Agriculture.com Creative Team
Meet the creative team for Agriculture.com. I walked in on a strategy and planning session with them. I’ll let them introduce themselves and tell you a little bit about the newly re-engineered Agriculture.com.
Background On New Agriculture.com
The first office I visited here at Meredith Corporation headquarters was that of Scott Mortimer (left). Visiting with us were my guide for the day, Curt Blades and Successful Farming Editor In Chief, Loren Kruse (right).
We had a conversation about why they rebuilt Agriculture.com, the online home of Successful Farming magazine. Scott says it had been about 6 years since a major change of this magnitude had been conducted and the current effort actually started 2 years ago. I agreed with Loren that content is still king and even though the new website is employing some interesting new technology, farmers and ranchers will still find the same level of agricultural news and information they’ve always expected from Successful Farming. Interview with Scott Mortimer and Loren Kruse
I’ve been shooting photos here at the Successful Farming headquarters and will be adding to them during the day: Agriculture.com Public Launch Photo Album
How Do You Like Agriculture.com
Yes, one website can promote another! Today AgWired is promoting Agriculture.com.
Of course a little screen shot is nice but you need to visit Agriculture.com and start clicking away to get the full effect. I’ll be doing it myself while talking with members of the design team today to learn what they’ve put together and why.
Please feel free to post your comments. What do you think? New and improved? Like it?
Introducing The New Agriculture.com
Successful Farming announces the new Agriculture.com. I’m at the headquarters in Des Moines and will be working throughout the day to bring you a behind the scenes look into the new website. Think of it as a live web remote that will features photos and interviews. We’ll learn what Successful Farming has done and why it’s important to farmers and advertisers.
My host is Curt Blades who is escorting me around the building to meet with different people who have worked on the philosophy and design of the new Agriculture.com. I’ll post interviews as they become available so don’t go away.
AgriTalk Stalking
We attend so many of the same meetings as our good friends with AgriTalk that we often joke that we are stalking each other!
Here is what we like to call “the obligatory AgriTalk photo” from the 23rd annual Ethanol Conference and Trade Show in Kansas City yesterday, where AgriTalk host, the perpetually youthful Mike Adams (a granddaddy for the second time, he told me!), is interviewing American Coalition for Ethanol executive vice president Brian Jennings – and the perpetually helpful AgriTalk producer John Herath is taking my photo.
See you guys at the next stop!
Froman Joins R+K
Rhea + Kaiser has named John Froman management supervisor. Froman leads the development and stewardship of marketing communications plans for the Bayer CropScience corn and soybean herbicide brands.
Prior to joining R+K, Froman served as digital and B2B account supervisor at Wunderman, working on the British Petroleum account. Previously, he worked in account management and leadership roles with Fathom Communications, Zimmerman and TBWAChiatDay.
“John brings an inherent strategic approach and diverse experience with both B2B and B2C brands,” said Jeff Walter, group account manager at R+K and overall lead on the Bayer CropScience business. “His background and leadership style make him a great fit for our team and will help us continue to deliver value to Bayer.”
Froman holds a marketing degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Corn Fact Book Available
When you’re eating your dinner, do you ever wonder about the farmers who made your meal possible? Wonder no more. The Corn Fact Book, a publication created by the Corn Farmers Coalition and supported by corn checkoff programs in 14 states, is chock full of interesting nuggets about the technology and innovation that goes into growing our food.
The fact book was originally designed for distribution in Washington, D.C. as part of their active advertising campaign designed to educate policy makers about where our food comes from. It is now available to consumers.
“This publication is full of interesting facts on the technology and innovation that allow us to grow corn for food, feed, and fuel but it also tells the story of who grows corn today,” said Keith Hora, a Washington, Iowa farmer featured in the Corn Fact Book. “It also explains how farmers in the US have become the most productive in the world, and the economic benefits farmers and the general public receive as a result of our efforts. It truly is an American success story.”
