Speaking For Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

The final panel discussion of NAMA’s Trends in Agriculture “Connecting with the New Ag Community” focused on “Speaking for Agriculture.” The panelists talked about the issues, both environmental and political, that face agriculture. They also shared insights on how to communicate farmer’s values and the value of farm families. Tami Craig Schilling is the Director of Strategic Communications for Monsanto, and a fifth-generation agriculturalist. She spoke about how agriculture can effectively help consumers understand those values.

This is part of the Paulsen Marketing video interview series. They are also the sponsor of the NAMA Blog.

Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

Agencies, NAMA, Video

NAMA Professional Development Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA’s Professional Development Awards of Excellence luncheon honored four NAMA members. Lou Ireland, Pioneer Hi-Bred International was honored in Marketing Communications, Deron Johnson of Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications was honored in Public Relations, Gary Robertson of Fort Dodge Animal Health in Product/Species Management, and Pete Weil of High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal in Sales. Each winner spoke about the challenges and opportunities in agri-marketing.

Also at the luncheon the gavel symbolizing the presidency of NAMA was passed from Carol Anderson to Susie Decker.

View a series of snippets from the awards luncheon below:

You can find photos from the awards luncheon in the photo album.

This is part of the Paulsen Marketing video interview series. They are also the sponsor of the NAMA Blog.

Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

Agencies, NAMA, Video

Interview With Joel Jaeger

Chuck Zimmerman

Another presenter on the “How Marketers are Building New Community Ties” panel was Joel Jaeger. He is president of the mobile technology provider Commodity Update. He sees significant potential in the mobile market for agriculture, but emphasizes that it should be an element in the blend of social media.

In addition to Commodity Update, Jaeger is also a partner in his family’s farming operations in Colorado and Belize.

This is part of the Paulsen Marketing video interview series. They are also the sponsor of the NAMA Blog.

Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

Agencies, NAMA, Video

Interview With Leslie Bradshaw

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA Trends in Agriculture Day Two began with a panel on “How Marketers are Building New Community Ties.” Leslie Bradshaw is the Director of Engagement, Public Affairs for Bradshaw Vineyards. She provided insight into the question many farmers and producers have about social media.

Bradshaw is also planning to launch a community and industry-friendly site, www.SocialMediaforAgriculture.com and is seeking input for the site.

This is part of the Paulsen Marketing video interview series. They are also the sponsor of the NAMA Blog.

Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

Agencies, NAMA, Video

AgriMarketers Building New Community Ties

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 238 - Building New Ag CommunitiesThis week’s NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference provided a great program opportunity for this week’s ZimmCast. You’ll get to hear from the morning panel on day two. I interviewed each of them and have included them in the program. The session focused on how agrimarketers are building new community ties.

NAMA Trends In Agriculture3G-enabled smart phones, the “Tweeting Farmer,” and unusual partnerships are all part of the new ag community. This general session will feature practical case studies from marketers inside and outside of agriculture that have forged new links with their customers using new media and non-traditional collaboration. Joe Grigsby, VML, Leslie Bradshaw, a farm kid and University of Chicago educated Communications Manager with New Media Strategies in Washington, D.C., and Joel Jaeger, Commodity Update shared their experiences.

I’d like to thank AgWired Sponsor, Fluidigm, for their support of the ZimmCast. AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.

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, NAMA, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Veteran agribusiness professional Dr. Jim Budzynski announces the founding of MacroGain Partners.
  • Through a Section 24(c) Special Local Need Registration for INSTINCT nitrogen stabilizer in Iowa during 2008, growers got a first look at the product’s performance in on-farm field trials. This summer, INSTINCT received federal registration and now is widely available across the Corn Belt.
  • J. R. Simplot Company and leading emissions reduction project developer and offset marketer, Blue Source LLC, (www.bluesource.com) announced the formation of a strategic alliance to assist American farmers interested in engaging in the carbon economy.
  • A genetic code for domestic swine has been uncovered, which should lead to a host of new insights in agriculture, medicine, conservation and evolution.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Texas Farmer Using Social Media

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The afternoon panel discussion at the NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference included David Cleavinger, a fifth-generation Texas farmer/rancher. He talked about how producers can use a combination of social media and personal connections to bring greater understanding of the importance of agriculture in their lives. This is part two in the Paulsen Marketing video interview series. They are also the sponsor of the NAMA Blog.

    Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

    Agencies, Farming, NAMA, Social Networking, Video

    Interview With Dr. David Kohl

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Once again this year I’ll be posting video interviews from the NAMA Trends In Agriculture conference produced by Paulsen Marketing. Here’s the first one with our opening keynote speaker, David Kohl.

    Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

    Agencies, NAMA, Video

    Producers Talk About New Ag Community

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Daphne HoltermanIt’s one thing to say there’s a new ag community. It’s another thing to live in it as a farmer. At the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference a panel of producers addressed this subject. The panel included a row crop farmer from Texas, a dairy producer from Wisconsin and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

    Their task was to share specific examples of how success and growth today require more than good agronomic practices. A lot of the discussion focused on the growing anti agricultural forces that are reaching consumers with messages that are not based on good science and often meant to obtain a political agenda. They all agreed that new technology offers communications channels that can help farmers tell their story.

    I spoke with one of the panelists, Daphne Holterman, Rosy-Lane Holsteins, after the session. She says that they all realize that they can’t just be “a farm in our little neighborhood or rural communities anymore but we have to be a big player in a bigger pond.” She says it’s important to talk out about being the true environmentalists. The digital age is making this more necessary than ever.

    You can listen to my interview with Daphne below.

    Combined NAMA Trends In Ag/NAFB Convention Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the NAMA Trends In Agriculture Conference is sponsored by Paulsen Marketing.

    Audio, Dairy, NAMA

    BASF Headline Harvest Report – North Missouri

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Missouri farmers made some significant harvest progress last week, especially with soybeans. According to USDA, Missouri’s corn harvest increased 13 percent last week to 62 percent complete and farmers harvested 31 percent of the soybeans in the state last week, up to 64 percent complete as of Sunday.

    headline harvest soybeansWe saw some of that progress being made in the state last week on our BASF Headline Harvest Report visits. Terry Smith in Chillicothe, Missouri was just about finished with his soybean harvest when Chuck visited with him on Wednesday last week. “We’ve been slow off and on because of the weather, but the early beans we got out helped a lot. They were ready early and the weather was better.”

    This is the first year Terry has used Headline fungicide on his beans and he saw a nine bushel yield bump. “The plants were healthy, they grew a little taller. When they yield nine more bushels, that’s significant,” he said.

    Here is a YouTube video of Chuck’s interview with Terry and some shots of him harvesting beans.

    BASF, Farming, Video