Classic Comments From ASA VP

Chuck Zimmerman

Smooth Sailing at Commodity Classic in Tampa, FL sounds really good right now. I spoke with American Soybean Association VP, Bob Worth, about the upcoming annual event. He farms in Minnesota and was in between a rain storm and a blizzard so I know he’s looking forward to heading south at the beginning of March.

Bob says we’re going to have a classic Commodity Classic with farmers able to learn while catching up with old and new friends. He says the event helps farmers better their bottom line. Some of the top issues he thinks will be topics of discussion and probably part of farm group policy sessions and resolutions include water quality, biodiesel tax credit extension and the farm bill. You can listen to my conversation with Bob here: Bob Worth Interview

Ag Groups, ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Soybean

Last Chance to Win in 2010

Cindy Zimmerman

Today is the last day of 2010 and the last chance to enter and win $250 in the ZimmComm web pub survey contest this month.

If you read Agwired and want to have a voice in what we cover here in 2011, fill out our survey today. At the end of the day, we will be taking the names of everyone who has filled out an on-line survey in the past two months and putting them all in the hat to draw one winner for the month of December. Everyone, that is, except our lucky winner from last month Jamie Wilson with the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan. She already got her $250.

Right now you have about a 1-500 chance of winning – not bad odds at all. Start out the new year right – with an extra $250 in your pocket – or at least the satisfaction of helping to make Agwired the best darn agribusiness news source it can be!

Agwired survey link

ZimmComm Announcement

Work Needs To Be Done on Consumer Perception of Ag

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like agriculture has a ways to go to change public perceptions according to our latest ZimmPoll. In answer to the question, “Do you think the general consumer perception of agriculture changed in 2010?” 43% say “No it didn’t really change,” while 30% say “Yes, it got worse,” and 27% said “Yes, it improved.” Where do you fall in those categories? That’s 73% of our respondents who think it didn’t change or got worse. Sounds like we really do need some campaigns to reach out to consumers doesn’t it?

The new poll is now live and the question is, “What do you think will have the biggest influence on ag in 2011?” There are no doubt many factors that will have an influence. We’ve picked a couple. When I post the results next week you can add any others you’d like to the discussion.

Remember, you can submit your questions for us to pose and add your feedback anytime by using the comment feature.

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

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Mark your calendars and come join the Board of Directors of the Texas Rice Council as they celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the organization.
  • Dave Rolli has been named a region sales manager for Wyffels Hybrids, responsible for supervising seven district sales managers.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association is proud to announce the Flex-Fuel Station Locator application for Android phones.
  • The Board of Directors of Monsanto Company has announced that Pierre Courduroux, 45, will be appointed as the company’s new senior vice president and chief financial officer effective Jan. 1, 2011.
Zimfo Bytes

Lindsay Hill Welcomes You To Cows & Coffee

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s what the incoming President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting is doing now. Check out Cows & Coffee to see the latest from Lindsay Hill. BTW. For those of you wondering about Lindsay’s status as incoming NAFB Prez due to the shutting down of the ABN Radio Network, she fulfilled the organization’s guidelines and applied for membership under new language in the by-laws that allows for “webcasters.” Interesting eh? According to outgoing NAFB Prez, Greg Akagi, reporting to the membership on the membership committee’s decision on her application, “the committee approved Lindsay’s application for membership.” So that settles that issue and we welcome Lindsay as an NAFB member of a different type who will be the Prez for the new year!

Welcome to CowsAndCoffee.com. Would you like a table, booth, or perhaps you’d prefer to kick back in your easy chair? After all, that’s why we’re here.

CowsAndCoffee.com is the place to read the latest agricultural news while you sip your morning cup of coffee. Listen to farm broadcaster Lindsay Hill discuss what’s “brewing” while you surf the web. And chat with other farmers and ag industry professionals just as you would at the local diner.

CowsAndCoffee.com is your online coffee shop. So stop by each day for your daily dose of caffeine and ag information to keep you going throughout the day.

Read more about Lindsay on her About Page.

Media, NAFB

Christmas Gadgets

Chuck Zimmerman

So what kind of cool gadgets did you get for Christmas. Actually, I meant to say “tools” instead of gadgets. They can be tools if used properly!

I’ll start with the Apple TV. I got one that will be replacing my original unit. Of course that means I will have to have the Remote app for my iPad and iPhone to control it with! This has been called a hobby for Apple. They went over a million units in sales last week at $99/ea. Not exactly a hobby I’d say. It allows you to watch HD movie and TV show rentals, Netflix movies and YouTube videos along with iTunes music and photos from your computer. I’m sure we’ll see it continue to develop too.

So if you got cool gadgets feel free to comment and share what you got, what you like and what you’re going to do with them.

Equipment

How Does This Thing Work?

Melissa Sandfort

Item #48 on our wedding registry: automatic can opener, a.k.a. item #8 that still sits on the pantry shelf and has never been used. I guess I shouldn’t say never. I think my husband used it once or twice.

Raise your hand if you still use the old-fashioned kind where you have to manually turn the knob. I know, there are hundreds of people out there who complain of wrist pain and arthritis and are looking for a scapegoat, but from the show of hands, I’d say technology may not have won this one.

This is a photo of an old bottle cap lifter and can opener from my grandmother’s collection of antiques. Her mother and grandmother both used it, and to give you an idea, her grandmother was born in 1860 and married at the age of 31. I’m thinking she was using the bottle opener then. In 1891, I doubt they worried about smooth edges on the lid.

So, item #48 will remain on the shelf. Maybe my son will write about it as “one of mom’s antiques” some day.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • EGT, LLC, announced it is building two high capacity shuttle train loaders in Montana to ensure that EGT can efficiently ship wheat from a key growing region to the company’s export grain terminal.
  • Allflex USA is introducing a one-piece, self-piercing tag called the A-Tag.
  • Vivando fungicide from BASF Crop Protection has received full registration from the U.S. EPA and the California Board of Pesticide Regulation.
  • Ag Growth International Inc. announced the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of Tramco Inc.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Cooking With Your iPad

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Got iPad? Want to use it in the kitchen more? Get the Cookineo App.

    A recent study (OTO Research Fullsix November 2010) covering user interest for iPad content, has reported a paradox : although the kitchen is the room where we spend most of our time every day, it is not a spontaneous answer to the question “where do you use your iPad?” This would suggest that browsing a recipe website on iPad does not completely fill the need. This is why the creators of Cookineo have revolutionised kitchen assistance by inventing a new “cooking experience”.

    It involves using technology with a unique obsession: to make life easier for those who prepare meals daily. This means:

    1. Recipes illustrated step by step with a very few words.
    2. Navigation through the steps of the recipe is done by clapping hands and without touching the screen.
    3. A pictorial summary in order to access data only in case of blackouts.
    4. Amounts calculated by the number of guests.
    5. An indicator, “4 square balance nutrition”, which makes allowances for choice and reminds you to balance your diet over time.
    6. Converter of menu into a shopping list to avoid any forgotten ingredient.
    7. Mailing and printing of a shopping list.
    8. A service available everywhere, even without WiFi access.

    Apps, Food