New Talent At Colle McVoy

Chuck Zimmerman

Colle McVoyColle McVoy has added some new talent.

Todd Zerger has been hired as Interactive Associate Creative Director. He joins the agency from Periscope, where he worked onprojects for national consumer brands like Red Bull and Arctic Cat.

Metin Sozen is the newest member of the Creative group and will perform duties as an Art Director. Sozen received his education at Bilkent University in Turkey and the New York Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Colle+McVoy, Sozen was employed at BBDO where he worked on SPAM®, Allsteel and Famous Dave’s barbeque restaurants.
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Adam Kmiec is the newest member of the Digital group, and will perform duties as Interactive Account Director. Kmiec joins Colle+McVoy from ConAgra foods where he was responsible for the interactive market planning of more than 30 national brands.
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Stacy Janicki has joined the Account Management group as Account Services Director. Prior to joining the agency, Janicki worked for Campbell Mithun and Martin Williams on a number of national consumer brands such as Microsoft Corporation, General Mills, Anheuser-Busch, Gold’n Plump and ConAgra Foods.

Uncategorized

Another Farm Podcaster Recorder

Chuck Zimmerman

Tascam Dr-1I haven’t really heard much from Tascam lately until today. Those of us who grew up in broadcasting know them well though. Now they’ve got a new tool to make the farm podcaster drool.

It’s the DR-1. I found out about it in a comment on Mindy McAdams blog, “Teaching Online Journalism.”

Cindy, if you read this: “No, I am not going to rush out and buy one.” That’s because I’ve got a Zoom H-2, and Edirol R-09 and most recently a Marantz PMD620. I like them all but you can only record on one at a time.

Podcasts

Colleen Callahan For Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

Colleen CallahanLet’s root for Colleen for Congress. Thanks to a heads up from Cyndi Young we learned about a report in the Springfield Register.

Colleen Callahan, a former agriculture reporter for Peoria radio and television stations, is asking the Democratic Party to be its nominee this fall for the 18th Congressional District.

She said Thursday that numerous people have asked her to run, and after discussing it with family and friends, she is now actively seeking the support of the party’s 20 county chairmen.

Many of you know Colleen from her years at WMBD in Peoria and now with her own firm, Colleen Callahan Communications.

Media

Agri-Culture: Central Highlands of Vietnam

Laura McNamara

Coffee plantations in the highlands of central VietnamAs I mentioned before, I haven’t quite made it back to the States yet after traveling to Germany in November (where I covered the Agritechnica farm equipment show in Hanover). For the last month and a half or so, my travels have taken me throughout much of Southeast Asia. I have already posted pics from when I stumbled upon a New Holland outlet in Chiang Mai, Thailand. But, now, I thought you might be interested in a trip I took through the mountainous terrain of central Vietnam.

Five days, three travelers, two motorcycles and one guide exploring the fertile hills of the Truong Son mountains. Within minutes, we were well into the heart of Vietnamese agriculture. The first breathtaking panorama we laid eyes upon was a lush valley of coffee plantations that were speckled with palms. I’ll be honest. I had no idea what a coffee plant or a coffee blossom looked like before this trip. I can tell you now though that these plants are a huge and definitive part of the stunning landscapes in the central highlands of Vietnam.

Coffee plantation in the central highlands of VietnamThe coffee isn’t to be missed either. Having lived and worked in Rome, Italy, I’ve had my fair share of strong, quality coffee. Vietnamese coffee is the first I’ve tasted that might rival that of the Italian espresso. It’s strong, rich and just a touch bitter. I’ve come to rely upon my morning cup (or cups rather) to get me energized for my non-stop traveling. The best part is the coffee is traditionally served with a small filter on top of your glass. The filter is filled with coffee grounds, which are slightly pressed. Then, water is poured on top and you have to patiently wait… watching the water turn dark brown and drop through to your glass. Finally, when all the water has seeped through the grounds and into your glass, you can remove the filter, add sugar to taste and enjoy!

I have TONS of photos to sort through… but, there’s definitely more to come about the central highlands of Vietnam!

Farming, Food

I Don’t Want To Be Green

Chuck Zimmerman

I really hate to bring up the color green here even though it used to be my favorite color. But after reading on Meatingplace.com about a Greenpeace study that says that people should all become vegetarians in order to reduce global warming I can’t keep quiet. C’mon. They supposedly say according to the article (I don’t even want to waste my time looking up this tripe):

A Greenpeace International report released earlier this month places much of the blame for rising greenhouse gas emissions on agriculture — and specifically on livestock.

The solution, Greenpeace suggests, is that more of the world’s population need to become vegetarian so that the head count of livestock can drop.

It is only to laugh over since this is so sad. Folks, the whole “manmade” global warming hoax is all about setting up a gullible public to be open to this kind of lunacy.

Yesterday I got two solicitations from PR people for “green” clients. One wants me to point you to her client who can tell you how to have a “catered green party” and the other is something about planting trees and getting a coupon for their books they sell. Oh my gosh. Go away. Whackos abound and they’re all over this green thing. If I’m going to have a green party there will be green beer, guacamole, salad, etc. That’s the kind of green I like. Well there is money too.

I’m all for doing things that reduce or don’t cause pollution and being “responsible.” However, if anyone thinks that the world will end tomorrow or anytime soon just because we eat meat and drive cars they’re whacko in my book. Take good old Al Gore who was heard to say at Davos that if we don’t do something soon we’ll have a polar ice cap melt completely in 5 years. Huh?

It seems like agriculture is being pointed at increasingly by these whackos and the non-ag media love it. It’s so far from the truth that I really hope most people understand. If you haven’t read one of Stephen King’s Michael Crighton’s new books, “State of Fear,” (fiction) then I recommend it. I’m also going to get Dennis Avery’s new book, “Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1,500 Years” (not fiction).

I think I’ll take a green break and drink some tea. And let’s say it one more time, “Farmers are the original environmentalists.”

Livestock, Wackos

A Field Assignment From Charleston Orwig

Chuck Zimmerman

Field AssignmentWhen I first saw an incoming link to AgWired From Field Assignment I thought it must be a student blog. Probably because I had just read about one teacher’s assignment of having her online journalism class take video cameras out into the field to shoot video for an assignment. By the way, if you’re in journalism and wondering if you should blog you might want to read this post.

Sorry, I got off track there. As it turns out, Field Assignment is the Charleston-Orwig blog. Great name and they’re doing it right. Although I don’t see the rss feed for the blog. If someone could send that to me I’ll add it to my news feeds.

“field assignment” chronicles one agency’s journey through the world of agribusiness. One post might feature a field report from an industry event while another links to useful information elsewhere. Enjoy.

How many more of you (agencies, agribusinesses, commodity groups, media types, farmers) have a blog you haven’t let me know about? C’mon, you can share. I’ll be kind. I didn’t say anything bad about this one did I?

Hey Mike, you look marvelous!

Don’t forget to take the AgWired Survey 2008 and be entered in the giveaway contest. I’m going to keep reminding you about this so go ahead and git ‘er done.

Agencies

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Protecting pigs against enzootic pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae has just become more flexible. Ingelvac MycoFLEX® from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., (BIVI) has been approved to aid in the reduction of enzootic pneumonia, providing quick immunity and long-lasting protection. Enzootic pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a widespread swine disease that can affect pigs of all ages, but is primarily a disease of rowing and finishing pigs and is characterized by a dry cough and impaired performance. Ingelvac MycoFLEX uses single-dose technology pioneered by BIVI.
  • The Appaloosa Horse Club is proud to sponsor Bob and Suzanne’s Wind Rider Equestrian Challenge at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo Feb. 21-24, 2008 in Harrisburg, Penn. The Wind Rider Equestrian Challenge is open to riders 14 years or older from all disciplines including western, dressage, hunter/jumpers, trail, natural horsemanship, gaited horse riders and more. The grand prize winner will receive a custom made saddle provided by master saddle maker, David Genadeck, About the Horse Inc. and Tree by Anotoree Ltd. Click here for more information and entry applications, or call 845-692-7478.
  • Leaders of the Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin (FHCW) honored the Wisconsin Farm Credit Services (FCS) at the 2008 Wisconsin FCS Legislative Conference on Jan. 14. The four Wisconsin associations — AgStar FCS, Badgerland FCS, GreenStone FCS and United Farm Credit — provided upfront support to the cooperative, including making financial grants for startup legal and actuarial costs; assisted in conducting member focus groups to determine what farmers would want in a healthcare plan; and provided marketing support to help get information about the new cooperative to farmers across the state of Wisconsin.
Zimfo Bytes

InfoFarm – The NAL Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

National Ag LibraryDid you know the National Agricultural Library has a blog? Me either. But it does. Well, sort of. It really looks more like they’re creating individual pages that have a comment form on them. But someone’s writing and it’s all being archived.

And it does have an rss feed so you can subscribe to it.

USDA

B2B Finding Success With Emerging Media

Chuck Zimmerman

eMarketer GraphicThere’s a great article on eMarketer today that anyone involved in agricultural marketing ought to take a look at. No, they don’t use the word “farmers” but when we’re talking business to business what else is agribusiness to farmers? They point to several studies for those of you looking for justification information.

Guideline asked B2B and B2C marketers to rate the effectiveness of various online marketing tactics. Almost all marketers surveyed used some form of social media. However, business marketers reported more success with podcasts (21% of B2B vs. 13% of B2C listed podcasts as “effective”), blogs (17% vs. 6%) and RSS feeds (14% vs. 11%).

“In 2008, B2B marketers will increase spending on the most effective tactics first—developing their company site, e-mail, webinars and search engine marketing,” said Lisa Phillips, senior analyst at eMarketer. “However, these marketers are ready to experiment more broadly with social media.”

Uncategorized

Saved By The Bud

Chuck Zimmerman

Flower BudsFlower farmers rejoice. There’s now a website which will help more guys make better buying decisions just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Savedbythebud.com is a free site that combines information, illustrations, Flash video demos, common sense and some wit to show why flowers should be major weapons in any man’s struggle to win the affections of the opposite sex. It was created by the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center (NFBIC), in Danby, Vt.

The site shows the type of guy who might normally discount flower power exactly why and how he should use nature’s chick magnets to his advantage. The idea is backed up by science.

According to recent research by Rutgers University scientists, women not only like flowers, they’re physically and positively affected by a gift of flowers and the effects linger for days.

So there you have it guys. Go get some flowers.

Ag Groups