Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Proficiency

Chuck Zimmerman

Mindy McAdams is teaching online journalism at the University of Florida and I’ve pointed you to her website before. She’s been writing a series of articles on new media reporting which I thought would be helpful for you budding agribloggers and farm podcasters. She’s looking for some feedback about what she’s written so far since she’s got several more articles planned. Here’s a list of the topics she’s covered so far. You can find links to all of them on her blog.

RGMP 1: Read blogs and use RSS
RGMP 2: Start a blog
RGMP 3: Buy an audio recorder and learn to use it
RGMP 4: Start editing audio
RGMP 5: Listen to podcasts
RGMP 6: Post an interview (or podcast) on your blog
RGMP 7: Learn how to shoot decent photos
RGMP 8: Learn how to crop, tone, and optimize photos
RGMP 9: Add photos to your blog
RGMP 10: Learn to use Soundslides

Education

Pioneer Set to Launch Optimum Acre Max

Joanna Schroeder

bill-belzer-pioneerPending EPA approval, Pioneer is getting ready to launch their new Optimum Acre Max which is part of the Herculex family of traits. Specifically, the Herculex RW trait helps protect corn from corn rootworm damage. “Our hope is to be able to reduce corn rootworm refuge, and also to integrate rootworm refuge in a bag,” said Bill Belzer, Senior Manager Marketing, Corn with Pioneer.

The EPA is currently in the process of evaluating the technology and they are anticipating EPA approvals sometime in 2009. The full scale commercial launch is expected in 2010.

“What this technology does is allow growers to be able to plant more in-plant traits in more acres leading to higher yields,” explained Belzer. 

In the past, growers needed to set aside approximately 20 percent of their acres for corn rootworm refuge. With the Herculex family of traits, growers could reduce their corn rootworm refuge to only 2-5 percent of their total corn acres. Basically, this means growers will receive, “more in-plant protection or more acres,” said Belzer, which leads to higher yields. A win-win for every grower. 

To learn more about the Optimum Acre Max, contact your local Pioneer sales professional or listen to my full interview with Bill Belzer here: cc-09-joanna-pioneer-gat.mp3

Commodity Classic, Corn, Pioneer

PERC Introduces New Propane Irrigation Engine

Joanna Schroeder

pc_logoGrowers are looking for ways to reduce costs this summer, especially as fertilizer costs are on the rise. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) just might have a way to help you save money. During Commodity Classic last month, they launched a new propane irrigation engine. According to Brandon Robinson, Projects Coordinator with PERC, “Propane is one of the most efficient fuels out there. In one tank of propane, 90 percent of the fuel will be turned to energy.”

Studies were conducted at the University of Nebraska tractor testing lab where diesel irrigation engines were compared against the new propane irrigation engines. In terms of a gallon comparison between the two fuels, the results showed that is 1.5-1.6 gallons of propane for every gallon of diesel, said Robinson. “This is a great improvement over the old numbers.”

According to Robinson, another advantage of using propane on the farm is that propane prices perc1typcially go down in the summer when other fuel prices go up. This makes propane 30 percent more cost efficient than using diesel irrigation engines that use other fuels, such as diesel.

“We are seeing demand increase as farmers are looking for more efficient applications and cleaner and greener applications. We expanding our base in terms of how farmers can use propane on the farm,” said Robinson.

Growers can learn about all the farm-application uses for propane by visiting www.agpropane.com. You can also learn more by listening to the full AgWired interview with Brandon Robinson: cc-09-joanna-perc.mp3

Uncategorized

Donuts Hot And Glazed

Chuck Zimmerman

Krispy Kreme DonutsI don’t know about you but fresh Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are one of the finer things in life. On my way to Kansas City this morning I stopped and was lucky enough for the donuts to be coming right off the line.

In fact, the friendly counter staff pulled one off the line and offered it to me before I could even order.

So, when going to see a client, stop by and pick up a couple dozen to make them happy.

