Ditchin’ South Dakota

Amanda Nolz

Classes are in full swing, homework is piling up, I’m in my senior semester at SDSU, the snow is getting deep and I’m ditching school to head to sunny Arizona for the Cattle Industry’s Annual Trade Show and Convention. I’ll be catching up with Chuck in Phoenix as we gather with ranchers, industry professionals and friends for some good conversations and fellowship.

cisc-06-37This will be my third time attending this convention, and without a doubt, it is one of my favorites. It’s pretty amazing that Chuck has captured my travels several times over the last three years. I enjoyed a little blast from the past by listening to this interview, “Passionate About Beef,” and reading this blog post, “Beef Ambassador Blogs.” It’s a little embarrasing to share these blasts from the past, but everyone needs a good chuckle now and again. This time, it’s just on my behalf!

Anyway, I’m looking forward to taking part in Cattlemen’s College, the Cattle-Fax Outlook Seminar, beef industry issues forums, Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update sessions, a media reception and NCBA’s Young Producers Council meetings. Yes, it is going to be a busy week, but I’m excited for it. It’s time to get back on the road again!

Beef

Secretary Vilsack First Teleconference

Chuck Zimmerman

VilsackOur new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, just held his first teleconference and I’ve got it recorded for you. He makes a short opening statement then takes Q&A from select media who could ask questions (I was not one of them). I was interested in things like biofuels and rural development of broadband internet access. Both are mentioned several times.

He pointed repeatedly to the 2008 Farm Bill as the first place to look for administration support of agriculture and whatever new stimulus plan actually happens second. Of course everyone wants to know who’s going to get what money and from where. I’m just wondering where they’re going to get all the money to pay for it.

You can listen to Sec. Vilsack’s press conference here: vilsack-first-conference.mp3

You can also download it here: Secretary Vilsack Press Conference (mp3)

Post Update: I know you’ll be hearing all the pundits (I hate that word) pick this session apart so it’ll be interesting to see all the spin. Please feel free to download and use this audio in your podcasts or broadcasts if you would like. I’ve already been asked. You are always welcome to download and use audio from AgWired. A little credit is always nice too.

I will pick out one sound bite for you which you can find about 18 minutes in to the session. This is one where Sec. Vilsack talks about the importance of good high speed internet access in our rural communities. I think you’ll get a sense of how this will continue to be a priority in DC.

You can listen to that soundbite here: vilsack-broadband.mp3

Audio, USDA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) recently achieved the pinnacles of charity-related standards set by both the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the IRS. The Foundation has been awarded the BBB Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal demonstrating its commitment to accountability and ethical practices.
  • The 2009 Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board director elections are quickly approaching. Producers who would like to get involved should click here to see if their district is up for election and to learn more about director roles and the election process.
  • Cibus LLC, has named LaDon Johnson as its chief financial officer and also as president of the newly-launched Cibus International, headquartered in the Netherlands.
  • BASF and Monsanto Company announced a new joint-licensing agreement to accelerate the development of the next-generation of dicamba-based weed control chemistry products.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Video Marketing

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Does your company need justification for creating video for online use? Here’s some interesting information on today’s eMarketer.com.

    Every retailer knows the importance of moving product, but online the idea may be taking on a whole new meaning. According to comScore, the number of online shoppers who watched retail videos grew 40% in a single year.

    It is not surprising that Internet Retailer found that adding video topped online retailers’ to-do lists.

    “Once retailers build up the video content on their sites, they will focus on turning their video assets into customer acquisition tools by pushing video to other sites, such as affiliates, social networks and video-sharing destinations,” says Mr. Grau. “Retailers will also place community elements around their videos to make it easy for consumers to upload them to social networks, blogs, bookmarking services or e-mails.”

    Jeffrey Grau, is eMarketer senior analyst.

    So what are your plans for video this year? You’ll notice that Jeff mentions affiliates, social networks and video-sharing destinations. Can you say YouTube? Why not start there and then post to your website? Just an idea.

    Internet

    Monster Machine For The New Media Warrior

    Chuck Zimmerman

    17 Inch Macbook ProIf you’re in the market for a new notebook computer and if you can afford it then Apple has the answer coming out soon. You can pre-order them now.

    This is the 17″ Macbook Pro. It’s basically made for the road warrior, agriblogging, farm podcasting, new media mogul of today. There are a growing number of us and I applaud Apple for developing a computer just for us.

    So, why this computer?

