A Matter of Geography

Melissa Sandfort

I woke up one morning last week with a crick in my neck, which reminded me of the crick right on the edge of Brock. To some of you, it might be a creek. The creek, instead, is about ¼ mile from where we live now. The crick is outside of Brock. See the difference? Maybe it’s all a matter of geography.

Like sorghum. I did a stint working on some PR for a crop protection company. I’d say chemical company, but that has a negative connotation to some folks. They made a product for use on sorghum. You mean milo? Yeah, we used to raise milo.

And ‘round here, we call it pop. I was “city-fied” for a while and said soda, but now it’s just plain ‘ol pop.

So, when I give you directions to go past the creek by our house, and the crick in Brock, you know exactly how to get there, right?

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Register For Agvocate Training In Atlanta

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s an update on the agvocate social media training session that will take place this Saturday, from 3-6pm in Atlanta in conjunction with AG CONNECT Expo. I’m currently early on the program with a session on “Tools & Technology for the Trade.” Other sessions include: 3 on using Twitter, 3 on using Facebook, Effective Blogging and small group training. If you haven’t registered to attend then please do so now.

This agvocate training session is being conducted by the AgChat Foundation. If you’ve got questions please feel free to send an email to info@agchat.org.

See you there.

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Senninger UP3 received the most innovative new agricultural product of 2010 from the Irrigation Association at the IA annual international irrigation show.
  • DuPont announced it has acquired Seed Consultants, Inc., Washington C.H., Ohio, and Terral Seed, Lake Providence, La., as part of its Pioneer Hi-Bred PROaccess business strategy.
  • The preliminary findings of a months-long study that examines how wind turbines on farmlands interact with surrounding crops were presented at the annual fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
  • Farmland prices continue to defy economic forces that are pulling down other real estate values. A panel of Purdue University experts will discuss what factors are behind the steady rise in farmland values during a free webinar.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Happy New Year Survey Winner

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The new year is starting off a little greener for the latest winner in our ZimmComm publication survey drawing.

    The winner for December is Michelle Stahlhut, an Agwired reader and crop farmer from Indiana. Michelle actually filled out her survey in November and since we put all the entries back in the pot for the next month, she was the lucky pick today and will be receiving a check for $250 from us.

    Among the topics that Michelle says she would like see covered by us in 2011 are sustainability, beginning farmer programs, organic industry, small farm policy, meat processing.

    Sustainability is definitely the topic that most people who have responded to the survey so far would like to see more coverage about. Many of those who responded to that question said they appreciate the wide variety of topics we cover here on Agwired, especially new technology.

    Here are a few interesting notes about our Agwired readers that we have learned so far:

    Occupation –
    22% Advertising/Marketing/Sales
    19% Communications/PR
    19% Production Agriculture (livestock or crop)

    43% follow Agwired on Twitter

    Topics of most interest – Agribusiness 80%; Policy 54%; Farming 53%

    The survey continues through January, so please fill it out before the end of the month, if you haven’t done so yet. All entries received so far will be entered to win in the last drawing for $250, which will be held on February 1.

    Agwired survey link

    ZimmComm Announcement

    The Best of 2010 on Agwired

    Cindy Zimmerman

    2010 was a very busy year on Agwired, but no different than normal! We spent a total of 172 days on the road covering more than 60 different events from coast to coast, as well as Mexico and the Netherlands.

    Traffic was up 17% on Agwired this year to a grand total of more than 185,000 unique visitors. We had a total of 1580 posts this year, including more than 530 with audio. We posted nearly 16,000 photos on Flickr and 103 videos on YouTube.

    The most popular YouTube video of the year was the unveiling of the Chip Foose designed John Deere tractor at Commodity Classic, which has been viewed nearly 13,000 times. Videos from the John Deere XUV media event were viewed over 5,000 times. Other top videos of the year including the unveiling of the New Holland T8 & T9 Tractors, Opening Day at National Farm Machinery Show, AG CONNECT Expo Preview, General Motors Exec at the National Ethanol Conference, President Obama at the POET plant, AgLeader at AG CONNECT, Kip Cullers New Record, and the fly-by at the National Agricultural Aviation Association meeting.

    Most popular ZimmCasts of the year were BASF and One Hungry Planet and Exposing HSUS with David Martosko.

    According to page views, the most popular stories of the year on Agwired were:
    Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner
    New John Deere Gator XUV
    iPad Review part one and Part Two
    Chip Foose 4020 Unveiled
    Record Phone Calls on iPhone
    Missourians for Animal Care Launch
    William Shatner at Alltech FEI Games
    New Holland Unveils T8 & T9 Tractors

    Thanks to our readers, our sponsors and clients, our freelancers and other friends for making 2010 great! Best wishes to all for a healthy, happy, prosperous and blessed new year!

    ZimmComm Announcement

    Agriblogging Farm Podcasting Row Crop Beef Farmer

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I remember when it was a rare thing to post a feature about a farmer blogger. Not anymore. Now agvocates are popping up everywhere (the web). Take a new follower of mine on Twitter, Paul W.

    Paul blogs at Salt Creek Life and has a regular podcast on BlogTalk Radio. His profile on Twitter says, “North Missouri Row Crop, and Beef Farmer. Blogger, Web Radio Host. All Around Entertainer, Ha!” Now that is an interesting combination don’t you think? Maybe he should be applying to join the NAFB now that they allow webcasters as members?

    So would you give Paul media credentials to cover your meeting?

    Farming, Media

    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