New USB Website

Chuck Zimmerman

United Soybean Board WebsiteThe United Soybean Board has a newly designed website which features the ability to do some customization of the content you see. It’s an example of what I call the “try to be everything to everybody” strategy since it’s got weather, news, markets, etc. I suppose that’s fine for some people but . . . maybe it’s just me but I like to visit specific sites/services that specialize in certain things like, well, weather, news and markets. I think organizations do this thinking it will keep visitors on their website longer or something. Does anybody have any data on whether or not the be-all portal concept works? How about just giving me simple access to the information I need about the programs the organization is doing and maybe letting me subscribe to it via RSS? Perhaps let me hear directly from the leadership about what’s going on? (blog, podcast, etc.?) The new site does look very nice and seems pretty easy to navigate but I didn’t take time to register and customize the content modules. Don’t have time.

Enhanced USB Home Page and “Beyond the Bean On-Air” Make Debuts

The United Soybean Board (USB) has added two new tools to communicate all things soybeans. On Dec. 1, an enhanced www.unitedsoybean.org launched, immediately becoming a destination for all farmers to find the resources they need to remain competitive. The new page, whose redesign was funded by the checkoff, gives users the power to choose from 17 unique sections of content and customize it to fit their daily operational needs. On Dec. 29, USB’s new television show, “Beyond the Bean On-Air,” hits the airwaves. Running Monday-Friday at 8:30 a.m. EST and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. EST on DirecTV Channel 225, “Beyond the Bean On-Air” will complement USB’s Beyond the Bean magazine. The first episode includes a tutorial on the enhanced www.unitedsoybean.org. Interview opportunities with Phil Bradshaw, USB communications committee chair and soybean farmer from Griggsville, Ill.

Internet, USB

BASF Makes Business Soar for Ag Aviators

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Headline has been a boon for the agricultural aviation business and the fungicide was in the spotlight during technical sessions on the first day of the NAAA convention in Las Vegas on Monday.

Jim Gaffney is market manager for BASF aerial application strategy and he presented some results for low volume Headline application. “A couple years ago, BASF introduced two gallons per acre, down from five gallons, and we’re now looking at going less than two gallons,” said Gaffney. “What this does is allow aerial applicators to cover more acres with the same amount of fuel in the same amount of time.”

Listen to an interview with Jim here:
basf-naaa-08-gaffney.mp3

You can also download his interview here: Jim Gaffney Interview (mp3)

NAAA Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2008 National Agricultural Aviators Association Convention
is sponsored by: BASF.

Audio, BASF, NAAA

NAAA Kickoff Breakfast Features Pilot’s Story

Cindy Zimmerman

The opening breakfast for the National Agricultural Aviation Association convention this morning featured a compelling story of survival, rescue and personal success by accomplished military Strike Eagle pilot Brian Udell. He is pictured here next to his wife, along with NAAA president Bob Bailey and executive director Andrew Moore.

With a story eerily similar to the F-18 crash today in San Diego, Udell told the audience how he survived the highest speed ejection from a U.S. fighter aircraft at nearly 800 MPH.

Here is just a small segment of his amazing story:
naaa-08-udell.mp3

NAAA Convention Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2008 National Agricultural Aviators Association Convention
is sponsored by: BASF.

Audio, BASF, NAAA

Testing WordPress App From iPhone

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m sitting in an ASABE Technical Session at the NAAA convention.

BASF, our sponsor, is making two of them this afternoon. Tomorrow I’ll be working with them in their trade show booth.

So, let’s see how this iPhone app works.

BASF, NAAA

NAAA Convention Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Gary Fellows Welcomes Attendees to NAAA ConventionThe National Agricultural Aviators Association Convention is officially underway after Dr. Gary Fellows, BASF, welcomed everyone at the kickoff breakfast. BASF is not only sponsoring our coverage of the meeting but is also a major sponsor once again of the convention. He told them that BASF is all about “keeping them in the air.”

You can hear Gary’s remarks here: basf-naaa-fellows-welcome.mp3

You can also download his remarks here: Dr. Gary Fellows Welcome Remarks (mp3)

Dr. Gary Fellows Welcomes Attendees to NAAA ConventionOf course I’ve already started a photo album for you too: NAAA Convention Photo Album

BASF continued its support of aerial applicators as a diamond-level sponsor of the National Agricultural Aviation Association’s (NAAA) annual conference, which kicked off today in Las Vegas, Nev.

BASF technical marketing manager Gary Fellows, Ph.D., led the conference’s kick-off breakfast by welcoming attendees and calling attention to the vital role the agricultural aviation industry plays in helping growers succeed.

