There Is Truth In Food

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 269When it comes to food we all need a little bit of truth. Well, maybe a lot of truth. So TruthInFood.com sounds like a good idea. To learn more about this intriguing project I spoke with Mike Smith, Food Chain Communications.

Mike and I had a great conversation about understanding why people from both production agriculture and the urban consuming public think the things they do. To effectively communicate you need to understand your audience and not just preach at them. Sounds easy, eh? Not really. However, Mike and Kevin Murphy set out a year ago to create an online location to post thought provoking stories about the Truth In Food.

Truth in Food traverses the entire food chain, traveling the long and winding road from conception to consumption armed with the farmer’s natural skepticism and the scholar’s thirst for knowledge, the mechanic’s understanding of nuts and bolts and the philosopher’s impulse toward the sublime, all blended with insight, scholarship, thought and good old fashioned humor.

The most popular story they’ve posted so far is “The Ten Reasons They Hate You So.” I encourage you to read it. So let’s learn more about TruthInFood.com and what Mike has learned during this past year. ZimmCast 269

The program ends this week with Truth of the Matter by Drew Vics from Music Alley.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page

Agencies, Audio, Food, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Zimfo Bytes

Novus in the Beef Market

Cindy Zimmerman

novus international mechanical cowWhile there is no big trade show at the Cattle Industry summer conference, the major animal health partners in the beef and dairy industry still have a presence, and one of the newer players there was Novus International. Novus introduced itself to the beef industry during the Cattle Industry Conference in January, with the help of a mechanical steer named Wally that was on display at their booth.

scott fleetwoodNovus Executive Director for Global Markets and Products Scott Fleetwood says the company’s products were originally focused in the poultry industry, but since 2004 they have expanded into other markets. “Including aquaculture, dairy, swine, and this year we acquired a company called Albion to expand our footprint and move into the beef market, because it obviously has similar needs,” said Scott during an interview at the summer conference. “We focus on gut health, nutrition, feed quality, all of those are common, so it was a natural fit for us.”

Most of Novus’ products are feed additives, like chelated minerals and amino acids, that help improve the overall efficiency of animals. “The goal is to get to one kilogram of grain in to one kilogram of meat or milk or egg out,” said Scott, noting that efficiency not only increases productivity, it also is key to sustainability. “Something that is very important to the beef industry is the sustainability aspect of it and the utilization of resources and there is a lot of misconceptions in the general population,” he said.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Scott from the summer meeting here: Scott Fleetwood Interview

Animal Health, Audio, Beef, Novus International

Public Relations Etiquette

Chuck Zimmerman

When I bring up PR etiquette in a conversation it usually generates a few chuckles. Now why would that be? Maybe I should refer to this as public relations professionalism. Whatever you want to call it the recent Ag Media Summit provided several opportunities to comment on it. During the event’s InfoExpo I had two situations that provide a real good lesson in what “not to do.”

The first one involved me walking to a scheduled appointment with an exhibitor to conduct an interview. While walking past a certain exhibit one of the people in the booth grabbed me by the arm, stopping me and “asking” if I could interview their representative who was at that moment already being interviewed. I explained that I had a scheduled interview and could come back later. My arm was still being held and further pressure was applied verbally to stay. I don’t know about you but even though I like a good welcoming hug, I’m not fond of being grabbed. Needless to say I did not return to this booth.

Another situation involved me in conversation with my scheduled appointment and prior to starting me interview (audio recording), a PR professional from another booth walked in between me and the person I was speaking with and proceeded to try to start a conversation as if I wasn’t there. I had to speak over the shoulder to my contact and say that perhaps we could finish if this was more important. Turns out it wasn’t and they were told to come back. Needless to say I did not visit their booth. Read More

Public Relations

Social Networking and Blogs #1 Online Activity

Chuck Zimmerman

This is no surprise to ZimmComm New Media but it may surprise many agrimarketers. According to a post on Nielsen Wire titled, “What Americans Do Online: Social Media And Games Dominate Activity,” social networks and blog dominate people’s web use.

