Preview of Argentina IFAJ Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2013 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress is underway in Buenos Aires. Our host for the first ever Congress in South America is the Círculo Argentino de Periodistas Agrarios (CAPA) and Adalberto Rossi is their President. He and I sat down to talk about this year’s Congress program. First up is this afternoon’s first ever Latin American Conference with …

Ag Groups, Audio, IFAJ, International

Agvocating with Youtility

Chuck Zimmerman

The AgChat Foundation has a new President after the board meeting held during the 2013 National Agvocacy Conference. He’s Jeff VanderWerff, Michigan farmer. I spoke to him during the conference and with our keynote speaker. Jeff told me that the organization is in great shape as it continues its mission of “Empowering farmers and ranchers to connect communities through social …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, Social Networking, ZimmCast

Agvocates On Way Home

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2013 National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference has come to a close and another group of passionate, trained agvocates are on their way home for some needed rest before continuing to tell stories from their farms. I’ve attended several of these conferences and they keep getting bigger and better. Last night we had some great social activity during the “traditional” swap …

Ag Groups, Social Networking

Consumer & Food Research Update

Chuck Zimmerman

Once again this year the attendees at the National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference had a presentation from the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. Jenn Dahm gave us an update on research on consumers and food the organization has conducted. A key takeaway from her presentation is that transparency with consumers is not as difficult as we might think it is and …

Ag Groups, Food, USFRA

AgChat Foundation Training New Agvocates

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2013 National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference is underway in Charlotte, NC. We’ve got a new crop of agvocates in training mode today and tomorrow, over 100 of them! Our program is just underway with keynote speaker Jay Baer, author of Youtility, Why Smart Marketing is about Help not Hype. We’re going to explore conversations beyond the choir, look at some …

Ag Groups, Social Networking

National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

This week I’ll be attending the 2013 National Agvocacy 2.0 Conference in Charlotte, NC. It has been fun to see the excitement build for the farmers and everyone who will be attending. For many it will be there first event of this kind. My ticket is printed and so are my boarding passes! On Friday I will be sharing a …

Ag Groups, Social Networking

Pork Summer Advertising Success

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Pork Board has just recently concluded a summer domestic marketing advertising campaign and the results seem to be very successful when looking at supplies and demand. The United States Department of Agriculture has announced that June 2013 frozen pork supplies are down 14 percent from the previous month, and down nearly 5 percent on a year-over-year basis, reflecting …

Ag Groups, Audio, Pork, ZimmCast

Farm Bureau Discusses Cygnus Acquisition

Cindy Zimmerman

Since we are in a busy agriblogging month, you get a double dose of the ZimmCast this week, with a second podcast about an important recent announcement in the agribusiness world. Last week during the Ag Media Summit, we got the news that American Farm Bureau Federation had acquired Cygnus Business Media’s agricultural events and publications, including five IDEAg branded …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio, Media, ZimmCast

Lisa Hightower Joins United Fresh Produce Association

Chuck Zimmerman

I love seeing a fellow Florida Gator out in the ag communications workplace. Dr. Lisa Hightower has joined United Fresh Produce Association as the association’s new communications manager. Lisa will produce the Inside Fresh United weekly online newsletter, develop content for United’s website and social media sites, work with news media, and promote awareness of United Fresh events, including the …

Ag Groups, Food, Produce

Why Are You Here Cattlemen?

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Cattlemen’s Beef Board meeting at the end of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference we heard a great speech in the form of the report given by CEO Polly Ruhland. She had a very heartfelt and powerful message which I believe shows you the quality of the people representing cattle producers on the staff of the Beef Checkoff. You …

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference