ABM Agri Council Recommends Ag Media Mix

Chuck Zimmerman

ABM Agri-Council AdI just got my latest quarterly Agri Council Intelligence Report and thought you’d be interested in a couple of things that caught my eye. Here’s one of the latest ads from the ABM Agri Council. They’re running a schedule in Agrimarketing Magazine (a member of the Council) and have plans for a new round coming soon.

In an effort to continue to keep farmers and ranchers engaged, ABM will introduce three new Agri ads in the second quarter of 2008 with a more arresting visual and revamped body copy. The new ads will feature one eye-catching, prominently-placed visual of a farmer or rancher, which were captured by Harlan Persinger, award-winning freelance Agri photographer. The ads will continue to run monthly in AgriMarketing magazine.

I’m not sure how running an ad in Agrimarketing keeps farmers and ranchers engaged but perhaps I’m missing something. I find it fascinating though how the ag media is converging today and yet we still have separate ag media organizations (NAFB, AAEA, LPC). These ads use Harris Interactive research that shows:

There is still no better way to reach farmers and ranchers than by utilizing a broad mix of Ag media, including magazines, newspapers, Web sites, trade shows, conferences, television and radio.

That’s a media mix these companies wouldn’t have mentioned in the same document several years ago! I agree with it too. Fact is that many of these companies now are involved in or have properties in all of the above.

And Harlan, it’s good to see your name in there. Keep shooting buddy.

Media, Publication

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Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • DuPont and Precision BioSciences, Inc., announced a technology collaboration to bring higher-yielding agricultural products to the market faster. The agreement provides DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred rights to Precision’s Directed Nuclease Editor™ (DNE) technology to introduce and stack multiple genes that accelerate product development in corn, soybeans and other important agricultural crops. The technology aids in the discovery of new traits and allows Pioneer scientists to insert, remove and stack multiple traits at pre-selected sites in the plant genome, shortening the time it takes to bring new, high-value products to market.
  • Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation announced the release of ULTRA SABER, a new pour-on insecticide that controls horn flies on beef cattle and calves. ULTRA SABER is a new type of pour-on insecticide that contains 1 percent lambdacyhalothrin and 5 percent piperonyl butoxide, a synergist which improves insecticidal activity.
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., announces that Tom Wetzell, DVM, has joined the swine division’s professional services team. Wetzell has been employed as a swine veterinary consultant in private practice with South Central Veterinary Associates. Wetzell, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, will be working with producers in Minnesota and northern Iowa and continue to reside in Wells, Minn.
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Live, Eat… Breathe Ethanol

Laura McNamara

indyethanol.jpgThere’s no doubt racing fans noticed the difference when the Indy Racing League switched from pure methanol to a 98 percent blend of ethanol as the fuel of choice. The smell of burning ethanol is just as distinct as the roar of Indycars racing around the track.

Love the races? Love the fuel? Love the smell? Tell others about your obsession with an authentic IndyCard. An Indy photog sent me this all too appropriate IndyCard as we close in on launching another season of Indy Racing.

Don’t miss the Homestead season opener on March 29 at Miami Speedway. Even if you can’t make it to the track to “breathe ethanol,” you can catch the race at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Advertising, Ethanol

Getting igenity Right

Chuck Zimmerman

Merial Media RoomMerial sponsored the media room once again at this year’s Cattle Industry Convention. Thanks to Wendy Mayo, Bader Rutter, for helping make us comfortable and setting me up with an interview with Kevin DeHaan, igenity.

In case you’ve wondered about igenity then you can hear Kevin explain it. I’ve always found it to sound complicated but I think in this interview we got it distilled down in some pretty simple terms. Basically if a producer wants to use igenity then he has to have samples taken from the animal(s) to be checked. Those are sent in to the lab where they analyze the animal’s dna for specific performance markers. Then the producer receives back a report via email and hard copy. That report can be used in a marketing plan for both seed stock producers as well as cow/calf.

If you need help Kevin says they’ve got 6 sales representatives in the field as well as a couple of technical advisers.

