Farm Podcasting Tool

Chuck Zimmerman

The good ones are getting smaller and cheaper. One of the questions I get asked most often is about what gadgets I recommend for today’s new media world. Well, add this one to the list. The TASCAM DR-03 might just be one of the handiest tools in your mobile journalism kit.

The ultra-portable DR-03 is TASCAM’s most affordable recorder yet! The built-in high-quality condenser microphones are recorded as either WAV or MP3 files to microSD card media, and a 2GB card is included to start recording right away. The DR-03 packs high-quality recording – up to 48kHz/24-bit – into a package smaller than an energy bar. At a price under $100, everyone needs a DR-03.

Like the rest of TASCAM’s best-selling portable recorders, the DR-03 features playback functions like looping and Variable Speed Audition to slow down music without changing the pitch. It’s designed for low handling noise when recording handheld during concerts or interviews. A low cut filter, analog limiter, manual and auto gain settings help to prevent distortion when recording. In addition to the built-in microphones, an 1/8″ mic/line input allows recording from mixers, external microphones and other sources.

From beginning students to professional musicians, interviewers to videographers, everyone could use a DR-03 from TASCAM!

Equipment, Podcasts

Customer Reaction To BIVI 3FLEX Announcement

Chuck Zimmerman

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica introduced 3FLEX today. This new vaccine that treats the three most significant diseases in the swine industry was met with a lot of approval from the attendees here at the 2010 Swine Health Seminar. We’ve heard from BIVI on the announcement. Now let’s hear from some of those in the audience.

You can listen to some reaction from attendees here: BIVI 3FLEX Reaction

BIVI 2010 Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Introducing Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica 3FLEX

Chuck Zimmerman

The Director of Swine Marketing for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica is Randy Buller. He introduced attendees at their Swine Health Seminar to a brand new product, 3FLEX. Randy says the product will “revolutionize the vaccinating for the three most critical diseases in the swine industry.” He says 3FLEX will contain Ingelvac MycoFLEX, Ingelvac CircoFLEX and Ingelvac PRRS. It’s the first time the FDA has approved three vaccines to be used together in swine.

During today’s seminar our presenters will be discussing the research that has been done on this new product as well as ideas and suggestions for monitoring and diagnosing diseases in pigs. All the presenters will take part in a discussion panel after the presentations.

You can listen to my interview with Randy here: Randy Buller Interview

BIVI 2010 Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

The BIVI Swine Health Seminar is held in advance of the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference.

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

BIVI Swine Health Seminar

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the welcoming committee for the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Swine Health Seminar. Our room is full and I’ve already conducted several interviews.

BIVI has just made a big announcement about the a first for the industry, 3FLEX, a single dose vaccine that includes Ingelvac MycoFLEX, Ingelvac CircoFLEX and Ingelvac PRRS. I’ll have more about this in the next few posts.

Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Successful Farming Gets WOW Award

Cindy Zimmerman

Successful Farming gets a WOW from Media Industry News.

Successful FarmingSuccessful Farming® magazine was announced the Media Industry News (min) b2b Wow Award-winner at the Integrated Marketing Awards ceremony in New York City amongst more than 300 top-level media executives. The Wow Award is presented to the most innovative integrated marketing campaign or idea.

“We hear a lot today about social media and social networking – users interacting with other users,” said Scott Mortimer, Publisher of Successful Farming. “In ‘All Around the Farm’, farmers have been sharing ideas for over 80 years. You might say it’s the great-grandfather of social media. It has continuously been a resource for our readers and is recognized as a favorite editorial feature in every issue.”

“All Around the Farm” began in 1929 as a forum in which farmers and ranchers could share problems and brainstorm solutions. While it first ran exclusively in the print version, the program has since expanded throughout the years into all of the brand’s formats. Besides being a regular feature in the monthly magazine, it has a presence on Agriculture.com, on the “Machinery Show” on RFD TV and is a popular book.