Americans spend nearly a quarter of their time online on social networking sites and blogs, up from 15.8 percent just a year ago (43 percent increase) according to new research released today from The Nielsen Company. The research revealed that Americans spend a third their online time (36 percent) communicating and networking across social networks, blogs, personal email and instant messaging.

Up 43 percent! That’s huge. The company also released a report that says seventy percent of people worldwide now watch video online!

Social Networking

Citrus Expo Trade Show Sold Out

Chuck Zimmerman

The Florida Citrus Expo has a sold out trade show this year and pre-registration is strong. It’s the 19th year of the show.

More than 150 exhibitors are scheduled to show off their goods on Aug. 18-19 at the World’s Premier Citrus Expo at the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers.

Attendance is free both days to bona fide grove owners and managers, citrus production managers, professional crop advisers, association representatives, board members and the citrus research community. For easiest entry and to help the Citrus Expo team develop the best head count for event planning, those expecting to attend either or both days of Citrus Expo are encouraged to preregister at www.CitrusExpo.net or by calling 352-671-1909. Advance-registration brochures have been distributed industry-wide, and registration will be available at the door as well.

Citrus, Farm Shows

Hang On!

Melissa Sandfort

You’re 10. You’re on the first uphill climb on a rollercoaster, about to surge down the other side at 100 mph with just a small lap belt holding you in. Your car-mate yells, “Hang on!” and you can’t help but notice your heart skipping a beat. And in 3 minutes, the ride is over, hair is crazy, but if you were like me, you lined up to do it all over again just for the thrill.

I guess that’s what life and work is all about. Hanging on for the thrill of the ride. I was once asked: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I was 17. I didn’t know where I’d be the next day, let alone 10 years from then. Some kids are born with the desire to work in agriculture; for others, it’s an “acquired taste.” I took for granted the freedoms I had on the farm growing up: The picnic bench watermelon-eating fiascos, the treasured arrowheads buried deep beneath the hay bales, the pigeon songs in the old barn. As a youth, I loved agriculture. I just didn’t know I wanted a job in ag.

So what really inspires today’s youth to work in the ag industry? Is it classes they take in school? Being a member of a club like 4-H or FFA? Guidance counselors, friends, parents, the media? According to a study by AgCareers.com (top link), perceived benefits to a career in agriculture include “rewarding opportunities that provide good benefits” and “optimistic about the number of opportunities available.” Now if we can only help shape the perceptions of influencers (parents, peers) who believe that a life in ag is hard work and little pay.

Most days it IS hard work, and the pay, well, volatile. But farmers and ranchers and those in the ag industry seem to like the thrill of the ride. After all, that’s what life is all about, right? And, like this tree frog on our sliding glass window…hang on. We’re in for one heck of a ride.

Until we walk again…

Uncategorized

Registration Open For AG CONNECT Expo 2011

Chuck Zimmerman

Registration is now open for AG CONNECT Expo 2011 in Atlanta, GA.

AG CONNECT Expo, the new global Ag trade show in North America, announces that registration has opened for the 2011 show. AG CONNECT Expo 2011 is slated for January 8-10, 2011 (Preview Day January 7 by special admission) at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. This new international agriculture event showcases the latest industry innovations, products and technology and offers access to leading company and industry experts worldwide.

Registering in advance saves over 30 percent off the show registration fee. Attendees can also save money by registering in advance for the extensive educational programming that will take place at the show. Go online to www.aem.org for full details and to register.

AEM, Farm Shows

AgWeb.com Re-Done

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like another major farm publishing company has a completely re-engineered website up and running. Farm Journal’s AgWeb.com has a new look. I haven’t received any official notice on it but the effort was announced at this year’s NAMA convention where I spoke with Mitch Rouda, President of Farm Journal’s e-Media division.

If you’d like to see what the new AgWeb is all about you can take a video tour.

Media