Immersion In New Media

Chuck Zimmerman

150pxThe BlogWorld & New Media Expo is next week folks. Have you registered? I’m serious.

If you work in ag media, agency, company marcomm then you should really consider being there. This is your professional improvement opportunity to be immersed in new and social media for 3 days. That’s where you’ll find ZimmComm.

If for some reason you can’t make it then I will be writing about what I see and hear on ZimmComm.biz and here too. So I can be your new media eyes and ears.

Now if you really want to create some online branding for your company while learning more about today’s communications tools and mechanisms then I will be happy to have you “sponsor” my coverage. Just let Cindy or me know and I’m sure we can work out a deal!

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Wrapping Up The Global Dairy 500 Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Pearse LyonsWrapping up the Global Dairy 500 Conference was Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech President. Dr. Lyons summarized many of the presentations with a series of take home messages. The focus was on the future of dairy farming, the integration of a brand, methane production, cow comfort, tourist attractions, education, milk marketing with nutrition also being a key topic. Additionally, a strong message that came out of the presentations was to “record the data” and that body conditioning is critical. As Dr. Lyons said, “Talk to the cow and the cow will talk to you.”

During his closing remarks Dr. Lyons introduced the Agri Aware program that Alltech has sponsored. The educational program for school children of all ages now has it’s first video module featuring “A Day in the Life of a Dairy Farmer.” We watched the video and then Dr. Lyons called on participants to go back home, take the program and have it translated into their languages.

You can listen to Dr. Lyons remarks below. And don’t forget to check out my photo album from the event. If you didn’t attend you can see what you missed!

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

Alltech, Audio, Dairy

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Syngenta was ranked among the Top 20 Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Employers according to survey results published in a special feature of today’s edition of Science magazine.
  • MGEX (“the Exchange”) announced strong September 2009 growth in its Hard Red Spring Wheat (HRSW) futures and options volume and open interest numbers.
  • The National Sorghum Producers announced that Gerald Simonsen will assume leadership of the NSP Board of Directors to serve as chairman for the coming year.
  • National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Daren Coppock announced his resignation. He will become president and CEO of the Agricultural Retailers Association as of Jan. 1, 2010.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Dairy Farmers Visit Kentucky Horse Park

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Participants in the Global Dairy 500 Conference were treated to a horse show and dinner at the Kentucky Horse Park. Our visit included seeing multiple horse breeds and riders dressed in traditional costume. I spoke with one of the riders mounted on an Arabian horse named D’artagnan. He’s 11 years old and on loan to the Park by his owner. You can listen to my interview below.

    I also shot a video clip which includes an interview with the other horses and riders.

    Besides hanging around with us and getting in lots of photos we also had a ring show that included a set of miniature horses pulling a wagon. I thought you’d enjoy seeing them.

    2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

    Alltech, Audio, Horses, Video

    Grains Council Seeking Harvest Photos

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) wants to see the fruits of your harvest.

    fps 09 harvestUSGC is encouraging all farmers to carry a camera in the combine this year to snap some photos of the harvesting of food, feed and fuel for the United States and abroad. Each photo will be entered for a free Council meeting registration for our 7th International Marketing Conference and 50th Annual Membership Meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Feb. 13-17, 2010. Enter more than one photo to increase your chances of winning!

    Photo entries are open to anyone. The Council will assume the rights of submitted entries for use in publications and online. Entries must be JPEG files. Submit your entries via e-mail to thegrainboard@grains.org by Nov. 1. You may also mail entries in a CD or jump drive to 1400 K St. N.W., Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005.

    While you are at it, feel free to email your photos to us here at Agwired as well. Your reward will be to see your photos with credit published on one or more of ZimmComm’s many ag-related websites. Almost as good as a free registration for a conference in Mexico!

    Farming, Photography, USGC

    A Veterinarian and a Translator

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Irina ZablithAt an international conference like the Global Dairy 500 Conference translators are absolutely necessary. We have many of them here. During a break this morning I spoke with Irina Zablith (right) who is not only a translator but a veterinarian from Brazil. She’s translating into Portugese.

    She says it’s simultaneous translation. They do get some pre-talk information like power point slides but not an actual written speech. She says it becomes challenging at times when a speaker talks very fast.

    Irina says the global market has grown to the point of needing more translations so she started working with groups of Brazilians who would travel to other countries and needed her service. She travels to conferences like this several times a year.

    You can listen to my interview with Irina below:

    2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

    Alltech, Audio

    Money On Dairy Producers Minds

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Daniel WilliamsYou need go no further than any dairy farmer here at the Global Dairy 500 Conference to know that the big issue is money. Take Daniel Williams, seated to the left in the photo. Daniel has an 800 cow dairy in Madison, GA.

    When it comes to challenges he says right now it’s “money.” That includes becoming more efficient and watching what you spend and on what. He thinks the Conference has been very helpful, especially one of the morning speakers the first day.

    Like others I’ve spoken with, he says that all dairy farmers in the world are having trouble making it right now. He thought that getting to talk with other farmers has made him feel better about where he’s at with his operation right now.

    You can listen to my interview with Daniel below:

    2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

    Alltech, Audio

    An Alltech Dairy Moon

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Alltech MoonThis is what the moon looked like tonight after a full day of the Global Dairy 500 Conference. This is a hand held shot on the way back from the Alltech Lexington Brewery.

    Right now I’m charging my batteries and uploading some video after uploading more photos to the online photo album. I’ll have a lot more coverage of the event coming up.

    2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

    Alltech

    Sustainability in Focus at Plant and Soil Science Conference

    Cindy Zimmerman

    “Footprints in the Landscape: Sustainability through Plant and Soil Sciences” is the theme for the joint annual meetings of three agricultural science organizations coming up next month in Pittsburgh.

    ASAMore than 3,000 international scientists, professionals, educators, and students will present new technologies and discuss emerging trends in agriculture, energy, climate change, carbon trading, science education, and related issues at the event November 1-5 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Other informative sessions will focus on nutrition, wines, food security, invasive species, organic agriculture, hazardous waste, plant breeding, and turfgrass science.

    The event is jointly sponsored by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. The meetings will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. For meeting information, including searchable abstracts and other event details, visit www.acsmeetings.org.

    Events, Sustainability

    International Breakout Dairy Discussions

    Chuck Zimmerman

    After the morning sessions and lunch the Global Dairy 500 participants sit at discussion tables. These breakout sessions are very lively and interactive and on many different topics. I followed along with one led by Brent Lawrence, Alltech. Brent handles the southeast territory of Florida and Georgia. At his table were dairy farmers from the USA, Germany, Korea and the Ukraine. He says the main topic dealt with the sustainability of the dairy industry. They discussed the need to educate the public and be environmentally friendly.

    I shot a video clip so you can get a true feel for what the sessions are like.

    2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

    You can listen to my interview with Brent below.

    AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

    Alltech, Audio, Dairy, International, Video