ASFMRA Members Use New Communications Technologies

Chuck Zimmerman

ASFMRAThe American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers recently surveyed its members and asked them some communications technology questions. I provided some ideas for the questions and they’ve shared the results with me. So here’s some items you might find interesting (I rounded out the #’s).

To start with, of the respondents, almost 70% are over 50 years old and an even higher percent are male. 97% say they have high speed internet access. 24% have visited Facebook. 24% have or visit blogs. 18% download podcasts. 9% use or visit LinkedIn. 55% use or visit YouTube. 5% subscribe to an RSS feed.

I find the RSS feed response interesting. The questions were very simple and perhaps there are some respondents who don’t even know they’re using RSS. But it’s one of the technologies I get asked about very often or find that people don’t understand very well.

Here are some of the additional comments that were posted:

My employer blocks You Tube, Facebook, and many blogging sites.

Most of these items are blocked by company servers

I believe in and use technology. Other than the internet, how do the above relate to the appraisal industry ?

We have an IT dept. that handles all this and sets up limitations for staff.

I read financial and economic blogs every day.

no time for a lot of this.

What is an RSS???

Pod casts, maybe very occasionaly. You tube, but rare, RSS?

Are you going to tell us what RSS is?

Yahoo search engine regularly.

Business operates in a corporate banking environement, many of these features are blocked or prohibited due to security and privacy concerns.

Too out of it to know what RSS is?

DO NOT LIKE LINKED IN OR UTUBE

Ag Groups

International Green Week Trade Show Opens

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ Berlin MeetingJanet Kanters has contributed another story from Green Week in Berlin. This one is on the huge food trade show. I’ve wandered around in it before and it really is a place where you can eat your way around the world in one location. The photo is courtesy of Janet too.

An astounding 1,600 exhibitors from 56 countries are presenting a unique trade fair and some fascinating shows dealing with every aspect of agriculture, the food industry and horticulture during International Green Week in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 16-25, 2009.

The world’s largest consumer show consists of a display area covering 115,000 square metres.

With 6,000 square metres, Russia is again staging the largest display by any foreign country on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. This impressive presentation by the many regions of a country stretching from St. Petersburg to the far reaches of Siberia is given added importance by the first visit to the Green Week by the Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin.

The Green Week is expected to attract a total attendance of more than 400,000, including some 100,000 trade visitors.

During the10-day trade show, industry experts and professionals will be able to attend over 300 conferences, meetings and seminars. Some 150 leading national and international politicians are attending, along with their delegations.

In addition, approximately 5,000 members of the print, visual and sound media from 75 countries, including representatives of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists – which has 40 associate member countries – will be reporting on the events in Berlin.

This year marks the 83rd annual event.

Food, International

The Des Moines Ad Mavericks

Chuck Zimmerman

Lessing-Flynn Ad MavericksI love the name of Lessing-Flynn’s new blog – Ad Mavericks. A name does not a blog make, but it’s a good start.

Welcome to Ad Mavericks, Lessing-Flynn’s blog.

We are members of a Des Moines advertising agency that has been in business for over 100 years and we’re blogging because we have something to say. We think our collective experience will provide an interesting point of view on all things marketing. We’ll hit on everything from agricultural marketing to interactive campaigns to things we like and things we don’t.

We’ll blog about what we know, what we think, and how it impacts your world. Whether you’re a marketer, a farmer, or some kid who found us using Google Image Search, we’re happy you’re here.

So Tom, Jess and Josh, we’ll be watching.

Agencies

Schillinger Seeds Technology Day

Chuck Zimmerman

Schillinger Seeds CrewI couldn’t attend the Schillinger Seed Technology Day last week but thanks to Jess Held, Lessing-Flynn, I did get a photo.

