MobileDemand Outfits Dairy with Rugged Field PC

Laura McNamara

The technology behind farm machinery, such as tractors and sprayers, is continually becoming more streamlined with advances in computer and software innovation. So, why not livestock? MobileDemand is a rugged tablet PC manufacturer based out of Idaho and they’ve just put the power of the PC in the hands of the field staff at Wendell, Idaho’s Box Canyon Dairy.

MobileDemand says its partnership with ProfitSource enables dairy farms to bring both wireless computing and specialized DairyQuest software into the cattle pens, streamlining operations, saving time, and reducing error.

I spoke with MobileDemand CEO Matt Miller about how he found the agriculture industry to be optimal match for the rugged PC company. You can listen to my interview with Matt here.
06-08-miller-matt.mp3

MobileDemand also offers a video summary of its case study with Box Canyon Dairy. The video further illustrates how the tablet PC and DairyQuest Software have helped one dairy farm increase efficiency in both the breeding and health monitoring of its 8,000 cows. You can watch the video here:

Audio, Livestock, Technology, Video

Transition To A Cooler Climate

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the scene at the DoubleTree at Berkeley Marina where I’ll be posting from the Farm Foundation, Transition To A Bio Economy, conference.

Berkeley is very pretty at sunset, especially if you’re on the water. It’s a lot cooler too. Right now it’s 53 degrees. That’s a big difference from the 86 degrees in KC, MO when I took off earlier today.

We’re going to be discussing biofuels over the next couple days and I’ll be posting pictures and interviews. If you would like to download the audio to use on your website or in your broadcast then feel free.

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation

Osborn & Barr News

Chuck Zimmerman

Osborn & BarrThere have been some hirings and promotions at Osborn & Barr.

Sarah Yancey brings her award-winning skills to her new role as account executive on the United Soybean Board and QUALISOY accounts.

Rob Petrovich serves as a senior copywriter for accounts such as Michelin Ag Tires. Rob brings several years of experience to O&B having worked for agencies such as Adsavants, Momentum and Leo Burnett.

Kevin Massman joins O&B as account supervisor for the Hayward Pool Products and Goldline Controls accounts. His previous experience includes work for Ervin Marketing Creative Communications.

O&B promoted Jerris Breslin to the role broadcast business director. Jerris will manage the agency’s broadcast production for all of O&B’s clients.

Jenny Vatterott was promoted to broadcast business associate. In her new position, she oversees the broadcast business side of project production for all of the agency’s clients.

Promoted to senior graphics specialist, Steve Washburn will continue his work for O&B clients and take on more training and supervision responsibility.

Mandy Heth was named account executive for the QUALISOY, United Soybean Board and Ohio Soybean Council accounts.

Agencies

How an Iowa Corn Grower Feels – Optimistic

Chuck Zimmerman

Iowa Corn GrowersAt the Iowa Speedway yesterday, the Iowa Corn Growers Association held an outdoor press conference. They used it to help educate media about corn usage by placing banners on the side of a grain trailer showing the relative percentages of corn used for different purposes like livestock feed and ethanol.

I did a short interview with Gary Edwards, ICGA board member. Ken Root, WHO, also participated. Gary farms in Animosa, IA which is in one of the most flood impacted areas of the state. He says that although corn growth is behind schedule and there is a lot of land impacted, he expects that the state will still have a good crop. He wants people to keep in mind that last year they had a record corn crop and this year still has the potential to be one of the biggest. He says the water levels have gone down significantly already and he expects that a lot of those fields will dry out and be re-planted. He has no doubt that they’ll be able to provide all the corn needed for both food and fuel again this year.

I asked Gary if we were all going to starve by mid July and he laughed and said, “NO.” You’d think we were from some of the tv coverage I’ve seen.

You can listen to my interview with Gary here: iowa-08-edwards.mp3

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

Audio, Corn

RaboCasting

Chuck Zimmerman

RabobankI really like the idea of Rabobank producing an audio podcast of their news releases. (If you’d like this done for your company or organization then give the ag experts at ZimmComm New Media a call.)

