2009 CCA Institute In Kansas City

Chuck Zimmerman

Cooperatives Communicators Association InviteThe Cooperative Communicators Association will be meeting in Kansas City in June. You can download the program here (pdf).

Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) is an organization of 350 professionals who communicate for cooperatives. Our organization is unique in both its mission and membership. We work toward helping members excel in communications – from writing, photography, and editing to video, layout, and design. Just as important, we emphasize ideas and strategies aimed at making communications more successful for cooperatives.

If you’re involved in co-op communications, you belong in CCA! Founded more than 55 years ago, CCA recognizes the differences in the markets co-ops serve and in the audiences we must reach. We understand cooperatives have a slightly different story to tell. And we appreciate the role communications plays in contributing to the success of the cooperative.

Ag Groups, Media

Big Planter Topic at Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere DB 120This monster planter was too big for the John Deere booth at Commodity Classic this year, but it was still the talk of the town.

The DB120, as the name implies, is a 120 foot planter – the biggest ever. It was introduced at the National Farm Machinery Show last month (see previous post), but it was still too big to be unfolded all the way in the booth. At the Classic, John Deere seed division marketing manager Rob Rippchen took some time to introduce the big boy to the media and point out some of its features.

John Deere Rob Rippchen“It’s 48 row units, 30 inch centers and 120 foot wide,” Rob says. “The picture doesn’t do it justice to how big it really is, it’s just flat amazing how long and wide it is.”

“The planter is 33 percent larger than the DB90 introduced five years ago, which means about 33 percent more productivity for the grower,” he says. Base equipment on the planter includes: CCS w/Refuge Plus™, Variable Rate Drive, RowCommand™, SeedStar™ 2 Monitoring, Pneumatic Down Force, Rubber Tire Closing, and Walking Gauge Wheels.

The price tag is $345,000 – which means it’s not for every grower, but Rob says it is a market John Deere wants to lead with.

Listen to Rob talk about the DB120 here: cc09-jd-rippchen.MP3

2009 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, Farm Machinery, Farming, John Deere

Got A Big Mac

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck's Big MacJust in time for an end of week road trip I got in the monster of agriblogging and farm podcasting machines. It’s a 17″ big Mac made for today’s “all platform journalist.” I am pumped up.

In just another lesson about how cool Macs are, I just plugged in my Time Machine backup, started it up and within a few minutes it had migrated all my stuff from my other Mac. I’m talking everything, programs included. It just doesn’t get any easier than that. I’m posting from it now. Remembers all my passwords, etc.

For a small fee I’ll let you touch it next time I see you.

Uncategorized

Genuine Genuity From Monsanto

Chuck Zimmerman

Monsanto GenuityAt last week’s Commodity Classic I learned a new word – Genuity. My teacher was Dion McBay, Monsanto trait marketing lead.

Genuity is a new brand that provides Monsanto with a new platform to deliver new technologies to the marketplace. The name came from the work of a brand development team that talked to farmers across the country. The name meant things like genuine and the “gen” part seemed to suggest genes or genesis so Genuity it is. Dion says that the Monsanto brand covers a lot of things and with Genuity they can focus on a brand that “promises to deliver technology products that help farmers do what they do best, even better.” A media and public relations campaign is scheduled to start immediately to begin introducing the brand to farmers.

You can listen to my iPhone interview with Dion here: cc-09-genuity.mp3

You can also download the interview with this link: Monsanto Genuity Interview (mp3)

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Seed

Podcast Audience Growing

Chuck Zimmerman

emarketer graphicIt looks like the podcast keeps on growing. This is a great new article from eMarketer.

The podcast audience has grown, too, and eMarketer projects that growth will continue at least through 2013, when there will be 37.6 million people downloading podcasts on a monthly basis, more than double the 2008 figure of 17.4 million.

As a percentage of Internet users, podcast downloaders will grow from 9% in 2008 to 17% in 2013.

I’m betting that there are still some of you out there who will look negatively at this. Those who do probably think that unless you reach a huge audience you’re not succeeding. However, that’s not what podcasting is all about. You’ve got to think, “niche” audiences. It really is about who is listening as much or more than gross numbers.