Food

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Kruger Seeds, Inc., recently added Performance Data and Seed Finder tools to their Web site. The Performance Data tool connects growers with local yield information.
  • Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications won three Best of Show awards, 31 first-place and 20 regional merit awards during the Regional Best of NAMA competitions.
  • The National Pork Producers Council at its annual business meeting, the National Pork Industry Forum, elected new officers and members to its board of directors. Click here for the full list of elections.
  • The Chicago Mercantile Exchange at the annual business meeting of the National Pork Producers Council awarded scholarships to four college students who intend to pursue careers in the pork industry. The winners of the $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarships are: Bailey Jo Albright, Coldwater, Mich., Michigan State University; Paul Keppy, Davenport, Iowa, Iowa State University; Danielle Guilliams, St Louis, Mo., University of Missouri; and Emily Arkfeld, Dunbar, Neb., University of Nebraska.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Update on IFAJ and Ag Media Summit

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast-211 - IFAJ/AMS ProgramIn this week’s program we’ll get an update on the IFAJ and Ag Media Summit program from Joann Alumbaugh, Farms.com. Joann is co-chair of the program committee this year.

    Our planning committee for the conference met after Commodity Classic in the Worthington Hotel, Ft. Worth, which is where we’ll be at the end of Joann AlumbaughJuly and first of August. To start things out we’re going to have a debate between former Congressman from Texas, Charlie Stenholm and Barry Flinchbaugh, Professor Emeritus, Kansas State University. That should be not only an entertaining but thought provoking session. We’ve got sessions over several days on a variety of topics from photography to writing and you can find the schedule here.

    This week’s program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. It’s a song called, “Fort Worth Stomp” by the Defibulators. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

    You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 211 (11 min MP3)

    Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview with Joann Alumbaugh - ZimmCast 211

    The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

    Ag Media Summit, Audio, IFAJ, ZimmCast

    Commodity Classic Media Room Survey

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Commodity ClassicOkay Commodity Classic media people. Now’s your chance to provide some feedback on this year’s media room.

    The Commodity Classic Media Room Survey is online.

    I’d like to see them ask some different questions but there’s plenty of room to provide comments so I hope you’ll take the time to respond. It will be very helpful to the staff in planning for future conventions.

    Commodity Classic

    Rural Broadband At A Glance

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Rural Broadband at a Glance 2009Take a look at this interesting document from USDA, “Rural Boradband At A Glance 2009 Edition.” It points out how fast farmers are adopting the use of the internet for business purposes and clearly outlines the challenges many areas of the country still have in getting broadband access.

    It has a number of interesting graphs like the following one comparing rural vs. urban internet use by income.

    Rural Broadband at a Glance 2009

    Broadband Internet enables businesses to increase efficiencies in existing commercial relationships, increase market presence by reducing the cost of reaching larger markets, and introduce new services. Broadband Internet, however, can also increase competition between businesses (e.g., local banks must compete with Internet-only banks). Business adoption of the Internet has been rapid. In 2005, 30 percent of farmers were using the Internet for farm business; 2 years later, use had increased to 63 percent. As Internet adoption increases, the need for high-speed Internet also rises as online purchasing and marketing become the norm. Rural businesses, however, use broadband less than urban businesses, perhaps due to higher prices for rural broadband service.

    Uncategorized

    Ketchum Has Director of Online Relationships and Reputation

    Chuck Zimmerman

    KetchumKetchum has created a new position called director of online relationships and reputation for their Food and Nutrition Practice. Filling that role will be Tom Barritt. Good idea. It will be interesting to see how they manage this. Tom says that food is “emotional and evocative and perfectly suited to social media.” So is agriculture in general and greater use of these mechanisms he mentions would help farmers and farm groups get their message out by joining “the conversation.”

    Barritt was previously director of the agency’s global Issues and Crisis Management Network.

    In his new role, Barritt will be responsible for working with clients to embrace online channels to help them better manage their communications needs to achieve their business goals. As associate director, the practice will capitalize on Barritt’s six years as head of Ketchum’s Issues and Crisis Management Network as he takes on the role of chief adviser on food reputation management, as well as builds and activates growth plans to benefit the practice’s client relationships and business development. This move aligns the Food and Nutrition practice with the agency’s growing global digital strategy capabilities and follows the appointments of Jonathan Kopp as global director of Ketchum Digital and Clement Lau as senior vice president of digital communications in Ketchum’s Greater China division in February.

    “There is a dynamic conversation around food taking place online from recipe sharing to food blogs to photos to social networks,” said Barritt. “Food is emotional and evocative and perfectly suited to social media. We have a great opportunity to help our food clients navigate this space and join in the conversation.”

    Agencies