Here’s something for all you ag media buyers out there. Tired of the sales calls? Pick up a Colt, Lazer or M16 and take care of those bothersome pests. Courtesy of Intergi, it’s the Intergi Shooters Game.
Intergi is the premier gaming site representation company that serves customers on a global scale. With years of experience in the gaming community and the largest reach online, we are a driving force in the game society. Our diverse online presence allows us to stay tapped into a variety of our core audiences needs, and also provides our clients with a number of advertising venues to reach the gamer in everyone.
Via AdRants.
Quick and Easy Beef
Chatel Farms wants to give consumers the beef without, well, causing too much of a beef. The Georgia-based company is now offering Beef Crumbles, or, 100 percent pure ground beef packaged in ready-to-use, re-sealable portions. Chatel Farms offers two varieties: 80 percent lean or 85 percent lean.
The Crumbles are flash frozen and crumbled using an innovative proprietary technology providing consumers quality ingredients in convenient sizes.
Simply pre-heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add frozen Beef Crumbles directly into the pan and cook while stirring for approximately two minutes. Then add your favorite sauces and seasonings and you’re well on your way to serving up a wholesome, tasty dish for you or the entire family.
Chatel Farms Beef Crumbles are now available at Wal-Mart stores nationwide and in participating Kroger stores.
NAFB 2008 Producer Media-Use Study – 1st Wave
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting has just released some initial results (pdf file) from the first segment of their new producer media use study. I think you should take note of how important text messages are to producers. That really stands out to me. Same for web-based information. The word “grown” is key. It’s growing!
The fact that farmers value radio so high on a daily basis is something that I’ve always understood. Farmers are about as mobile as anyone else and the radio is a convenient source of news and information. I just wish more radio stations carried farm programming.
While Web-based information use among the nations largest agricultural producers and ranchers has grown, thanks to increased access to high-speed Internet connections, radio remains the primary and most-used source of daily agribusiness information.
This is according to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, based on the first wave data from its ongoing comprehensive 2008 National Producer Media-Use Wave Study. The survey, which includes in-depth interviews with three distinct samples of 800 national Class 1A producers and ranchers in each sample, comes 10 years after a 1998-99 wave study sponsored by NAFB. Class 1A producers have $100,000+ in sales/gross farm income.
Trailing radio in importance as a source of daily agribusiness information based on the
first sampling wave conducted in February are Web sites, television, and cell phone text
messages, in order.
How Hot Dogs Are Made
I’ve never really had a major interest in how hot dogs are made. They’re just plain good to eat and that’s good enough for me. I kind of like the ones that fill up the bun. Add some relish, mustard, ketchup, onions, cheese, banana peppers and you’ve got yourself a gourmet meal on a bun. The American Meat Institute has started a channel on YouTube to answer questions that you may have about things like hot dogs. They just released a couple of videos on this subject.
Meat News Network is dedicated to providing consumers and the media with timely, credible information about the meat and poultry industry and the products we produce.
Meat News Network is produced by the American Meat Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest trade association representing U.S. meat and poultry packers and processors. Together, our members produce more than 95 percent of U.S. beef, pork, lamb, veal and more than 70 percent of U.S. turkey.
Have you started your online video channel yet?
Medwick joins Learfield
Learfield Communications, Inc. announces Kelly Medwick is joining Nebraska Radio Network and Brownfield, Ag News for America as the new Account Executive in Lincoln, Neb.
“Kelly is a great addition to our team,” said Stan Koenigsfeld, President, Learfield News. �Her enthusiasm and Director of Marketing experience make her a great asset to our team and clients in Nebraska.�
As Account Executive for Nebraska Radio Network and Brownfield, Ag News for America, Medwick will help marketers develop and implement effective campaigns to achieve their organizational goals.
Before joining Learfield, she was the Associate VP of Communications for Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, where she developed strategic marketing, branding and public awareness campaigns. Medwick also worked with multiple state and non-profit entities on collaborative outreach programs.
Milk Money for Mom
A new Got Milk? campaign wants to reward moms. Moms that excel as the family’s ‘Chief Health Officer’ can win $100,000 just in time for Mother’s Day.
Mothers have always had a lot on their plates — from carpool queen to coach, counselor to chef. It’s all been part of a day’s work. However, with the growing concerns over childhood obesity and inadequate nutrition, many moms have taken on yet another important role — that of Chief Health Officer for the family.
In most households, moms are the nutritional gatekeeper and largely determine what foods and beverages their families consume. This “job description” has become increasingly important with the country’s rising rate of childhood obesity, which has tripled in the last 30 years. To recognize this vital role, America’s milk processors are joining forces with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Project M.O.M. to salute moms nationwide for helping to keep their families healthy and fit.
Zimfo Bytes
- Penton Media and Western Farm Press® will be the publisher of the official World Ag Expo magazine and show guide in 2009. The official magazine is distributed to thousands of farmers and ranchers preceding the opening of the worldwide event in February in Tulare, Calif. The magazine is the primary news source for all official Expo details and events. World Ag Expo 2009 is scheduled for Feb. 10-12.
