September marks the seventeenth annual National Rice Month celebration, a time when America salutes its rice farmers, millers and everyone involved in the U.S. rice industry.

Farming, Food