Healthy Sandwich Contest & Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman

Tracey McCaugheySandwiches are about my favorite way to eat. For one thing you can be creative and there’s no end to what you can put between two slices of bread. The Grain Foods Foundation partnered with celebrity chef Dave Lieberman to search for the country’s healthiest and best-tasting sandwich with the America’s Healthy Sandwich Showdown. One of the cool things about it was that Lieberman did podcasts while the contest was running. You can hear his last one here.

Pictured is the winner Tracey McCaughey, who was announced yesterday. The Foundation ran this contest in November since it’s National Bread Month (I did not know that).

Tracey McCaughey of Ardmore, Pa. won America’s Healthy Sandwich Showdown with her Grilled Chicken with Pomegranate and Caramelized Onion Reduction and Goat Cheese sandwich recipe. “The combination of sweet and tangy flavors in the pomegranate reduction is rich with antioxidants, and is complementary to the creamy tang of the goat cheese,” explained McCaughey in her submission. “The smoky grilled chicken provides protein while the crisp romaine lettuce and the soft, fiber-rich whole grain Kaiser rolls offer freshness and round out the sandwich.”

Audio, Food

Emerging Digital Communication Channel Use

Chuck Zimmerman

I think the fast pace of the last couple weeks finally caught up to me yesterday after the NAFB Trade Talk session. I came down with the cold a bunch of people seemed to have in Kansas City this week. But I’m back in the home office and raring to plow forward.

After talking agricultural marketing and communications all week I thought this graphic from an eMarketer.com article would be of real interest to you. In the title they use the phrase, “emerging digital channels.” That’s another way of saying new media I think but I like it. We’re riding a wave of emerging media options and it looks like there’s some solid research to show that people are using them. Here’s an excerpt from the article, “According to new report from Bluestreak, “Emerging Digital Channels: Consumer Adoption, Attitudes & Behavior,” which surveyed consumer behavior and attitudes toward emerging technologies — including podcasts, text messages (SMS), RSS, blogs and message boards as well as e-mail — users are not only feeling positive about the new channels, they are increasingly using them.”

Emerging Digital Channels Article Graphic

The survey also found that the consumers who use these “emerging digital channels” don’t hate ads. They seem to accept advertising in order to get better content.

Is there anyone out there who doubts that farmers are any different in their use of these new channels of communication?

Uncategorized

GrainLink To Sell USDA Grain Stocks

Chuck Zimmerman

Grain LinkGovernment owned grain stocks now have a new marketing spot on the web. Beginning yesterday you can visit GrainLink.com, although it looks like you’ll have to wait to next week to conduct a transaction.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it has awarded a contract for the online marketing of grain stocks owned by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to Farms Technology, LLC, of Overland Park, Kansas. Candace Thompson, Acting Deputy Administrator for Commodity Operations at USDA’s Farm Service Agency, said CCC’s past sales practice of cataloging, issuing public invitations, and providing sales lists for grain now will be handled electronically. The transition to the new, electronic system will be accomplished in several phases. “We believe the new online marketing platform will bring cost savings, optimize market returns, and provide greater efficiencies in general to the grain trade and to the government,” Thompson said.

Jason Tatge, CEO, Farms Technology, said the new, electronic cash grain marketing platform, called GrainLink.com, will be available for use on November 20, 2006, although the site will display CCC inventory beginning November 16. Initial listings will be limited to CCC’s corn inventory with other commodities to follow. Tatge said FarmsTech invites the grain trade to register to use the new system at the website, www.grainlink.com. He said the process for online marketing of CCC stocks will be quite similar to the process the grain trade has used in the past, but it will now take place in an electronic, largely paperless environment. He said the new electronic platform, which will be open to all qualified buyers and sellers of cash grain, should offer many efficiencies to both grain merchants and the government. Sales that take place on the electronic platform will be guaranteed through FarmTech’s clearing house.

Agribusiness, USDA

Trade Talking

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm BroadcastersThere was a lot of this going on today at the NAFB Trade Talk session. I conducted 10 interviews and I think Cindy got in 9.

We’ll be using ours here and on our other sites like Domestic Fuel and World Dairy Diary in coming weeks.

I think that it’s interesting to see more booths than ever and yet less broadcasters. This was a comment I heard from several people today. I hope all the people exhibiting were happy with the results. The hours have been extended from previous years but it’s still just not possible to make it around to see and interview everyone.