    1. It’s a Mac. That’s probably enough reason but that means things like no anti-virus software to hassle with endlessly for one thing.
    2. How about up to 8 hours of battery life? Now that’s cool.
    3. Faster graphics card. In fact, you get two and can choose which one you want to use.
    4. Up to 8 GB of RAM!

    There’s more but those are some highlights. Mine will be ordered with full max specs. How about yours?

    Equipment

    Heading to the Poultry Expo

    Cindy Zimmerman

    International Poultry Expo 09I am heading out early for the International Poultry Expo in Atlanta this week – trying to get a jump on the snow storm heading our way today.

    While the expo proper actually starts on Wednesday, the International Poultry Scientific Forum, Pet Food Regulatory & technical Conference, and Animal Agriculture Environmental Sustainability Summit will be held tomorrow so that’s when our coverage will begin. Dr. Tara York of our sponsor Novus International will be speaking at a keynote luncheon Tuesday about SANTOQUIN, Selenium and Vitamin E.

    AgWired coverage of International Poultry Expo is sponsored by:
    Novus

    Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

    Livestock Week

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Catle Industry ConventionWe’ve got a week full of conventions coming up on AgWired. I’ll be the Beef Board Blogger once again at the Cattle Industry Convention in Phoenix while Cindy is attending the International Poultry Expo. It’s a livestock kind of week.

    Cindy gets on location first so you can expect to see her posts before mine. She’ll be in Atlanta and I’m just guessing that it’s going to be warmer where I’ll be. At least I hope for some warm weather.

    Ag Groups

    Internet Access Necessary Part of Today’s Events

    Chuck Zimmerman

    StollerUSA CyberCoffeeShopI just recently spoke with the Ft. Worth Stock Show and found out that they don’t have internet access availability options for the media. However, they are very aware of the growing need for this and I’m betting it will become available next year. I’m just hoping for good AT&T coverage when I’m there week after next.

    But it’s not just the media that venues and conferences should be thinking of. It’s the participants. Even cattlemen need internet access. They can use it in their booths, stalls, on their phones and it can be very helpful in keeping them connected and in running their farm.

    At last week’s StollerUSA U.S. Ag Associates Conference they started an experiment in the use of a blog to help provide information and interaction with participants. They also made sure there was access as you can see from this photo they supplied me with.

    I think all meeting planners should make internet access a standard item on the list.

    Post Update: There is internet access on the site as was just pointed out to me but not available everywhere. I knew this but was told it was not available to the media.

    Internet

    Ag Media Summit/IFAJ Congress 2009 Registration

    Chuck Zimmerman

    IFAJ/AMSRegistration is open for the IFAJ Congress 2009. This is a “must-attend” event for anyone in agricultural communications. I don’t care if you’re a farm broadcaster, podcaster, editor, publisher, blogger or agriblogger. You need to be there.

    It’s not just that there will be good professional development sessions although that’s reason enough. It’s also because this is your chance to interact with some great people from around the world who will be attending. Many of them will be coming to the United States for the first time. Let’s give them a fantastic welcome.

    It’s the first time that the IFAJ Congress has been combined with an event like the Agricultural Media Summit and I think it’s going to go down as the best ever. There are a lot of people working to make it so. Maybe our new administration in DC will find a way to participate.

    So get the dates on your calendar and get your registration in as soon as you can! You can keep up on what’s being planned either on the AMS website or at IFAJ2009.com.

    Ag Media Summit, IFAJ

    Blogging The Chicago Farmers Farmland Investment Fair

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Chicago FarmersI never have been able to work out a deal to blog the Chicago Farmers Farmland Investment Fair but I guess the idea got through to someone. Thanks to Rich Schell for the heads up.

    Chicago Farmers Offering Seminar on Using Social Media Marketing to Grow Your Business at Farmland Investment Fair!

    Jeff Korhan, green industry speaker, video blogger, Internet marketer, and the founder of True Nature will speak on Using Social Media Marketing to Grow Your Business at The Chicago Farmers Farmland Investment on Saturday February 7, 2009 in Joliet, Illinois

    Jeff Martin, Chairman of the Event, commented today, “Jeff Korhan is one of the most exciting speakers around on how social media can be used to promote your business in the tough economy we are currently weathering.” Martin noted further that social media is so important for marketing efforts today that we have added a YouTube video on the Farmland Fair this year and we’re going to blog the fair as well.

    Ag Groups