Amazing Social Media Coverage of Royal Wedding

Cindy Zimmerman

The official social media coverage of the Royal Wedding is impressive and word is that the event set records for an online streaming audience.

dukemobileWhen I saw on Twitter that the Royal newlywed getaway car was an Aston Martin converted to run on 85 percent ethanol, I was first amazed that there was a biofuels angle to the wedding. When I went searching for official photos and releases, I was totally amazed by the wall-to-wall, immediate social media coverage provided on the official level. The official Royal Wedding site includes links to constantly updated videos on YouTube and photos on Flickr, in addition to frequent posts on Facebook and tweets on Twitter. I have to wonder how many people were involved in this effort – and how much it cost! It takes the kind of event coverage we do to a whole new level! Wondering if Pope John Paul II’s beatification on Sunday will be as impressive. They do have an official Vatican Facebook page for the beatification and the events reportedly will be live-streamed at many of the sites.

Getting back to the Dukemobile, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Buckingham Palace for the royal residence Clarence House, they drove off in a “convertible Aston Martin Volante DB6 MKII in Seychelles blue is owned by his father HRH The Prince of Wales” that runs on 85 percent ethanol. That according to the official update on the Royal Wedding website, adding that in “June 2008, at the specific request of The Prince of Wales, who is keen that his cars should be run on sustainable fuel, the Aston Martin was converted to run on E85 bioethanol, made from English wine wastage.”

They even have a Royal Wedding YouTube video of the couple leaving in the car:

Social Networking, Video

Ag Communications Groups United for Japan Relief

Cindy Zimmerman

Ten North American agricultural communications organizations have joined together in an effort to provide support for the people of Japan as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.

AAEAThrough the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) is coordinating the North American effort that also includes:

Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT)
Agricultural Media Summit LLC
Agricultural Relations Council (ARC)
American Business Media Agri-Council
Canadian Farm Writers Federation
Livestock Publications Council
National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA)
National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB)
North American Agricultural Journalists

So far they have raised more than $9,000 and are now reaching out to the members of all the participating organization to ask for donations. All contributions are being sent to and managed by the Japan Agricultural Journalists Association and be directed to rural areas and predominantly farmers. Chuck recently did a ZimmCast with Japanese ag journalist and IFAJ representative Masaru Yamada about the situation there.

Donations can be made on-line https://www.humanspan.com/secure/aaea/donation.asp by credit card. Check should be made payable to AAEA Foundation and mailed to:

AAEA Foundation
Den Gardner
120 Main St. West
PO Box 156 (if sent by US Postal Service)
New Prague, MN 56071

So spread the word through newsletters, websites, members’ magazines, radio announcements, Twitter, Facebook, whatever and contact Den Gardner for further information.

ACN, IFAJ, LPC, NAFB, NAMA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • CME Group announced the launch of Weekly Grain Options on Corn, Wheat and Soybeans futures to begin trading May 23.
  • Peyton Sellers and SFP will be teaming up for charity this weekend when Sellers and the No. 84 Sugar Hill Racing Ford compete in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway.
  • Valley Irrigation introduced Pivot Cruise Control software, which allows producers to be even more precise with chemigation and fertigation.
  • Results of a new poll released by the Center for Food Integrity indicates consumers are coping with the rising cost of food by changing their shopping behaviors.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Get AgWired on iPad Flipboard

    Chuck Zimmerman

    We want you to use the AgWired app on your iPhone, iPod Touch or Android phone. And you can use it on your iPad.

    But I thought I’d point out another very cool way to get AgWired on your iPad by using Flipboard. I love the Flipboard app because it takes rss feeds and puts them in a very user friendly display that takes advantage of the iPad screen space.

    So, get the Flipboard app and then add the AgWired RSS Feed. That’s all there is to it.

    So go get some good stuff on your iPad.

    Apps

    Get Your Corn Refuge In An FS Bag

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The whole refuge in the bag concept is a great one and now GROWMARK is making it available. This spring there are two FS Seed corn varieties that have the Refuge In Bag (RIB). They are FS 54VX1 RIB and FS 61BX1 RIB. Each bag contains the correct blend of traited and non-traited seed needed to meet refuge requirements for both above- and below-ground pests.

    “FS Seed is one of the few regional seed companies to offer Genuity® SmartStaxTM RIB CompleteTM for planting this spring,” said Lance Ruppert, FS Seed sales and marketing manager. “Our focus has been and will continue to be to bring the best seed innovations to growers through our FS Seed brands, and this is just the latest example.”

    Farmers using Genuity SmartStax seed corn are required to plant five percent of their corn acres with non-traited varieties, to help reduce the development of resistant pests. Using RIB Complete technology eliminates the need to dedicate certain acres to refuge. “Growers can purchase and plant one product that satisfies their need for both yield potential and IRM (insect resistance management) refuge requirements,” Ruppert said. “ This simplicity helps make planning and planting more efficient.” Farmers interested in using RIB Complete corn this spring should contact their local FS crop specialist.

    Corn, GROWMARK, Seed

    MyWay RTK Introduces Andy Hill as GM

    Melissa Sandfort

    MyWay RTK LLC – a precision farming technologies company that specializes in open-technology RTK (Real Time Kinematic) – introduced industry veteran, Andy Hill, as the new General Manager. Hill comes from Premier Technologies, Inc., bringing with him 20 years industry experience in precision farming and agriculture.

