BASF Launches Kixor Road to Daytona 500 Sweepstakes

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF will be sending some lucky farmer to the 2012 Daytona 500.

kixor daytonaBASF Crop Protection today announced the launch of the Kixor® herbicide technology Road to DAYTONA® sweepstakes, which celebrates the fast, complete burndown and residual control growers get with Kixor. BASF will award the sweepstakes winner a trip to the 54th annual DAYTONA 500®. BASF will also be awarding $100 gift cards to 10 additional sweepstakes entrants.

“BASF is dedicated to providing the solutions, technical support and tools that help growers implement a weed management program based on herbicide best practices,” said Bryan Perry, Kixor Marketing Manager with BASF. “By providing burndown that is three to five times faster than 2,4-D or glyphosate, plus strong residual staying power, Kixor herbicide technology helps growers win the race against weeds in their fields — the way high-powered engines win races for drivers.”

The winner of the sweepstakes will receive four tickets to the race on February 26, 2012, as well as an expenses-paid three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, Florida.

The sweepstakes is open to all growers 18 years or older with an operation of 250 acres or more. For the official rules and to enter, participants should go to http://www.road-to-daytona.basf.us and fill out a brief entry form. Entries are due by Dec. 31, 2011.

BASF

GROWMARK Names Scholarship Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK is helping 35 college students from throughout the Midwest to continue their educations in agriculture and business.

GROWMARK Steve German“GROWMARK invests more than $45,500 annually on scholarships. We’re investing today for a return tomorrow,” says Steve German, GROWMARK member employment manager, pictured here at the scholarship luncheon during the recent GROWMARK annual meeting. “There’s a need for agriculture businesses to support formal education to strengthen agriculture.”

The students from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin all received GROWMARK-sponsored scholarships this year, joining hundreds more who have been helped by the cooperative over since the early 1960s. Today, they are awarded to students majoring in agriculture or accounting at 15 universities and colleges. Each educational institution is responsible for the selection process and awarding scholarships. University scholarship recipients are honored each year at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Find out who all received the awards on the GROWMARK Blog.

Education, GROWMARK

I Make America Virtual March On Washington

Chuck Zimmerman

I Make America. Well, not me but the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and their members do. It’s the first anniversary of the campaign and AEM is not only thanking supporters but holding a “virtual march” on Washington this week.

To mark the occasion, I Make America is holding a Virtual March on Washington this week, and has called on its supporters to send letters, sign a petition, and call their elected officials in Congress to demand they take a stand for American jobs by passing a comprehensive, well-funded highway bill.

On September 29, 2010 in Washington, D.C., AEM – along with Mike Rowe of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs – launched I Make America, a national grassroots campaign to promote manufacturing jobs through infrastructure investment and export agreements as proven ways to create and sustain jobs for American workers. The campaign has enlisted the support of more than 13,000 people nationwide so far, AEM’s 850+ member companies, and industry organizations.

I Make America will continue to demand Congress takes action and passes a well-funded, multi-year highway bill. Their inaction is hampering American workers and manufacturers’ efforts to get back to work rebuilding and modernizing our roads, bridges and highways. America’s stagnant economy, high unemployment and the declining resources in our communities demand a sense of urgency from our political leaders in D.C.

AEM

Nutrition and You Survey Results Released

Chuck Zimmerman

The American Dietetic Association has released the results of their “Nutrition and You: Trends 2011” survey. I’ve only skimmed some of the results so far. There’s a lot of information in there. One section of special interest focused on where consumers get nutrition information and what sources they view as credible. Pretty timely information to add to the “Food Dialogues” discussion!

Where does the American public get its information on food and nutrition? Are the most popular sources also the most credible? Are consumers doing all they can to eat well and exercise? If not, why not? Have people increased or decreased their consumption of fruits, vegetables and other foods in the past several years? What do people think about organically grown products, low-fat foods, allergen-free foods, probiotics and other foods and nutrients?

In nationwide public opinion surveys since 1991, the American Dietetic Association has asked consumers these questions and more. The answers are now available as ADA releases the findings of its 20th anniversary survey, “Nutrition and You: Trends 2011.”
ADA’s 2011 survey presents a vivid look at consumers’ current knowledge and attitudes, and offers an opportunity to view two decades of trends in the ways Americans regard food, nutrition and health.

By the way, the ADA is changing its name effective January, 2012 to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Food

Meet New NAFB Executive Director

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 321One of the major agricultural communications activities of the year is coming soon. It’s the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) convention taking place November 8-11 at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. This will be the first convention for Tom Brand as new NAFB Executive Director. But it is far from his first convention since Tom has been behind the microphone for twenty years as a broadcast member.

I spoke with Tom about his new job and to get a preview of the program (pdf) for this year’s convention. One of the issues facing all ag media groups is the convergence between print, broadcast and web as well as social media. That issue will be addressed during the program this year with presentations like one scheduled with Mark Ramsey a research and strategy provider to media companies. It’s time to get registered if you haven’t and to get your hotel room reserved.

Listen to my conversations with Tom in this week’s ZimmCast: NAFB Executive Director Tom Brand

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

This week’s program ends with with music from Music Alley. It’s “Every Day” by Rik Leaf. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

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.