The purpose of the event, held in Queenstown, MD, was to provide a glimpse of:

At a glimpse:
• Behind the Schillinger Story
• Revolutionizing the soybean industry
• Launch of soybean industry firsts
• Meet with several international and domestic end users of non-GMO Soybeans.
• An “in-the-lab” look at high-tech Trait Marker Technology

Agribusiness, Seed

Global Food Security Theme of International Green Week

Chuck Zimmerman

International Green WeekOur Green Week eyes and ears have reported in again today from Berlin. Here’s a story on what’s happening from Janet Kanters:

During International Green Week (IGW) in Berlin, ministers of agriculture and leading representatives of agriculture and the food industry from all over the world will be discussing global solutions.

German industry is using the Green Week as a platform where global solutions for safeguarding world food supplies can be discussed with more than 30 ministers of agriculture and over 1,000 experts from agriculture and the food industry.

The 1st Berlin Summit of Agriculture Ministers, the 2nd International Conference of Agriculture Ministers and the International Forum for Food and Agriculture (IFAE), all taking place on January 17, are the most important conferences in the history of the Green Week.

IFAJ Berlin Meeting“Never before have the leading representatives of every stage in the value-added chain of agri-business been able to engage in such high-level discussions and on such a global scale with agricultural policymakers on issues of vital importance to the future of humankind,” says Dr. Christian Göke, chief operating officer of Messe Berlin GmbH, organizer of IGW Berlin 2009.

The Federation of German Food and Drink Industries, the German Farmers’ Union, the German Agricultural, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations are jointly staging the first IFAE on the subject of ‘World food situation 2020 – innovative solutions in the face of limited resources’.

Over 1,000 experts from agriculture and the food industry from all over the world will be meeting here in order to present new approaches and models, to introduce more sustainability to the debate and to discuss recommended courses of action.

In addition to the plenary session dealing with the ‘World Food Situation 2020’, there will also be three panels, which will investigate what strategies can be adopted by agriculture and the food industry to cope with climate change, as well as asking why agriculture, which has been neglected for so long, is now seen as the key to global development processes, and also why safeguarding livestock health makes a decisive contribution to providing humankind with healthy food.

The photo is also courtesy of Janet.

IFAJ, International

NCBA Forms Young Producers’ Council

Chuck Zimmerman

NCBA Young Producer's CouncilThe NCBA is forming a Young Producers’ Council. So I’m helping spread the word. They’ll be meeting in Phoenix at the convention coming up later this month.

This is YOUR opportunity to make a difference by joining and helping to spread the word about the newly created NCBA Young Producers’ Council (YPC). YPC was created to encourage more involvement from younger members in the industry to help shape the future of the nation’s most respected association representing America’s cattle producers. If you are between the ages of 18 and 35 join YPC today for free as part of your NCBA membership. If you are not 18-35 years old, please forward this e-mail to someone who is a potential candidate. Help create something that is groundbreaking, dynamic and worthwhile where YOU can make a difference.

YPC Business Meeting
Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 12:30pm-3:00pm

YPC Kickoff Celebration*
Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 8:00pm-10:00pm

For more information visit www.beefusa.org/ypc or call 1-866-BEEF-USA (233-3872).

Ag Groups, Livestock

Adults Networking Online Socially

Chuck Zimmerman

PEW InternetThere’s an interesting new report out from the PEW folks. This time on a comparison of young and old users of social networking sites. The bold sections are added by me.

The share of adult internet users who have a profile on an online social network site has more than quadrupled in the past four years — from 8% in 2005 to 35% now, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project’s December 2008 tracking survey.

While media coverage and policy attention focus heavily on how children and young adults use social network sites, adults still make up the bulk of the users of these websites. Adults make up a larger portion of the US population than teens, which is why the 35% number represents a larger number of users than the 65% of online teens who also use online social networks.

You should read the whole thing to get the complete perspective. While I’m at it I had to post this excerpt from a recent post on “The View From The Tractor.”

I have spent an inordinate amount of time alone. I farm around 4000 acres by myself, so I spend a lot of time alone. Most of that time is with an ipod or talk radio sending me good vibrations. But now, with a blackberry, facebook, twitter, blogs, and a computer, the world has shrunk. Frankly, I love it. I test as an introvert, but I live as an extrovert. I know, it doesn’t make sense.

