Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort March 20, 2009

QUALISOY has announced its board members and yearly objectives for 2009. Pioneer VP of Crop Product Development Dennis Byron, PhD, a member of the board since its start in 2004, was elected as Chairman of the Board for 2009.
LPC Critique Contest entries must be received by March 20 at 5 pm. Awards will be presented on Aug. 3 in Fort Worth, Texas, during the Ag Media Summit. Click here for more information on this year’s Ag Media Summit.
Farmers are ready to slash corn acreage this spring, fueling a record switch to soybeans, according to new Farm Futures research. The magazine’s annual planting intentions survey puts U.S. corn acreage at 82.46 million this spring, down 4% from the 86 million put in a year ago. Soybean acreage would soar to a record 80.73 million, up more than 6% from last year’s 75.7 million.

The first day of Spring gets the outdoor griller’s heart all pumped up. Many of us are “year-rounders” but it is nice to have warmer temperatures. The Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association has released their annual State of the Barbeque Industry Report which you can read below.

I also thought I’d point you to a company I recently became familiar with that makes barbeque accessories. Raggitty Ass Redneck Equipment make some great quality stuff you won’t find anywhere else. Here’s an interesting story about them that involves ZimmComm client, Southeast AgNet. RARE doesn’t have a website and so, thinking creatively, Southeast AgNet’s Gary Cooper just did an extended post on his website for them and voila, they have a website. Granted it’s just a page for now but I think it shows one way you can creatively use the tools we now have in this new media world.

State of the Barbecue Industry Report

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) has conducted the HPBA Barbecue
Lifestyle, Usage & Attitude Study* on a biennial basis since 1983. The following is
select information from that study for the State of the Barbecue Industry Report.

A Sizzling Industry

• More than 16.7 million grills and smokers were shipped in 2008, marking an 18
percent increase since 2003.
• Nine out of 10 (95 percent) grill owners used their grill in the past year, an
increase of 4 percent over 2003.
• Nearly eight out of 10 (77 percent) households own an outdoor barbecue grill or
smoker, a 5 percent increase from 2003.
• Sixty-eight percent of households own a gas grill, followed by charcoal (37
percent) and electric (2 percent).
• LP gas grills continue to be the most widely owned type of grill, with 94 percent of
all gas grill owners owning an LP gas grill.

Grill Usage

• The majority of grill owners use their grills year-round (58 percent), and 45
percent use their grills one to two times per week during the peak grilling season
(May through September). Read More

Food, Media

Thank A Farmer

Chuck Zimmerman March 20, 2009

Ag Groups

Osborn & Barr Acquires Elasticity

Chuck Zimmerman March 19, 2009

Since I just did a post on Osborn & Barr why not another one. I learned on a phone call with the company this week that they’ve acquired a social media company, Elasticity, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the agency. They’re looking for a summer intern for the new division too.

Key Responsibilities:

Update, promote and publicize social networking sites for clients;
Develop and participate in blogs;
Manage content and increase supporter numbers on social networking properties such as Digg, Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed, YouTube, Second Life, Care2, MySpace, Wikipedia, external blogs and more;
Online and database research and reporting responsibilities;
Adapting appearance of social networking presences to be more visually appealing;
Communicating with members and supporters of social sites and networks by using frequent bulletins and messages;
Researching and assisting in the creation of new applications;
Identifying new opportunities for engagement in social networking spaces.

These sound like the responsibilities every company needs to have in their staff.

Agencies

Ag Day Activities

Chuck Zimmerman March 19, 2009

I’m sure a lot of you are doing what you can to thank American farmers on National Agriculture Day. Feel free to share what you’re doing and include pictures if you have them. Here’s what Osborn & Barr is doing in St. Louis. Post Update: The photo is of the tractor described below mid day on Ag Day.

Tractor display and food drive at Kiener plaza fights hunger and champions regional agribusiness

Kiener Plaza may play host to some of St. Louis’ most vibrant urban businesses, but it still sprawls under the shadow of the Arch – the Gateway to the West and a dramatic symbol of this city’s ties to a passionate, inquisitive and agrarian foundation.

National Agriculture Day recognizes and celebrates the abundance provided by agriculture. Food production is an importation part of agriculture, and during a time of economic instability, the need for affordable and healthful food is in high demand.

In recognition of National Agriculture Day, food donations are being accepted at Kiener Plaza. Look for the red tractor – the quintessential symbol of agriculture – on display. The goal is to fill the tractor’s loader (bucket) with food to benefit the St. Louis Food Bank. The event is sponsored by Osborn & Barr Communications, the nation’s leading agriculture and rural marketing agency. Many of its professional staff of more than 100 grew up on farms or still farm. Members will be onsite to assist with the food drive.

