Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The board of governors of the United States Postal Service approved management’s request to move forward with a five-day delivery schedule, which would effectively eliminate delivery and collections on Saturdays. The next step is for the USPS to file a request for an advisory opinion with the Postal Regulatory Commission by March 30.
  • To enhance their “closest to the farmer” reputation, Ag Leader Technology, Inc., officially launched social media efforts with the inaugural post to the new blog Precision Point. Not only can Ag Leader fans interact with the company on their blog, but also on various platforms including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
  • Solae, LLC, has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2010.
  • In six months, the world’s finest equine athletes will gallop into Kentucky’s Bluegrass region for the most prestigious, global equestrian championships — the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Alltech FEI Games, will take place in Lexington, Ky., from Sept. 25- Oct. 10.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NAMA Webinar on Social Engagement

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAMA WebinarsThe next NAMA Webinar is tomorrow. Here’s the details:

    Tuesday, March 30, 2010
    1:00 p.m. (CENTRAL TIME)

    Online Engagement

    The purpose of social media implies that individuals and organizations interact in online environments. However, many organizations use social media to broadcast their messages and have not used social media tools to listen or interact. Because there is so much “noise” online, clients or potential clients ignore organizations’ bull-horn messages.

    Anne Mims Adrian, Associate Director, Information Technology for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System & College of Agriculture, Auburn University, will discuss how to build relationships in online communities by engaging others and will compare online presence and engagement to traditional online publishing. She will also describe how expectations of online activities have changed in the last few years and will share a few suggestions of appropriate ways to interact online.

    To register for the upcoming webinar visit http://www.nama.org/ConferenceRegistration/Default.aspx?confid=19

    NAMA

    New Farm Podcasting Tool

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Here’s a new piece of gear to add to your MOJO. Roland has just introduced the new R-05.

    The compact R-05 is easy to use, affordable, and packed with big-ticket features that raise the bar in its price class. Experience crystal-clear 24/96 capture, enhanced recording and editing features, and extended battery life (over 16 hours per charge). On stage, in rehearsal, at school, on the street, in the boardroom — whenever inspiration strikes, let the R-05 capture the moment with convenience and quality.

    * High-quality stereo recording (24-bit / 96kHz) with the built-in stereo mic or external input
    * Records directly to SD card with extended battery life (over 30 hours continuous playback, over 16 hours continuous recording)
    * Strong, attractive metallic exterior
    * Onboard editing functions; built-in reverb
    * Music-practice features (change tempo without changing pitch, loop playback, etc.)
    * Auto record start, auto song split, auto level adjust
    * Pre Record function (captures 2 seconds of audio that precedes pressing REC)
    * Use as a high-quality portable audio player (plays WAV and MP3 files)
    * Windscreen and tripod mount included

    Equipment, Podcasts

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Jared Wattenbarger of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was seated as a Board Member on the United States Potato Board at the organization’s 38th Annual Meeting, March 9-12.
    • The Baghdad International Agriculture Fair is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions and leading tradeshows in Iraq. The event will showcase latest products and equipments for agriculture industry, May 4-7, 2010 at the Baghdad International Fairground.
    • Corn & Soybean Digest has launched an interactive Corn Weed Control Guide.
    • Donny DeLine, a farmer from Charleston, Mo., was named the 2010 Top Producer of the Year.
      Zimfo Bytes

      ACAJ Announces First Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting Winners

      Chuck Zimmerman

      ACAJThe Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists has announced their Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting Awards. Yours truly was happy to be one of the judges for this first ever award program. You can see the entries on their website.

      If Sarina Locke thanks her Mum when she accepts the inaugural Australian Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting today, it will be for more than conventional reasons.

      The Canberra-based ABC journalist took out the new award with an impressive radio documentary based around a visit to West Timor where she followed in the footsteps of her mother, Dr Russ Locke.

      A veterinarian from Holbrook in southern NSW, Dr Locke worked in West Timor 15 years ago, helping village women to vaccinate their chickens as part of an AusAid project to develop veterinary services in the Eastern Islands.

      Sarina visited her at the time, and decided to return last year with financial assistance from the Crawford Fund and Australia’s Centre for International Agricultural Research, to find out whether the $40 million Australia spent on agricultural aid in Indonesia in 2009 was helping to lift farming families out of deep poverty.

      Sarina was presented with a $1000 cheque by award sponsor Rabobank at a gathering of the Farm Writers Association of NSW in Sydney. She also received a certificate as winner of the radio category in the award, which was organised by the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ).

      Adelaide-based ABC Television journalist Kerry Staight won the television category with her piece, ‘All in the Family’, broadcast on ABC Landline on February 11, 2009.

      Ian Doyle from Doyle Media Services, also based in Adelaide, was given an encouragement award in the category for online video, for a piece broadcast via the S. Kidman and Co website.
       Read More

      International, Media

      Ag Leader Launches Precision Point

      Chuck Zimmerman

      One of the sponsors of our Precision Pays.com website is Ag Leader Technology. They have just started their own blog!

      To enhance their “closest to the farmer” reputation, Ag Leader Technology, Inc., a leader in the development of precision farming solutions, officially launched social media efforts today with the inaugural post to the new blog Precision Point. Not only can Ag Leader fans interact with the company on their blog, but also on various platforms including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

      “The reality is social media is the way people are communicating today. These platforms allow us not only to inform and educate, but to have a conversation with those interested in precision farming technology,” says Dave King, Marketing Manager. “We can connect with Ag Leader customers around the globe, but also others in the ag industry as well as those who know nothing about precision agriculture.”

