Why Farmers Are Using Social Media

Chuck Zimmerman

There’s a good story about farmers using social media in the Fresno Bee titled, “Facebook draws a growing crop of farmers, Many in the ag industry are using Twitter and blogs to communicate, educate.” Cindy spoke with author Robert Rodriguez and pointed him to a few other folks to contact for the story. She is quoted in the article.

The story starts out with a description of how and why one dairy farmer (Barbara Martin) is using social media.

For Martin, using social media and blogging is a way to dispel some myths about farmers and encourage a greater understanding of the slumping dairy industry.

She’s blogged about everything from fixing the pricing structure for milk to sharing her childhood memories about growing up on a farm. Her most recent post is a video diary about her heifer Chica.

So do you think dairy farmers are ahead of the curve or what?

The bottom line is that the use of social media by farmers continues to grow and grow and grow. And I just got an email today from someone in ag communications wondering “if Twitter is a passing fad.” Hmm. How would you answer that?

New communications technologies are developing faster than at any time in history. To choose not to participate is like deciding, “I don’t want to be part of your conversation.” Not a good strategy when they are your customers or members.

Social Networking

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Pioneer Hi-Bred announced the company’s Pioneer Premium Seed Treatment offering for the 2010 planting season.
  • The announcement by the Center for Science in the Public Interest naming potatoes to the list of the “Top 10 Riskiest Foods Regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration” requires some important clarification so as not to raise unnecessary alarm or confusion among consumers.
  • Consumers would be forced to pay 25 percent more for eggs soon if animal rights activists succeed in getting only non-cage eggs sold in the U.S., according to a new study.
  • The American Association of Bovine Practitioners announced its officers for the upcoming year. Click here for the new 2009-2010 officers.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Syngenta Seeds Striving for Control of Broad Leps

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Syngenta Seeds wormSyngenta Seeds calls them “broad leps” – farmers call them expensive – most people would just call them icky.

    They are a bunch of nasty wormy creatures – technically lepidopteran corn pests – that make up what Syngenta calls the “multi-pest complex” which costs growers over $1 billion each year in lost yield and grain quality. They include corn earworm, fall armyworm, Western bean cutworm, black cutworm, stalk borer and sugarcane borer.

    Syngenta Seeds Tracy MaderAgrisure Marketing Manager Tracy Mader says the pests are challenging because they affect all areas of the country and all growth stages of the plant. “The industry has done a very good job controlling corn borer root worm, but the next step is to control this group of broad lep pests, like black cutworm, that can attack the crop at the very early stages.”

    That is what they are striving for with the Agrisure Viptera™ trait for corn, which is still awaiting all necessary regulatory approvals and authorizations before it can be marketed. “We’re working really hard,” Tracy said. “What we do have is deregulation from the EPA and the FDA and we are working hard with USDA to receive deregulation for Agrisure Viptera™ and they’re also working in all the key export countries as well.”

    I interviewed Tracy about Agrisure Viptera™ during the recent grand opening of the Syngenta Seeds headquarters in Minnetonka, MN. Listen to or download that interview below. And if you want to find out more – and see a really creepy but impressive video – go to agrisuretraits.com.

    Sponsored by

    Audio, Corn, Farming, Seed, Syngenta

    Happy World Egg Day

    Chuck Zimmerman

    World Egg DayI’m only a little behind in saying Happy World Egg Day. Thanks to Novus International for bringing it to my attention. Of course the day is meant to raise awareness of the benefits of eggs and it was officially yesterday but better late than never. The photo below is from the Novus office cafeteria.

    Here’s part of the message from Novus:

    Over time, the egg industry has experienced quite a few changes. Today, an average hen will lay over 250 eggs in a given year. These numbers are attributed to genetics, animal welfare and feedstuffs.

    Novus World Egg BreakfastEmployees were educated on nutritional quality and the benefits of eggs during egg related activities which were held throughout the day. “The complimentary meals were fantastic,” stated Sherri Armstrong, Regulatory, Novus International. “Learning that eggs are the highest quality of protein available really surprised me.”

    In addition to educational presentations about the egg, employees enjoyed a complimentary breakfast and lunch which consisted of egg based dishes like: omelets, french toast, quiche, crepes and egg soup.

    “Eggs are an important part of our business at Novus,” stated Jared Hux, Product Manager, Novus International. “I really enjoyed educating my colleagues on the history, benefits and varieties of eggs on the market. I am already looking forward to next year’s celebration”.

    Ag Groups, Novus International, Poultry

    Big Interest in USDA Conservation Stewardship Program

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Lots of farmers are interested in USDA’s revamped Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) – formally known as the Conservation Security Program.

    usdaNatural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White announced this week that they received nearly 21,300 applications to participate in the CSP, covering more than 33 million acres nationwide.

