Driving Green This Holiday Season

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-196 - Driving Green With John DeereHappy Thanksgiving week to all of you. I know you’re hard at it so you can enjoy your holiday weekend. Cindy and I are doing the same.

In this week’s program I had to brag a little about our latest agriblogging project with John Deere. I think Robert, our web guy, has outdone himself with DriveGreenTractors.com. It is cool and going to get even cooler as we produce content over the coming months. A friend and I were talking over coffee today about how this is the future for companies in their communications/advertising efforts. The mobility of blogging and podcasting via computers and phones is where it’s at and that includes agriculture and the whole rural lifestyle market. Integrate those platforms with social networking (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and communicate directly and personally with your customers. John Deere gets it!

John Deere Booth at Trade TalkThe man who has been spearheading the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show is Eric Hodson, pictured second from right in this photo of their booth at NAFB’s Trade Talk. I spoke with Eric there and you’ll hear him describe why they’re sending a crew on the road to bring the latest utility tractors directly to customers via their dealer network.

The program this week ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. This one is called “Ax Chase Turkey” from the Nalts. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 196 (9 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview with Eric Hodson - ZimmCast 196

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

Audio, John Deere, Tractor, ZimmCast

Rural Lifestyle Marketing Opportunity

Chuck Zimmerman

This is the final installment of the video series created by Paulsen AgriBranding from the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference. I’d like to thank them for sponsoring the NAMA Blog and producing video for us to share.

NAMA’s Trends in Agriculture: Rural Lifestyle Marketing wrapped up with a panel discussion of marketers and retailers talking about the effect of the changing rural economy on the marketplace. The $32 billion rural lifestyle market is seen as a true growth opportunity. Tim Nix, Marketing Manager for Morton Buildings talked about how to meet the needs and expectations of the market.

NAMA, Video

Meet Carol Anderson, New NAMA President

Chuck Zimmerman

Congratulations to Carol Anderson, Mariposa Partners, our new NAMA President. The fine folks at Paulsen AgriBranding helped bring her to you personally.

2008 NAMA President Patty Travis passes the leadership gavel to incoming president Carol Anderson. The new president shared her thoughts about the challenges that lie ahead for NAMA and its membership.

NAMA, Video

Building Brand Loyal Customers

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a continuation of the video interviews produced by Paulsen AgriBranding at the NAMA Trends in Agriculture conference.

How do businesses make rural lifestylers loyal customers? Craig Elbert, the Marketing Strategy Manger for Hallmark Cards had some ideas for the NAMA Trends in Agriculture: Rural Lifestyle Marketing conference. He talked about when markets change from traditional ag customers to rural lifestyle customers new strategies are needed to build long-term loyalty.

NAMA, Video

Prosperity Ag Resources and Communications

Chuck Zimmerman

Prosperity Ag Resources and CommunicationsSarah Beth Aubrey has started a new blog.

I’m still wondering, “Is there anything to this whole “blogging” idea?


Please go to www.prosperityagresources.wordpress.com to see my new blog. I’ll be writing regularly on funding opportunities and ideas for rural development, ag business, on-farm energy efficiency and other issues as they come up. Check back regularly to see new topics and to read up in the archives for topics you might want to learn about. I’ll also post funding announcements from agencies as I receive them.

To those of you in the industry-I’ll also be adding guest columns and audio podcasts, so if you’d like to write something that can be posted as an article or be interviewed on you topic of interest for an audio post, please e-mail or call.

Feel free to send this link on to your networks. Thanks for your support.

Sarah Aubrey

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

chelsea

    Zimfo Bytes

  • California’s strawberry growers, shippers and processors joined forces to raise more than $45,000 to support the California Strawberry Growers’ Scholarship Fund at two golf tournaments held recently in Watsonville and Orange County.
  • Penton Media’s Corn & Soybean Digest™ today announced the winners of its 2008 MarketMaxx competition, an online grain-marketing contest designed to help growers sharpen their marketing skills. MarketMaxx is a free, Web-based marketing simulation that allows corn and soybean growers to gain experience using marketing tools in a game environment. The 2008 MarketMaxx contest was sponsored by AGCO Gleaner, AGCO Tractors, Syngenta Crop Protection, Leica Geosystems and Dickey-john.
  • Brownfield Ag News congratulates Indiana Farm Director Dave Russell on receiving 3rd place in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) 2008 Newscast Award.
  • Rob Robertson of Roca has been named the new chief administrator of Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation. Robertson will succeed Doug Gibson, chief administrator since 1981, who will retire in April 2009. Robertson is currently vice president for governmental relations for Farm Bureau and secretary of Farm Bureau’s political action committee. In addition to heading the governmental relations department, he has focused on lobbying national issues affecting agriculture. He will begin the transition to his new responsibilities on Jan. 2.
Zimfo Bytes

Drive Green Utility Tractor Show Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Drive Green TruckIt may be late on Friday but I did mention earlier this week that we’d have a big announcement today. It’s the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show blog, which is now official and public (final tweaks being made as speak).

