CAMA Ontario Webinar On New Media and Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association wants to help you come to grips with the new and social media of today and how that connects to farmers.

CAMA Ontario will be hosting a one-hour webinar on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. eastern time.

“Engaging Farmers in the New Media Platform” – Join speaker Shaun Haney, owner of Real Agriculture, farm operator, and cereal and canola seed distributor from Picture Butte, Alberta for CAMA Ontario’s webinar. Shaun will discuss why agriculture has a fit in social media, and its future in how farmers communicate. He will also touch upon the discrepancies between U.S. and Canadian social media, and explain why producers identify with certain platforms, including his site, RealAgriculture.com.

The cost is $30. To register, click on the following link: http://cama.org/Default.aspx?tabid=262&ModuleID=788&ItemID=63&mctl=EventDetails.

Shaun is a founding board member of the AgChat Foundation.

Social Networking

How Do uShip Ag Equipment or Livestock

Chuck Zimmerman

If you’re shipping heavy ag equipment or livestock then uShip has some ideas they asked us to pass along. A big one is what to do with an empty truck or trailer after it makes a drop off. How about putting something in it for the return trip? It can not only save you money but helps the environment at the same time. You can learn more about Green Shipping on their website. Watch the video to learn how it works.



Since 2004, uShip has made transport and trucking more affordable and efficient. We’ve matched hundreds of thousands of customers’ shipments with the extra space in transporters’ trucks, reducing the number of empty miles on the road and saving people millions of dollars in lowered delivery costs.

But that’s only half of the equation. uShip also has a long-standing partnership with TerraPass, the award-winning carbon offset provider, to purchase credits to further neutralize the negative impact of carbon dioxide emissions created from transport jobs booked on uShip. Whether you’re a customer or a transporter, you can easily participate by purchasing TerraPass credits to make a difference.

Once you’ve created an account you can search to find people and businesses that have heavy haul ag equipment or livestock that they need shipped.

Agribusiness, Environment, Equipment, Video

Leading Ag Investment Meeting Offers Comp Passes To Investors

Chuck Zimmerman

A little incentive has been given to investors with an “eye on agriculture.” According to FC Business Intelligence demand is high for the latest market insight on global ag opportunities.

This unique forum, taking place in Singapore (June 29-30), will bring together institutional and private investors with top Ag fund managers, to debate strategies for participating in agriculture and surrounding investments.

If you’re an institutional or private investor looking to allocate funds in agriculture and would like to be considered for a complimentary pass, please get in touch directly with George Kiley, Investment Director, FC Business Intelligence on gkiley@aginvestconference.com or + 44 (0)207 3757 545.

As well as timely discussions on private equity investment in the full agriculture supply chain, the challenges and benefits of investing internationally and capitalizing on farmland investment, time has been set aside specifically for one-on-one networking. Read More

International

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Osborn & Barr welcomes the return of Mark Green to the agency’s management team as vice president, director of strategic innovation.
  • Farmers and ranchers may be spending more time online now than they did five years ago, but they may not be satisfied with their results, according to a recent study.
  • A new resource developed by Iowa State University’s Corn and Soybean Initiative is an interactive collection of maps and related resources designed to help growers and agribusinesses more easily track and manage crop pests of regional importance.
  • New Alion herbicide from Bayer CropScience LP is now registered by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in tree nuts and vines, citrus, stone and pome fruits.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Combo of Factors Causing Higher Food Prices

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What causes higher food prices?” Most people responding seem to believe it’s a combination of factors – 47%. That’s followed by higher gas/energy costs at 23%, speculators at 18%, ethanol at 9% and weather at 3%. I wonder how the response would compare to an audience for a general news website like Fox or CNN. What do you think?

    Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How do farmers compare in social media use?” Let us know what you think and thanks for your your participation.

    And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.

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

    Energy, Food, ZimmPoll

    FFA Leaders Join Novus Science Day

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Two National FFA officers and a regional director for the National FFA Foundation were among those who participated in the third annual “Science in Action: A Foundation for Dynamic Careers” Day sponsored by Novus International.

