For You Farm Podcasters

Chuck Zimmerman

Belkin GoStudioHey Farm Podcasters. If you’re one of the few who do not have a digital recorder yet then perhaps you should wait a little longer and get a Belkin GoStudio for your iPod. Even if you’ve already got a recorder this might turn your iPod into a nice backup.

With Belkin’s new GoStudio, you can capture and record high-quality audio content, anywhere you go. Record full podcast episodes, interviews, lectures, music, or short clips directly onto your iPod and immediately upload your content to iTunes when your iPod is connected to your computer. Then you can add that audio to your blog, website, Facebook, or MySpace pages.

AVAILABILITY

* September/October in North America, EMEA, Asia, and Australia

GoStudio (F8Z295) – US: $119.99

* Record directly to your iPod in 16-bit, 44kHz digital audio quality
* Instantly play back your recordings directly from your iPod through GoStudio’s built-in speaker
* Two combo microphone inputs (XLR and ¼”)
* 3.5mm mini-jack microphone input
* Two built-in omnidirectional stereo microphones
* Master level control
* Direct monitor volume control
* Tripod mount

Equipment

MyBeefCheckoff.com Set For Launch

Chuck Zimmerman

MyBeefCheckoff.comI just got a little advance notice about a new Beef Checkoff website. I like the idea of making it easier to find information if you’re an ag journalist.

On July 15, we are launching a new Web site designed to make learning about the beef checkoff easy. MyBeefCheckoff.com is launching and you’re on our list! You’re receiving this email because we feel you’re an important news contact within the beef industry, and we’ve signed you up for exclusive media access on our site. This includes weekly updates such as press releases and audio releases; monthly updates such as Beef Briefs and daily access to our information (story) request form.

Ag Groups, Beef

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Every year, the American Association of Agricultural and Biological Engineers sponsors the prestigious AE50 awards, celebrating the best and brightest agricultural products developed around the globe. This year, six Case IH products were honored with an AE50 award: Steiger® 485 tractor; True Tandem 330 Turbo vertical tillage tool; 2600 Series Chopping Corn Header; MagnaCut Straw Chopper; O-Ring Sealing; and the ST Rice Rotor for Axial-Flow® rice combines.
  • Agriculture Today is organizing the Agriculture Leadership Summit and Agriculture Leadership Awards to present people with an authentic reading of the year’s account in food and agriculture by releasing Agriculture Today Year Book 2008 on this occasion. The program is Sept. 19-20, 2008 at Taj Palace, New Delhi.
  • The Honorable Bruce Knight, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, USDA, will address the next luncheon meeting of the Agricultural Business Council which will be held at noon on Thursday, July 17, at Lidia’s Kansas City. Knight will provide an “update on animal identification and related livestock marketing programs” to Council members. Send your RSVP to Erica Venancio at: erica@petersenconsultingllc.com no later than July 14.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Southern Peanut Growers Conference Blog

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Southern Peanut Farmers FederationAnother ZimmComm-developed website is now online. This time it’s the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation and the blog is for their annual conference. You’ll be able to follow all the nutty action in Panama City when Cindy gets there this weekend.

    All the proceedings with pictures, audio interviews and more from the 10th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference July 13-15 in Panama City Beach, Fla., can be found on the site. The conference coverage is sponsored by Trimble Agriculture/Ag Technologies, LLC.

    Over 500 peanut producers and industry representatives are expected to attend the conference, which includes educational sessions focusing on legislative issues, peanut grading, marketing peanuts, and research. One highlight of the conference is a Congressional simulation program, where participants play the role of a Congressman to obtain an idea of how Washington works.

    The Southern Peanut Farmers Federation contracted ZimmComm New Media of Missouri to design and develop the site and provide on-site coverage of the convention.

    Pre-conference information has already been posted and continuous content will be added starting with the kickoff of the convention on Sunday, July 13. Audio interviews from the convention will be posted for immediate playback and as a special series of podcasts that will allow people to download and listen to them on personal audio players. The interviews can also be used by radio stations or other media outlets.

    Ag Groups, Peanuts

    Mullen is New Integrated Marcomm Agency for BASF

    Chuck Zimmerman

    MullenIt looks like we’ll be getting to work with a new agency for BASF.

    Mullen has won integrated marketing communications duties for BASF U.S. Crop Protection to enhance awareness and sales of the company’s herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, plant regulators and seed treatment technologies that offer the highest level of crop protection solutions to growers across the U.S.

    “Mullen’s team went to exceptional lengths to understand the complexity of our business and the impact our innovations and technologies have on the U.S. agricultural market,” said Ray Gilmer, BASF Crop Protection Division group communications manager. “We were impressed by the team’s passion and insights into the category and the integrated campaign that flowed from both.”

    The agency’s work will include branding, advertising, public relations, digital strategy, direct marketing and media planning and buying for the U.S. Crop business.

