Blog Action Day and World Food Day Coincide

Chuck Zimmerman

Let’s talk about food. Okay. We can do that. In fact, we love to talk about food and the farmers who produce it. Here in the USA we’re very blessed to have the the most abundant, safe and affordable food supply in the world. We also ship more of it in the form of food aid around the world than any other country. So if we’re going to talk about food let’s not forget the farmers who produce it!

Since Sunday, October 16 is World Food Day, the folks at Blog Action Day decided to make food their topic. AgWired is signed up. Maybe you should too.

For 2011, our Blog Action Day coincides with World Food Day, so our topic of discussion for this year will be food. Take the first step now and sign-up your blog to Blog Action Day and then look at our suggested topics for some food flavoured inspiration to discuss.



World Food Day, October 16th, is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed, year-around action to alleviate hunger.

Food

Hoosier Ag Today App

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a new app for your phone. The Hoosier Ag Today app was just announced. I’ve got it on my HTC Thunderbolt.

This free application provides farmers with up-to-the-minute market prices, time-sensitive news, and an exclusive Indiana agricultural weather forecast. But what makes the HAT app unique is that farmers can listen to exclusive audio content on their wireless devices. “This is in-depth information that is too long for today’s commercial radio formats but the kind of detail that today’s farmers crave,” said Gary Truitt, president of Hoosier Ag Today. The HAT app is currently available on the Android platform with an iPhone version ready for release in a few weeks.

The app was developed in collaboration with LoadOut Technologies at the Purdue University Research Park. A development team with experience in app creation and agriculture worked to create an application that meets the unique informational needs of the agricultural industry. This is a prototype of an app that will be developed for other farm media organizations across the Midwest. The app takes advantage of the time-sensitive and localized information that statewide farm broadcast organizations can provide, while delivery that information directly to farmers while they are in the field or on the go. Read More

Apps, Media

Get The Truth On World Egg Day

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time to plan some healthy Friday food with eggs. That’s because October 14 is World Egg Day!

Novus International is all about World Egg Day. They’ve got a great online resource about eggs at EggTruth.com. So if you need some recipe ideas you can find some here.

“Eggs are an affordable, nutrient-dense food,” said Scott Carter, Ph.D., Poultry Market Manager for Novus International Inc. “In only 70 calories, one large egg provides an impressive six grams of high-quality protein and at least 13 essential vitamins and minerals.”

Many nutritionists believe eggs are a critical source of protein for a rapidly growing population, which is why the International Egg Commission has proclaimed Oct. 14, 2011 as World Egg Day. In addition to local activities, Novus is celebrating World Egg Day with events worldwide. Among those efforts are media outreach in Brazil, educational events in 10 African countries and education outreach efforts in the United States, Taiwan, across Europe and Mexico.

“We know that working to educate consumers about where their food comes from and the people producing it, helps them make more informed choices for their families,” notes Dr. Carter.

In the photo an elementary school kid is coloring eggs during an educational event conducted by Novus in St. Louis. In the video below you can hear Jared Hux, Novus Product Manager talk about the reasons for World Egg Day.

Agribusiness, Food, Novus International

Worries About Corn Stocks

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How do you feel about the corn supply/demand status?” Sounds like there’s a little worry out there according to the results. 42% answered, Worried – there’s not enough; 34% said No worries – there’s plenty; 13% said, Don’t care and 11% said It will be better next year. If you’re worried, why?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Should the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) be changed?” What do you think? Take our poll and feel free to comment. Thank you.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Osborn & Barr’s Cultivate Practice Group continues to expand with new hires. Maria Bingaman, Jonathon Butler, Ann Patton and Rebecca Stephen join the team to support the United Soybean Board account.
  • AFIA has unveiled the redesigned website Feedsearch.com, one of the association’s most valuable resources. Feedsearch serves as a prospective guide for industry buyers.
  • Have you struggled with winter annual weeds getting in the way of spring planting? Applying a herbicide now may help you save time next spring.
  • An alert system from the Florida Automated Weather Network that will notify users either by text message or by email when temperatures become critically low will be deployed Nov. 1.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Novus Hosts St. Louis Agribusiness Club

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The St. Louis Agribusiness Club held its lunch meeting today at Novus International headquarters. It has been a while since I’ve had a chance to attend one of these meetings but a “bye” week from the agriblogging highway made it work out.

    Our speaker was Thad Simons, Novus International President/CEO. Thad talked about the challenges of feeding a growing world population before giving our group a current overview of Novus and its products.

    After lunch the attendees were able to take a tour of the Novus headquarters and learn more about what the company is doing.

