FarmVille Fanatics to Plant Real Crops

Cindy Zimmerman

The top players of the popular on-line game FarmVille will get a taste of reality as they leave the virtual farm this month to plant a real fruit orchard in the real town of Farmville, Virginia – courtesy of Edy’s Fruit Bars.


The new orchard in Farmville, VA commemorates a branded integration between Edy’s Fruit Bars and FarmVille. From June 13 to June 19, 2011, FarmVille players across the country will plant limited edition Edy’s Fruit Bars branded crops within the FarmVille game, earning additional profitability and the opportunity to receive mastery recognition for planting, growing and selling the Fruit Bars crops.

A handful of lucky players have been selected to plant trees in real life, as well. Sharyn Martinez is among the FarmVille enthusiasts traveling to Farmville, VA to plant a fruit orchard with Edy’s Fruit Bars. “Being from Los Angeles, I thought the only way I’d get to plant an orchard was on my beautiful virtual farm! But now, thanks to Edy’s Fruit Bars and Zynga, I am getting ready to dig in and plant fruit trees in the real town of Farmville,” says Sharyn.

The planting in Farmville, VA is an example of Edy’s Fruit Bars ongoing commitment to revitalizing one of our most precious resources: fruit trees. In 2010, Fruit Bars introduced Communities Take Root, an annual program dedicated to planting fruit tree orchards in deserving communities nationwide. Throughout the summer, Edy’s Fruit Bars invites people across the United States to cast their vote to help twenty communities blossom, one orchard at a time.

Brilliant! Wish I had thought of it!

Farming, Public Relations

AgriSafe Network Seeking Partners for Farm Safety

Cindy Zimmerman

Most everyone knows what a dangerous occupation farming can be, but the AgriSafe Network does something about it, and safety product companies can help.

The AgriSafe Network is a national nonprofit organization that represents health professionals who provide agricultural occupational health and safety services to farmers and their families.

To help out with this mission, AgriSafe has developed a social business venture based on the sale of safety products. “Without spending any additional dollars companies can assist farm families by choosing AgriSafe as the vendor for safety equipment,” said Outreach Coordinator Janie Boyer. “100% of the proceeds support AgriSafe’s non-profit work.”

For more information on the AgriSafe Network, go to www.agrisafe.org.

Safety

Dealing With Disruptive Change In Dairy Industry

Chuck Zimmerman

Mandi McLeodDisruptive change sounds disturbing. However, perhaps it’s more of a challenge. Mandi McLeod, System Insights, Ltd., New Zealand, talked about it and its impact on the dairy industry during the Alltech International Symposium. She’s seen here being interviewed by Ireland’s RTE voice Damien O’Reilly. I spoke with Mandi after Damien to learn what is going on with dairy farming in her country and how she coaches family business strategy.

Mandi says the New Zealand dairy model is still working but needs to evolve further in light of disruptive changes in the industry. She says that their level of productivity hasn’t kept up with the price of their product which makes them vulnerable at the moment. The current pricing of dairy products is just not financially sustainable and it looks like that isn’t going to improve soon. Mandi is a family business strategist and advises dairy farmers to take a look at their business and make sure they’re using resources wisely. Sounds like common sense advice for any business. She wants people to enjoy what they are doing by finding a balance in their life and business. Having a good plan would help a family business tremendously. Perhaps you should give Mandi a call if you need help. Mandi McLeod Interview

2011 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio, Dairy, International

Hunting The Wild Cicada

Chuck Zimmerman

I don’t know about where you are but the cicadas have made their presence known here in Missouri. Hunting is not the right word. I just walked out in the front yard to take a picture of this bad boy. They really just started showing up. Nothing, then boom, they’re everywhere. I’ve passed white fences and walls that are covered with them. Now I think I know what’s been eating the vine at our mailbox.

These little “tree crickets” show up periodically. According to a map and information on Cicada Mania I think we’ve got Brood IV XIX. These are 13-year cicadas and they are loud and proud.

How loud? Here’s a few seconds of sound I recorded just now with my iPhone from the same tree I shot the photo. You can also hear a nearby highway. Cicada Sound

Now, that will either put you to sleep while you lie in your hammock or else it will grate on your nerves and force you to put your ear buds on and crank up your favorite Pandora station.

Audio

Alltech Gets New Media

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 306This week’s program features a conversation I had at last week’s Alltech International Symposium with Billy Frey, Digita Marketing Manager. Billy was on the program with a session titled, “Precision Marketing: Don’t “get what you pay for,” only pay for what you get. His session was part of a new educational track called the New Ag Network. This track was created to take a holistic approach to business and marketing. The symposium still has species targeted educational tracks. His session was part of an effort to provide attendees with tools to do better marketing of their business.