Here’s what the latest RaboCast is about:

Since 1937 June has been Dairy Month: an annual tradition to celebrate the dairy industry. A new Rabobank podcast examines some causes for this celebration, such as growth in specialty products and an increase in dairy exports.

In the podcast, Rabobank Dairy Analyst and Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory Managing Director Debbie Perkins, explores the current U.S. dairy market, the growth of specialty products and export opportunities. (The full podcast is available online at www.RabobankAmerica.com/Rabocast.)

Agribusiness, Dairy, Podcasts

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Cattle producers can use the first and only vaccine available that prevents persistently infected calves caused by bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus Types 1 and 2, and offers 365 days of protection – Bovi-Shield GOLD® FP® from Pfizer Animal Health. The USDA recently upgraded the label claim for Bovi-Shield GOLD FP to the “prevention of persistently infected calves caused by BVD Types 1 and 2,” which is the highest label claim the USDA has assigned to a BVD-containing vaccine.
  • Pork producers can now use Denagard® (tiamulin) 10 Medicated Premix to combat costly enteric diseases in pigs weighing more than 250 pounds. The FDA recently accepted the removal of the weight limit.
  • Planalytics WeatherPin, a unique tool for displaying weather information that impacts agricultural producers and the businesses they depend on, has been
    selected by Farm Journal Media to power the new MyWeather section of the site. Scheduled for launch on July 1, MyWeather provides detailed, site-specific weather information in a user-friendly interface that incorporates historic and seasonal weather trends with radar imagery and other features.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Bunge and Corn Products to Combine

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Corn ProductsOnce this deal closes, Corn Products International will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bunge.

    Bunge Limited and Corn Products International, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Bunge will acquire Corn Products in an all-stock transaction. The aggregate transaction value is approximately $4.8 billion, including assumption of approximately $414 million of Corn Products’ net debt.

    Under the terms of the agreement, approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Corn Products stockholders will receive common shares of Bunge with a market value of $56.00 for each share of Corn Products common stock that they own, subject to adjustment as described below. Following the closing of the transaction, Corn Products stockholders will own approximately 21% of Bunge’s fully diluted shares.

    Agribusiness

    Farm Podcaster Tool

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Alesis ProTrackOkay farm podcasters. You’ve got a new choice in recording gear. You’re already carrying an iPod right? Just add the Alesis ProTrack and you’re good to go.

    Record stereo direct-to-iPod with ProTrack. Capture live audio anywhere and anytime with the convenience of your iPod (Classic and 5th generation) and iPod nano (2nd or 3rd generation). Just slide your iPod into the integrated sled and you’re ready to roll.

    You can record without additional equipment using the built-in pair of condenser microphones fixed in XY configuration. ProTrack also gives you a pair of combo XLR – 1/4-inch inputs so you can connect any professional sound source including external microphones. When running on plug-in power using the included AC adapter, ProTrack supplies 48V phantom power.

    Podcasts

    Ethanol Car Runs Strong in Iowa

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Iowa Corn Indy 250This year’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 is over and as usual, ethanol won. Actually, Dan Wheldon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing won the race. You can see plenty of victory lane pictures in my photo album.

    However, I was rooting for Team Ethanol. They ran as high as 3rd place but according to driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay, they lost a gamble on fuel strategy. He ran a strong race all day and really wanted to finish on the podium in front of so many fans of ethanol but it wasn’t to be. He finished 8th though and maybe he’ll get some breaks to go his way next time.

    I’m out of here and heading home before getting on the road again tomorrow for the “Transition To a Bio Economy” conference in Berkeley, CA. See you from there.

    Don’t forget to check out my photo album from all the activities of the past few days.

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Corn, Ethanol

    My Iowa Pace Car Ride

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Pace CarAfter today’s ethanol press conference the media were treated to rides out on the track in the Iowa Speedway Pace Car. I got to do one at Indy a couple years ago in a truck so this was different.

    Our driver was Davey Hamilton.

    Even though we only went about 95 mph, the curves were tough to deal with. As hard as I was pressing up against the door I was very glad to have my seat belt on.

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Ethanol, Video