    NovusChristopher Bell with the FFA Foundation said it was a good opportunity for the officers to visit an agricultural company that is making a difference in the world. “Novus has put a lot of emphasis on sustainability in agriculture and that’s becoming one of our big initiatives in the FFA is making sure that our 523,000 students are practicing sustainable agriculture,” he said.

    “I’m very passionate about agriculture and it’s great to come here today and visit with people from Novus and see the passion that they have for making a difference in the agriculture industry,” said National FFA Secretary Landan Schaffert of Colorado, pictured on the right next to Christopher listening to Novus’ Jim Richards on the laboratory portion of the tour.

    NovusShannon Norris of New Mexico, who serves as Western Region Vice President for FFA, is pursuing a career in agricultural communications and possibly a doctorate in ruminant nutrition so she was very interested in getting to know the people at Novus. “It’s interesting to see how the mission of the company is intertwined with the values of each individual employee,” she said.

    You can listen to my interview with Christopher, Landan and Shannon here: Interview with FFA representatives on Novus Science Day

    Novus Science in Action Day 2011 Photos

    Audio, Education, FFA, Novus International, Sustainability

    Cow Art And Social Media

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 300Cow artist and veterinarian, Kathy Swift, is also a board member of the AgChat Foundation. We got to visit while I was in Gainesville, FL doing a little John Deere work. Our conversation is ZimmCast number 300! I guess that’s a milestone of sorts. You figure out how many years that is.

    With the AgChat Foundation recently turning one year old, our visit was very timely. We talked about becoming agvocates and Kathy shares some of her experiences for people who want to become AgNerds. You can learn more about what Kathy does on the Cow Art And More Blog. And follow her on Twitter.

    Thank you to the Panera lady who took our photo!

    Listen to Kathy talk about her experiences with social media in this week’s program: Getting Social With Cow Art

    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

    Audio, ZimmCast

    Preserving a Piece of History

    Melissa Sandfort

    I have a pantry filling up with mason jars. And I have a brain filling up with ideas on what to put IN those mason jars. Applesauce? Rotel? Stewed tomatoes? Salsa?

    Before there were mason jars, there were clay pots for preserving. My grandmother’s grandma used these to store pickles and kraut in. They had loose lids, so there was no need for a wax seal or a pressure cooker. These, too, came from the Macomb Pottery company.

    I much prefer the mason jars because of the clear glass. You can see what you’re reaching for when you get it off the shelf. And, it makes for a colorful pantry.

    By way of recording photos and a little blurb about each item, I seem to be preserving a small piece of history. It amazes me sometimes how many generations back these items go. They’re valuable to their owners right now because there’s a personal connection – a personal story behind each one, and they’re valuable to collectors. But once the owners are gone, does the value fade if there’s no story?

    Until we walk again …

    Uncategorized

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • CNH will open a remanufactured parts distribution center within its CNH Reman operations facility in Springfield, Mo., to expedite delivery of its remanufactured products to equipment dealers throughout North America.
    • A new website is a collaborative effort of the fertilizer industry aimed at increasing awareness of 4R nutrient stewardship, a site-specific, scientific framework that addresses farmers’ use of the right fertilizer source at the right rate, the right time and the right place.
    • Diamond V received two awards at the 2011 Technology Association of Iowa Prometheus Awards.
    • The team at Nolan Ryan’s All-Natural Beef are getting a head start on grilling season by launching Nolan Ryan’s Beef and Baseball Bonanza.
      Zimfo Bytes

      Driving Green at GreenSouth

      Chuck Zimmerman

      I was driving green with John Deere in Gainesville, FL this weekend. GreenSouth Equipment held a field party for customers and the public as part of the Drive Green Challenge tour.

      One of the stars of the tour is the truck that travels across the country delivering some of the equipment that is displayed at scheduled events. I met this year’s driver, Brian Middleton, who has already been to more than 20 stops with a lot more to go. As you might imagine, he’s got some great anecdotes about driving this highway billboard: Interview with Brian Middleton

      Audio, John Deere