Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • DuPont unveiled the latest innovation to increase agricultural productivity – nicknamed Boreas — mobile wind machines that test the ability of higher-yielding experimental corn hybrids to withstand violent windstorms that cause significant standability issues and subsequent yield loss.
  • Pioneer Hi-Bred unveiled Optimum Brand Innovations, the brand name of a new family of traits, products and accompanying programs that enable growers to be more productive with choices to meet their individual needs.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the final rule for the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program will go into effect as scheduled on March 16. The rule, published in the Federal Register on Jan.15, 2009, has been under regulatory review by USDA pursuant to a Jan. 20, 2009, memorandum from the President’s Chief of Staff.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Meyocks Group Adds Three

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Jessica CooperThe Meyocks Group has added three new faces to their team.

    Jessica Cooper joins the agency as an account executive. Cooper previously was an account coordinator at Valassis Sales & Marketing Services in Chicago. She also has been a media planner with Bernstein-Rein Advertising in Kansas City.

    A native of Maryville, Missouri, Cooper earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing at Northwest Missouri State University.

    Stephanie CottrellStephanie Cottrell joins as an account coordinator.

    She earned a bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University with majors in marketing and management.

    A native of Osceola, Stephanie interned at Marsh & McLennan during college.

    Joshua WilsonJosh Wilson, a former graduate intern with The Meyocks Group, has been hired as a Web designer.

    A native of Waterloo, Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Northern Iowa.

    Agencies

    NFU President To Lead Growth Energy

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Growth EnergyGrowth Energy will be holding a press conference this morning just 15 minutes prior to the RFA press conference. Interesting timing.

    Growth Energy Co-Chairman General Wesley Clark will announce two new members of the leadership team at Growth Energy on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Clark will name a CEO and a Senior Advisor, both known for their leadership and service, who will help Growth Energy achieve its goals of creating American jobs at home, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil through the expanded use of ethanol in our gasoline supply.

    Several sources here at the National Ethanol Conference have told us that Tom Buis, President, National Farmers Union, will be announced as the new CEO for Growth Energy. I’ll be on the conference call to confirm this later this morning.

    RFA will be announcing the formation of a new organization – Global Renewable Fuels Alliance.

    With the growth of biofuels worldwide and the growing interest of companies and nations in reducing Green House Gas emissions, three of the world’s largest ethanol trade associations have decided to work together to promote biofuels worldwide.

    WHAT:
    Teleconference on announcement by ethanol industry trade associations from Canada, the United States, and twenty-seven European countries to announce formation of new global organization

    WHO:
    Bob Dinneen, CEO and President, Renewable Fuels Association, Gord Quaiattini, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association and Rob Vierhout, Secretary General of the European Bioethanol Fuel Association (ebio), and Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the new organization.

    Does it seem like we need more unity within the ethanol industry?

    Ag Groups, Ethanol, RFA

    Biofuels Bloggers

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Chuck and Joanna at NECCindy snapped a photo of Joanna Schroeder and me working in the main conference session room. RFA set up a great work station for us with internet access, power outlets and our own mult box to record speakers.

    Hint to all you conference organizers. It’s really great to provide media with a nice work station in the general conference room. Saves us having to run back and forth to the “media room.” Helps us to provide more immediate coverage of your event too.

    We’ve posted a lot of content on about a half dozen websites not counting things like Twitter feeds. I’m ready for a blogging break. Thank goodness for reception time.

    BTW. Here’s a link to my post on Twitter with a photo of Cindy and Joanna working.

    Ethanol, RFA

    Marketeye Mobile Alerts

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Successful Farming Mobile AlertsFarmers going to Commodity Classic are being provided with a free gift from Successful Farming. It’s called the Marketeye mobile alerts.

    All they have to do is text the word classic to 72466. According to the company they’ve had a great response already from farmers who want to stay on top of what’s happening on the CBOT while they’re in meeting and spending time in the trade show.

    Media

    National Ethanol Conference Open Live

    Chuck Zimmerman

    This morning we broadcast the opening speech at the National Ethanol Conference live on Domestic Fuel and on the Renewable Fuels Association conference blog. I also recorded it so you can watch Bob preach a powerful sermon on the state of the ethanol industry.

    Ethanol, RFA

    Obama Names Choice for USDA Deputy

    Cindy Zimmerman

    merriganPresident Barack Obama today announced his choice of Kathleen Merrigan as deputy secretary of the Agriculture Department.

    Merrigan is no stranger to USDA, having served as administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service under President Clinton from 1999 to 2001. She is currently Assistant Professor and Director of the Agriculture, Food and Environment MS and PhD Program at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Boston MA.

    Because Merrigan helped develop USDA’s U.S. organic food labeling rules and has been involved in organic policy on both the national and international levels, her choice is being well received by organizations such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, which were disappointed with Obama’s pick of Tom Vilsack for secretary of agriculture. No reaction yet from agriculture groups on her nomination.

    USDA

    All American Beef Battalion Raffle

    Amanda Nolz

    steaksFor some time now, I have served as a volunteer press secretary for the All American Beef Battalion. This organization works to provide steak feeds for troops fighting the global war on terror. Started by Vietnam veteran and cattle producer, Bill Broadie, this non-profit group has served thousands of individuals in its year of service.

    The goals of the AABB are as follows: To organize and sponsor steak feeds, entertainment, programs, meetings, and projects with Service Members and their families, to encourage and assist them in any reasonable manner and to foster among the people of the United States an appreciation, respect, and honor for our Armed Forces Military Service Members whose sacrifices have and will continue to make our freedoms possible.

    There are several ways to get involved in this organization. You can make a direct donation, purchase an “Americans in Agriculture-We Support Our Troops,” shirt to wear on Red Shirt Fridays or you can purchase a raffle ticket from me! A drawing will be held on Sept. 10, 2009 in Denver, Col. The winner will take home a New Honda 4X4 ATV. Tickets are sold for $50, and the winner does not have to be present to win. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, shoot me an email at mandy_nolz@hotmail.com.

    Farming, Livestock

    Basic Outreach Methods

    Amanda Nolz

    So often, we try to create elaborate marketing campaigns using the latest technologies and marketing techniques. While there are countless new and exciting ways to spread the message about your place of business, sometimes the most simple ways have been used for years. Maybe that’s why they are still around in spite of the latest and greatest ways to do the same job.

    img_1400This thought occured to me over the weekend when I attended the 2009 SDSU Alpha Gamma Rho – Block & Bridle Steer Show at the Swiftel Center in Brookings, S.D. With over 120 cattle exhibited representing six different states, it was an exciting time to look at a great number of quality cattle. Aside from looking at livestock and visiting with area beef producers, I had time to ask the show chairpersons how they put on this event every year.

    I discovered that this cattle event is run completely by sponsorship dollars and volunteer helpers. A 50/50 raffle helped raise money for the agriculture sorority, Sigma Alpha. Hand-made signs hanging around the ring gave credit to sponsors, 90% of the money coming from ranchers not companies. A radio played and a local commercial came on playing an ad for a bull sale coming up. In all of its simplicity, these marketing and management methods were the ingredients for a successful agriculture event.

    As we kick off another week, I want to talk about the marketing strategies you have tried in the past. Are you pursuing advanced technologies to spread the word about your respective product? Are you Tweeting, Facebooking and blogging? Are you sticking with the traditional word-of-mouth approach? Or, are you using the basics of posters, radio spots and television commercials? I’m excited to hear about your marketing strategies!

    Advertising, Technology