Audio, Media, NAFB

Farm Podcaster Tool

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello farm podcasters. How many of you really like using your iPhone to record interviews? How many of you wish you could plug in your own microphone? Sometimes that would be best, like in a noisy room. It would also be handy to plug in the audio from a mult box during a press conference or other presentation too. I’m looking into devices to help make this happen for a professional improvement session I’ll be conducting during the upcoming NAFB convention. Here’s one that was just announced by TASCAM – the iXZ.

TASCAM, a well known veteran for creating home recording devices, today introduced a pocket sized iXZ Mic/Instrument Input for iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch. This powerful little gadget turns an iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch into an instant recording studio. Plug in a microphone, guitar or bass to interact with the latest guitar amp, sampling, recording and DJ apps. The iXZ supplies phantom power for condenser microphones and input setting sets the gain. There is also a headphone output to monitor from your iOS device.
iXZ can be used in various applications and will be sure to be an indispensable tool for anyone who enjoys creating music.

Features:

Switchable mic/line input
Phantom power
Gain control
1/8” headphone output
XLR mic input
High-impedence guitar input
Mic input powered by two AA batteries
Non-powered guitar input

Equipment

GROWMARK Grain Division Growth

Cindy Zimmerman

The GROWMARK Grain Division is making news.

First off, the division will have a new VP as of November 1. Brent Ericson has been named Vice President, Grain, replacing Davis Anderson, who retired in September.

As VP, Grain, Ericson will be responsible for the overall management, oversight, support and growth of GROWMARK’s grain business, which includes 80 grain members and companies inIllinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Combined, the 80 companies market approximately 1 billion bushels of grain and oilseed annually into river, rail, and processor markets.

The grain division has also announced a new venture.

Heritage FS, Gilman, has partnered with GROWMARK to create EASTERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC. (EGM). The company’s main office is located in Gilman.

Dana Robinson, EGM General Manager, said the venture will strengthen the package of grain services offered to farmers in eastern Illinois. ‘EGM combines our local knowledge and expertise with sufficient resources to expand grain marketing alternatives and grain handling services for the growers in eastern Illinois. This adds value to the crops grown in eastern Illinois and that added value will be realized by the growers through higher payments for their crop.’

Growers will have greater access to grain markets via a rail shuttle loader EGM will construct in western Kankakee County. Approximately two million bushels of storage space, which EGM will construct, will be located at the shuttle location.

EGM is the fourth regional grain marketing venture formed in Illinois between FS member cooperatives and GROWMARK. Total Grain Marketing, LLC was launched in 2006, WESTERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC was formed in 2007; and NORTHERN GRAIN MARKETING, LLC was formed in 2009.

Grains, GROWMARK

Ag Relations Council Offering Accreditation Training

Chuck Zimmerman

The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) is offering an opportunity for you career agricultural public relations professionals. ARC is one of only a few organizations that is approved to offer APR accreditation through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). ARC member Ken Gordon of Ashland is coordinating preparation courses to help ensure your success in earning accreditation. If interested, contact him at kdgordon@ashland.com. Ken says ARC members can join him in weekly WebEx accreditation meetings.

The classes will use the APR study guide, which is downloadable from the Universal Accreditation Board website at http://www.praccreditation.org/Forms.html. Also on the website is the application form you will need to fill out once you feel you are ready to move forward with the readiness review and the exam. Participants do not need to fill out the application or pay any fees for the classes being provided by ARC.

The classes will be scheduled on Wednesdays for 10 weeks beginning Oct. 12 and ending Dec. 21, with Nov. 23 being skipped so participants can focus on Thanksgiving. After the new year, Ken will work individually with those who have completed the class and want help preparing for a local readiness review.

ARC

Shula Burger

Chuck Zimmerman

As a Miami Dolphins fan this story caught my eye. Not only am I a Don Shula fan but I really like his restaurants. Now he’s got a new concept going – Shula Burger.

The winningest coach in National Football League History and restaurateur Don Shula is kicking off his newest concept, SHULA BURGER. The first location will open in Islamorada, Florida (in the Keys) by the end of the year. Other planned locations for 2012 include Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach, Kendall, Orlando and Tampa.

Shula Burger is a fast casual Gourmet Burger concept that will include wine pairings, as well as salads, chicken sandwiches, fries, shakes and more.

Don Shula has been in the restaurant industry since 1989 and has 34 full service restaurants nationwide including Shula’s Steak Houses and Shula’s 347 Grill.

“This is an exciting concept that will cater to customers that want a fast casual experience in a warm friendly environment,” said Don Shula. “We are looking forward to the launch of Shula Burger.”

For franchising or more information on Shula Burger, please visit www.shulaburger.com.

On Twitter @ShulaBurger.

Beef, Food

2012 Best of NAMA Call For Entries

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time to get your Best of NAMA entries ready. Don’t wait until the day of the deadline! That would be like doing your homework at the last second when you were in school. Of course you probably never did that right?

You’ve done a lot of hard work and now it’s time for it to pay off. Submit your best work in the Best of NAMA competition and see if your the best of the best.

The deadline for submitting your entries is Friday, October 7.

The Best of NAMA awards program honors the best work in agricultural communications. Actually, the best of the best, since companies/agencies must first qualify through regional competition in order to advance to the national level.

Remember, your local chapter receives $25 per regional entry. So, enter your work in Best of NAMA and support your local chapter at the same time.

To view the Best of NAMA Call for Entries visit, www.nama.org/amc/bon/index.htm.

Download the Entry Form in a Microsoft Word document at www.nama.org/amc/bon/entryform11.doc (Word doc).

NAMA