Ag Secretary Vilsack Celebrates NASS St. Louis Ops. Ctr.

Chuck Zimmerman

U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, made a visit to St. Louis today. He was the keynote speaker at the St. Louis Agribusiness Club meeting and I have his comments available for you below. You’ll notice the Golden ZimmComm Microphone prominently displayed to get the best quality audio too! You can find some more photos from the event here: St. Louis Agribusiness Club Luncheon Photo Album

Following the luncheon he moved over to the National Operations Center for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The center is located in Overland, MO.

The new operations center will create more than 350 local jobs and reuse a federal facility while making the agency more efficient and cost effective in its work. The space is under construction so anticipation of the opening and related jobs is building.

You can listen to or download the Secretary’s Comments here: Secretary Vilsack's Remarks

Post Update: Now that I’m back at ZimmComm World Headquarters I thought I’d select out the specific comment Sec. Vilsack made regarding the NASS facility. He says that NASS conducts about 450 surveys every year which creates information that a lot of business decisions depend on. He says, “What we decided to do in the name of efficiency and better coordination of information is to essentially consolidate data collection from forty seven different field offices into a central integrated comprehensive and coordinated location here in St. Louis.” The photo is from the media event at the facility taken by Gene Danekas, Director, Missouri Field Office, NASS. Thanks Gene!

You can listen to or download the comment here: Secretary Vilsack's - NASS Ops. Ctr.

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IFAJ Coordinating Assistance For Japanese Ag Journalists

Chuck Zimmerman

The fearless leader of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is Mike Wilson, Farm Futures. In the most recent IFAJ newsletter Mike let us know that the organization is working to help out those in need in Japan. As he mentions, those of us involved in IFAJ have developed long lasting relationships with our Japanese counterparts. Cindy and I participated in the 2007 IFAJ Congress that took place in Sendai and will never forget our experience and time there.

We are all aware of the devastation that has taken place in Japan. IFAJ held its 2007 Congress in Sendai, where much of the earthquake and tsunami damage has taken place. Many of our members have built life-long relationships with our colleagues in Japan. Now we want to help. The President of Japan Agricultural Journalists Association (JAJA) has issued a statement that you can read here on our website.

We have been in touch with Japan IFAJ executive representative Masaru Yamada for the past several days as we work to develop a coordinated relief effort through IFAJ. Our organization will be collecting donations that will be used specifically to help our fellow agricultural communicators and their families. IFAJ is facilitating the collection of donations from members through electronic transfers of funds initially to the bank account of IFAJ, for onward transfer of a single combined sum to JAJA in due course.

If you want to make a donation to the Japanese IFAJ relief effort, contact your IFAJ executive in your country.

IFAJ, International, Media

Where’s the Spin Cycle?

Melissa Sandfort

I love doing laundry. That involves separating whites and darks, walking down the hall, throwing it in the washer and going back to doing something else for 50 minutes while it washes; tossing it in the dryer and folding it. Total time = 1.5 hours.

I have it easy.

This is an old double-faced wash board that belonged to my Grandpa’s mother. Back in the day, these cost anywhere from 16 to 25 cents each, depending on the model. To get a load of laundry “going”, she would have to go outside and pump the water into a pail by hand, carry it in the house, heat up the boiler on the stove, heat the water, and fill another tub for rinsing. Wash the clothes by hand, ring them out, then take them outside to dry on the clothesline. There was no Tide or Downy, only hand-made lye soap. But boy did it get things white.

Total time? I’m guessing at least 3 hours, and they were busy ONLY washing clothes that entire time.

Thank you Maytag.

Until we walk again …

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Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

    Proud to be Biofools Nominees

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Friends of the Earth (FOE) has paid us a great compliment. We – both me and Chuck – have been nominated for the prestigious “Biofool of the Year” award!

    The award was established by FOE “to recognize leaders that promote dirty biofuels” – especially corn ethanol – and was won last year by then House Agriculture Committee chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). The first year it was Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant. In addition to us, this year’s nominees include Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), General Wesley Clark, and Secretary Tom Vilsack.

    Here is what they have to say about us:

    This dynamic duo are a pair of bloggers who lead the group ZimmComm New Media and provide a big platform for the ethanol industry’s talking points. Each day, on a series of blogs – hosted by the Zimmermans (DomesticFuel, AgWired ) or by the corn ethanol industry itself (CornCommentary) – Cindy and Chuck critique anyone who may disagree with the ethanol industry’s line while practically cutting and pasting press releases from industry lobby groups. The Zimmermans are unabashedly pro-industry, with clients such as Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Biodiesel Board and Syngenta. What’s more, many of their employees are previous employees of the biofuels industry lobby groups like Growth Energy. Now — Friends of the Earth has nothing against a pro-industry website (in principle), but the problem with the Zimmermans is that on the surface they pretend to be “reporters,” when in fact they act as industry hacks.

