Have you been noticing a new name appearing on the ZimmComm websites? That’s right – Talia Bang has joined the ZimmComm blogging team working in Nebraska alongside Melissa. Talia was raised on a polled Hereford farming/ranching operation in North Bend, Neb. She hails an Animal Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has worked for Pfizer Animal Health and Heartland Farm Partners in Lincoln. While she’s not in the office on the agribusiness blogging highway, she has a small AQHA breeding program raising cow-bred horses and does team penning with her fiancée, Tanner Goes. So join us in welcoming the newest ZimmComm team member!
Learn About Fresh From Florida with Florida NAMA
Want to get a “fresh” update on the Florida Dept. of Agriculture’s Fresh From Florida marketing campaign? Then join Florida NAMA (my new NAMA chapter) in Melbourne on January 17.
You are invited to join us for this special luncheon in Melbourne, January 17, 2013. FDACS Marketing Director Susan Nardizzi (pictured) will share for the first time publicly some exciting new marketing initiatives that will soon be underway for Florida Agriculture. Please see the program flyer (pdf) for details.
Hosting the luncheon program, the Florida Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association (FL NAMA) is comprised of individuals who join to help support the Chapter and agri-marketing curricula, including “Gator NAMA” team activities at the University of Florida.
There is a $40 luncheon charge to help defray meal and meeting costs. RSVP is simple, see the information at the bottom of the flyer. Payment can be made at the door, we can bill you before or after, or take a credit card over the phone or at the door as well. The main thing is we want you to join us if you can. We think you will find it time well spent.
Zimfo Bytes
- DTN/The Progressive Farmer conducted its quarterly Agriculture and Agribusiness Confidence Index.
- Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced that at the end of 2012 it had successfully transitioned 38% of pregnant sows on its company-owned farms in the United States from individual gestation stalls to group housing systems.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed two new food safety rules that the agency says will help prevent foodborne illness..
- Peak Soil Indexes, LLC announced the launch of its first farmland index, the “Peak Soil™ Iowa Cropland Value Index”..
Passing of George Logan
Cindy and I were very saddened to hear of the passing of George Logan. George was one of the people we got to know well through the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. He was always willing to talk and offer advice over the years and always seemed to kept a pretty level head. We have memories of visiting him at his Lake of the Ozarks place when our daughters were younger and wish we could have done that more often. Here’s the announcement from the NAFB office.
Dear NAFB members,
Once again, our association finds itself saying goodbye to one of our long standing members. We received notice this morning that George Logan passed away.
George served our organization in so many ways–he was President in 1972, served as NAFB’s first Executive Secretary, honored as the Meritorious Service Award recipient in 1985 and was inducted in the NAFB Hall of Fame in 1995. George was also instrumental in helping set up the NAFB Foundation and served as Treasurer of the Foundation until just a few years ago. His impact on NAFB is evident and his friendliness and sincerity will be missed.
Services are currently pending. NAFB will provide details when they become available.
Tom Brand
Executive Director
National Association of Farm Broadcasting
Post Update: You can find a full biography of George Logan, details about services and more using this link.
Looking Back at Agri Marketing in 2012
To take a look back at the most viewed stories in the agricultural marketing world Lynn Henderson, Publisher, Agri Marketing Magazine, and myself did a run through of the top stories and posts on our websites. This is the first time we’ve done this and we had a lot of fun. Enough fun that we think we should do it more frequently. What do you think about that?
You can find find the AgriMarketing.com TEN MOST COMMONLY VIEWED AGRI MARKETING NEWS ITEMS IN 2012 here. You can find the Top Posts in 2012 on AgWired.com here. Very different lists and some surprises on each of them.
Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: The Year in Agricultural Marketing
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.
Joshua Bledsoe Named COO of the National FFA
Joshua Bledsoe was named chief operating officer of the National FFA Organization. Bledsoe will manage major FFA operations and lead the overall execution of the 557,318-member organization’s strategic plan, reporting directly to CEO Dr. Dwight Armstrong.
Bledsoe has previously served as the state agricultural education leader and state FFA advisor for North Carolina and has accumulated 15 years of progressive leadership and management experience within agricultural education. He has been a key member on numerous national and state FFA boards and committees, and is a member of the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education, among other professional organizations.