You can listen to my interview with Kevin here: cic-08-merial.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio

Cat Products Get Official With NCBA

Chuck Zimmerman

NCBA-Caterpillar Press ConferenceAt the Cattle Industry Convention Caterpillar and NCBA held a press conference to announce that the Cat Skid Steer Loader and Cat Wheel Loader are official products of the NCBA.

“Caterpillar has a rich heritage of engineering and manufacturing high quality equipment that delivers the performance and reliability farmers and ranchers demand,” said Andy Groseta, 2008 NCBA President. “This partnership means a lot to the leadership and membership of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.”

“Caterpillar and the Cat dealer network are looking forward to kicking off this relationship with NCBA. Cattle producers demand high quality products, superior performance, and local service that is second to none. We believe that Caterpillar is best positioned to deliver on all of those key elements, “ added Mike Bruch, industry manager for Caterpillar’s North American Commercial Division.

NCBA members will benefit directly through discounts on select lines of equipment. To learn more about the full line of Cat Skid Steer Loaders and Wheel Loaders, visit your local Caterpillar dealer or www.cat.com. For more information on NCBA’s Caterpillar Member Benefit Program, visit www.beefusa.org or call 1-866-BEEFUSA.

You can Mike’s remarks from the press conference here: cic-08-caterpillar-mono.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio

The Beef Backer Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael GilettoThe annual Beef Backer awards were presented at this year’s convention by then Vice Chairman, Dave Bateman (now The Chairman) along with representatives of the various state beef councils that nominated them. The Beef Backer Award recognizes chain and independent restaurant operators who excel in menuing and marketing beef.

The Checkoff also announced the winners of the first annual national Retail Beef Backer Awards program. Retail Beef Backer Award winners are selected based on their excellent merchandising of beef at the meat case. A third-party judging panel also took into consideration the retailers’ tie-ins with beef checkoff-funded programs such as Easy Fresh Cooking labels, Beef Training Camp, Summer Grilling promotions, the Beef Value Cuts program and on-pack nutrition labeling. Applicants are also judged on retailer-originated beef promotions that focus on increasing beef demand among their customers. Such programs include outstanding beef promotions, co-marketing promotions and customer education programs.

The first Beef Backer award presented went to Cherry Valley Country Club, a non-commercial establishment. They won the “Independent of the Year” award by offering their patrons quality beef in a variety of applications across all menu day parts. Their exceptional commitment to serving “the best” has kept club members happy. Michael Giletto, executive chef of Cherry Valley Country Club, says, “As chefs, we look for the best ingredients to create the menus we design. I’ve found the best quality beef allows me to satisfy any diverse palate.”

Giletto’s commitment this year was not only to continue to put beef on the menu, but to promote beef to the general public, purveyors, club patrons and fellow chefs. Giletto participated in a television show called, “The Digital Cookbook,” demonstrating how to prepare exceptional beef recipes in realistic time. He also shared cooking videos with a children’s TV show to help spark kids’ interest in cooking with beef.

You can listen to Giletto’s remarks here: cic-08-giletto.mp3

If you’d like to see all the winners and hear from them then go to the post I put on Beef Board Meeting.com.

Audio, Beef

Give John Deere Credit For Helping

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere CreditYou know it would take a big bank account to write a check for a new John Deere combine and not too many farmers can do that. So to help them out they’ve got John Deere Credit. I spoke with Scotty Shipp, pictured on the right, at the National Farm Machinery Show about what the company offers to assist producers.

He says that John Deere Credit’s primary responsibility is to help dealers facilitate the sale of John Deere equipment. When it comes to precision ag equipment they can either include it in an original purchase or if after the fact, many dealers offer Farm Plan, a revolving credit plan that can be used to make purchases when needed like adding a new component to a precision system.

You can listen to my interview with Scotty here: nfms-08-shipp.mp3

National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is sponsored by Precision Pays

Audio, Equipment, John Deere, National Farm Machinery Show

World Ag Expo Wrap-Up

Chuck Zimmerman

World Ag ExpoHere’s a wrap-up report on World Ag Expo from Gary Schulz. Maybe next year will be the year I get to go. I’ve got to go out there in a couple weeks but just couldn’t get that coordinated to coincide with the Show. Thank you very much Gary for taking the time to provide us with your updates. A lot of AgWired readers were there or are involved with the show in one way or another so it’s been great.

The third and final day of the 41st annual World Ag Expo in Tulare, California experienced bright, warm sunshine and no morning fog.

World Ag Expo is the largest of its kind and generates an economic impact of $1.2 billion with over 1,600 exhibiting companies on a footprint of 2.5 million square feet! California agriculture generates $31.7 billion of farm-gate revenue. $4 billion of this is attributable to Tulare County, which is up from $2 billion when I arrived in the San Joaquin Valley from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 1990. During this time I have seen the Tulare County ag economy shift towards a heavy dominance by the dairy industry with an average today of over 2,000 cows per dairy (compared to 750 in 1990) and total revenues of over $1 billion.

It was a treat to renew acquaintances with Heather Baumgardner and learn that Fastline will celebrate their 30th anniversary next week. Congratulations to Heather, Joe McWilliams and Bill Howard on this landmark accomplishment!

I was very impressed to see many FFA youth in their official dress. Congratulations especially to the Livingston FFA members who I observed on Median Street at about 2 p.m. They were very polite, dressed very sharp, and good representatives of a fine organization.

Over the many years of the World Ag Expo, many dedicated industry professionals have put their stamp on its production. One of my fun conversations this year was with service contractors Jim Gilroy, Frank Craig, Gil Montano, and Lee Oliphant. These guys are real pros and I salute them for the extraordinary work they do.

Candy Hansen of the Center for International Trade Development-Fresno and Eduardo Torres of the United States Department of Commerce have worked tirelessly over the years promoting World Ag Expo to many international trade delegations and this year was no different. Today I observed Eduardo with a Latin delegation while Candy hosted a delegation from the Henan Province in China. Both Candy and Eduardo and their hard-working staffs should be thanked for their tremendous efforts.

2009 World Ag Expo Chairman Paul Simon will take the reins shortly. He brings to the show an immense experience with the exhibitors, unloading and delivering freight. He is a great leader of volunteers and a very deserving chairman. Congratulations, Paul, and good luck.

Whoever was in charge of praying for good weather did a great job.

Gary Schulz, General Manager of World Ag Expo, 1990-2005.
Currently Program Director of the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology Incubator in Fresno, CA and Senior Strategist for Gary Schulz Consulting

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Illinois Sunset

Chuck Zimmerman

Illinois SunsetThis was today’s sunset on the way home from the National Farm Machinery Show.

This is right off I-64 in Illinois about an hour south of St. Louis. Very cool scene. I just thought I’d share it with you. The ride home was a lot more enjoyable than the one to the show.

I won’t be heading out again until mid week next week. In the meantime I’ll be getting caught up on some posts here over the weekend.

National Farm Machinery Show

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Dr. Gregory S. Hammer, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, testified before the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry that the delay in implementing the National Veterinary Medical Service Act (NVMSA) puts U.S. economic and food safety at risk. Recent studies indicate that the supply of veterinarians working in food safety will fall short by 4 to 5 percent annually through 2016.
  • DuPont and Etigra announced that Etigra has acquired the DuPont Super Boll® brand ethephon trademark, registration and assets, as well as the DuPont FreeFall® brand thidiazuron cotton defoliation trademark. Cotton growers will continue to have access to Super Boll® and FreeFall® from Etigra through their current distribution channels. Growers should contact their dealers or visit Etigra.com for more information on Etigra, Super Boll®, FreeFall® and other Etigra products.
  • Kent County, Md., was awarded top honors in the fourth annual edition of the “Best Places to Live in Rural America” rankings by The Progressive Farmer magazine. Each year, the rankings name the top 10 rural counties in the nation, according to several quality-of-life indicators and statistics; all 10 counties are profiled in the February 2008 issue of The Progressive Farmer, and the top 500 rural counties are listed on the magazine’s Web site.Voting on the site opens Feb. 1 and runs through May 31.
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