Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

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  • Syngenta announced that the yield average of acreage enrolled in the 2008 AgriEdge Soybean Program exceeded the 2008 USDA national average by 38 percent. More than 3 million acres in 15 states were enrolled in the program, a 50 percent increase over 2007 AgriEdge program enrollment.
  • Church & Dwight Co., Inc.’s Specialty Product Division announced the addition of Michael Cain, Ph.D., as Senior Business Manager of the Animal Nutrition business.
  • AGCO Corporation and Dakota Micro, Inc. have partnered together to sell AgCam, the most comprehensive, user friendly and versatile rear view and monitoring system available.
  • Osborne Industries, Inc. and PigCHAMP, Inc. are pleased to announce a strategic alliance that will ultimately allow pork producers to improve management of their sow herds.
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    Podcast Audience Keeps Growing

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I’m on the way back to ZimmComm World Headquarters after spending quality time with web guru Robert and a day with John Deere in Fresno. I’m ready for some of this warm, sunny weather to hit our area.

    I just thought I’d point you to an article on Podcasting News that brings together several sources of data on podcasting growth. It looks like the American audience for podcasting has grown significantly in the last year (22%) but that advertising revenue hasn’t grown as fast. I’m wondering if that might be because many podcasts are being produced by companies or outsourced for production with existing producers.

    I think we’ve demonstrated that there are more ways to monetize media today than just banner ads or radio spots. Farm podcasting is just one of those options. If you work for an advertising agency have you recommended podcasting or at least advertising in a podcast? If not, why?

    Uncategorized

    The Fresno Drive Green Event

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Fresno EquipmentFresno Equipment is right down this way as you can see from the sign.

    I’m on location once again with the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show. This time in Fresno, CA. We couldn’t have more perfect weather conditions here. I hope we have a nice crowd out today, riding and driving the new John Deere equipment. Of course I’ll be posting onto DriveGreenTractors.com but I just thought you’d want to know where the agriblogger is today.

    Feel free to follow along with my adventures online.

    John Deere, Tractor

    Association of California Egg Farmers Formed

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Association of California Egg FarmersProposition 2 in California has created some serious dilemmas for farmers. Egg farmers have had to form a new organization just to deal with policies and implementation regulations from this legislation.

    The state’s egg producers today announced the creation of the Association of California Egg Farmers (ACEF), a nonprofit statewide trade association to serve as their advocate on state policies affecting the industry and to ensure the continued production of fresh and affordable eggs that meet the food safety and animal care standards consumers expect.

    The nonprofit association will serve as the voice for California egg farmers and an industry that is critical to the state’s economy and food supply. The state’s egg farmers produce 4.9 billion eggs a year, providing a fresh, affordable source of food and making California the fifth largest egg producer in the country. Most of the state’s egg farms are family owned, and they generate thousands of jobs for Californians, especially in economically hard-hit rural areas.

    “The state’s egg farmers have a long history of providing a safe, healthy and nutritious source of food for California’s families,” said ACEF Executive Director Debbie Murdock. “The egg farmers are establishing the Association of California Egg Farmers to ensure they can continue to meet consumer expectations for fresh and affordable eggs that meet food safety and animal care standards.”

    One of the association’s first tasks will be addressing the implementation of Proposition 2, a ballot measure California voters approved in November 2008. The ballot measure imposes new mandates on how the state’s egg producers house their egg-laying hens.

    “California egg farmers respect the voters’ decision and want to comply with Proposition 2, but the initiative’s language is so vague that producers don’t know what they need to do to meet the new mandates and avoid jail sentences,” said Ms. Murdock.

    The initiative provides no clear standards or guidelines for determining the amount of space the hens need to meet the new mandates. The new law doesn’t say whether the enclosures – including cage-free enclosures – currently used by California egg producers will comply with the law. It also does not say how – or if – farmers can modify the existing enclosures to meet the mandates. ACEF will be seeking avenues to obtain clarification on the requirements of Proposition 2.

    Ag Groups, Poultry

    AgChat Summary

    Chuck Zimmerman

    AgChatI missed AgChat last night but like you, I can review the discussion via Twitter Search. The subject was animal welfare and what agriculture can do to team up with allied industries and groups to create better understanding in the public and combat misinformation campaigns by extremist animal rights groups. Questions included:

    Q1: How can #agriculture work with groups such as @RaisingVoices & collaborate against animal rights activists?
    Q2: What specific message can both #agriculture & animal research carry that will make the most impact against misinformation?

