Awards for Successful Farming and Agriculture.com

Cindy Zimmerman

The young and beginning farmers behind the Farmers for the Future project at Successful Farming magazine and Agriculture.com netted the media company two awards at the recent Media Industry News (MIN) Integrated Marketing Awards held in New York. Pictured accepting the awards on behalf of Successful Farming magazine are John Walter, Executive Editor and Jeff Caldwell, Multimedia Editor.

Successful AwardThe Farmers for the Future program took home two honorable mention awards. The first came in the Total Integrated Program category that honors projects comprising multimedia editorial content, events and programs.

The Farmers for the Future program includes feature stories in Successful Farming magazine, a microsite and multimedia content on Agriculture.com, a young and beginning farmer conference and a social network site.

The Farmers for the Future social network was awarded in MIN’s Social Media Program category. The network that began in September 2008 has more than 2,100 members and offers members myriad ways to connect with one another, including blogs, forums, chat and video chat. The Farmers for the Future project is sponsored by DEKALB and the Farm Credit Foundation.

Media

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The National FFA Organization announced that Dr. W. Dwight Armstrong of Dayton, OH, will become chief operating officer effective Oct. 5, 2009.
  • Fastline is pleased to announce the new Auctions.Fastline.com. This new online auction is designed to offer Fastline customers an easy and effective tool to sell their farm and construction equipment to their audience.
  • Thirty-eight college students from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will be able to continue their education with help from GROWMARK. Click here for the list of recipients.
  • Recognized with the Ed Bible Distinguished Service Award for her dedication and service to LPC is Becky Terry, Winchester, Kan.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NCGA Launches Markets Now Member Benefit

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NCGA MarketsHere’s another reason to be a member of the National Corn Growers Association. Now you can get your markets on your mobile phone as a new member benefit. Our friends at Commodity Update who also make AgWired Mobile possible are powering the new service. You can find out more on the NCGA website.

    The National Corn Growers Association announced the launch of a new membership benefit that provides access to market updates through mobile phone messages. The program, called NCGA Markets NOW!, will keep subscribing members informed of the information that growers need when deciding when to sell their crop.

    “When we came across this opportunity, we felt that it was a perfect fit. NCGA Markets NOW! provides members with the information that they need to make the best possible choices for their operation,” said Tim Dolan, Chairman of NCGA’s Grower Services Action Team. “In doing so, it furthers the association’s mission of promoting the best interests of the American corn producer.”

    The NCGA Markets NOW! service is fully customizable and provides both scheduled updates and on demand services. The service works with the members existing cell phone and is available through virtually every cell phone carrier. Easy to use, other groups utilizing similar services have reported nearly universal satisfaction.

    Ag Groups, Markets, NCGA

    2009 NAFB Foundation Toy Tractor Available

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAFB Foundation TractorIf you would like to support the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation then here’s one way you can do it. Place your order now for the 2009 NAFB Foundation Toy Tractor!

    This year’s model, a Farmall Super M…once again designed and signed by Joe Ertl, is available on a limited basis.

    Click here or visit www.nafb.com to order today!

    NAFB

    Tweetup4Troops

    Melissa Sandfort

    621The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the Spirit of Christmas for kids, families and the environment. Since 2005, CSF has delivered 50,000 Real Christmas Trees to military families in the U.S. and overseas through the Trees for Troops program.

    CSF is inviting people to become local hosts of fundraising events called “Tweetup4Troops,” designed to help raise money for CSF’s Trees for Troops program. Tweetup4Troops events will be held the week of Veteran’s Day (Nov. 7 – Nov. 14) to help honor veterans, support Trees for Troops and have fun!

    Click here for more information about how, why and where you can host a local event in your community!

    Click here to register to become a local host of Tweetup4Troops.

    Uncategorized

    Pioneer Hi-Bred Takes The Long Look

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Robin NewellThe man who got us started here at the Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Media Day is Robin Newell. Cindy spoke to him about the “long look.” He says the Pioneer long look has four components that include: “We strive to create the best products;” “We deal honestly and fairly with our constituents;” “We represent our products vigorously;” “We help our customers get the most from our products.” He says the focus today on the development of corn silage and alfalfa and inoculants like their new 11GFT.

    He also mentioned their focus on animal welfare since they keep many animals here at the Livestock Nurition Center. He says they have an animal welfare committee that even includes “local clergy.” He says that person helps provide a good moral and ethical backbone to the committee. Now that’s interesting!

    Pioneer Forage Media Day Photo Album

    You can listen to Cindy’s interview with Robin below:

    Animal Health, Audio, Forage, Pioneer

    Developing The Brand

    Amanda Nolz

    NOLZ-Logo Since I have returned to my family’s cattle operation, I’ve quickly been put in charge of all marketing efforts. For the fair, I developed a brochure about our business, as well as designed stall cards to display information about our cattle. My next task is improving our website (it’s in need of dire help), and starting up a newsletter for our customers.

    Of course, these projects take time, and I have to balance these ideas with my writing and speaking duties, as well. Yet, my hope is to help my parents really develop the NOLZ Limousin brand as one that people in the industry will recognize. Today, my questions for AgWired readers include the following: What are you looking for in a good newsletter and website? How long is the newsletter? What topics should it address? What’s the best programs for developing professional online and print materials? How often does a newsletter need to be sent out? Can it easily be sent via email, too?

    Any and all advice is greatly appreciated! I’m learning as I go. I’m definitely not a graphic designer! HELP!

    Amanda Nolz
    Blogger
    Speaker
    Daughter
    Cowgirl
    Student

    Advertising, Public Relations

    Pioneer Hi-Bred Announces 11GFT Forage Inoculant

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Pioneer Introduces 11GFT Inoculant PlatformThe news here at the Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Media Day is a new product. The 11GFT inoculant is the second in a series of products in the Pioneer fiber technology platform. This one will offer dairy producers another avenue to enhance forage digestibility which will reduce feed costs. The product was developed exclusively for grass and cereal silage and is the first of its kind. The company says other fiber technology products are currently under development.

    Cindy interviewed Kyle Whitaker (pictured), Pioneer Hi-Bred Marketing Manager, Forage Additives, about the new product. Kyle says they see three key benefits that includes good basic fermentation, aerobic stability and fiber digestibility. He says they see the product used in silage markets across the U.S. with key targests in the northeast and far west.

    We also have a photo album started for the event which will be added to later today but we’ve got some photos in there for you now: Pioneer Forage Media Day Photo Album

    You can listen to Cindy’s interview with Kyle below:

    Audio, Forage, Pioneer

    The Farm Podcaster is in Forage Day Class

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Pioneer Forage Media Day ClassThe Pioneer Forage Media Day has started with class in session at their Livestock Nutrition Center near Des Moines, IA. We have a very good attendance from the ag media. Cindy (FarmPodcaster) stopped to pose at the entrance of the Center.

    Right now we’re listening to the first presentation by Bill Curran on corn silage reearch. He’s giving us a complete overview of their process for testing and evaluating genetics of various hybrids.

    During our breaks Cindy and I will be conducting interviews with the presenters which we’ll post primarily on World Dairy Diary but also here when appropriate as well. We’ll also be building up some new Forage Forum podcasts as well. So it’s going to be a busy day here.

    We’ll also be doing some special tweets on the World Dairy Diary Twitter feed so keep an eye on it too. Please feel free to follow if you aren’t yet.

    Forage, Pioneer