Yes, it’s a ZimmComm project, working closely with the folks at BCS Communications and the public relations staff at John Deere. I’ll be the Drive Green Guy at many stops along the Show route starting the first week in December at the kickoff event in Middleburg, FL.

In case you’re wondering just what this is all about, let me bring you up to date. To start with, this is the truck that’s going to be pulling in to John Deere Dealers, starting in the Southeast. We’ve already got 45 locations scheduled in the coming months. You’ll always be able to find the upcoming locations here or on the John Deere Drive Green page. This custom tractor transporter will hold a variety of new John Deere utility tractors for display and ride-and-drives at each stop. You can see pictures of many of them in this online photo album.

To help you understand what the show is all about I spoke with Eric Hodson, John Deere Senior Writer, Public Relations. We were at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. Eric says the company wants people to know “that there’s a John Deere tractor for you at a price you can afford.” To prove it, he says, they’re taking the tractors on the road so people have a chance to see them and drive them for themselves.

You can listen to my interview with Eric here: drive-green-hodson-1.mp3

A program designed to give rural property owners, agricultural producers and other interested consumers a chance to operate and ask questions about the latest models of utility and compact utility tractors is being launched by John Deere. The company-sponsored Drive Green Program includes special equipment displays and ride-and-drive events at more than 45 currently scheduled locations starting in the Southeast.Read More

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere, Tractor

Social Networking in Minnesota

Chuck Zimmerman

North Central NAMA Mtg.Well we had a very successful North Central Chapter NAMA meeting here in Minneapolis and I’m now connected with more of my NAMA peeps. That’s what I like about NAMA the most – connecting with other people. Pictured here is chapter president, Josh Krenz, Land O’Lakes, getting us started.

I interviewed Josh before we got started. I am very impressed with how the chapter has invited in students for this session and is giving them time on the program, an opportunity to circulate resumes and interact socially with us professionals. You can listen to my interview with Josh here: nama-krenz.mp3

We started out our meeting tonight with a discussion, including live examples, of online social networking. I was impressed with how many are using LinkedIn and Facebook. However, when it came to Twitter, the number dropped significantly. Keep in mind that you can use Twitter to update your blog and Facebook profile!

North Central NAMA Mtg. - Speed NetworkingAfter we worked through the online version we moved to a face to face speed networking session.

I led a session like this at NAMA Boot Camp earlier this year. Basically, everyone sits around tables and when I say “go” they introduce themselves to the person across the table and get to know each other. Then after a couple minutes one side of the table rotates to the next one. At the end of the session everyone has met at least a few new people.

Here’s what it sounds like: nama-speed-networking.mp3

North Central NAMA Mtg. - Univ. of MN studentsI mentioned students above. Here’s me with the students attending from the University of Minnesota.

I highly encourage all NAMA chapters to involve students in their meetings. It will seriously pay dividends for everyone involved.

So that’s what’s going on in the “great white north” (8 degrees tonight!). I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for networking.

Audio, NAMA

North Central NAMA Setup

Chuck Zimmerman

North Central NAMA Mtg. SetupHello from Minneapolis and the North Central NAMA Chapter meeting. We’re in the cafeteria/meeting room at Colle+McVoy.

This is actually setup time. The tables being set up here are for our speed networking session which will follow my presentation on social networking. We’re going to get to know each other very well by the end of the evening.

I think we’ve got at least 40 people reserved so far. That’s great for a chapter meeting. As I understand it we’ll have students here too for the first time so that’s exciting too.

I’ll update you with more later on, but for now we’re going to finish getting ready.

NAMA

Mobile NRCS Offices

Chuck Zimmerman

California Resource DistrictHigh speed mobile internet access is changing the way that NRCS offices look and work. Now they’re coming to farmers so farmers don’t have to come to them!

For more than 70 years, NRCS has delivered conservation assistance to farmers, ranchers and other landowners. Now they are taking “conservation delivery” to a whole new level using kiosks in business locations and mobile field offices that can drive the full range of technical services right up to a customer’s farm or ranch.

The kiosk and a fully equipped mobile office are on display this week at the annual conference of California’s Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) and Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils at the Riverside Convention Center. This conference is the first time the two conservation partners have held a joint annual conference, allowing the groups to share resources and opportunities, facilitating future collaborations.

“It’s very appropriate that we unveil these potential new services at this historic conference with our close partners,” said Ed Burton, State Conservationist for NRCS in California. “The future is now and new technology and new partnerships are what is going to position conservation to grapple with modern challenges.”

The Mobile Field Office is a pilot project that equips a truck with broadband network connections and remote access to NRCS conservation data and planning systems. With the Mobile Field Office, NRCS conservation planners can print information on soils, practices and technical specifications from field locations. The approach allows clients to take less time out of their busy schedules for office visits or additional meetings to get the information they need.

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