Chris Romas New Burpee President

Chuck Zimmerman

Chris RomasI’ve always loved the name, Burpee. It’s just a cool name for any company. I’ve seen their seeds around for as long as I can remember.

W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the nation’s largest and best-known purveyor of seeds, plants and home gardening supplies, announced today that Burpee’s Chief Operating Officer, Chris Romas, has been promoted to the position of President.

George Ball, who has run Burpee since 1991, announced the promotion today in an employee-wide meeting, saying that much of the success Burpee has enjoyed in recent years can be attributed to Romas’ “dynamic leadership.” Ball calls Romas’ leadership of the Retail Division team “outstanding,” adding that he is confident Romas will serve as a capable leader, taking the company to new heights.

In his new position Romas will be responsible for all aspects of managing the Pennsylvania-based company and all managers will report to him.

Ball was clear in his announcement that he is not retiring, and that he will remain as Burpee’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In stepping back from day to day operations, Ball will focus on acquisitions, planning and new product development.

Agribusiness, Seed

Grilled PBJ on the Beach

Chuck Zimmerman

Grilled PBJSounds like a drink almost, doesn’t it? Cindy’s lounging around on the Gulf of Mexico at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, eating grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Can you imagine?

I tried something new today that I had frankly never even thought of eating before – grilled peanut butter and jelly. Don’t know why I never thought of it – after all, I like toast with peanut butter and jelly. But, grilling gives it a much richer flavor that, as Wesley Powell of Bainbridge, Georgia says goes great with a tall glass of cold milk for breakfast. Add some sliced bananas and you have yourself an “Elvis” sandwich!

Powell is past president of the National Peanut Buying Points Association, which grills up these tasty morsels every year at the SPGC. He shares his secrets to making the perfect grilled PB and J in this interview: spgc-wesley-npbpa.mp3

You can see these delicacies on display at the conference.

Southern Peanut Grower Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Peanuts, Video

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Novus International, Inc. announces the appointment of Bob Buresh as Technical Manager of Poultry for North America. Buresh joins Novus from Tyson Foods, where he served as the Director of Poultry Nutrition and Research for 18 years. He has also held positions with Eastern Minerals, Inc. and Purina Mills, Inc.
  • The National FFA Organization has selected 40 outstanding young people to participate in the 2008 New Century Farmer Program. This exclusive, highly competitive program develops young men and women who are committed to pursing a career in production agriculture. Participants representing 21 states will take part in an intensive five-day seminar July 28 through August 1 in Johnston, Iowa.
  • The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association (WDPA), sponsor of the annual World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, has finalized an agreement with Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) regarding contest entries. The WMMB is sponsoring a contest reimbursement program for all Wisconsin dairy processors. Wisconsin companies that enter a new cow’s milk dairy product in the 2008 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest will receive from WMMB a 50% reimbursement on the $50 contest entry fee. Click here for more details.
    Zimfo Bytes

    BASF 2009 Hot Topics Survey

    Chuck Zimmerman

    BASFWe’re happy to announce that in partnership with BASF, AgNewsWire.AgWired.com is the official online news room of the Agricultural Media Summit (AMS). What this means is that during the upcoming event we’ll be distributing news releases for various exhibitors and sponsors of the AMS. More information on this will be sent to them in the coming week.

    agvert_survey.jpgYou’ll also notice that we’ve got a link for Ag Journalists to take the 2009 Hot Topics Survey. BASF would like ag journalists to take their survey to help them formulate information that will be valuable to them.

    What do you think the hottest agricultural news topics of 2009 will be? Crop disease prevention? New seed traits? Floods and drought?

    Give us your ideas and you could win some great prizes from BASF. As an industry insider, your input is very valuable. This survey will take less than five minutes to complete, and individual responses will not be identified, so please share your opinions freely.

    If you will be attending the upcoming Agricultural Media Summit you will automatically receive a special gift tied into this year’s theme “It’s a Family Reunion!” Follow the instructions on the completion page and bring the printout to the onsite press room at the Summit.

    If you’re not attending the Summit, you can still enter the drawing by filling in your contact information at the end of the survey. (Your answers will remain anonymous).

    BASF

    Blog From Your iPhone

    Chuck Zimmerman

    iPhone 3GWhile we’re still celebrating iPhone 3G release day I thought I’d point out something that may make it a more desirable choice for agribloggers. If you’re a WordPress user like me then there will be an application which allows you to post directly from your iPhone.

    The WordPress for iPhone App is nearly ready to go. It supports WordPress.com blogs as well as self-hosted WordPress.org blogs running version 2.5.1 or newer.

    Timing wise, with the launch of Apple’s iTunes App store this morning, we expect to see this showing up very soon.

    While we wait, here is a brief video showing the App in action. (It’s high quality, so may take a moment to kick off.)

    Equipment

    Joe Schuele Moves to USMEF

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Joe and GraceHere’s a sight we won’t be seeing anymore. That’s because Joe Schuele has started a new job at the U.S. Meat Export Federation. This means he won’t be at the media room desk.

    I just spoke to him and will miss him in the media room at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference next week. But, we’ll be in good hands with Yard-O-Beef Spokesmodel, Grace Webb, also pictured.

    Joe says that he’ll have similar duties at USMEF. He’ll be working with ag media and national media helping fulfill requests for interviews. He’ll also be producing news releases including audio releases. He does admit to having to get up to speed on the pork side of things though. But, all in all, he’s happy to still be able to work with a lot of the same people he has been.

    You can listen to what Joe’s up to here: Interview With Joe Schuele - USMEF

    Ag Groups, Audio

    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