As COO, Bledsoe will lead key FFA organizational units, including education; convention and events management; partner services; information technology; marketing, communications and brand management; and merchandising and customer fulfillment.
As the North Carolina State Agricultural Education Leader, Bledsoe provided leadership and overall coordination for agricultural education within the state. He was charged with leading an 11-member state agricultural education team and ensuring professional development opportunities for teachers. Bledsoe also developed and maintained close working relationships with local, state and national agencies and organizations. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Bledsoe earned both undergraduate and master’s degrees in agricultural education.
Bledsoe will relocate to Indianapolis with his family to begin the new role on Feb. 18.
Where to Find Ag Leader This Winter
Are you interested in getting the latest information about precision ag equipment? If so, here are a few stops you might want to schedule this winter in order to talk with Ag Leader experts:
• Dakota Farm Show in Vermillion, SD, January 8-10
Click here for the conference program.
• Fort Wayne Farm Show in Ft Wayne, IN, January 15-17
Click here for the conference program.
• Iowa Power Farming Show in Des Moines, IA, January 29-31
Click here for the conference program.
• Southern Farm Show in Raleigh, NC, January 30 – February 1
Click here for complete show information.
• World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA, February 12-14
Click here for the conference program.
• National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, January 13-16
Click here for the conference program.
• Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, FL, February 28 – March 2
Click here for the conference program.
Russ Morman, Ag Leader Inside Sales Representative, says it’s important for the company to have a presence at these regional and national farm shows.
Listen to Russ explainAnd if growers get their hands on the equipment and decide it’s buying time, Ag Leader dealers are most generally on hand to help out.
Listen to Russ explainIf you’re on the road this winter and have time to visit one of these locations, be sure to find Ag Leader’s staff of experts who will be on hand to talk about the latest in precision technology equipment, enhancements, future products, and much more.
See you this winter!
Zimfo Bytes
- Neogen Corporation announced that it has acquired the assets of Scidera Genomics, LLC.
- United Fresh announced the promotion of Miriam Wolk to Vice Present of Membership & Marketing.
- TradeMark Nitrogen has promoted Mike Barry to President.
- Agricultural Relations Council reports that nominations are now open for Ag relations hall of fame.
Top Posts in 2012
It’s always interesting to see what got the most eyeballs during the year. Google Analytics shows some interesting numbers but I’m no fan of having to search through it. Here’s what I found looking at this one source of statistics. Keep in mind that there a lot of people reading via the AgWired App, or other channels! But these posts had the most traffic to date out of the 1,550 we did in 2012.
USDA “Meatless Mondays” Uproar
New Holland Jay Leno Boomer Tractor Sells For $535,000
Happy Gadget Year
Harvest for Kids World Record
Mobile Farm Manager App From John Deere
New Holland Supporting Ethanol Industry
Alltech Young Scientist Global Scholarship Winners
John Deere Does Agile Development
Mourning the Passing of Stewart Doan
Orange County Choppers Paul Sr. Unveils Biodiesel Bike
See any surprises there? What did you find most interesting on AgWired in 2012? What do you want to see in 2013? Let me know and thank you.
Farm Journal Gets Commodity Update
Big announcement from Farm Journal and Commodity Update today!
Farm Journal Media announced it has acquired the majority interest in Commodity Update, the leading mobile media company serving agriculture. Farm Journal acquired a minority stake in the company two years ago.
Joel Jaeger will continue to serve as CEO of Commodity Update, will continue to maintain a significant stake in the enterprise, and will also join Farm Journal’s Executive Leadership Team, responsible for driving a wide range of mobile marketing solutions that benefit farmers and the companies that do business with them.
Founded by Jaeger in 2006, Commodity Update currently serves more than 75,000 subscribers, who receive up to three separate information products and more than three messages each day as part of an individually personalized subscription package. Subscriber satisfaction and subscription renewal has tracked over 90% annually during the last three years.
“Joining forces with Farm Journal Media helps us develop even more powerful and integrated mobile marketing solutions, and expands the information set we can bring to farmers’ phones,” Jaeger said. “The mobile category will play a significantly bigger and more strategic role in the overall media mix in the next few years. We’ve been the leading mobile offering in agriculture for seven years, and we’re excited to take that to the next level with an innovative organization and powerful brand like Farm Journal.”