Of course we talk about social media mechanisms since they now allow companies like Alltech to do their own branding without being completely dependent on traditional media channels. Billy says his number one message is “we have to listen to the customer.” These new tools that allow companies to engage with their customers make that easier than ever. At the same time they allow for very targeted and streamlined advertising efforts. There are ag media representatives from many countries that attend the Alltech Symposium. I asked him if he thought they are “getting it” when it comes to social media. He thinks they are or that they are at least in the process of making changes necessary to survive in the new media world. He’s proud of the ag media for embracing new media. In the photo Billy (left) is chatting with Dave Russell, Brownfield Ag News in the Symposium press room.

Billy thinks that the new media mechanisms provide an opportunity and a challenge since the younger generations are starting out with them while the older generations are only just coming around to accepting them. He echoes a belief I’ve had since we got into new media and that is that it’s just an evolution of the best form of marketing – word of mouth.

We also talk about the new Alltech App which currently provides unique information for pork producers and markets and weather. Basically, this means that Alltech has created their own information channel for their customers who can choose to get it and use it how and where they want.

Learn how Alltech is using new communications elements in the company’s marketing program: Alltech and New Media

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.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Animal Health, Apps, Audio, ZimmCast

Remembering Those Who Served In Our Military

Chuck Zimmerman

Today we honor, remember and pray for the souls of our deceased men and women who have died in service to our country. At 3pm today you may want to take a moment to say a prayer and remember these heroes. You can turn your lights on if you’re driving.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.”

You can find a lot more good information about the meaning of today on this website or on this one.

Uncategorized

The Fastest Socket Wrench

Melissa Sandfort

I love organization. I wonder, at times, if I have OCD about cleaning and putting everything back in its place. I have a child who is almost 3 years old and probably thinks I’m no fun when it comes to playing…but I know right where all of his toys are, and every night, the same toys go back in the same box, and get put back in the same trunk in the same place. See a pattern here? I don’t like clutter.

I’d be that way about my husband’s toolbox too, but he’d probably throw a fit. Plus, that’s his domain.

I just find that when I complete this organizational routine, it makes my life easier because I don’t have to search for toys, car keys, tape, socks, cell phone or tools.

This is a 4-way speed wrench, made for two reasons. One, to clean up the toolbox clutter. (Oh, I like it already!) And two, to have four socket sizes at your fingertips to quickly and easily loosen lug nuts. This one was patented in October 1922.

Now we have impact wrenches, but this initial design was perfect for those who wanted an uncluttered toolbox, and liked doing things fast.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The American Meat Science Association is excited to announce its first Developmental Web Seminar, “How to Survive an Audit – Key Ingredients for Success.” The two-hour seminar will take place June 8 at 2:00 pm CDT.
  • The National FFA Organization has selected 50 outstanding young people to participate in the 2011 New Century Farmer program.
  • Phill Barufkin has joined Bader Rutter & Associates as a senior brand strategist in the agency’s brand asset management group.
  • EVITO Fungicide from Arysta LifeScience North America received approval of a supplemental label by the EPA that allows EVITO to be applied using a low water volume of 2 gallons per acre.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Over Regulation All Across the Nation Blues

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is going creative on all the regulation being faced by farmers today. Maybe we should start a video sensation called, “EPA Regulators Gone Wild.” Now I wonder what kind of video that would generate. How about this one, just released by NCBA? Let’s help it go viral. Share it out via your social media channels!

    Here’s what prompted the video:

    Can you believe the Environmental Protection Agency wants to regulate farm dust? No joke! We are talking about dust kicked up from cattle or dust stirred up by a rancher’s pickup truck. U.S. Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) introduced, with bipartisan support, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 1633) that would block dust regulation by EPA in rural areas where state dust laws are in effect. Call your members of Congress today and ask them to stand firm for family farmers and ranchers by supporting this legislation.

    Dust is a part of life in rural America. Cattle ranchers work hard to provide safe and nutritious food for this country and abroad. Finalizing a rule (expected in August) that would result in heavy fines for creating dust is unacceptable.

    Beef, NCBA, Video

    Florida Crackers In Action

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Think cowboys got their start in the great American west? Think again. The documentary movie, “Florida Crackers: The Cattlemen and Cowboys of Florida” sets the record straight about where cowboys and the cattle industry originated in our country. That’s in my home state of Florida! I was sent a review copy of the movie which I watched last night. It is a very good quality production. Here are some of my thoughts as I watched the movie.

    The movie includes a lot of very old historic photos of cowboys and cattle. They fit right into the story which includes lots of titles and music. But what really makes this movie for me are all the people who were interviewed. They tell the story and while you listen you’ll see them in action, including the legendary Bud Adams, Adams Ranch. It’s not a boring story. It shows cowboys and cattlemen doing their job. And they do it in the palmetto and swamps that I find beautiful and have really missed living here in the midwest.

    Probably one of the standout segments for me was all about doing business with a handshake. Even today these cowboys still conduct some major deals by giving their word and shaking hands. This segment alone made the movie worth watching in my opinion. It’s just one example of the values held by these folks. I wish we saw more values in action like this in our country today.

    So, if you like cowboys and some good stories that will help you better understand why they love their animals and the land then I highly recommend this movie. You can buy it online here.

    Beef, Farming