Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. In this week’s program we’ll learn more about the newly announced Rural Radio channel on Sirius XM. I visited with Randy Bernard, CEO, Rural Media Group, who says that a full time satellite channel of rural news and information has been a dream of Patrick Gottsch, Founder of Rural Media Group, Inc, for years. …
John Block Reports
One of my all time favorite U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture is John Block. Here he is speaking on a panel at last fall’s NAFB convention. John is currently Senior Policy Advisor in the law firm of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC and serves on numerous boards. He also produces a long running commentary, John Block Reports from Washington. His …
IFAJ Has Two Positions Open
The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is looking for a couple of good people. It’s to support the IFAJ Strategy 2020 program. you can read all about that here (pdf). There are two part time positions open to help administer the expanding day-to-day affairs of the organization. Here are short descriptions of the positions. You can find out more online. …
Rural Radio a New Channel on Sirius XM
In case you didn’t know, both the current National Association of Farm Broadcasting President, Mark Oppold and incoming President, Janet Atkinson, will be anchoring shows on the newly announced Rural Radio, a 24/7 channel on Sirius XM. I think that’s the first time in NAFB history both have worked for the same company! The new channel (80) will launch on …
NAFB Exec Suffers Heart Attack – Updated
*Important UPDATE 2:30 pm Central* He is reported to be doing well, but prayers are requested for National Association of Farm Broadcasting Executive Director Tom Brand who suffered a “serious heart attack” yesterday, according to the NAFB office. NAFB president Mark Oppold informed the membership of the organization by email that Tom is doing fine and is at Heartland Regional …
Second Amendments Entertain NAFB
During the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch program we had entertainment provided by the Second Amendments. I almost forgot I had this video on my iPhone. But it’s worth sharing. If you like Dire Straits, Sultans of Swing, then listen to the Second Amendments version! 2013 NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album
New Flickr Creates Agriblogging Photo Benefits
Flickr is certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world! At least we think so. Last week Flickr unveiled a whole new look and features that we know AgWired fans will love. Let me explain. The biggest change is that we’ll now be uploading our full size photo files. That means you don’t have to email …
GROWMARK Getting Into Multimedia Spirit
Look for some cool new multimedia additions to the on-line version of GROWMARK Spirit magazine coming this year. “We’re looking at taking Spirit magazine to another platform,” said editor Cassie Becker, noting that it is currently available in an eReader format “where you turn the pages and that’s about it” but they are moving to the ZMags platform which provides …
IFAJ Media Tour to Uganda
A select few members of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists have an opportunity to travel to Uganda this November on a tour. Following the great success of the Kenya tour in 2012, IFAJ and AgriCord/Agriterra are proud to offer 15 IFAJ journalists again the opportunity to have a first-hand look at farm issues in the developing world. By organizing …
Broadcasters Support Farm Broadcasting
The roots of agricultural broadcasting run deep in broadcast history, starting with the first stations on the air in the 1920’s airing weather and market reports for farmers and ranchers. By 1922, the USDA reported that 35 of the 36 stations licensed by the Commerce Department had been approved to broadcast USDA markets! Since farm broadcasting has been such an …