Aerial Precision Ag

Chuck Zimmerman

Indiana Unmanned Aircraft Systems PlaneWhen I visited the Indiana Unmanned Aircraft Systems website for a post I did today on Precision Pays I was pleased to see that they’re using WordPress.com! The story though is that they just had a successful test flight. This is a picture of one of their units.

Indiana Unmanned Aircraft Systems (IUAS), a Muncie, Indiana based aerospace company and manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems, announced the first successful test flight of its Im VII Air Vehicle Two (Im VII AV-2) took place on Saturday, November 8.

Im VII AV-2 represents over six years of research and development into small flying wing aircraft that do not require an onboard flight computer to remain stable in the air. The company is the only designer and manufacturer of all-wing aircraft developed specifically for precision agriculture imaging applications. “Our all-wing platforms are world leaders in payload lifting and flight endurance capability as compared to similar-size aircraft of conventional designs,” says Jeff Imel designer of the Im VII and company founder.

The aircraft is integrated to hyper-spectral cameras for use in precision agriculture image capture and analysis. The images are used by growers to determine the health of their crops, insect infestation, storm damage assessment and nitrogen run-off analysis. IUAS will be working with universities, agriculture business, and farmers across the state of Indiana.

Precision Agriculture

EPIC Joins Growth Energy

Chuck Zimmerman

Growth EnergyThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (long time ZimmComm client) announced today that it is going to be joining Growth Energy. Actually the board is recommending the transition to its membership but I think it’s safe to say that the plan will be approved. Here’s an excerpt from a statement by EPIC Executive Director, Toni Nuernberg.

I am proud to announce that the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) Board of Directors will be recommending a transition plan to EPIC’s membership to join Growth Energy, a newly formed organization dedicated to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. The mission of EPIC’s formation— growing ethanol awareness through public relations, marketing and promotions — will continue as a core platform of Growth Energy’s initiatives.

During the next few months, EPIC’s programs and staff will be transitioning into Growth Energy. We are excited to be part of this new organization with a broad vision for not only the success of America’s agriculture and biofuels industry, but will also work to ensure that on a worldwide basis, biofuels are developed in a sustainable manner.

We look forward to working with Growth Energy and wish the best for all of our EPIC friends!

Ag Groups, Energy, Ethanol

Podcasting In The News

Chuck Zimmerman

Thanks to the ever vigilant Evan Slack for the tip to this story in the Rocky Mountain News. It’s worth a full read if you have time. This is especially good for those of you wondering if you should be podcasting. Here’s a few excerpts I liked.

“Podcasting isn’t brand-new, but it’s becoming much more important,” said Leonard Sahling, a research economist who heads ProLogis’ global research department. “We’re always looking for new ways of disseminating our research. Written research is becoming less and less important, and people who want to get information quickly prefer to get it through a podcast.”

According to a report issued in August by the Pew Research Center, 19 percent of all Internet users say they have downloaded a podcast to listen to or view later – an increase of 50 percent since 2006. Pew’s research indicates 34 percent of American adults and 43 percent of Internet users own an iPod or an MP3 player.

“Businesspeople are inundated with printed information,” Sahling said. “What we believe is that many people are willing to download a podcast, which they can watch and listen to at their convenience on a computer or an iPod or a telephone.”

“Research shows that 85 percent of business-to-business buyers are turning to search engines,” Mann said. “It’s very important for us to be present there.”

Podcasts

A YouTube Justification

Chuck Zimmerman

eMarketer Online Video GraphicTake a look at this graphic from eMarketer today. Where would you like to have your video? For those of you wondering why it doesn’t list YouTube, remember that Google owns it.

The networks’ online destinations are a popular place to view video, but Google’s YouTube is still the 800-pound gorilla in the video viewing space.

Google, including YouTube, has a 55.4% share of video viewing visits to online video site properties among US Internet users, according to September 2008 figures from Compete.

All four networks made it into the top 10, but market share for each is dwarfed by YouTube. NBC, in third place, garners a mere 3.9% of visits, but this marks the first time NBC has been in the top five. Fox Interactive Media also has a 3.9% share. ABC commands 2.8% of visits to online video sites, and CBS Interactive accounted for just 2%.

Now you know why I YouTube. Shouldn’t you? Or are you still into “controlling the visitor experience?”

Uncategorized

PearCasts Are Juicier Than Podcasts

Chuck Zimmerman

PearCastsWhile looking at PearPanache.com I noticed the PearCasts. They’re “like a podcast, only juicier.” Short video clips. Wish I could subscribe to them!

Anyway, PearPanache.com just announced their December Chef of the Month.

From an angular glass wing of Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center, Executive Chef Asher Miller of 20.21 Restaurant & Bar by Wolfgang Puck creates Asian-influenced culinary works of art sought by out-of-towners and Minnesotans alike. This December, Miller’s talents will be recognized in Pear Bureau Northwest’s annual Pear Panache program, which honors fine dining chefs with the most “flair with the pear.”

“Like art, food should be approachable,” notes Miller, a sentiment echoed by the vibrant art community that envelops his culinary enclave.

Miller, who entered his original recipe for Pear Crème Brulée, was selected as the December 2008 Pear Panache “Chef of the Month,” and will be featured throughout the month at www.PearPanache.com. Miller joins a select list of accomplished chefs, including David Anderson of Vindalho, Portland, Ore., Ethan Stowell of Seattle’s Union, Tavolàta and How to Cook a Wolf restaurants, and Jeff Rollins of Finn and Porter, Austin, who were honored in September, October and November, respectively.

Ag Groups, Podcasts

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Archer Daniels Midland Company and Grupo Cabrera announced an agreement to form a joint venture to produce ethanol from sugarcane. The partnership will bring together ADM’s expertise in ethanol production, logistics and marketing with Cabrera’s extensive knowledge of sugarcane agriculture and production.
  • Vermeer Corporation introduces a new wagon-style cob collection system, the CCX770 Cob Harvester, designed to tow immediately behind select corn harvesting combines to collect and unload cobs simultaneously.
  • Proper management of mineral consumption is essential to optimize animal performance and economics. Rumensin is available for stocker cattle in complete feeds, supplements, blocks or free-choice mineral. And, supplementing your cattle with Rumensin delivers 20 pounds or more per head of additional selling weight during a 100-day grazing period.
  • Osborn & Barr (O&B), has acquired a significant book of business from local advertising shop Drive Agency. In addition, O&B hired five Drive employees to join them in their headquarters in downtown St. Louis.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NAMA Trends in Agriculture Opening Session Available

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAMA Trends in Agriculture PodcastYou can listen to Franck Schuurmans, NAMA opening session speaker at their Trends in Agriculture conference, thanks to Truffle Media Networks.

    You can use this link to listen.

    He was my first interview at the event.

    More audio recordings from the event are expected to be ready by Dec. 1.

    Audio, NAMA

    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