RFA Ethanol Podcast

Drake & Company Wins Silver Anvil

Chuck Zimmerman

Steve Drake & Stanley CupIt may look like Steve Drake won the Stanley Cup but he really didn’t. He just got his picture taken by it. However, Drake & Co. did win a big award along with their client the National Christmas Tree Association.

For the second year in a row, the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) has earned a top national public relations award. The Public Relations Society of American (PRSA) presented a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence to NCTA, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, FedEx, Ketchum Public Relations and Drake & Company for the 2005 Trees for Troops program.
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Ag Groups, Agencies

Rhea & Kaiser Recognized for CAT Work

Chuck Zimmerman

Rhea & Kaiser AEM AwardI suppose having to spend some time on a sailboat in Baltimore harbor would be okay in order to receive some awards. It looks like that’s what Rhea & Kaiser had to do.

Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications, a leading integrated marketing communications agency, was recently recognized by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) during the annual Publications in Construction Association “Measures of Success in Communications” awards in Baltimore. For the second year, R&K was the most recognized agency at the competition for equipment marketing by winning an unprecedented four awards for its efforts on behalf of Caterpillar General Construction and The Cat Rental Store. In 2005, the agency also brought home four awards, including AEM’s first ever Best of Show.
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Agencies

First Dairy Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman

Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Forum PodcastIt’s always fun announcing a first and here at ZimmComm New Media we’re having fun!

Announcing the first podcast for dairy producers.

Pioneer Hi-Bred introduces a regular podcast called “Forage Forum.” This twice a month program will feature news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition. The program is hosted by my award winning partner and wife, Cindy. She’ll be bringing dairy producers information that will help them become more efficient and profitable.

Bill MahannaDr. Bill Mahanna is the featured expert on the program. He’s coordinator of global nutritional sciences at Pioneer Hi-Bred. His responsibilities include providing technical leadership in how Pioneer nutritionally profiles and develops corn, alfalfa and forage and grain additive products to meet the needs of the livestock industry.

I think it’s kind of fitting that we announced the new podcast today on World Dairy Diary since it’s also a form of new media itself. Pioneer is an appropriately named company since they are one of the first in agribusiness to move into the new media world. They are also making Forage Forum available to Pioneer customers who are registered on their GrowingPoint website.

Agribusiness, Pioneer, Podcasts

Cross Country Event Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast74 - Cross Country BloggingAfter a week off, the ZimmCast is back. I am glad I got to travel coast to coast as part of a historic interstate convoy but it sure took up way more time each day than I imagined. I got a little behind in some things like posting here on AgWired and getting a new program for you last week.

This week’s program talks about the trip and includes my interview with Andrew Firestone while we stopped in at Firestone headquarters in Akron, OH late one evening.

There’s going to be a lot of event blogging going on here in coming months but none of them will have the same effect that getting behind a wheel each day for 2 weeks and driving all day had. Thanks for your patience and I hope you have a great 4th of July week!

Listen here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 74 (9 min 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.

Audio, ZimmCast

Got Grain Basis Blues

Chuck Zimmerman

Cash Grain BidsFarmers looking for the best grain deal have a new tool from Cash Grain Bids. It’s a mapping interface where you just plug your zip code in and it will show you a local Google-powered map with local markets and pricing to decide where to go.

“Basis levels are as low as they’ve been in five years,” said Kevin McNew, president of Cash Grain Bids. “We look for things to improve with this fall’s 2006 crop. But that doesn’t help farmers trying to market their grain right now.” “There are still premium markets out there,” McNew said. “But it can be difficult for farmers to find them quickly.” With that in mind, McNew’s company is offering a free online price and map service through the end of the marketing year. Farmers who use this service can enter their zip code and review 100 different markets in their area on a map and find the one with the best price for them.

“On a table, everything looks the same and a farmer has no concept of how far away that market is,” McNew explained. “A map is an intelligent tool that helps farmers really use the data presented to them. It’s not just a list of numbers.” To use this free service, log onto www.cashgrainbids.com and follow the link to the basis map.

Agribusiness

Waste Water Reduction Benefits

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensAn Alberta, Canada pork producer suggests technologies designed to cut the amount of water wasted by hogs in the grower barn not only offer environmental benefits, but substantial economic benefits.

As part of a project to examine water wastage and greenhouse gases reduction in hog operations, JV Farms in High River, Alberta installed water meters and compared usage by pigs drinking from ball bite type nipple drinkers to those using standard drinking systems for one calendar year. The switch to ball bite drinkers slashed water use by an average of 35 percent with the most dramatic reductions evident during the hottest days of the summer with no negative impact on behavior or performance. Read More

International

D&PL Buys Dupont Licenses

Chuck Zimmerman

D&PL Big news from Delta and Pine Land Company today as it has acquired several licenses from DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred including its Optimum herbicide tolerance technology for cotton and soybeans.

Additionally, the Company has acquired licenses for other products developed by the DuPont biotechnology research program and certain enabling technologies for use in cotton, soybeans and other crops. D&PL and Pioneer Hi-Bred are partners in joint venture, DeltaMax Cotton, which was initially formed to develop and
commercialize glyphosate tolerance technology in cotton. The Company also announced that it has reached an agreement to license soybean lines suitable for planting in the Southern soybean market through the involvement of GreenLeaf Genetics. D&PL will pay DuPont $20.5 million in connection with this transaction
and expects to account for it in the fourth quarter.

Agribusiness

Bader Rutter Hires Klaiber

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff KlaiberDon’t ask this guy to race you on skates.

Jeff Klaiber has joined Bader Rutter & Associates as a brand strategist in the agency’s brand asset management group. Prior to joining Bader Rutter, Klaiber worked as a senior research analyst for C&R Creative & Response Research in Chicago, Ill. Outside the corporate world, he was a member of two United States Olympic Speed Skating Teams, participating in the 1988 and 1992 winter games.

Agencies

Shinn Joins Brownfield

Chuck Zimmerman

Peter ShinnHe’s a great farm broadcaster and I know he’ll do a good job for Brownfield. He’s Peter Shinn and no longer with the NAFB. Peter is now going to be the farm director for Waitt Agribusiness. Okay Learfield people, is it Brownfield or Waitt?

“Peter’s extensive background telling the story of agriculture and his high level of professionalism make him a true asset to the Brownfield team,” said Cyndi Young, Brownfield Farm Director. “With the addition of Waitt Agribusiness, we are especially gratified to be bringing on board a highly regarded farm broadcaster who has extensive experience covering agriculture in the area served by this network.”

“I’m thrilled to be working for the nation’s leading farm broadcaster company,” Shinn said. “The Brownfield team is second to none in providing the agricultural news and information today’s farmers and ranchers want and need.” Shinn added, “I’m really looking forward to joining Brownfield and serving the information needs of ag producers of Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa.”

Media

Farm Aid Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm AidDid you miss me? Well I’m back at the home office and it’s a lazy Sunday. I just got the yard done in 100 degree sun and am enjoying a cool beverage.

Just to let you give you hope that there’s more to come I just noticed that there’s a Farm Aid blog: Farm Aid: Around the Kitchen Table.

I’ve been keeping an eye on their website wondering when they’ll announce the next concert. Well, the wait is almost over. It will be announced this coming Thursday. They have provide clues on the location though.

The state where we are going has 3 top crops- sweet corn, peaches and blueberries.

What’s your guess?

Ag Groups