Even in this article from eMarketer they focus on how “mainstream” media is using the platform. I think they ought to also do some research on how large and small companies are using podcasting effectively. I think it’s a mistake to look at podcasting as just another way to distribute a broadcast. How about a platform that lets you reach and directly communicate with your customers and members? In fact, if the audience is growing, even if it’s being driven by mainstream content, doesn’t that help out all of us who create our own since more people are equipped and downloading?

Podcasts

Drive Green at Dixie Deer Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Dixie Deer ClassicAt the end of this week I’ll be at the Dixie Deer Classic. Maybe I should call it the Dixie Deere Classic since I’ll be working on the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show once again. This is going to be fun. I’m thinking I should take an extra suitcase just because there will be so much cool stuff to see and want.

The Dixie Deer Classic has been recognized nationally as the Premier Trophy Whitetail Deer Show in the country. It was the first successful show of its kind, and lit the spark that has brush fired into similar show all across the nation. All available exhibit space is used to maximum advantage while keeping large aisle spacing for crowd movement. The show is held annually the first weekend of March, based on the Sunday date. It is open three full days; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Dixie Deer Classic is held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in the Jim Graham Building, The Exposition Center, Dorton Arena and the Kerr Scott Building.

One thing I know for sure is that I wish I had one of these new John Deere Gators to use in my annual deer hunt this November!

Hunting, John Deere

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Charleston|Orwig announces that it has been chosen to handle the marketing communications for Novartis Animal Health farm animal products.
  • LBi Atlanta announces it has been selected as digital agency of record for Bayer CropScience U.S.
  • Syngenta Seeds, Inc. will soon offer the industry’s first and only fully integrated aphid management system to protect soybean crops from yield-robbing aphid infestations, available in the United States for planting in 2010.
  • Engineered Storage Products Company is proud to announce the re-launch of its two websites: Harvestore.com and Slurrystore.com. The new sites offer simpler navigation for users and the capacity for more information and updates than ever before. New features such as the “Request a Quote” function and the “Dealer Locator” application allow visitors to connect and get in contact with Authorized Harvestore and Slurrystore dealers with ease.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Please Take NAMA Pre-Survey

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAMA Session 2009I’m wondering if you’ll do me a big favor and take a very short (6 question) survey. The information will be used in my Agri-Marketing Conference session, “Social Media DOES Fit in Your Marketing Decision – Moving Beyond This Decision.”

    Here’s the link to the survey: Social Networking Survey For NAMA Convention

    If you know of someone who will be attending please feel free to forward them the link with a request to take the survey. Then post it on your Twitter feed, Facebook page, blog, mention it in your podcast, heck, you can even create a YouTube video about it!

    NAMA

    USSEC Puts CEO On Administrative Leave

    Chuck Zimmerman

    US Soybean Export CouncilThis is probably the shortest news release I’ve received in a long time.

    The United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Board of Directors has decided to put the CEO of USSEC on administrative leave with full pay and benefits while the Board considers its current direction and the long term goals of the organization.

    The day to day operations of USSEC will continue through the executive staff of the Council.

    The statement speaks for itself and there will be no further comment.

    I actually wish there were more releases this succinct. How about you?

    Ag Groups, Soybean

    Engadget

    Amanda Nolz

    Last week, I wrote a blog post asking for advice on what equipment I needed to purchase to effectively work as an agricultural journalist. I had some great feedback, and I appreciate everybody’s insights on this topic. Now, for those of you that already have every piece of equipment known to man, you have probably heard of Engadget. If you haven’t heard of it, Engadget highlights all of the latest technology releases in media, and I find myself drooling all over my computer as I look at the world’s latest gizmos and gadgets.

    small_asus_dual-screen-cebit1367This website features stylish, ultra-thin laptops, Everio video equipment, CeBlitz roundup, and things I never even knew existed or ever dreamed of wanting. The photograph to the right is courtesy of Engadget, and it is an image of the CeBlitz I mentioned. It is something I had never heard of before, but this technology is a dual-touch screen for laptops that allows you to have several monitors at once. Totally cool, huh?

    So, now it’s your turn. Check out the site and let me know what’s on YOUR wish list. Everyone has one, don’t they?

    Uncategorized