AgRootsTV

Chuck Zimmerman

AgRootsTVI had a chance to look at Alltech’s AgRootsTV this morning and thought I’d make a few comments. I’m not really into doing full reviews here though unless you think I should. I’d like your feedback on that. Every time I do so I find that someone is not happy with me no matter what I say.

On to AgRootsTV. To start with, I think this is a great idea and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more companies do something like this. I think the company has supplied some Flip cameras to field staff and they’re shooting video clips which are used for this project. If not, please correct me. This is a great concept though. Who better to capture a great testimonial or statement than the person who’s face to face with the customer? And what better time than right then? The quality of the video is just fine for this purpose. I don’t see any need for extensive editing to make it look like a “slick corporate video.” It’s much more real this way. Here’s the introduction video.

I wish they were posting these so I could subscribe to them and embed them on my web page though. They provide a link, but to know when new ones come out I have to subscribe to another email and I’m betting most people won’t. They’re also only available on their web page. However, they do have a YouTube account. But it doesn’t have any of the 15 videos you can find on the company site except the introductory video seen above. Maybe more will be added? I hope so because they’ve already got subscribers in YouTube!

Farmers work tirelessly to feed our world and they are doing so with the good of the environment and well-being of their animals in mind.

AgRootsTV aims to inform consumers about the sustainable environment that is the source of our food. Through these videos, farmers from all over North America give you a glimpse into their farms, showing you responsible farming practices. Join us in sharing these stories focused on proper care of the animal, environmental stewardship and responsibility towards the consumer.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Seven former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture provided perspectives on today’s agriculture and offered advice to the new Obama Administration during the 90-minute “Conversation With the Secretaries” as part of the Food and Agricultural Policy Summit. C-SPAN coverage can be viewed here.
  • Alltech is proud to announce AgRootsTV, an online initiative showcasing farmers operating with a responsibility to sustainable farming practices. The program aims to educate consumers on the sustainable environment from which their food is produced, bringing the truth about farming to the public through farmers’ testimonials.
  • Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition announces several user-friendly upgrades to the company’s Web site, including: distributor map, webinar uploads, audio file uploads and search capabilities.
  • Asoyia has named Emily Rogers as the company’s Customer Service & Logistics Manager, in charge of managing orders, discounts and bill backs, forecasting the oil side of the business as well as working directly with customers and customer accounts and product processes and packaging logistics.
    Zimfo Bytes

    BlogWorld Expo

    Chuck Zimmerman

    This just makes too much sense. BlogWorld and the New Media Expo have announced that they’re merging to create one big event in 2009. If you’re a communications professional of any type then I would love to see you there. Let’s show them how involved ag communicators are in the new media world!

    BlogWorld and New Media Expo

    BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media. Designed to give participants the strategies, tools and technologies they need to leverage new media communication in business, editorial and entertainment environments, the conference features dozens of seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and Internet-savvy business. BlogWorld & New Media Expo will place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, October 15-17, 2009. More information on BlogWorld & New Media Expo can be found at www.blogworldexpo.com.

    Uncategorized

    NAAA Trade Show Walk Through

    Chuck Zimmerman

    My work at my first ever National Agricultural Aviation Association convention is now completed although I’ll be featuring an interview with Andrew Moore, Executive Director, in next Monday’s ZimmCast. I really enjoyed the meeting and learned a lot about a segment of agribusiness that I wasn’t very familiar with. The dry Las Vegas air and smoky casino we’re located in played havoc with my vocal cords though.

    So, I’ll leave you for now with this walk through of the trade show floor.

    NAAA Convention Photo Album

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

    BASF, NAAA, Video

    Fencposts, The Farm Credit Blog

    Chuck Zimmerman

    FencePostAllie Robino, Cohn & Wolfe, just brought a new blog for Farm Credit to my attention. It’s called Fenceposts.

    The Fenceposts blog was created for people to have conversations with Farm Credit loan officers and other experts about buying rural property and living and working in rural America. We know that people considering a move from the city to the country – or simply a weekend getaway – have questions about where to find land for sale, what to consider before making an offer and how to obtain financing. In addition, they may be looking for help with operating needs like seed, feed, fertilizer, livestock and equipment purchases, or just want to know what life will be like in the country. Rural living is a unique and wonderful experience, and the process of financing a place in the country is different from financing a home in an urban area.