“The aerial application business contributes significantly to growers’ ability to enhance Plant Health for their crops and maximize yield,” Fellows said. “The critical role it plays in the growing process impacts us all, not simply as business partners, but as people. They help growers produce the food and fibers we all need.” Read More

Audio, BASF, NAAA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Trimble announced it has acquired the assets of privately-held Rawson Control Systems based in Oelwein, Iowa. Rawson’s products work in conjunction with the Trimble FieldManager Display.
  • BASF announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Sorex Holdings Ltd. The transaction, which includes U.S.-based Whitmire Micro-Gen and U.K.-based Sorex Ltd., will give BASF an increased presence in the United States and Europe.
  • Dec. 15, 2008, will mark a special anniversary for the U.S. wheat industry and its global customers. On that day, 50 years ago, producers from Washington, Oregon and Idaho adopted articles of incorporation in Pendleton, Ore., to form Western Wheat Associates. Those organizations merged in 1980 to become U.S. Wheat Associates.
  • The Minnesota Agri-Growth Council is pleased to announce the addition of Tony Mondry as the association’s program manager. Mondry will assist in all activities of the Council, including policy development, membership recruitment and management, event planning and office management duties.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Multimedia Musings With DTN/The Progressive Farmer

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast-198 - DTN/The Progressive FarmerWhile I was in Chicago for the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundations Seminar I also got to stop in at the DTN/The Progressive Farmer 2008 Ag Summit. They’ve been a sponsor of AgWired and some of our collateral material like the ZimmNews and ZimmCast for a few months now. I found publisher, Adrian Blake, and we sat down for a discussion. I learned that this is their second Ag Summit and it has grown from 200 producers last year to 400 this year. The topic for the Summit this year is, “Brave New World, Your Map For Managing Ag Risk.” Adrian says that it is gratifying to meet with their subscribers on a personal level and that the event shows how they’ve not only become a multimedia company but are now incorporating live events into their information strategy.

    I pursued the multimedia aspect of how DTN has evolved since I’ve closely watched the evolution of the company and was even an employee for a short time. Adrian says that expanding their media options is important on two levels. For one thing it’s important to their advertisers to have the most relevant media options and it’s also important for their subscribers as they offer information options to help them solve problems and become more profitable.

    Adrian BlakeBesides DTN and The Progressive Farmer they’re also involved in new media and a project that Adrian is really excited about – The DTN Marketspace. He says, “It’s like eBay for corn.” As he puts it, this new project is for those who thrive on producing commodities and are open to new ways of doing business. He says they’re “the sort of people who have figured out that AgWired is a good place to get information.” I also love another remark he made about AgWired, “It’s Chuck’s world. We’re all just living in it.” I think that speaks to the sense of community that I’ve tried to create here. Thanks Adrian.

    When it comes to blending media outlets like DTN and a magazine like The Progressive Farmer, Adrian says it has gone seamlessly. In our interview he concludes by inviting people to provide feedback to him directly.

    You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 198 (13 min MP3)

    Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview with Adrian Blake - ZimmCast 198

    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, Media, ZimmCast

    The JackPlot!™ Background

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Jackplot JoshCindy wrote a great post on the JackPlot!™Vegas.com website that provides the whole background of the project. Since this is a great example of creative agrimarketing and integrating the use of new media I just thought I’d share it:

    The JackPlot!™ game is a pretty unique way of reaching out to farmers beyond traditional advertising and trade show exhibiting.

    One of the minds behind the development of the game was Josh Krenz, marketing manager with Winfield Solutions on the Croplan Genetics brand – who is also serving as one of the game show hosts here in Vegas.

    “The concepting of the game began in the fall of 2006,” Josh said. “The game itself was finally complete in February 2008.”

    Josh says they wanted the game to be educational and fun. “We actually did a survey here a couple weeks back of folks that had played the game or received it in the mail and 75 percent said that it was fun and educational, so we achieved our goal.”

    The game was sent to 25,000 growers nationwide who were close to one of the Answer Plot® events this year and 16 of them were randomly selected to become high rollers here in Vegas for the first-ever JackPlot!™ National Competition.

    Listen to an interview with Josh about the game: jackplot-josh.mp3

    Audio

    The Women of DTN/The Progressive Farmer

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Girls of DTN/The Progressive FarmerAfter today’s BI PRRS Foundations Seminar I went upstairs at the Marriott to the DTN/The Progressive Farmer 2008 Ag Summit. After all they’re our sponsor. So before I left to the airport I visited with a number of my DTN friends including Adrian Blake, Publisher, who will be the subject of tomorrow’s ZimmCast.

    Here are the friendly faces of the girls of DTN/The Progressive Farmer. Actually, professional women! According to Adrian they doubled the attendance at this year’s Summit. You can learn all about it tomorrow.

    I’ve also got a number of posts to do still from the BI event so look for more on PRRS too.

    Uncategorized

    Combination of Control Options Works Best on PRRS

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Dr. Dale PolsonThe whole focus of today’s BI Foundations Seminar is on area and regional control of the PRRS virus. One of our presenters did some research on just how well applying control techniques works on a wide area basis. He’s Dr. Dale Polson.

    He presented findings from a project that applied the principals of control to a large production system over a wide geographic area. I asked him what they found and he said, “We found that if you make mistakes you pay.” He says they also found that it takes a combination of control methods like closure, mass vaccination, linear pig flow and bio-security which he compares to a multi-legged stool. You need all the legs or you’ll fall over!

    You can listen to my interview with Dr. Polson here: bi-foundations-08-polson.mp3

    Boehringer Ingelheim Foundations Photo Album

    Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine