BASF Kixor Online Education

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF Kixor TrainingOnline training for farmers. A few years ago that would be unheard of. Now companies are starting to do it routinely. BASF for example, has just introduced a new online training program: KixorEducation.com. It “provides key information on how Kixor® herbicide technology helps address a grower’s toughest weed challenges, including weeds resistant to ALS inhibitors, triazines and glyphosate.” This gets even better when you see that retailers and farmers are entered into a contest to win an iPod!

Retailers and growers who complete the training between now and Sept. 30, 2010 will be entered into a drawing to win one of 10 iPOD® nanos.

“Results from a BASF-commissioned survey completed this spring showed that 56 percent of respondents think glyphosate resistance is a cause for their tough-to-control weeds,” said Dr. Dan Westberg, Technical Market Manager for BASF. “At BASF, we’re focused on providing innovative chemistries like Kixor to address challenges like resistance. The Kixor online training program provides educational information about how to use this unique chemistry for broadleaf weed control across a wide range of crops.”

The engaging, audio-visual program features technical information about the three products powered by Kixor that were designed for row crops, Integrity™ herbicide, OpTill™ herbicide and Sharpen™ herbicide. The module outlines how and when to use these products, and includes performance photos as well as useful key benefit information for retailers who provide Kixor to their customers.

Agribusiness, BASF

You Don’t Work

Melissa Sandfort

So here’s how our conversation went:
Him: “You don’t work. You’ve done PR for 10 years now, but you don’t really work.”
Me: *stunned look on my face.* “You mean just because I don’t spend all day outside in 100 degree weather, you think I don’t work?”
Him: “Well, you don’t build anything. You don’t make anything. What do you DO?”
Me: *still recovering from the shock* … I couldn’t say a thing.

What I should’ve said was: “I build relationships and reputations to help give farmers and ranchers like you an opportunity to go to work tomorrow. I help fight the good fight against folks like HSUS whose sole purpose in life is to put you out of business.”

That’s how my dinner conversation went the other day. And I think in some small, yet justified, manner, I’m still hanging onto that comment as fuel for the work that I DO do every day to support agriculture.

I didn’t write this week to garner sympathy from other PR pros who understand the struggle in justifying what we “build” every day…I wrote to introduce you to AgWalk – a weekly update from a work at home mom on the farm. Okay, so maybe my workday consists of catching up with Trent, Chuck and Kyle on Facebook, and of course, my daily dose of “The Pioneer Woman” blog, but I feel those are integral activities to keeping my sanity. Then I delve into my “real” job – promoting the work that farmers and ranchers do to provide a safe, healthy food supply for U.S. consumers. Oh yeah, and maybe I fit in a trip to Grandma’s house for some homemade bread and freshly picked asparagus. All in a good day’s work, right?

Don’t look at me with such disappointment, dog. I’m only doing my JOB. You know, the one where I don’t work.

So what’s the point I’m trying to make here? Only to ask you to come back next week and take an AgWalk with me. It’s a break from the ordinary, glimpse into the life of a work from home PR mule, and if you’re lucky, the occasional photo of the cutest little farm boy you’ll ever see.

Until we walk again…

Uncategorized

Cooperative Communicators Seeking Members

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 264The President of the Cooperative Communicators Association is Brian Delgado, seen here welcoming first timers at their recent convention where I conducted a presentation on social media. I recorded a conversation with Brian while I was there to learn more about CCA.

He says CCA is an organization designed to help educate cooperative communicators and those working with cooperatives. Membership has declined a little in recent years due to the economy and communication departments having to double up on duties. Additionally, there has been some consolidation of cooperatives. Membership is still about 300. About 25 percent of the attendees at the conference were first timers btw. Brian encourages membership which you can take care of online.

The program ends this week with “Racing Heart” by Joe Tunon 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.

Audio, Cooperatives, ZimmCast

Roland R-05 For Farm Podcasters

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm podcasters have lots of choices today when it comes to digital audio recording. Roland just added to the list with their R-05 recorder.