    With its territory already blanketing the entire state of Illinois and quickly expanding in states like Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, MyWay RTK executives sought a proven industry expert to oversee the company’s continued growth.

    As General Manager, Hill’s primary role will be facilitating the expansion of the MyWay RTK territory and working with industry representatives to implement the latest MyWay RTK offerings.

    Precision Agriculture

    Picture A Better American Farm

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Here’s a photo contest for you to consider entering. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the I Make America campaign have launched the Picture a Better America Photo Contest. Their goal is to, “demonstrate the urgent need to invest in America’s crumbling infrastructure.”

    The contest will showcase the hard-working men and women who “make” America. The Picture a Better America Photo Contest aims to greatly amplify the voices of I Make America’s grassroots supporters and others committed to demonstrating the real cost of Congressional inaction on infrastructure investment and who are pushing for passage of a fully-funded six-year highway bill by September 30th of this year.

    “We’re calling on all Americans to send in their photos to the Picture a Better America Photo Contest. We need to show our elected officials that our roads, bridges and highways are crumbling and America needs Congress to pass a fully-funded highway investment bill this year,” said AEM President Dennis Slater. “The time is now for Congress to invest taxpayer dollars in projects that will create meaningful jobs and will make our roads safer.”

    I think you’ll be especially interested in the America Grows Here Category. You’ve got until July 15 to enter and you can get full details on the website.

    Have you ever eaten corn on the cob? Are you wearing a cotton shirt? America is a world leading provider of these products and more. Without investment in American infrastructure, our products, crops, and the machines that harvest them, will sit idle in our fields instead of feeding and clothing the world. Show the natural beauty of America’s farms and fields, by submitting a photo today!

    Follow on Twitter.

    AEM

    The Number 15

    Melissa Sandfort

    Grab your #2 pencil. Or wait – was it the #15 pen? Either way, I think I’ve forgotten how to write and I think I’ve forgotten what it really means to “pen a letter.” Grandma used to tell me to pay more attention in penmanship class, and I believe that’s almost gone the wayside as penmanship class has morphed into typing class.

    What happened to the eloquent love letters, the sprawling beauty of a letter written with ink on a piece of paper? What happened to the days when the ink pen seemed to produce such words, such passion, such conviction. The text was thoughtful, melodically written … it was poetry. Each letter, each word, captured greatness and elegance. Simple written words closed the miles between lovers, ended wars, saved families.

    I feel almost guilty as I “pen” this blog post on the computer. (Although, I know it’s much faster.)

    Until we walk again …

    Uncategorized

    GROWMARK Illinois Essay Contest Winner Announced

    Chuck Zimmerman

    GROWMARK has announced the Illinois state winner of their essay contest for FFA members. The theme this year was “The Importance of Agriculture in Everyday Life” and the winner is Keirra DeCamp of Pleasant Hill.

    In her contest entry, DeCamp said: “So, the real question here is: ‘Where would you be without agriculture?’ Without agriculture, you would be inconvenienced, naked, malnourished, unprotected, and, most importantly, hungry.”

    DeCamp is a student at Pleasant Hill High School and a member of the Pleasant Hill FFA chapter. Her FFA advisor is Beth Arnold.

    As the contest winner, DeCamp will receive a $500 scholarship from GROWMARK at the Illinois FFA State Convention, held in Springfield during June. The Pleasant Hill FFA chapter will also receive a $300 award in honor of her accomplishment to help future students.

    Four state runners-up will each receive a $125 scholarship. The runners-up and their FFA chapters are, in alphabetical order: Jacob Day, Lincoln FFA, Lawndale, Ill., Jonathan Drover, Technology Center of DuPage FFA, Westmont, Ill., Lucas Frye, Illini Central FFA, Easton, Ill., and Sarah Higgins, Mercer County FFA, Joy, Ill.

    This is the eighteenth year for the program, sponsored by the GROWMARK System and FS member cooperatives, in conjunction with state FFA leaders, to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of cooperatives.

    Agribusiness, Education, GROWMARK

    Alltech is Calling All Farming Filmmakers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Alltech is looking for videos that tell the story of how game changing innovations are helping farmers feed the world.

    The Kentucky-based animal health and nutrition company has announced the first ever “Farming Film Festival,” offering a $2,000 grand prize. Following the theme of the Alltech 27th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium, The Game Changers, video submissions should focus on an idea or technology that helps farmers meet the tough challenges in their career.

    “Emerging new media such as YouTube and other social media outlets have been game changers for many in the agriculture industry,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “Sharing these game changing stories with others ignites a new wave of hope and innovation, and that’s what we hope to do with the Farming Film Festival.”

    The rules are pretty simple. The video may be up to 2 minutes in length (including credits), it must tell the story of a farmer’s game changer and it must include footage of the farmer on the farm. That’s all there is to it. First prize is $2000, second is $500 and third is $250. First and Second Place Winners will be chosen by an independent panel of science and agriculture journalists. Third Place Winner will be the finalist with the largest number of online votes.

    Participants in the Farming Film Festival may enter by uploading their video to YouTube and emailing the link to contest@alltech.com. Winners will be chosen by a panel of science and agriculture journalists based on creativity, quality of video, story interest and number of views and will be awarded up to $2,000 cash. The deadline for submission is May 13.

    For official rules and how to participate, visit www.alltech.com/farmingfilmfestival.

    Alltech