    I have never been so proud! But I would like to clarify a couple of things. First, we have no employees. We have freelance writers who contribute to our websites and other freelancers who do other work for us. One of our freelancers did work for Growth Energy, she now works for Protec Fuel and while she continues to do work for us in other areas, she does very little posting at this time. Another freelancer, Joanna, worked for EPIC when we got to know her, but she now has her own company and does work for a variety of clients, including us. And, we are really reporters. We even have degrees from the University of Florida College of Journalism in broadcasting. Our area of expertise just happens to be agriculture and we are proud supporters of this industry.

    We sincerely support and believe in the use of biofuels for our country, as well as other forms of alternative energy – and even utilizing more of our country’s own oil reserves. We are diametrically opposed to organizations and individuals who criticize and attack the people who produce this nation’s food, fiber, AND fuel. If that makes us biofools, then we are proud to be! If you agree, vote for us at biofools.com!

    Corn, Environment, Ethanol, Wackos, ZimmComm Announcement

    I Am Angus Features Range Magazine Editor

    Cindy Zimmerman

    A recent segment of “I Am Angus” features C.J. Hadley, the editor and publisher of Range Magazine, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cowboy way of life. She talks about her journey from England to the western United States and how and why she became a tireless advocate for the nation’s food producers. Check it out!

    Video

    Ag Pro Companies Drive Green Challenge

    Chuck Zimmerman

    My latest stop for the John Deere Drive Green Challenge is Little Rock, AR with Ag Pro Companies. We set up at The Ranch, which provided a great driving ground for customers who wanted to try out some new John Deere tractors or Gators or mowers. Customers were able to do a comparison test with a Kubota too!

    During my time here I recorded some excellent customer testimonials for publication on the John Deere Drive Green Challenge website. I also took a lot of photos. Next stop will be Gainesville, FL following the 2011 Agri-Marketing Conference.

    Here are photos from the event: Ag Pro Companies Drive Green Challenge Photo Album

    Agribusiness, John Deere, Tractor

    Woodruff Sweitzer Adds Digital Marketing Director

    Melissa Sandfort

    Scott Christian has joined Woodruff Sweitzer as Director of Digital Marketing. In this role, Christian will serve as lead strategist to expand the agency’s capabilities in helping clients utilize a broad spectrum of digital and social media marketing channels.

    Christian joins the agency with more than 10 years of digital marketing experience with a wide array of national and international brands and businesses. Most recently, he was Director of Digital Services at Nicholson Kovac, Inc., where he supervised the agency’s digital marketing initiatives for its consumer, agriculture and business-to-business clients.

    Christian holds a M.A. from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, and a B.A from Albion College in Albion, Michigan.

    As the digital lead for Woodruff Sweitzer, Christian will oversee all client web-based platform architecture, website development and traffic growth, online lead generation, CMS, loyalty and retention programs, mobile and SMS marketing and social media initiatives.

    Advertising, Agencies

    GROWMARK Media Day Tour

    Cindy Zimmerman

    growmarkI had the opportunity for the first time to attend the GROWMARK media day this week to learn a little more about this large and diverse farmer cooperative. Among our stops was the Christian County FS facility in Millersville, a new 12,000 ton facility primarily for DAP and potash.

    “We moved from five facilities down to this one facility,” said general manager Mike Builta. “We can handle eight barges at one time through this facility, gives us a little pricing advantage. We can take care of our entire county from this facility.”

    growmarkI recorded an interview that Julie Root of RFD Radio Illinois did with Mike. He told her that they built the new facility to become more efficient and he talked about the construction of the building.

    “It’s a hoop-style building, it has a canvas roof on it and all the trusses are rubberized on it for corrosion resistance,” he explained.

    Here is Julie’s interview with Mike and below is a little video to see the structure: Mike Builta Interview

    Here are more photos from the event: GROWMARK Media Day Photo Album

    Audio, GROWMARK, Video

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Farmers shopping for new Challenger, Massey Ferguson and Gleaner equipment can easily configure, price and compare the newest farm equipment right from their home office using new “Build and Quote” websites.
    • Pioneer Hi-Bred has announced Alejandro Munoz as vice president, Americas Group and Global Production, and Judd O’Connor as vice president, regional director for the U.S. region.
    • Rod Wells has been named GROWMARK plant food division manager, effective March 16, 2011.
    • R-CALF USA Directors recently elected a new president and vice president of the board, as the organization’s bylaws provide that officers shall serve 2-year terms.
      Zimfo Bytes