The Teat Tweet

Chuck Zimmerman

This is taking teating, er, I mean tweeting to a whole new level. Not only are dairy farmers getting social but so are dairy cows. From our World Dairy Diary site:

Wondering what your cows are thinking? Well, a group of Candain Holsteins is telling the world through Twitter, exactly what they are mooing about. Called “The Teat Tweet“, the project comes from the University of Waterloo’s critical media lab. You can visit this website to follow all 12 Holsteins on Twitter.

“As far as we know they’re the only cows tweeting,” said former LaSalle and Windsor resident Marcel O’Gorman who is behind the University of Waterloo’s critical media lab project.

The tweeting cows are poking fun at the popular Twitter network and are meant to push people to think about where their food comes from and the high-tech nature of farming.

“Hey human, I just pumped out 9.3 kg for your pleasure. Show me some love,” says a recent tweet of dairy cow Attention Please referring to her milk output.

It’s obviously impossible for the hoofed animals to tweet without the aid of a computer but by approaching the robotic milker, the cows do trigger a tweet. The Holstein cows have radio frequency ID tags which tell the computer whether the cow is ready for milking and the computer records how much, how fast and even which teat pumped out milk the fastest.

Dairy, Social Networking

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors approved four new members at their annual meeting. The new directors include: Angie Coburn, Mike Hellenbrand, Steve Larson and Bryan Voegeli.
  • Southeast AgNet Publications Inc. announced the acquisition of Florida Science Source Inc., a citrus book publishing and reseller operation.
  • Marrone Bio Innovations is being recognized by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for developing effective and environmentally responsible pest management products that enhance the value of integrated pest management programs across a wide variety of crops and pests.
  • Ten teachers have been recognized by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for their outstanding efforts to promote agricultural literacy. The teachers each received $1,500 scholarships to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference.
Zimfo Bytes

Dairy Farmers Getting Social With myDairy Program

Chuck Zimmerman

dairycheckoffDairy Management Inc. is conducting a webinar on social media for dairy producers in a couple weeks.

Dairy producers who use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to stay connected with family and friends, and producers who want to learn about these tools, are encouraged to participate in a free 90-minute webinar on Thursday, April 15 to learn how these applications can be used to share positive dairy stories and communicate with consumers about modern dairy farming practices.

Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff program, launched the myDairy Social Media program in 2009 to help dairy producers and dairy enthusiasts use social media proactively to share their dairy stories and counter negative or misleading information about the dairy industry. The myDairy program currently mobilizes over 1,000 dairy enthusiasts from across the country to engage in social media networks, building a strong, positive online dairy presence to help counter misinformation and maintain public confidence in dairy foods and the people who produce them. The myDairy program provides tips to navigate and use popular social media sites, along with key messages to incorporate into dairy stories, and opportunities to connect with other dairy enthusiasts and the general public.

“Consumers want to hear about the dairy industry first hand from dairy producers and social media provides an opportunity to communicate effectively with a large audience via one platform,” said David Pelzer, senior vice president of strategic communications at DMI.

To register for the webinar and/or to become a myDairy advocate and learn more about the program, email myDairy@rosedmi.com.

One producer who is out in front on this is Will Gilmer, Gilmer Dairy Farms. Here’s his latest MooTube Minute:

Ag Groups, Dairy, Social Networking

Farmers and Ranchers Care Photo Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Beef Ambassadors (sponsored in part by ZimmComm New Media) is starting a photo contest tomorrow.

Have you heard something in the media lately that has made you think more about the importance of YOUR agriculture story? The National Beef Ambassadors, funded in part by the beef checkoff, can help you spread your message. The “Farmers and Ranchers Care” Earth Day Photo Contest will help you share with consumers and fellow producers how you, as cattle ranchers and beef producers, care for the environment in your ranching practices! This contest will begin on Saturday, March 20th, National Agriculture Day. In order to share the importance of the beef industry’s positive involvement with the environment, you will have the chance to share your photos on the National Beef Ambassador Facebook page.

Step 1: Become a fan of the National Beef Ambassadors on Facebook.

Step 2: Upload your photo to the National Beef Ambassador Facebook page showcasing how you, as a beef producer, are involved in helping the environment.

Step 3: Help fellow producers in the contest and vote on your favorites.

Get more information from the full release.