Internet

Country Lifestyle Connection

Chuck Zimmerman

Country Living AssociationIf you’re trying to reach the rural lifestyle market, the Country Living Association has your Country Connection.

Country Living Association (CLA) now offers a low-cost way for companies and organizations to assist local dealers and representatives in order to reach the rural lifestyle audience. Research continues to show that members of this audience want specific, local information, and if local representatives can provide this information they will remain in the “inner circle” of that particular customer’s decision making process.

CLA will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, 2:00 p.m. CST to demonstrate the new “Country Connections” program. Contact Courtney Yuskis at 636-449-5088 or yuskis@drakeco.com to reserve a spot. Space is limited to the first 10 organizations to respond.

“Country Connections” is affordable and effective. The program combines monthly e-mails and direct mail pieces to help local dealers and representatives promote events, special offers and promotions, pricing incentives and more to Country Living Association members in their area.

Uncategorized

IFAJ Meets In Berlin

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ Berlin MeetingThanks to on-the-scene-reporter Greg Lamp, Corn & Soybean Digest, I’ve got some information to share from Green Week and the IFAJ meeting taking place in Berlin. Here’s Greg’s report, along with photos. This one is of Mariann Fisher Boel (EU Commission of Agriculture), Michael Mann (seated) and Mike Wilson, Farm Futures.

Nearly 1,000 journalists began their reporting today at Messe Berlin, billed as one of the largest consumer food shows in the world. It is also part of what the Germans call Green Week.

As part of that event, the International Federation of Ag Journalists (IFAJ) assembled their executive committee to hammer out objectives for the coming year.

Fortunately, the EU Commissioner of Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, was able to meet with the IFAJ group for a special Q&A session. Although many of the questions revolved around a change in a European dairy policy, she did comment on biotechnology issues.

IFAJ Berlin MeetingWhen asked about the zero tolerance rules for genetically modified (GM) crops, she said she has “launched a discussion to have an adventitious presence,” or minimum acceptable threshold level. Right now, she says, “Zero tolerance means zero, not even .0001%. We don’t want GM food causing damage to humans, but GM is here and here to stay. We can’t do without them.”

The dilemma, however, according to Ilse Aigner, German Minister of Agriculture, is that “Consumers don’t want biotech in their foods, but we also don’t want our farmers to lose out on the technology.”

Post Update: Janet Kanters has provided an update too, via her Facebook page and with permission to post here:

Greetings from the IFAJ executive committee to IFAJ members.

We are currently meeting in Berlin, during International Green Week. For those of you not familiar with this event, the International Green Week (IGW) is a one-of-a-kind international exhibition for the food, agricultural and horticultural industries. Established in 1926, it invites producers from all over the world to test-market food and luxury items and establish a brand image. Exhibitors often organize around national, regional or product themes. Presentations feature fresh produce, fish, meats and dairy products. These combine with a vast selection of international wine, beer and spirits specialties, to satisfy every culinary palate. Right in line with consumer trends, the IGW also includes direct agricultural sales and the BIO MARKT organic products section. The IGW also features commercial and non-commercial agricultural, forestry, and landscaping exhibits.

The IFAJ executive committee has a full schedule while here, meeting in the various sub-committees, providing feedback and ideas for the ongoing IFAJ website development, and connecting with journalists from around the globe.

IFAJ

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The 28th National Beef Cook-Off will come to California in late September. Home cooks nationwide, and local professional restaurant chefs working in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento metropolitan area counties are encouraged to enter their original, newly developed best beef recipes by March 31, 2009.
  • Neogen Corporation has received approval from the FDA and National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments for its quick and easy BetaStar US test for dairy antibiotics in milk.
  • FCStone Group, Inc. announced that it has acquired Elders Risk Management Pty Ltd.
  • Visit Bvents.com, a new business events directory that lists almost 50,000 conferences, trade shows and conventions – worldwide.
  • AutoFarm is introducing a new electro-mechanical GPS assisted steering system. The AutoFarm OnTrac2 will debut at World Ag Expo, National Farm Machinery Show and the Canadian Int’l Farm Show.
    Zimfo Bytes