At the recent NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference one of our panel discussions focused on “Trends In Energy/Alternative Fuels.” On the panel were Nathan Schock, POET & Matt Roberts, PhD.
What are the main influences escalating the demand for ethanol and other plant-based energy? This session examines the trends in the alternative fuel market and the initiatives needed to drive the production to meet the demand. You’ll also discover the messages and opportunities on which ag communicators and marketers need to focus.
Thanks to Paulsen Marketing for supplying this video clip with Nathan who talks about government’s role in ethanol’s future.
Learfield Studio D Named Derry Brownfield Studio
I admit it. I got a lump in my throat when I read this release from Learfield Communications about naming Studio D, the Derry Brownfield Studio. The first image that came to my mind was seeing Derry in his chair getting ready for his talk show. He would start snapping his fingers and bounce around in his chair saying, “Let’s get whomped up!” Yeah man. He used to whomp up a lot of people! Thank you Clyde Lear and company for doing this. Here’s Clyde pictured with Derry’s wife Verni at the naming ceremony. Thanks to Tom Steever for the photo. Sure wish I could have been there.
When Derry Brownfield and Clyde Lear teamed up to start a farm radio network nearly forty years ago, neither of them could have dreamed their brand new company would become what it is today: America’s largest agricultural radio network service and one of the country’s leading sports marketing firms. Brownfield died on March 12, 2011 and his contribution as a company founder is being commemorated by the naming of the Derry Brownfield Studio at Learfield Communications.
The company Lear and Brownfield started was called Missouri Network, Inc., which changed its name to Learfield Communications, Inc. in 1982. “Learfield” was a combination of the names of the two founders. Today, the Brownfield Ag News radio network is heard throughout the heartland on more than 320 radio stations and Learfield Sports owns the collegiate multi-media rights to over 50 major universities, including the University of Missouri.
The studio, where for years Brownfield hosted his daily talk show, is situated next to the newsrooms for Brownfield Ag News and the Missourinet, another Learfield-owned service. “Derry Brownfield was not only my business partner, but also my friend. It’s wonderful to be able to honor him and recognize not only his contribution to the formation of this company, but also his stature in the agriculture community as one of the country’s most-listened to farm broadcasters,” said Lear, Learfield Communications’ chairman.
The commemoration ceremony at the Learfield building was attended by members of the Brownfield family and employees of Learfield.
Here’s a video clip from the ceremony:
Most Planning Same Size Thanksgiving Meal
The ZimmPoll is one year old! And you can re-visit all of them since they are all archived right here on AgWired. Thank you Rhea + Kaiser for your sponsorship and support.
In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “Will higher cost (13%) of Thanksgiving dinner affect your meal?” Apparently it won’t for most of our respondents. 64% said, No, same as usual; 22% said Yes, Fewer items on table; 9% said Yes, Planning smaller portions and 5% said No, Bigger dinner this year. A story in yesterday’s USA Today seems to reflect this response. It says that some will be cutting back.
Some are holding potluck dinners instead of springing for the entire feast. Others are staying home rather than flying. And a few are skipping the turkey altogether.
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Do you use Facebook or Google+?” Google+ now allows company pages but so far they don’t seem to have attracted the kind of audience found by companies using Facebook. Which “house” do you live in? Feel free to chime in. We appreciate it.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
Zimfo Bytes
- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed three new members to serve on the Mushroom Council: Pat Jurgensmeyer, Miami, Okla.; David Carroll, Reading, Pa.; and, Elizabeth O’Neil, Ontario, Canada.
- Cargill has completed the acquisition of Provimi, a global animal nutrition company, for $2.1 billion.
- Under an agreement, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Evogene will collaborate to develop soybean varieties displaying in-plant resistance to rust.
- Dow AgroSciences LLC, announced that it has received the first country registration for the sulfoxaflor molecule.
New Farm Podcaster Tool
Here’s another potential tool for the farm podcaster. They just keep coming and notice how many are geared to the iPhone? Just saying.
TASCAM’s iM2 turns the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch into a high-quality stereo recorder. A pair of condenser microphones – the same high quality as TASCAM’s best-selling DR-series recorders – plugs into the dock connector of your Apple device.
The microphones are adjustable over 180 degrees for the best sound placement. The uni-directional elements are arranged in an AB pattern for detailed stereo imaging while capturing the ambience of your room.
The iM2 contains its own microphone preamp and analog-to-digital converter for low noise and great audio quality. Unlike mics that use the built-in iPhone preamp, the iM2 can handle up to 125dB sound levels to capture the loudest concerts and instruments without distortion.
Looks like the item is available for pre-order only right now. I think I’ll check this one out when it becomes available.
Summary From World Agriculture Investment Conference
If you’d like to learn more about investing in agriculture and didn’t get to attend the October World Agriculture Investing Conference then check out the summary paper (pdf) just published by FC Business Intelligence.
Extreme drought and unprecedented heat in the US farm belt, the eurozone debt crisis and political unrest throughout the Middle East – the threats to and concerns over world food supplies are everpresent. Political and natural disasters have driven agricultural commodity prices to record highs. But many experts predict longer-term rises as food production will need to increase by 70% in order to feed the world’s population of 9 billion people by 2050.