    I solicited comments from participants since I couldn’t and got responses like:

    I was impressed; almost to the point of being overwhelmed. Had Tweetie, Tweetdeck, and Tweetchat all running to keep up!

    Our AgChat moderator is Michele Payn-Knoper who did a great job of participating while moderating once again and posted this stats summary from the discussion:

    1100+ tweets on #agchat last night with 100+ unique contributors. Great discussion around animal rights & #ag.

    I know there’s more to add here but I invite comments from those who did participate to help AgWired readers better understand the discussion.

    Uncategorized

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

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      Bakersfield Sunset

      Chuck Zimmerman

      Bakersfield, CA SunsetThis was the scene when I got off the plane in Bakersfield, CA this evening. Pretty cool looking I think. I love sunrises and sunsets. There is an artist who is a lot better than any of us human ones.

      I missed out on #AgChat tonight on Twitter but hope to have a review of it tomorrow morning if my sources come through. I’ve already skimmed over some of the posts and I think you would find them very interesting. I especially like the humor that gets thrown in. We need to laugh even when discussing serious topics. I made it through about 23 pages so far but think it’s time to stop for the day. There’s always tomorrow.

      Uncategorized

      WEPC.com Offers Blog Tips

      Amanda Nolz

      744383034_255a3539eb One of the blogs that I visited daily, okay several times per day, is The Pioneer Woman. Blogger Ree Drummond was a college student going to school in Los Angeles, when she met and fell in love with an Oklahoma cattle rancher. She quickly ditched the black pumps, sushi and Starbucks for cowboy boots, horses and cattle manure when she married her authentic cowboy. Today, she blogs about the adventures of living and working on a cattle ranch, homeschooling her kids and maintaining a very successful blog that includes photos, great writing, recipes, tutorials and prizes. Maybe that’s why WEPC.com asked Ree to write her tips on their site for a successful blog. Here are Ree’s 8 tips…

      1. Photos
      2. Variety
      3. Longterm, get your own Domain
      4. Make it easy for visitors to comment
      5. Steer clear of the F-bombs
      6. Involve readers
      7. Don’t try to be the end authority on any topic
      8. Laugh. And make others laugh

      To read the entire article, link here. In the meantime, I’m wondering what do YOU like about blogs? What makes you stop by and want to read more?

      Uncategorized

      Off to the “Real World”

      Amanda Nolz

      100_0297 Well, as of this past weekend, I’m now a proud graduate of South Dakota State University. It’s a crazy feeling to know that my college years are over, and I’m now making the transition into the “real world.” It’s been said, time and time again, that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I really think I have found that dream career in my role as an agriculture writer and speaker.

      In the next couple of months, I want to position myself as a person people want to use as a resource for conferences, workshops and events. I’m excited about my speech and workshop topics: global agriculture climate, animal rights activists, consumer and media misconceptions, sharing the agriculture story and utilizing social networking sites as a public relations tool for farmers and ranchers. I’m already booking a few events, but I’m looking to gain some advice on how I can spread the word about my availability as an agriculture speaker. I hope to build a website soon as a reference towards my credentials, but what else can be done to spread the word about my full-time status as an agriculture writer and speaker? I can’t wait to hear your advice? Thanks, everyone! -Amanda Nolz

      Uncategorized

      Irena Sendler

      Amanda Nolz

      The prize doesn’t always go the most deserving, and this was certainly the case with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. I was emailed this story the other day, and it’s an inspirational tale of a woman who never quite earned the recognition she deserved for her courageous acts. Read this story provided by Snopes, and you’ll see why…

      200px-2005_02_13__irena_sendlerowa_foto_mariusz_kubik_01_zoomThere recently was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena. During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a plumbing/sewer specialist. However, she had an “ulterior motive.” She KNEW what the Nazi’s plans were for the Jews, (being German.) Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the toolbox she carried. She also kept a burlap sack in the back of her truck for larger kids. She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi’ s broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunite the family. Most of course had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.

      In 2007, Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize…She was not selected. Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming. LET’S SEND THIS ONE AROUND THE WORLD! GOD BLESS HER! May she rest in Peace.

      Note: Sendler’s story was brought to light in the United States when students in Kansas found it described in a magazine and popularized it through their original play Life in a Jar. On April 19, 2009, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, a Hallmark Hall of Fame production written and directed by John Kent Harrison and starring Anna Paquin in the title role, was broadcast by CBS.

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