Here are some of the cool factoids you’ll read about in the publication. Seven of the largest corn crops in U.S. history have happened over the past seven years, despite challenging weather. Even cooler – these feats were accomplished using less land than the year before.
“We’re more efficient that ever,” said Jon Holzfaster, a Paxton, Neb. grower featured in the Fact Book. “We’re using less fuel and traveling across the land fewer times. We have better genetics to help us optimize yields from existing acres and our use of chemicals has decreased dramatically. In this respect, the good old days are actually happening right now.”
Another cool fact: 90 percent of all U.S. corn is still grown by family farmers.
For those who are interested in the environmental footprint of corn production, 37 percent less land is needed to produce a bushel of corn, soil erosion is down 60 percent and emissions produced in growing and harvesting a bushel of corn has decreased by 30 percent.
You can download a copy of the Corn Fact Book here.
Cydectin Becomes Wounded Warrior Project Sponsor
Cydectin, a pour-on cattle dewormer manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, has become the first industry sponsor of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The WWP is a nonprofit, founded in 2003, whose mission is to enlist Americans’ aid to help meet the needs of injured service members.
“Our troops give the ultimate sacrifice by serving on the front lines for us each day,” says Mike Randolph, Cydectin brand manager. “One of the most fundamental offerings we give them is our respect and support … and to help them succeed when they return.”
The industry’s first collaborative effort with Wounded Warrior Project, Cydectin’s “Honor Our Troops” program, demonstrates support and gratitude for wounded veterans of today’s wars on behalf of beef and dairy producers.
“It is an honor to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, and we thank the company for doing its part to support wounded warriors,” said Wounded Warrior Project Executive Director Steve Nardizzi. “This assistance and public awareness will go a long way in helping this generation of veterans heal in mind, body and spirit.”
The WWP assists wounded veterans and their families by providing holistic programs and services to aid their physical rehabilitation and improve their mental health and well-being. The tools provided ultimately empower warriors to thrive and achieve personal professional success.
Book Review – Public Produce
I came across an interesting little book a few weeks ago called Public Produce, authored by Darrin Nordahl. The book discusses the urban agriculture movement and highlights several programs in both California and Iowa – two states the author has called home (and I have also called home).
The move to public produce has been driven in part by several issues: energy security, food security and the rising cost of food. The author notes how intricately all three of these issues are tied together – higher price of energy means higher price of food.
But what he really focuses on are the future options to grow our food in light of a backlash against production agriculture. “Now, as the twenty-first century is underway, a cresting wave is readying the backlash against large-scale corporate agriculture on fields hundreds–if not thousands–of miles from where we live, against mass-produced, chemically grown produce; against the rising costs of food and the declining health of the American people.”
He then notes that the “buy-local” movement is leading the way for the “slow-food” movement, which Nordahl says seems to be the choice of the future.
One component of the slow-food movement, which is focused on in this book, is that of public produce. This can be in the form of community gardens or even community food growing along public sidewalks. The idea, is that this food is free and gives people of all economic status, especially the poor who have less access to fresh fruit and vegetables, access to fresh foods.
But this is a new way of thinking that many people, especially city governments, are slow to adopt. Most cities don’t allow fruit trees to be grown along a sidewalk due to the clean-up required of fallen fruit (and the litigious nature of our society). And, you have to deal with people who take more than their fair share.
Another option discussed is to create an edible garden (either front or back yard) that incorporates fruit and vegetables into your landscape. The majority of the spoils would go to the homeowner, but he or she would have the option of giving the extra food to their neighbors or members of their community.
While I see the the concept of public produce and edible gardens a good one, I don’t believe that this concept will work well in cold areas (you’d only have public produce in the summer and fall) and, I don’t believe you can grow enough food in your backyard or along the sidewalk in city spaces, to feed the masses. It will take all forms of food production to feed us in the future.
Despite the drawbacks, if you are interested in the concept of public produce and how to start a program in your community, then this book is a good start.