Under the threatening cloud of global warming and changing weather patterns, among other challenges, the potential risks of agricultural endeavors have perhaps never been higher, but experts say the only thing greater than the risks are potential returns for investors. Some have gone so far as to call agriculture “the best place to make money in the coming decade.” The trick is how and where to invest to reap the reward.
Meet New NAFB President
He looks very presidential in this photo doesn’t he? He’s Tom Steever, Brownfield and the new President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Tom actually takes over officially on January 1, 2012. However, he has been serving as interim President following the tragic death of Lindsay Hill earlier this year. So that kind of makes Tom the “old” and “new” member leader of NAFB.
This morning I sat down with Tom to have a conversation about the state of NAFB, the convention just held in Kansas City and what he sees for the future of farm broadcasting. When it comes to the membership of NAFB Tom says things are in great shape. In fact, membership is up from a low point a couple years ago. He wants to “see the NAFB continue to be and increase in value to its members. I want people to look at their membership in the NAFB as essential to what they do.” One of the ways Tom says NAFB can accomplish this is to continue to develop professional improvement opportunities in addition to promotional ones since they both will add value to the member’s company bottom line. At this year’s convention I chaired the professional improvement committee and we held five sessions on professional improvement that included smartphone technology, streaming audio/video and video production/editing.
I also asked Tom if NAFB has considered becoming part of the Ag Media Summit since we are seeing so much convergence in all of media today. I know it has been discussed and according to Tom “We keep courting. We keep watching one another.” He says things are working well for the organizations involved both at the Ag Media Summit and for NAFB and its convention. That probably is making it difficult to decide that there should be some formal joining of forces. I like to think of NAFB joining the Ag Media Summit like when the Commodity Classic expanded with the addition of sorghum and wheat grower organizations. Maybe the time just isn’t right yet. What do you think?
Listen to my conversation with Tom in this week’s ZimmCast and learn more about what’s going on with NAFB: Tom Steever New NAFB President
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, 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.
New Farm Podcaster Tool
Farm podcasters just got another gadget to add to their bag of tools. The freedomMIC from Scosche looks promising. It’s a wireless lav style mic which solves some issues that come with recording video of something you can’t get close to. It’s currently out of stock but hopefully that will change soon.
freedomMIC allows you to record with flawless audio on your iPod or iPhone. A built-in clip allows you to record yourself or conduct interviews from up to 33 ft. away from your device. freedomMIC can also be used to start/stop recording directly from the mic as well as activate the shutter function of your device to take pictures from a distance.
Improved Recording
This high performance condenser microphone uses an omnidirectional, hypersensitive microphone with DSP noise cancellation to capture accurate sound. It gives you the freedom to record audio and video while not having to worry about losing sound quality as you get further away from your device’s built-in mic.
Wireless Freedom
freedomMIC connects via Bluetooth to record high quality audio from up to 33 ft. away from your device. freedomMIC attaches conveniently to clothing for completely handsfree audio recording.
Click to Control
freedomMIC can also be used as a wireless remote for your camera. Press the button to wirelessly start and stop recording from the microphone. The microphone can also be used as a wireless shutter release for taking still pictures from a distance.
An integrated rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 4 hours of run time. Use the included micro USB cable to charge freedomMIC.
There is also a Scosche freedomMIC app available too.
Golden ARC Awards Entry Deadline Announced
It’s time once again to get your entries in for the Golden ARC Awards, conducted by the Agricultural Relations Council. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.
Welcome to the 2012 Golden ARC Awards Program. Since its inception in 1990, the Golden ARC Award has come to represent the pinnacle of success in agricultural public relations. Now in its third year since re-introduction, the Golden ARC prestige will undoubtedly wow clients, employers and colleagues.
The Golden ARC Awards Program consists of two divisions, the “Campaigns Division” and the “Tactics Division.” Within each division, individual categories exist. Check out the rest of the site for more information on how you can win in 2012.
Keep the ARC Annual Mtg. on your calendar. It’s scheduled for March 21-23 in North Charleston, SC.
Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown
Fresh from Florida seafood keeps you at the top of your game. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services just announced that it is teaming up with the Florida Gators (my team) and the Florida State Seminoles to “harness the home team passion associated with the athletics rivalry and direct it towards supporting Florida products. The partnership leverages every game, match and competition between the two teams in 18 sports to promote Fresh From Florida.” Now that’s a major sponsorship! It all kicks off this week with the Saturday football game which is now being called the Sunshine Showdown.
The tradition-rich Florida Gators vs. Florida State Seminoles football game will serve as the signature event of this partnership to communicate the importance of all that’s Fresh From Florida to an audience that is uniquely Florida: Gator and Seminole Fans. This year’s matchup of the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles football teams will be titled the “Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown,” scheduled for November 26 in Gainesville. The Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown will highlight the importance of supporting Florida farmers and fisherman and communicate the impact of buying home grown and harvested products from Florida.
“The Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown brings two of Florida’s great teams head to head,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. “As each side cheers for their home team, we’re hopeful they’ll support Florida’s ultimate home team, Florida’s farmers and fishermen.”
Here’s one of the tv ads for the campaign featuring Florida Coach Will Muschamp.