    I got to add to my Thad Simons interview collection by visiting with him briefly after his remarks. Thad says he wanted our group to realize that we not only have a real need to feed a growing world population but that since the population is increasingly urbanized it is even more challenging. Besides having to produce more food we have to figure out how to get it to the people who need it.

    When it comes to Novus, Thad says the company is still celebrating its 20th birthday with the next celebration being held in Spain. I attended the activities held earlier this year at Novus headquarters. Thad is now on his way to Des Moines, IA for the World Food Prize activities.

    You can listen to my interview with Thad here: Thad Simons Interview

    Agribusiness, Audio, Novus International

    AFBF Elects Potts as Executive Vice President

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Julie Anna Potts is the new executive vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

    The AFBF board of directors elected Potts last week to succeeds Dick Newpher who retired after 19 years of service with AFBF, the last seven as executive vice president. Newpher previously worked 19 years with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in various capacities.

    In her new role, Potts will lead the AFBF staff in its implementation of all programs and activities for the organization, as well as for the coordination between AFBF and its affiliated companies. She will also serve as treasurer of AFBF and its affiliates.

    Since March of this year, Potts served as AFBF senior executive director for operations and development, overseeing strategic development and the operations of AFBF’s Organization, Accounting and Administrative Services departments, as well as coordination of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and American Farm Bureau, Inc.

    Potts first joined AFBF in 2004, serving as general counsel until 2009. In late 2009 she was named chief counsel of the Senate Agriculture Committee, serving under then-Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. She rejoined AFBF earlier this year.

    AFBF

    Mark Ramsey To Talk Intersection of Broadcasting/Digital At NAFB

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Hopefully you’ve got your registration completed for the November National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention and especially for your hotel room. Want a preview of one of the speakers? Check out Mark Ramsey, Mark Ramsey Media, in the video below. The photo has NAFB President Tom Steever and board member Mark Oppold doing an earlier video promo to get you to register early.

    Mark Ramsey Media is one of the best-known research and strategy providers to media companies in America, and company president Mark Ramsey will be at the NAFB Annual Convention to share with attendees the trends and opportunities on the audio media landscape.

    NAFB

    Sunbelt Know On The Go App

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Joining the ranks of farm shows with an app is the Sunbelt Ag Expo. It’s the Know On The Go app for all your mobile device types. It’s on my iPhone already because I’ll be there next week thanks to the support of the New Holland Boomer 555 Contest!

    “Know on the Go” is the official mobile app for the 2011 Sunbelt Ag Expo, to be held Oct. 18-20 at Spence Field in Moultrie, Ga. The Sunbelt Expo is a must-attend event for anyone in agriculture, featuring hundreds of exhibits, a working farm, equipment demonstrations and driving ranges, and various educational opportunities.

    “Know on the Go,” provided for the first time by Farm Press Publications and Penton Media Inc., will allow those attending the Sunbelt Expo this year to use their iPhone, IPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry, Android and other web-enabled phones to receive up-to-the-minute news alerts and other breaking information during the three-day show.

    “The Sunbelt Expo: Know on the Go mobile app was developed by Penton Custom Media and has been used at some of the largest trade shows in the nation,” says Greg Frey, vice president at Penton Media and publisher of Farm Press. “We believe this new technology will greatly enhance participants’ experience at this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo.”

    Apps, Farm Shows, Sunbelt Ag Expo

    Charleston|Orwig A Year Later

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 323It was just a year ago that Cindy interviewed Mark Gale, Charleston|Orwig, while attending World Dairy Expo. That started a series of ZimmCasts with the leadership of advertising and public relations agencies. Now we’ve come full circle.

    At this year’s World Dairy Expo I visited with Brittany Unterweger, Account Supervisor for the agency. The agency was having a very busy week since they work with about ten different clients that are involved with World Dairy Expo. Brittany says the agency focus goes beyond the dairy industry though, into overall food systems, “from farm to plate, from producer to consumer.” She says there has been an internal shift within the agency to move beyond just agriculture. Interactive has also grown tremendously and that includes app building and the further development of their blog, Field Assignment.

    Brittany says that she’s excited to have a more holistic approach with the food systems concept so they can helpt their clients see the big picture. She says their client list has been growing and that it’s an exciting time at Charleston|Orwig.

    Listen to my conversation with Brittany in this week’s ZimmCast: Visiting With Brittany Unterweger

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

    The program ends this week with music from Music Alley, called “Make You Happy” by The Milkmen. 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.

    2011 World Dairy Expo Photo Album

    World Dairy Expo coverage sponsored by Charleston Orwig Dairy Business Association Alltech Hoard’s Dairyman Accelerated Genetics
    Agencies, Audio, ZimmCast