Media

Interact With International Grains Buyers

Chuck Zimmerman

usgcOne of my upcoming stops on the agriblogging highway will be the U.S. Grains Council and Renewable Fuels Assocation, Export Exchange. The event is taking place October 6-8 in Chicago, IL. If you’re in the grains business, especially dealing with DDGS then this is the place to meet with international buyers. I spoke with USGC CEO Tom Dorr about the event. He says that there will be more than 150 international buyers networking with over 300 U.S. producers and others involved in the industry. He says it’s a continuation of a series of programs that began about four years ago.

The program is designed to allow people to make connections and better understand the product. This is the first time the Grains Council has had a sponsor like the RFA. Another new thing this year is a focus on the coarse grains markets due to the global demand growth which has stimulated DDGS exports. Tom says those exports have grown from near zero in 2004 to over 6 million tons for 2009 and they’re growing.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: Tom Dorr Interview
The Export Exchange 2010 is uniquely focused on connecting international buyers of DDGS and coarse grains with the U.S. market. The Council is providing sponsorship for the attendance of targeted international trade teams from more than 25 countries. These participants represent nearly 80 percent of the global export market for DDGS and coarse grains. The conference will address critical issues facing U.S. exports and seek to educate and build awareness of U.S. DDGS and coarse grains among international buyers.

Here are some resource links:

Agenda
Registration
Hotel
Media

Ag Groups, Audio, Ethanol, Grains, International, RFA, USGC

Leica Makes Precision Simple

Chuck Zimmerman

Besides farming, Brent Johnson (pictured right) owns and operates a precison ag company called LABRE Crop Consulting. They are a Leica Geosystems (AgWired sponsor) dealer. Brent talked with me at the Farm Progress Show. He says they try to take a farmer perspective in helping a farmer out.

Brent says that Leica products are unique in that they are not tied to one “color” and work with a variety of networks like the Iowa CORS network which allows them to create sub inch accuracy. The CORS Network is a cellular based correction signal which he describes as a mesh of RTK that blankets the state. He likes Leica products because of their simplicity, especially working with this network.

Brent says that most of his customers know they want some level of precision applications/products and come to him to help create a plan for how they’ll implement a system in their operation. He says they all have different goals and start and end points. His business has grown steadily over the last five years and that he believes there’s a lot of potential for it to grow in the future.

You can listen to my interview with Brent here: Brent Johnson Interview

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Leica Geosystems, Precision Agriculture

National Cheeseburger Day

Chuck Zimmerman

Don’t forget that tomorrow is National Cheeseburger Day. It’s a time to get that grill going, or oven, or frying pan . . .

Americans celebrate National Cheeseburger Day, September 18, 2010, with classic beef cheeseburgers, a favorite American tradition. As a preferred topping on the burger, 44% choose American cheese, 38% like Cheddar and 23% also say they sometimes put Swiss cheese on their burger, according to a recent survey by IPSOS Public Affairs for The Beef Checkoff.

Ag Groups, Beef, Food

PureSense Irrigation Manager Android App

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like the Android app market is beginning to see some agricultural applications.

PureSense Environmental Inc. announced today that its Irrigation Manager(TM) Android application is now available through the Android Market.

The PureSense app allows growers to monitor their real-time field conditions and irrigation activity from their Android phones. Monitoring stations placed throughout growers’ fields send data through the internet every fifteen minutes and the PureSense Android application allows the grower to access that information in the field. Using the “offline sync” feature, the data becomes available on the Android phone even when the grower enters an area without cellular signal.

Bryan Alessini, Ranch Manager with F&M Oberti Inc monitors 1500 acres of almond and olive crops with PureSense. Alessini was a beta tester for the Irrigation Manager Android app. Alessini found flexibility a key advantage of the new app. “The new Android app has really given us added flexibility in monitoring not only our field moisture, but also the climate readings our PureSense systems deliver,” said Alessini. “It has been a dependable app and makes it so I don’t have to be near a computer.” PureSense has plans to release additional apps for various platforms in the coming months.

Agribusiness, Internet, Irrigation