I’m fighting off a cold and by about lunch time I couldn’t talk very easily anymore. That’s not good for a farm podcaster.

NAFB

Broadcasters at NAMA/NAFB Overlap Sessions

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm BroadcastersAt the close of the NAMA Agribusiness Forum farm broadcasters were in attendance with an afternoon session that overlapped with the NAFB Convention.

Here’s a few of the broadcasters who showed up at the Hyatt Crown Center. It’s one of the first times I’ve seen a mult box at a NAMA session.

Hopefully we’ll see it again next year? If you attended these sessions how do you think it went? Was it a good idea to have a joint afternoon session?

NAFB, NAMA

The Future is Bright For Agribusiness

Chuck Zimmerman

Sano ShimodaThe NAMA Agribusiness Forum is over and it’s NAFB Convention time. I’m getting ready to head over to today’s Trade Talk session after this post. You can see and hear more from the Forum though over on the NAMA blog.

The last presentation at the Agribusiness Forum yesterday was given by Sano Shimoda, BioScience Securities.

Although the title of the session started out with “The Final Frontier . . . ,” Sano thinks we’re just beginning. He’s very optimistic about the future of American agribusiness. In reference to biofuels, which were a topic of discussion here, he says that we’re going to have to become cost competitive in order to fully develop our capabilities.

Listen to my interview with Sano: forum-06-3.mp3

Audio, NAMA

Anita is Excellent

Chuck Zimmerman

Anita VanderwertMy former compadre from the Brownfield Network was presented a very deserving award today at the NAMA Agribusiness Forum.

Anita Vanderwert was recognized for her sales efforts with the NAMA Professional Development, Award of Excellence – Sales.

After many years of doing interviews for Anita’s client’s I got to finally interview her.

She talks about what this award means to her.

Listen to my interview with Anita: forum-06-1.mp3

Audio, NAMA

Condolences For Two Rivers Marketing

Chuck Zimmerman

Two Rivers MarketingI was very sad to receive the following message from Greg Ehm at Two Rivers Marketing. I’m posting it here so that those of you who know him and the staff at the agency are aware of this tragedy and can offer your condolences as well.

Four of our Two Rivers Marketing family members were killed in a plane crash near South Bend, Indiana, on Monday night. Among them was Tom Dunphy, one of the founders of Two Rivers Marketing. The others were Leslie O’Bannon, Eric Jacobs and Josh Trainor.

Words cannot express how much these individuals meant to us as friends and teammates, and of course a mentor and leader. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the husbands and wives, a fiancé, parents, children, and other family members who we know are grieving the loss of loved ones. We are still somewhat stunned from the news, but we know Tom and the others would have urged us to try and maintain our poise and go on, as difficult as that may be. As we steadily pull through this together, our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this terribly tragic time. You were likely touched by one or more of these individuals just as we were, and we deeply appreciate your condolences.

I’m sure the agency will be providing more details. Please contact them if you have questions or would like more information.

Agencies

It’s Legal Now

Chuck Zimmerman

Templeton RyeI wonder if any of this will be consumed in Kansas City this week. I’m sure if there’s someone attending the NAMA or NAFB meetings from The Meyocks Group it might happen.

Templeton Rye, a new rye whiskey company with history dating back to Prohibition and Al Capone, has retained The Meyocks Group to support product launch efforts. Scott Bush, president of Templeton Rye, says, “We have one chance to introduce Templeton Rye — legally — to the world. The Meyocks Group has extraordinary ideas and passion to help make sure we do it right.”

Templeton Rye has a storied history. When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in 1920, many enterprising residents of the small town of Templeton, Iowa, chose to become outlaws — producing a high caliber and much sought-after whiskey. Templeton Rye became Al Capone’s whiskey of choice, quickly finding its way to the center of his bootlegging empire. With its introduction later this year, Templeton Rye will soon be available legally for the first time in its arresting history.

Agencies

Chris Jones at Bader Rutter

Chuck Zimmerman

Chris JonesHere’s the latest news from Bader Rutter.

Chris Jones has joined Bader Rutter & Associates as an assistant account executive in the agency’s account services group. Prior to joining Bader Rutter, Jones was a media and direct marketing specialist for Brady Marketing Group. Originally from Schofield, Wis., Jones graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and psychology.

Chris, I think that degree in psychology will come in handy in this business!

Agencies