FCC/USDA Helping Us Become Publishers

Chuck Zimmerman

The move to make sure all Americans have access to high speed internet access continues to gain momentum. This week Acting FCC Chairman, Michael Copps, released a report to be used as a starting point for the development of policies to continue to deliver broadband to rural areas. I believe this is needed to help restore economic growth and opportunities …

Internet

Syngenta Gives FarmAssist a Face Lift

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Crop Protection has redesigned the online face of the company, FarmAssist.com. With more than 30,000 visitors per month, FarmAssist® provides users with up-to-the-minute agricultural news and commentary, local weather customized by zip code, market observations and agronomic and product information. The refreshed FarmAssist provides a better user experience, allowing visitors to navigate more easily through current industry news, updated …

Internet, Syngenta

Get A Dosatron Of Their New Website

Chuck Zimmerman

I liked the way this release came across in announcing the company’s new website. For one thing the company representative didn’t say, “We’re excited to . . . ” She made a very open statement that just seems very genuine to me. Dosatron International, Inc., today launched a new version of their website, www.dosatronusa.com. The new version introduces a totally …

Agribusiness, Internet

Search engine optimization and YOU

Amanda Nolz

Can SEO’s and Journalists Really Be Friends? This was the question asked by Rachelle Money at CyberJournalist.net. Because journalists often shy away from “stuffing” key words into their articles to gain online traffic, Money explains the art of using SEO’s and how journalists can use them to improve their writing. The SEO mantra: ‘content is king’ is one shared by …

Internet

Farmers Using Media Successfully

Chuck Zimmerman

Cindy and I are in post-NAMA recovery. However, we may be physically tired but we’re emotionally charged. Those of you in agricultural marketing and communications will be too once you hear this week’s program which features an interview with Curt Blades, Successful Farming. They just finished the 2009 Farmer Use of Media Study and Curt shares some of their findings. …

Audio, Farming, Internet, Media, NAMA, ZimmCast

Combine Combat in Top 5

Chuck Zimmerman

Have you played Combine Combat? If so, you’ve played one of the top 5 magazine web games according to minonline.com. Here’s what they said about it: Years after its release, Agriculture.com’s simple arcade game remains one of the few b2b online games around, and it still holds up. You try to clear a field with your combine before the computer-controlled …

Internet, Media

Are you LinkedIn?

Amanda Nolz

As I prepare to graduate in May and begin my career as a freelance writer, I want to be sure I get started in this field on the right foot. What tools are journalists using, and how do they communicate with each other? Are you on LinkedIn? I have been invited by several people already, but I haven’t taken the …

Internet, Social Networking

Pistachio Recall Website

Chuck Zimmerman

Food recalls seem to be fairly frequent lately and it seems like the general public really doesn’t get good information about what is actually being recalled. I would blame that at least in part to journalists trying to be “sensational” with the effect of scaring the crap out of people who then tend to over react. Okay, got that out …

Ag Groups, Food, Internet

Sell Internet Access Sponsorships

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m glad to find out that the Brownfield Network will be sponsoring the internet access at my NAMA breakout session on social media and I thank them. Internet access is really becoming such an important part of everyday life and business that I was determined to find a way to have it. This brought up an idea that I’m sure …

Internet, NAMA

RuMBA Proposes American Broadband Bill of Rights

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like the Rural Mobile Broadband Alliance is getting their stuff together. They want to help guide the debate over development of broadband connectivity and have offered the following: According to RuMBA’s Managing Director, Luisa Handem, the “American Broadband Bill of Rights” demands all Americans have access to a network that is: (1) Ubiquitous – Services and devices should …

Internet