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

  • Gene Nemechek, a swine veterinarian from Springdale, Ark., has been elected president of the National Pork Board by his fellow board members. The board also elected Everett Forkner, a pork producer from Richards, Mo., vice president.
  • Makhteshim Agan of North America, the manufacturer of endosulfan, announced the reasons behind its voluntary participation in the plan to withdraw endosulfan over time.
  • Select Sires Inc. has completed a new global production facility located in Plain City, Ohio.
  • FMC Corporation announced it has acquired the herbicide fluthiacet-methyl from Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., both of Tokyo.
Zimfo Bytes

Novus World Pork Expo Podcasting

Cindy Zimmerman

2010 world pork expoHave you checked out “What’s New with Novus” lately?

Jill Mahoney, Novus International PR specialist, is the host of the company’s twice monthly podcast, which they started last year. She recorded a couple of them at World Pork Expo with the many Novus experts who were there to talk with pork producers, like Randy Anderson, National Pork Sales Manager. Jill does a great job, using a nice little Marantz recorder and a good microphone that they bought on Chuck’s recommendation.


You can listen or subscribe to What’s New with Novus by clicking here.

Novus International, Podcasts

BASF Eco-Efficiency Model Shows Headline Benefits

Cindy Zimmerman

The biggest news out of the recent BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit was the first Eco-Efficiency Analysis for corn in the Midwest, both with and without the fungicide Headline. The reason it was relevant is that it shows the potential for measuring sustainability.

BASF ChicagoDuring a breakout session at the summit, BASF vice president for Crop Protection Marty Mascianica got into a bit more detail about the eco-efficiency analysis and how it was used to measure sustainability. “For us, sustainability is taking into account efficiency and cost-effectiveness for the farmer, as well as the most appropriate conservation of resources,” Marty told me. “The model that we used allows us to calculate a total cost of ownership – the financial cost of energy, water and other inputs, as well as the raw materials to make fertilizers and crop protection products – so that a farmer can understand whether his change in a practice is bringing about a greater cost of efficiency as well as the environmental impact.”

Marty says the data for the corn study are from research on corn production reported by Iowa State University which demonstrated a 7 percent average yield increase through the application of Headline, which resulted in both lower production costs and environmental impacts. The yield increase meant that farmers were able to harvest the same amount of corn using less land with fewer resources and lower energy consumption per unit of corn.

Listen to or download my interview with Marty in the player and find out more about the Eco-Efficiency model here.

Audio, BASF, Corn

Tony Kanaan Wins Iowa Corn Indy 250

Chuck Zimmerman

Tony Kanaan IowaIowa corn growers are big winners again on race day in Newton, IA. Actually the winner of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 is Tony Kanaan, #11 the 7-11 Car. He lifted the big gas pump trophy in joy since he’s had some tough luck here on this track in the past.

The Iowa Corn Growers and Pioneer Hi-Bred have got to be thrilled that the bad weather of late held off today so that racing fans got to enjoy a very good one. At the same time they got full value for their investment in the race as it was televised in its entirety. Ethanol and corn grower messages were aired frequently throughout the broadcast and the announcers really did a great job of thanking and pointing out all the green shirts in the crowd.

I’m just about to upload the last of my photos for the day before heading home to ZimmComm World Headquarters. I hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage. I’ve still got several interviews to post here and on Domestic Fuel in the next few days.

In the meantime you can enjoy listening to Tony’s post race press conference below.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album.

Ag Groups, Corn, Indy Racing

BASF Contest for Agvocacy Conference

Melissa Sandfort

BASF Plant Science is excited to celebrate National Dairy Month with the kickoff of its NutriDense® Silage Web Moo.0 contest, our own dairy version of the popular “Web 2.0″ designation for social media.

Enter the NutriDense Silage Web Moo.0 contest by Friday, July 9, and show us how you’re telling dairy’s story. With the help of the AgChat Foundation, BASF Plant Science will choose one grand prize winner to attend the first AgChat Foundation’s Agvocacy 2.0 Conference (including the $350 registration fee and travel and hotel expenses valued up to $1,000), held August 30-31. The exclusive conference, which only has 50 open spots, will focus on ways agriculturalists can take their social media efforts to the next level. In addition, second and third-place winners will receive Flip Cameras, valued up to $150 each.

BASF, Dairy

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Green FlagThe Iowa Corn Indy 250 is underway in Newton, IA.

Waving the green flag is Iowa Corn Growers Association President, Don Elsbernd. I’m just guessing what his pulse rate is!

The weather is cooperating and I’ll be updating with our winner later this afternoon. Right now it’s time to load some race photos to the photo album

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album.

Corn, Indy Racing