    Agencies, Agribusiness, BASF

    NAFB Media Use Study Webinar

    Chuck Zimmerman

    National Association of Farm BroadcastingI’m participating in a live NAFB webinar, first look at the combined results of the first two waves of their 2008 National Producer Media-Use Wave Study. There’s one more to go.

    We’ve got people on the webinar from all over the U.S. listening to Mike Parry go though his slides. I’m not sure how much is for public release yet. NAFB will probably release some information publicly soon. Update: A full release of the Study will be done at the NAFB convention this fall after the third wave of survey is completed. Very interesting information!

    NAFB

    Talking AMS With BASF

    Chuck Zimmerman

    BASFOne of our sponsors for AgWired coverage of this year’s Agricultural Media Summit is BASF. I spoke on the phone to Allegra Sinclair about what we’re going to be doing. This is going to be fun and she’s excited. By the way, I learned that Allegra is an experienced podcaster and recent Mac convert.

    So, what’s up with BASF and AgWired? To start with, BASF is sponsoring the media room for the third year in a row. They’ll be supplying computers, wi-fi and all the things we need to do our jobs. To go along with that, we’re teaming up with BASF and our AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service to be the official online media room for AMS. This is a first. What this means is that ag journalists will have an online location to find media releases that AMS exhibitors/sponsors want to distribute during the conference. We’ll also send those releases to our ag journalist list as well. These AMS supporting companies will be receiving notification shortly that they can send a release at no charge during the conference.

    Then on AgWired you’ll find our patented online event coverage with pictures, interviews and video. Cindy will be there with me so this could get interesting. We’ll be posting our interviews so that they can be downloaded and ag journalists are welcome to use them. Same goes with pictures. So if you can’t be there and want to know what’s going on, well, you know where to go online.

    We’re also planning to use AgWired Live TV to webcast the BASF press conference. I’ll have more details on that later.

    Allegra says that one of the most important things about AMS for them is the relationship building with ag journalists and I sure echo that. The InfoExpo and other activities provides a great venue for social networking and I’ve seen lots of positive results of it from my own experiences.

    Listen to Allegra and me talk about this year’s event: Interview With Allegra Sinclair - AMS Interview

    Ag Media Summit, Agribusiness, Audio, BASF

    Jean Hiller is PICA Award Winner

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Jean HillerJean Hiller, Two Rivers Marketing, has received a big award from AEM’s Publications in Construction and Agriculture subgroup. She’s their 2008 Public Relations Person of the Year.

    PICA honored Hiller at AEM’s annual Marketing Council Seminar, held recently in Portland, Ore.

    “Everyone at Two Rivers Marketing is very proud of Jean,” said Brian Jones, president. “Jean has a magnanimous spirit which not only makes her a natural leader but also the best kind of mentor. PICA couldn’t have chosen a more deserving recipient.”

    PICAThe PICA Public Relations Person of the Year award is presented annually to an equipment manufacturing industry marketing communications professional whom the PICA editors believe exemplifies “best practices” in media relations with the trade press. Candidates are rated in the following categories: accuracy, knowledge of company/products (and ability to provide access to proper company officials), knowledge of industry publications, trustworthiness, professionalism, producer of press events, kits, materials etc. that are of high quality, value and completeness, and ability to represent company interests and respect trade press integrity and independence.

    Two Rivers Marketing also received PICA awards for client advertising and marketing initiatives in direct mail campaigns, print advertising and press kit design.

    You can view a list of all the winners here.

    Ag Groups, Agencies

    Canadian Farm Writers Get Together

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CFWF 2008Just when we’re talking about the U.S. get together of farm writers I noticed that it’s time to look forward to the CFWF 2008.

    From the sea bottom to the mountain top, the BC Farm Writers are pleased to introduce you to some of the experiences, people, places, and products that will make up the CFWF 2008 Conference, to be held October 2 to 4, 2008 in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Plans are almost complete and the registration fees, and forms, will be confirmed very shortly. For the latest information, please watch the CFWF website and stay tuned for an announcement about the CFWF 2008
    Conference website – coming soon!

    I think they need a good agriblogger covering it don’t you?

    Uncategorized

    Ag Media Summit Preview

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Agricultural Media SummitYou’re going to be seeing some regular pre-Ag Media Summit posts here like this one since I was talking with Diane Johnson today about how things are looking. She says that it’s going to be a big one since more and more companies are realizing that this is “the place to be.”

    Diane says there’s already 75 exhibitors confirmed which matches last year and over 600 attendees are expected. The opening reception already has over 400 people reserved. It used to only have about 150. This is the 10 year anniversary of the AMS so I think there’s some extra special things being planned.

    One thing we get to do on Monday evening of the event is a watch Caddyshack on a big screen by the pool. I don’t know about you but floating in the pool with a frosty beverage, watching a movies does sound like fun.

    Listen to what Diane has to say about this year’s event: Interview With Diane Johnson - AMS Interview

    I’ll have more on AMS soon, including some interesting things we’re doing with our coverage sponsors this year.

    Ag Media Summit, Audio