Ag Groups, Beef

End Of Day Scenes

Chuck Zimmerman

This is why I like to have a camera with me all the time. There are so many pictures that I’d like to share.

This was the last scene for me today as I got off the highway on the way back to ZimmComm World Headquarters.

Then when I got out of my car I looked up and saw a jet crossing under the crescent moon. I couldn’t get the camera up fast enough to catch it right at the moon but I think it still looks pretty cool.

Cool enough to post a larger one if you click on it!

When I see these things I can only think, “God your creation is beautiful.”

Uncategorized

Visiting With NAFB

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the Happy St. Patty’s Day crew of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. I visited today and really appreciate them ordering up a beautiful sunny day for my drive.

The photo was actually taken yesterday and I talked Jennifer out of it.

Pictured are Stacia Cudd, Mark Vail, Susan Tally and Jennifer Saylor (not picture is Rose Marie Lawrence). They’re busy since Mark is the new boss and he’s asking lots of questions. As any new boss should.

NAFB

Grains Council Opens Office in Panama

Cindy Zimmerman

USGCU.S. Grains Council has officially opened a new international office in Panama City, Panama to serve Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

USGC Chairman Rick Fruth commented, “By establishing an office in Latin America and the Caribbean region, the Council is strategically positioning itself to defend U.S. markets while simultaneously enhancing the quality of life of our trading partners.”

Kurt Shultz (far left in the photo) was named the first director of the Panama City office. Shultz has worked for the Council since 1999 and previously served for seven years as USGC regional director for the Mediterranean and Africa before transitioning to his current post.

In addition to its new office in Panama, the U.S. Grains Council has international offices in nine other countries, including China, Egypt, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Tunisia and Jordan. See more photos of the grand opening here on the USGC’s Flickr photo album.

International, USGC

Your PB&J Recipes Can Help Feed the Hungry

Cindy Zimmerman

How do you like your PB&J?

pbjSince March is National Peanut Month, Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) is celebrating with “PB&J My Way,” a national recipe contest looking for nutty new takes on the classic PB&J. For every peanut butter sandwich recipe received, SPG will donate a jar of peanut butter to hunger relief organization Feeding America.

No matter how you slice it, the PB&J is a classic. In a recent poll by SheSpeaks.com, nearly 50 percent of respondents said they opt for the traditional PB&J; 10 percent favor peanut butter and honey; 13 percent are with The King (Elvis, of course), making their peanut butter sandwich with bananas; and another 13 percent just reach for the jar, enjoying peanut butter sans the sandwich. The remaining 14 percent of respondents said their favorite peanut butter sandwich combo is unique to them – and those are the recipes “PB&J My Way” is seeking!

Easy to make and eat, a peanut butter sandwich has countless variations. Tell SPG what “PB&J My Way” means to you, and the organization will donate one jar of peanut butter to Feeding America for each recipe submitted, up to 4,000 jars. Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger relief charity, providing assistance through a nationwide network of food banks.

The top ten creative peanut butter sandwich recipes will also win enough peanut butter to enjoy for an entire year – that’s one case for each of the best recipes – and they will also be featured on www.peanutbutterlovers.com.

Click here to enter your favorite peanut butter sandwich recipe.

Peanuts

John Deere Security Tight For Foose 4020

Chuck Zimmerman

There’s a new sheriff in town. Sheriff Barry Nelson, John Deere. He wants you to love his Chip Foose 4020 and that’s an order son.

It’s a 1970 John Deere 4020. The tractor will be given away to one winner as part of the John Deere Big Buck Promotion. You may find rules to enter on the John Deere website.

The mild mannered public relations coordinator by day job, turned into one mean enforcement machine at Commodity Classic. He was guarding the Chip Foose designed 4020 model tractor along with sidekick, Deputy Kelly Schwalbe (left). They made sure no one took a peek under the veil over this promotional machine. I can tell you I wasn’t about to try!

So after the unveiling which you can still watch in the video clip below, I spoke to Sheriff Barry about the promotion and what the plans are. Barry says they entered into a partnership with Chip Foose to take an old 4020 tractor and put his special brand of design work on it. People can go to their local John Deere dealer to enter to win the tractor and it will also be part of this year’s Drive Green event. Barry says the project came out of a brainstorming session and a willingness on Chip’s part to do the work.

You can listen to my interview with Barry below:

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, John Deere, Tractor, Video