RFA Ethanol Podcast

Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Proficiency

Chuck Zimmerman

Mindy McAdams is teaching online journalism at the University of Florida and I’ve pointed you to her website before. She’s been writing a series of articles on new media reporting which I thought would be helpful for you budding agribloggers and farm podcasters. She’s looking for some feedback about what she’s written so far since she’s got several more articles …

Education

Pioneer Set to Launch Optimum Acre Max

Joanna Schroeder

Pending EPA approval, Pioneer is getting ready to launch their new Optimum Acre Max which is part of the Herculex family of traits. Specifically, the Herculex RW trait helps protect corn from corn rootworm damage. “Our hope is to be able to reduce corn rootworm refuge, and also to integrate rootworm refuge in a bag,” said Bill Belzer, Senior Manager Marketing, …

Commodity Classic, Corn, Pioneer

PERC Introduces New Propane Irrigation Engine

Joanna Schroeder

Growers are looking for ways to reduce costs this summer, especially as fertilizer costs are on the rise. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) just might have a way to help you save money. During Commodity Classic last month, they launched a new propane irrigation engine. According to Brandon Robinson, Projects Coordinator with PERC, “Propane is one of the …

Uncategorized

Donuts Hot And Glazed

Chuck Zimmerman

I don’t know about you but fresh Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are one of the finer things in life. On my way to Kansas City this morning I stopped and was lucky enough for the donuts to be coming right off the line. In fact, the friendly counter staff pulled one off the line and offered it to me before …

Food

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Kruger Seeds, Inc., recently added Performance Data and Seed Finder tools to their Web site. The Performance Data tool connects growers with local yield information. Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications won three Best of Show awards, 31 first-place and 20 regional merit awards during the Regional Best of NAMA competitions. The National Pork Producers Council at its annual business meeting, …

Zimfo Bytes

Update on IFAJ and Ag Media Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

In this week’s program we’ll get an update on the IFAJ and Ag Media Summit program from Joann Alumbaugh, Farms.com. Joann is co-chair of the program committee this year. Our planning committee for the conference met after Commodity Classic in the Worthington Hotel, Ft. Worth, which is where we’ll be at the end of July and first of August. To …

Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ, ZimmCast

Commodity Classic Media Room Survey

Chuck Zimmerman

Okay Commodity Classic media people. Now’s your chance to provide some feedback on this year’s media room. The Commodity Classic Media Room Survey is online. I’d like to see them ask some different questions but there’s plenty of room to provide comments so I hope you’ll take the time to respond. It will be very helpful to the staff in …

Commodity Classic

Rural Broadband At A Glance

Chuck Zimmerman

Take a look at this interesting document from USDA, “Rural Boradband At A Glance 2009 Edition.” It points out how fast farmers are adopting the use of the internet for business purposes and clearly outlines the challenges many areas of the country still have in getting broadband access. It has a number of interesting graphs like the following one comparing …

Uncategorized

Ketchum Has Director of Online Relationships and Reputation

Chuck Zimmerman

Ketchum has created a new position called director of online relationships and reputation for their Food and Nutrition Practice. Filling that role will be Tom Barritt. Good idea. It will be interesting to see how they manage this. Tom says that food is “emotional and evocative and perfectly suited to social media.” So is agriculture in general and greater use …

Agencies