      Precision Point, found at www.agleader.com/blog, will offer readers a wide variety of topics and precision ag information. The company will share insights into popular questions on getting started in precision technology, trends in the industry as well as international precision ag use.

      Ag Leader

      Representing Global Fertilizer Industry

      Chuck Zimmerman

      ZimmCast 253In this week’s program we’ll learn about the International Fertilizer Industry Association. IFA, along with New Ag International, conducted the first International Conference on Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers to be held in the U.S. this past week in Miami. I was there courtesy of AGROTAIN.

      The Director, Agriculture Service, for IFA is Patrick Heffer who welcomed us to the conference at the start. I’m always looking for an excuse to get back to my home state and I told him that they can hold the conference there any time.

      In my interview with Patrick we talk about IFA, the world market for EEF’s and the conference. He was very happy with the attendance.

      The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) is a not-for-profit organization representing the global fertilizer industry. Our members serve farmers everywhere as they meet the world’s growing food, feed, fibre and bioenergy needs in a sustainable manner.

      IFA has some 525 members in about 85 countries. About half of the membership is based in developing countries. IFA member companies represent all activities related to the production, trade, transport and distribution of every type of fertilizer, their raw materials and intermediates. IFA’s membership also includes organizations involved in construction, engineering, consulting, agronomic research and training.

      Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer Conference Photo Album

      AgWired coverage of the New Ag International Conference
      on Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers is made possible by .

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

      You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.

      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.

      Ag Groups, Audio, Fertilizer, International, ZimmCast

      Zimfo Bytes

      Melissa Sandfort

        Zimfo Bytes

      • Evogene Ltd. and Biogemma SAS announced the signing of a licensing agreement for the development and commercialization by Biogemma of hybrid corn lines, displaying improved yield and drought tolerance.
      • The California Walnut Board’s commitment to nutrition education continues through a new partnership with HealthCorps.
      • John Deere announces results of recently completed Nebraska Tractor Test Lab (NTTL) evaluations of its 8320R Tractor: the 320 rated engine horsepower John Deere 8320R provides greater fuel efficiency and higher PTO and drawbar horsepower ratings when compared to similar sized competitive tractor models.
      • The United States Potato Board grower membership elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting March 9-12. Click here for the full list.
        Zimfo Bytes

        HarvestMaster Releases New Field Research Software

        Chuck Zimmerman

        HarvestMaster is bringing new research software to the field for agricultural research

        HarvestMaster is pleased to announce two exciting releases for the Field Research Software (FRS) suite.

        FRS NoteTaking and Harvest – new version 2.1 released
        The new release of FRS NoteTaking and Harvest is now available to users. FRS can be used to collect electronic field notes for field plot observations, flowering and maturity notes, and on-combine measurements from the HarvestMaster Plot Harvest Data Systems. FRS is a Windows Mobile application for the Allegro Field PC.

        “We are pleased to release a new version of FRS. This new release incorporates many recommendations from agriculture researchers. It is faster, easier to use, and more reliable than earlier versions,” said Keith Hunt, Agriculture Product Manager. “Release 2.1 of FRS has undergone unprecedented validation and testing making it rock solid and field ready for our customers.”

        FRS for Laptop – new for 2010
        FRS for Laptop is a brand new offering in the FRS suite for 2010. It brings the FRS Note Taking and Harvest functionality to a full screen PC based computer running Windows XP, Windows 7, or Windows Vista. For the first time, agriculture researchers can use a laptop or other PC device mounted in the combine with the industry leading HarvestMaster HM800 Plot Harvest Data Systems.

        In addition to all the features found in FRS NoteTaking and Harvest, FRS for Laptop features a full screen display showing both spatial and tabular data views during the data collection process.

        Agribusiness, Technology

        Pujols Pulls For Milk

        Chuck Zimmerman

        I admit to being a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Not a fanatic but a fan. Albert Pujols has been one of my favorite players in recent history and I’m glad to see him wearing the mustache.

        They may represent completely different sports, but when it comes to the health and fitness of America’s youth, these athletes play on the same team. Today, MVP baseball slugger Albert Pujols joins fellow Milk Mustache athletes, NBA All-Star and Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams and gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, as part of the Milk Mustache “Dream Team” to inspire teens to “Drink Milk for a Change.” They know that drinking milk can help make a difference – for their bodies and now through a special community service opportunity in their world.

        Lowfat milk has nine essential nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D for strong bones and protein for lean muscle. Studies suggest being active, eating right and drinking three glasses of fat free or lowfat milk each day may help maintain a healthy weight.

        Pujols ad, which reads, “Want muscle? got milk?” reinforces the importance of milk’s high quality protein. Along with regular exercise, protein can help build and maintain lean muscle – essential for athletes like Pujols to perform their best on the field.

        “For me, I drink lowfat chocolate milk after a long day on the field,” said Pujols, who was on hand to unveil his new ad at the St. Louis Cardinals spring training facility in Jupiter, Fla. “It’s a natural source of protein plus it has carbs so it helps me rebuild and refuel my tired muscles after being active. It’s an important part of my recovery routine to get ready for the next nine innings, season after season.”

        Ag Groups, Dairy