- AgraQuest, Inc., announced that Ashish Malik has been hired as the Senior VP of Global Marketing. Malik joins the AgraQuest executive management team and will begin his new duties effective immediately. Malik will oversee product development, regulatory and marketing functions for AgraQuest, focusing his efforts on creating and implementing efficient and effective strategies that bring value to its customers and builds brand portfolio value.
- The North Dakota Grain Growers Association and the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers were given the word that Tebuconazole, also known as Folicur, has been given a full Section 3 label by the EPA for use on wheat and barley for the 2008 growing season.
There’s a New Marketing Firm in Town
The Hondo Group, a marketing communications company, is moving to new ground. The Fort Worth-based firm has announced the grand opening of a new location in Darlington, WI. The Wisconsin office will serve as the company’s hub for Midwest operations. Pictured (l-r) are Patricia Lawson, account supervisor at The Hondo Group; Kim Jones, vice president of The Hondo Group; Lynn Balinas, president of The Hondo Group; Mayor David Breunig, City of Darlington and Suzi Osterday, City of Darlington.
“As our client base expands, so must our operations,” said Kim Jones, vice president of The Hondo Group. “We are pleased to now have a location in Darlington that will focus on our ever-expanding list of agriculture and dairy clients.”
As The Hondo Group continues to expand, the company will provide clients with business solutions such as strategic branding processes and procedures, new products and new technologies. The company has made investments in several additional staff members to ensure that exceptional customer service and results continue.
The Hondo Group has offered marketing services both on the national and international level. The firm focuses on agribusiness, real estate, professional services and western lifestyle.
Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty on Grills
A Consumer Reports Poll confirms it. It’s what we’ve known all along: Americans love their grills. The poll found that 41 percent of outdoor grillers grill all year and 68 percent even grill in the rain. Twenty-six percent have even grilled in the snow, sleet or hail. Nearly a third have grilled in below freezing temperatures. When you think of tender, juicy American beef thought, it’s really no wonder why Americans love their grills. Consumer Reports has some tips on finding the best grills:
Consumer Reports’ tests of 37 gas grills, in sizes from portable or small to large, revealed that a premium price doesn’t guarantee a better grill: Some mid-priced grills outperformed grills costing hundreds more. Consumer Reports’ tests also found that a higher Btu level (British thermal unit) – once touted by manufacturers – doesn’t guarantee faster heating or better cooking. Shoppers will also find that many grill makers have turned to infrared technology to create buzz. But, CR notes that infrared is just another way of saying indirect cooking with heat, and that when it comes to grills, there are several ways to generate it. Consumer Reports’ tests revealed little difference between infrared technologies. It also found that infrared cooking was no better than regular grilling.
Three midsized grills have been designated as CR Best Buys: the Blue Ember by Fiesta FG50069-U401, $450, available at Home Depot; the Brinkmann 810-8410S, $200, also available at Home Depot; and the Char-Broil Commercial Series 463268008, $300, available at Lowe’s. The Blue Ember shined for cooking food evenly. The Brinkmann combined fine cooking, a side burner, and lots of shelf space at a lower price. The stainless-steel Char-Broil offers excellent grilling, a side burner, and an abundance of shelf space.
People grilling for a crowd should consider these CR Best Buys: the Kenmore 16315, $570, available at Sears; and the Char-Broil Quantum 463248208, $500, available at Lowe’s, are both stainless steel. The Kenmore provides very good performance with five main burners and a 10-year warranty. It also has a rotisserie and side burners, and plenty of shelf space. The Char-Broil excels in grilling, provides infrared heat, and a lifetime warranty on its burners.
Consumers who tailgate or have a tight space will be interested in the $190 Weber Q 200 (396002), a portable grill that is very good at cooking food evenly, an important characteristic. A cart and an adapter for a larger propane tank are available separately for this grill.
Another tip from Consumer Reports… when shopping for a grill, bring a magnet. The magazine says a magnet will usually stick to cheaper-grade steel. So if the magnet sticks, move on. That grill is more likely to rust.
Learn About TOCA
Right after my presentation on new media here at the TOCA meeting the next session featured editors and public relations people. They discussed the relationship dynamics between the two groups.
My presentation went okay even though I didn’t have internet access. Don’t ask me how but it got done. It’s kind of a challenge though when everything we do and that I wanted to show is online.
You can find an online photo album with pictures I’ve taken today here: TOCA Photo Album
This morning before we went out to Hazeltine National Golf Club for the tournament I interviewed TOCA President, Ed Hiscock, Golf Course Management Magazine. Ed says that there are about 200 members of the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association which will be celebrating 20 years next year. He says the organization was formed to bring together editors and public relations people and set standards for how they work together. I asked him about new media and how it’s changing the way we communicate and he says that new technology is allowing us to extend what we’re already doing. You can find his publication’s blog here.
Listen to my interview with Ed here: toca-08-hiscock.mp3
I’ve found a lot of similarities between the membership of TOCA and other groups I belong to like AAEA, LPC, IFAJ and NAFB. For one thing we share some of the same advertisers and sponsors. You’ll notice some of the same corporate names represented here in the chemical and equipment business, just different divisions. The media and public relations representatives are no different and facing the same challenges as in other industries. I’ve also seen several people I know who are also doing work on the ag side.