Associated Ag Publications Does Ruralpolitan

Chuck Zimmerman

During the recent NAMA Convention I visited with Bob Van Voorhis, Associated Ag Publications. In the following interview with him we talk about who they are. They’re connected with Farm Bureau and Bob discusses why that relationship is special. Bob also talks about their coverage and audience using words like, “ruralpolitan.”

This is one in a series of interviews we conducted in partnership with AgriMarketing Magazine and exhibtors in the NAMA Connection Point.

NAMA, Publication, Video

DTN/The Progressive Farmer Editorial Focus

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the booths that I got to conduct an interview in during the NAMA Convention was the DTN and The Progressive Farmer booth. In it I spoke with Adrian Blake, Publisher, who helped me understand the editorial focus of DTN and their publication. In the interview you’ll hear him talk about what make them different and how advertisers can benefit from the multiple channels they offer.

This is one in a series of interviews we conducted in partnership with AgriMarketing Magazine and exhibtors in the NAMA Connection Point.

Media, NAMA, Video

BASF Specialty Crops

Chuck Zimmerman

Paul ReaDuring the BASF Media Summit there were several breakout sessions like the one presented by Paul Rea, Director, BASF Specialty Crops. Attendees got to choose one and I picked Paul’s. He spoke of new products, including Clearcast herbicide and flexible product packaging for the pest control, vegetation management and turf and ornamentals markets. I was interested to see several of the journalists I had just met the week before in Minneapolis at the TOCA meeting.

You can listen to and download the first 10 minutes of Paul’s remarks here: Listen To RemarksPaul Rea Remarks (10 min MP3)

Or listen to them here now:basf-media-summit-10.mp3

BASF Media Event Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

Audio, BASF

Plant Biotechnology From BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Hans KastDr. Hans Kast, President/CEO, BASF Plant Science Holding GmbH, spoke at this week’s Media Summit about plant biotechnology and the work the company is doing in R&D. Picture courtesy of Carl Cox Photography.

On the subject of plant biotechnology, Dr. Hans Kast, President and Chief Executive Officer of BASF Plant Science, indicated that the research and development focus for BASF Plant Science is concentrated in three areas – more efficient agriculture, renewable raw materials and healthier nutrition for humans and animals. “BASF Plant Science has a unique technology platform to support our gene discovery work in these areas,” said Kast. “It combines phenotypic screening with high throughput metabolic profiling to determine gene function, which has led to a broad and diversified early stage pipeline of lead genes.”

You can listen to and download his remarks here: Listen To RemarksDr. Hans Kast Remarks (15 min MP3)

Or listen to them here now:basf-media-summit-9.mp3

BASF Media Event Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

Audio, BASF

BASF Marketing Dynamics

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Marcus HeldtMarcus Heldt is Group Vice President, North America, Crop Protection Division, for BASF. He spoke at this week’s Media Summit about how the company is putting innovative knowledge gained in marketing to one crop area to use in targeting other market segments.

BASF is also building on the leadership and success of its Plant Health platform with Headline fungicide. “Headline has clearly established a solid track record in field crops over the last four years with its Plant Health benefits. So much so, that more than 10 million acres of corn and soybeans were treated with an application of Headline in 2007,” said Markus Heldt, Group Vice President, North America, BASF Crop Protection. Now, Heldt said, BASF is leveraging the expertise developed with Headline in field crops for the benefit of other sectors such as turf and ornamentals and fruit. He pointed to the Plant Health work currently underway in the organization’s turf and ornamental business and the potential for Plant Health to play a significant role in addressing issues, such as product shelf life and water restrictions for the ornamental plant production and golf course industries respectively.

You can listen to and download his remarks here: Listen To RemarksMarkus Heldt Remarks (21 min MP3)

Or listen to them here now:basf-media-summit-8.mp3

BASF Media Event Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

Audio, BASF

Monetize That Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Appaloosa Blog SpotOne of the questions I get asked very often is, “How can you make money with new media?” If you read AgWired often then you probably have a good idea of some of the ways that can happen.

But let’s say you’re a membership organization like the Appaloosa Horse Club and you’ve got a blog. What can you do with it besides use it as one of the most effective communications tools you’ve got? Sell sponsorships!

That’s what the ApHC has done. You can see Featherlite Trailers is one of their sponsors of Appaloosa Blog Spot. Now if that’s not cool then I don’t know what is. We built their blog and did some initial training and they’ve take off with it. It’s got great regular content, including some event content I still produce for them a couple times a year. I’m sure Steve Taylor would be willing to share his experience as a CEO blogger with you.

Ag Groups, Horses

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The brand that revolutionized ice cream celebrates its 20th Birthday in May by offering its customers free ice cream. On the afternoon and evening of May 20, local Dippin’ Dots Franchised locations will offer their customers a free cup of their delicious beads of ice cream. The company has even produced a special flavor the occasion. Birthday Cake flavor is a combination of cake batter and icing flavored ice creams with crunchy cake pieces.
  • The Hondo Group is pleased to announce the addition of Shana Barkley and Patricia Lawson to their team of innovative experts. Barkley and Lawson both have been named account supervisors and will be responsible for strategic planning and managing client relationships. Barkley will work at The Hondo Group headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, focusing on the organization’s professional services clients and emerging media offerings while Lawson will work in the Darlington, Wisc., office on The Hondo Group’s ever-expanding list of agribusiness clients.
  • BNSF Logistics LLC announced that MachineryLink has selected BNSF Logistics to provide equipment utilization services for MachineryLink’s fleet operations and surge capacity management for seasonal demand. MachineryLink will utilize the services of BNSF Logistics to identify and facilitate optimal backhaul movements for its fleet, repositioning the specialized equipment into the company’s key areas of need, while minimizing deadhead miles. BNSF Logistics will also provide MachineryLink with additional specialized capacity to ensure consistent and timely service to its clients.
  • PureSense, the leader in real-time irrigation and water management solutions for agriculture, announced Keith Hartley has joined the team as the company’s VP of Sales & Marketing.
    Zimfo Bytes

    AgCareers.com Video Update

    Chuck Zimmerman

    At the recent National Agri-Marketing Conference we teamed up with AgriMarketing Magazine to produce video presentations with some of the Connection Point exhibitors. I’m going to post their videos here over the next couple days for you starting with AgCareers.com.

    In this video you can learn about AgCareers.com with Eric Spell, Vice President of Farms.com/AgCareers.com. He describes the goal of the company and provides advice to young professionals seeking to advance their career.

    Agribusiness, NAMA, Video

    Jon Scholl New President of American Farmland Trust

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Jon SchollAmerican Farmland Trust has a new President to replace Ralph Grossi who is stepping down after 23 years.

    Scholl, an Illinois farmer, has most recently served as the Counselor to the Administrator for Agricultural Policy at US EPA where he led the development of the first EPA National Agriculture Strategy, agricultural advisory committee, and agency-wide cross media agriculture team. In addition, he helped direct Agency regulations on animal feeding operations, spill prevention, clean air rules and emission reporting requirements; and provided input and counsel to the USDA farm bill team on the conservation provisions of the Administration’s 2007 farm bill proposal.

    Prior to that position, Scholl served for 25 years with the Illinois Farm Bureau as Executive Assistant to the President, and in a variety of other positions including director of public policy, director of national legislation, and director of natural resources. In these roles, Scholl gained extensive public policy and legislative experience at all levels of government. Read More

    Ag Groups