Political Policy Dynamics Changing

Chuck Zimmerman

The topic of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club lunch was “Policy Outlook for Agriculture as the Political Dynamics Begin to Change.” I think the political dynamics have already changed don’t you? Giving us his take on this was Thomas J. Erickson, Vice President, Government Affairs, Bunge North America. He says that since the incoming administration seems to have a lot …

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Policy

Plant Management Network Teaches You How To Use It

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a good example of the use of a webinar by the Plant Management Network. It looks like it was put together with Articulate. PMN recently hosted a live webcast demonstrating its informational resources and how to use them. Specifically, it showed how agricultural practitioners may use PMN’s various tools in their daily work. The webcast was presented by Howard …

Ag Groups, Internet

New Media Work Station

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s my work station earlier today at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis. Macbook Pro, iPhone, card reader and my camera. Oh, and yes, I was using hotel lobby bandwidth. The tools to communicate with are certainly changing. If I didn’t want or need to take real high res photos I could just blog an event with my phone and …

Uncategorized

Greg Guenther Receives Award From St. Louis Ag Club

Chuck Zimmerman

At today’s St. Louis Agribusiness Club lunch meeting Illinois farmer Greg Guenther received the Agribusiness Leader of the Year Award. Greg is pictured with SLAC President Laurie Hiler (left) and his wife. I spoke to Greg afterward (on my iPhone) and he says it was a pleasant surprise. He’s says it’s nice for folks to acknowledge the time he’s put …

Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Ethanol

Greased Lightning Awarded By AFBF and New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

As a gadget, I mean cool tools, kind of guy I thought this was a great invention idea and it won an award at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention. Daniel Prough of LaGrange, Ind., earned the grand prize in the Farmer Idea Exchange competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 90th annual meeting. Prough won a year’s use of …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Equipment, New Holland, Tractor

Defining Sustainability

Chuck Zimmerman

An alliance of agricultural groups and companies has put together a report to help people understand sustainability. Yes, that word that everyone seems to have a different definition for. The report released today by the Keystone Alliance, provides a definition of economic and environmental sustainability focusing on “meeting the needs of the present while improving the ability of future generations …

Ag Groups, Audio

AAAE Conference in May

Chuck Zimmerman

After more years in agricultural communications than I care to remember I keep finding organizations that are new to me. This one is the American Association for Agricultural Education. Goals of AAAE Serve as an advocate for improvement of teaching and learning in agriculture. Provide a forum to address issues in agricultural education. Provide an approach to identifying, prioritizing, and …

Ag Groups

Administration Achievements and IFAJ 2009/AMS Update

Chuck Zimmerman

U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer held a conference call with reporters to discuss accomplishments of the Bush administration. We were on the call and I thought I’d share a segment with you in this week’s program. I’ve been pointing out the increased investment in rural broadband through the Rural Development department here on AgWired since we got started …

Audio, IFAJ, USDA, ZimmCast

Driving Green in 2009

Chuck Zimmerman

Welcome to another week in the world of agribusiness. To kick it off I thought I’d share one of the latest video clips on the John Deere Drive Green Utility Tractor Show blog. I’m really having fun with this project and it’s going to keep me busy. I’ll be in Houston later this month as we kick off the “Year …

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere, Video

Satellite TV For Your Car (or Tractor?)

Chuck Zimmerman

Kurt has a great post on our Precision Pays website that I thought I’d share with you. How about this for an extravagant non-ag precision gizmo? Among the many high-tech product launches at the recent SEMA (automotive specialty products) show was this AT&T Cruisecast satellite TV for your car–through a unique roof-top antenna developed by AT&T and RaySat. For a …

Equipment, Precision Agriculture