Date and Location:
Friday, March 20, 2009
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Donations will be accepted during this time)
Kiener Plaza, 500 Pine St.

Agencies

Get Some Solar On This Day

Chuck Zimmerman March 19, 2009

We’ve got Ag Day, Earth Day and now Solar Day. I hope we have a sunny one here in mid MO.

Move over Earth Day. There’s a new environmentally friendly semi-holiday coming up, and it’s none other than Solar Day. This day doesn’t just thank the sun for shining, though. It’s meant to educate the public about the benefits of using solar energy, and how residents can take advantage of solar options in their areas. Solar Day 2009 will be held all throughout the United States on the first day of summer, which lands on Sunday, June 21 this year. If your interest is piqued by this news, be sure to check out SolarDay.com, the official home of Solar Day, and a portal for all sorts of news on the solar industry.

Energy, Video

Soybean Premiums.org Connects Companies & Suppliers

Chuck Zimmerman March 19, 2009

There’s a new website to help connect soyfoods companies with soybean suppliers.

The Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) is committed to helping soyfoods companies connect with soybean suppliers. Soybeans are used to provide a wide range of products including edamame, soymilk, soy-based meat alternatives, tofu, tempeh, miso, shoyu, natto, soy yogurt, non-dairy frozen desserts, nutrition bars, chips, and cereals. Soyfood manufacturers in America welcome a supply of high quality soybeans that meet their diverse needs. The web site, www.soybeanpremiums.org, developed by the Illinois Soybean Association and sponsored by the Iowa Soybean Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance, easily connects soyfood companies with growers of a wide variety of premium soybeans.

Ag Groups, Internet, Podcasts

Brand New Member of Team ZIP

Amanda Nolz March 18, 2009

Have you heard of Team ZIP? When you discover the power of protein in the land of lean beef, you can be sure that Team ZIP is close by! I recently signed up for the Brookings 40th Annual Half Marathon, and my sister and I are going to tackle 13.1 miles wearing Team ZIP jerseys (Beef is a great source of zinc, iron and protein!) There are hundreds of people that have teamed up with beef, and they blog about their experiences at the Team ZIP blog spot. Here is a description of this exciting group…

The Power of Protein is all about experiencing the body benefits of eating beef and building lean muscle as you train for running, cycling, triathlon or other athletic events — or just in living a healthy, active lifestyle. If you are a beef eater and an athlete (weekend warriors welcome!), join Team ZIP (Zinc/Iron/Protein) to “Live the Brand” and demonstrate the “Power of Protein in the Land of Lean Beef.”

I’m excited to represent the beef industry in my first half marathon, and I’m thrilled to explore new marketing strategies to enhance the beef brand! Hey, a girl has to ditch her laptop once in awhile to get some fresh air; it might as well be for a good cause! To join Team ZIP or order a “Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner Jersey,” contact Daren Williams at dwilliams@beef.org. In the meantime, I will keep all of you updated on my training, my lean beef recipes and my progress as I promote the industry that I love! Beef, it’s what’s for dinner!

Beef

The OMSHville B.O.R.E Method

Amanda Nolz March 18, 2009

I’m addicted to several blogs that I read each day, including one titled OMSH, Oh My Stinkin’ Heck. OMSH is the creation of blogger and web designer, Heather Sanders, and she is full of great ideas to increase readership to your own personal websites. I ran across this blog post titled, “The OMSHville B.O.R.E. Method,” that I have found to be useful in my online efforts with blogs and social networks. OMSH recommends a three-step process called the B.O.R.E. Method that will help you succeed in your own online strategies.

First, OMSH says that bloggers need to be attentive to, and timely in, their correspondence. Interacting with the readers is a great way to create an online community. Take the time for the people that take time to read what you have to say. Second, don’t forget there is give and take. OMSH recommends several ideas to accomplish this including: Q&A sessions, giveaways, do-it-yourself tutorials, host an online forum, etc. Finally, the third step is to check your pride at the door. It’s important to keep learning and growing as fast readership grows.

For the full blog post, head to OMSH and read, “The OMSHville B.O.R.E. Method.” It was definitely a refreshing take on the classic blog lessons we have all learned along the way. And, while we’re talking about lessons learned, do you have any tricks you have picked up along the way to maintain a dynamic site for users to consume? Let’s compare notes; I’m excited to hear your thoughts!

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