    “NRCS has received enough applications to carry out conservation activities on more than twice the number of acres Congress authorized for CSP this year,” White said. “This incredible response shows that conservation-minded producers and landowners want to attain higher levels of conservation stewardship.”

    Congress capped the annual acreage enrollment nationally at 12,769,000 for each fiscal year. The final national and state-by-state numbers on acreage nationwide will be available in November 2009.

    Conservation, USDA

    Sustainability and Modern Farming

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The new president of the National Corn Growers Association, Darrin Ihnen of Hurley, S.D., is the star of a new video on the subject of increasing sustainability in agriculture that debuted Oct. 3 on the television program This Week in Agribusiness. The short video features Darrin and other family farmers telling the story of how better management and modern technology spells good news for both consumers and the environment.

    Darrin says, “The only thing as important as growing a crop and getting a fair price is doing so in a way that is socially responsible and assures opportunities for the next generation of farmers and consumers.”

    Take a look.

    Corn, Farming, NCGA, Sustainability

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • ClimateMinder, Inc. offers farmers and greenhouse growers flexible new remote monitoring and control systems.
    • The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has presented the National FFA Organization with a contribution of $15,000 to support a new pilot contest through which students will produce videos creatively explaining the benefits and sustainability of modern agricultural methods.
    • Less than 5 percent of farms saw an improvement in income this year, a drastic downturn compared to the same time last year, according to Rabobank’s Farm & Ranch Survey.
    • A breed-specific horned/polled analysis from IGENITY is now available for Holstein cattle.
      Zimfo Bytes

      Alpharma’s Reach Teach and Learn Program

      Cindy Zimmerman

      WDX
      Alpharma Animal Health       is reaching out to teach young people more about agriculture through a grassroots educational program called “Reach Teach and Learn.”

      The company launched the program earlier this year at the 2009 Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The program supports local school districts and colleges through initiatives that encourage students to learn more about agriculture and how their food is produced, and to share their insights and knowledge about what they learned. I talked with Dr. Lance Fox, Alpharma’s Director of Technical Services, at their exhibit during World Dairy Expo about the purpose of the program.

      WDX“Essentially the program is designed to reach out to our youth – elementary, high school, college-level students – our future leaders of tomorrow, to promote agricultural awareness,” Lance told me. “It’s not about products, it’s just about reaching out to the youth.”

      It’s also about motivating young people to reach their own personal and professional goals, something Lance has done in his own life and he shares that story when he talks with young people of all ages. He grew up in the Wisconsin dairy industry, became a veterinarian, joined Alpharma as a technical services manager, and earlier this year achieved the personal goal of climbing to the top of Mt. Everest. “If you believe, you can achieve,” Lance says.

      Find out more about the Reach Teach and Learn program, which features an essay and video contest for different age level students, at reachteachlearn.com.

      Listen to or download my interview with Lance here.

      Audio, Education, World Dairy Expo

      USCP Launces SorghumCheckoff.com

      Chuck Zimmerman

      United Sorghum Checkoff ProgramThe United Sorghum Checkoff Program has a new website.

      USCP Communications Committee Chair Billy Bob Brown said the new site is dedicated to sorghum producers and their interests. “My hope is that producers will take advantage of the new site, because it is there for them to use,” Brown said. “The Web site will allow producers to take advantage of the opportunity to be updated on the latest sorghum research and market development.”

      In the future, the site will continue to grow and develop, adding a new research database, extensive information on market development activities and opportunities for even more interactive features.

      Am I missing the social networking elements of this new communications mechanism?

      Ag Groups, sorghum

      Todd Johnson New VP For NCBA

      Chuck Zimmerman

      Todd JohnsonThe National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has a new VP of Owner-Member Services. He’s Todd Johnson and he was with the Kansas Livestock Association. He’s schedule to start his new position in January.

      NCBA’s producer leaders recently created an organizational strategic plan to better serve members, and NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts subsequently re-aligned staff to better execute the plan, and created the Owner-Member Services department. As its name implies, Owner-Member Services will provide value and services for all types of NCBA’s owner-members, including producer and feeder members, state cattlemen’s affiliates and state beef councils. Johnson will lead the team, and will also serve on NCBA’s senior leadership team.

      Johnson comes to NCBA with a wealth of experience. In 1995, Johnson joined the staff at NCBA affiliate Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), and until 2004 he coordinated membership recruitment efforts and worked as part of the government relations team. In 2004 Johnson joined the staff of the Kansas Beef Council as executive director. Prior to KLA, he worked at the American Hereford Association as director of youth activities.

      Ag Groups, NCBA