    Here on the Fenceposts blog, you can read posts by Farm Credit folks and other country living experts who know rural America and the process of financing rural property and agribusiness inside and out. Many of them live or own land in the country and can provide a unique glimpse into local life and culture. We hope you’ll enjoy their posts, but don’t stop there. We invite you to leave a comment and join the conversation!

    Agribusiness

    Cropdusters.biz Babes

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CropDusters.bizFor some reason the Cropdusters.biz booth was one of the busier booths at the NAAA trade show. Chelsi Rae, Carrie and Dainela were working in the booth with founder David Duch, (not pictured). David is an ag pilot himself and he says that he started Cropdusters.biz to make many of the novelty items connected with the business available. Apparently the companies that originally sold these products are no longer doing so. I also asked him about the name since I mainly hear the term aerial applicator now. He says their farmers still call them crop dusters.

    WE WANT TO KEEP THE HISTORY OF OUR BUSINESS ALIVE. WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OUT THERE NOW AND THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THEM. WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE SELL THEIR PLANES OR OTHER ITEMS AT AN AFFORDABLE ADVERTISING RATE AND OFFER MERCHANDISE THAT ALL PILOTS WANT.

    Listen to my interview with David here: basf-naaa-08-duch.mp3

    You can also download the interview here: David Duch Interview (mp3)

    NAAA Convention Photo Album

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

    Audio, BASF, NAAA

    November ZimmNews

    Chuck Zimmerman

    November ZimmNewsThe latest edition of ZimmNews has been delivered to in-boxes everywhere.

    In case you didn’t get it or just want to look at it online then you can find it here: November ZimmNews

    Some highlights include:

    I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading.

    ZimmNews

    NAAA Legislative Work Tops With Members

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Bob BaileyThe soon to be outgoing President of the NAAA is Bob Bailey, Bailey Flying Services. In this picture he’s being investigated by some blue men at the Association’s live auction last night.

    Bob is obviously a big supporter of the NAAA since he’s volunteering his time to serve as the President. I asked him what the organization means to his business. He says that like other members who responded to a survey, the representation they get in Washington, DC is very important. NAAA helps educate lawmakers and regulators and that has a direct impact on business. As the organization President this year he’s had to make several trips to DC to visit with leaders in EPA and on the Hill. Bob’s also very optimistic about the future for his business.

    Listen to my interview with Bob here: basf-naaa-08-bailey.mp3

    You can also download the interview here: Bob Bailey Interview (mp3)

    NAAA Convention Photo Album

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

    Audio, BASF, NAAA

    Precision Ag In The Air

    Chuck Zimmerman

    David EbyI’ve been learning a lot here at the NAAA Convention. For example, I didn’t realize how big a role precision agriculture is playing in aerial application. I guess it makes sense though. If you can use gps and variable rate on the ground then why not from the air?

    One of the people who explained some of this to me was David Eby, AgSync, pictured on the left of Denise and Ryan Eby in their trade show booth. David says that they realized the need for aerial application companies to have a software solution for managing data, especially when they’ve got multiple planes in the air. So they developed AgSync, which is a web based solution for this problem. We’re sure seeing a growth in web based programming aren’t we? Even in ag!

    David says they’ve been working closely with BASF on the development of this program. I’ve been hearing a lot of applicators here talking about BASF’s Headline fungicide and I asked him what that has meant for the business. He says “it has changed our world in aerial application.”

    Listen to my interview with David here: basf-naaa-08-eby.mp3

    You can also download the interview here: David Eby Interview (mp3)

    NAAA Convention Photo Album

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

    Audio, BASF, NAAA, Precision Agriculture

    Testing For PRRS Exposure

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Dr. Jeff ZimmermanDr. Jeff Zimmerman (great last name) was one of the presenters at the BI Foundations Seminar. He got some good-natured ribbing for his topic which was on using oral fluid samples to assess PRRS exposure in pigs.

    Actually, he discussed how the techniques for doing this can apply to a project on area and regional control of PRRS. He says they’ve been testing methods of easily collecting these samples and that the data from them can be used for more than just PRRS assessment.

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

    Boehringer Ingelheim Foundations Photo Album

    Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine