Get Ready For IFAJ Congress 2008

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ 2008Let’s see an even bigger group of United States agricultural journalists and communicators at the 2008 Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. Next year it’s in Austria/Slovenia and the program looks like it will be great. Here’s the welcome message from the Congress President:

I would like to invite you to the 52nd IFAJ Congress “From the mountains to the sea” to Austria and Slovenia from 10 – 14 September 2008.

These two neighbouring countries will present to you forms of farming in the Heart of Europe which have orientated themselves less by global markets than by quality and sustainment and by partnership with the consumers in the regions. The country and its inhabitants will be the central points of presentation – and we would like to demonstrate this with concrete examples.

I am looking forward to welcome you in Austria and Slovenia in September 2008.

Yours sincerely,
Franz Fischler
President of the Congress

You can find the program here. Online registration will become available after January 1.

IFAJ, Video

Teens Nationwide Donate Food to Needy

Laura McNamara

America’s Second HarvestAmerica’s Second Harvest is using the popular online social networking site, Facebook, to rally teens nationwide in the effort to feed the hungry. The effort aims to collect one million cans of food by New Year’s Day.

Food Banks across America are experiencing a food shortage emergency as the holidays approach and millions of Americans seek help feeding their families. American teens have responded to this call by joining together to collect and deliver one million cans of food by New Years for food banks across the country.

America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Network, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, is projecting an immediate food shortage of 15 million pounds — the equivalent of more than 400 truckloads or 11.7 million meals — by the end of the year. Do Something is joining together with other youth organizations to raise as many cans of donated food as possible to help hungry Americans this holiday season.

The counter to one million will be featured on an application on Facebook called “Emergency Canned Food Drive.” Teens across America can access it, log how many cans they have donated, see how many friends have donated, and watch the total grow. In addition, a Facebook group called “Emergency Canned Food Drive” will allow kids to post ideas, photos, and news updates.

Food, Technology

NAMA Needs Feedback on Rural Lifestyle Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agri-Marketing AssociationHey NAMA members. In case you didn’t catch it in your email box the organization would like some feedback on the possibility of putting on a 1 day rural lifestyle forum.

Here’s the link where you can take the survey. It’s short and only takes a minute.

NAMA

2007 National Corn Yield Contest Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

National Corn Growers AssociationThe National Corn Growers Association has announced the Corn Yield Contest winners.

Not only was the number of entries higher than ever before, but several entrants scored yields of more than double the estimated average.

The 27 winners in nine production categories had verified yields averaging more than 298 bushels per acre, compared to the estimated national average of 153 bushels per acre. Ten winners (and 24 entrants overall) posted yields of more than 300 bushels per acre.

While there is no overall winner in the contest, yields of farmers who placed first, second and third in their production categories ranged from 252.6366 by Gary Porter of Mercer, Iowa, to 385.5861 by David K. Hula of Charles City, Va.

The national and state contest winners will be honored at the 2008 Commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show of NCGA, the American Soybean Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers, Feb. 28 to March 1 in Nashville, Tenn. Contest winners will also be featured in a special edition of Farm Journal magazine. This year’s guide is sponsored by BASF, Bayer CropScience and Deere & Company.

Following are the 27 national winners by class: Read More

Ag Groups, Corn, Farming

AAEA Byline Sponsorships Available

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEAThere are a few issues of the American Agricultural Editors’ Association newsletter, The Byline, available for sponsorship in 2008.

Companies will receive numerous benefits through this sponsorship. Those include:

  • Company name on the right hand side of the front page of the ByLine.
  • An opportunity to provide product or service information to the nearly 400 members of AAEA, including all key editors in the industry.
  • The credibility of attaching your company’s message to The ByLine, listed in a recent survey as one of the top benefits to membership.
  • Recognition as appropriate through editorial in the ByLine noting your company and others who sponsor AAEA programs.
  • Ability to promote your sponsorship of the ByLine internally and externally within your company as appropriate.
  • Listing in the AAEA directory as a sponsor of AAEA.

If interested give Den Gardner a call at 952/758-6502.

ACN

MarComm Changes at John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

John DeereThe ag equipment division of John Deere has realigned it’s advertising and marketing communications jobs in the Lenexa, KS office. Here’s a list of the changes which take effect immediately.

  • David Pauli is Division Manager, Large Ag Equipment, including large frame 7000, 8000 and 9000 series tractors, combines, cotton harvesters, seeding equipment, tillage and spray equipment, as well as John Deere Ag Management Solutions and John Deere AgriServices.
  • Rick Haun is Division Manager, Small Ag Equipment, including 5000, 6000 and small frame 7000 series tractors, and hay and forage equipment.
  • Mike Gustafson is Division Manager, Co-op Marketing, Parts and Special Projects, including branch marketing, dealer support and sign-up and John Deere Day.
  • Bill Burgweger is Division Manager, Operations, including audio-visual production, SAP, supply management, Adix production and contract production purchases.
  • Russ Walker is Division Manager, Publications and Direct Communications, including production of The Furrow and Homestead publications and other direct and electronic communications activities.
  • Barry Nelson, Public Relations Manager, will continue to support all John Deere ag equipment marketing and media relations activities.

Advertising, Agribusiness, John Deere, Tractor

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • Bayer CropScience announced that its vegetable seed business Nunhems has acquired the U.S. seed company Paragon Seed Inc. Based in Salinas, Calif., Paragon Seed specializes in the breeding, production and sales of lettuce varieties. The lettuce seed market with a volume of about $60 million is one of the three most important vegetable markets in the United States. Furthermore, the acquisition offers the exchange of seed production know-how. Nunhems will continue to market the newly acquired varieties under the Paragon brand to assure continuation of the strong quality image in the market.
  • Novus International, Inc. announced that the QUINGUARD® feed preservative line of antioxidants will be consolidated under the global SANTOQUIN® feed preservative brand family. SANTOQUIN may be added directly to vitamin premixes, fats and meals at the point of manufacture and/or in the mixer during processing. SANTOQUIN may be tailored to fit nearly any operation’s specific application and quality control guidelines. Novus expects the SANTOQUIN transition to be completed in the first quarter of 2008.
  • Prowl® H2O herbicide from BASF recently received registration from the EPA for use on grapes, including table, raisin and wine varieties. This registration currently applies to all states except for California and New York. The addition of grapes to the Prowl H2O label now affords grape growers opportunities for more effective broad-spectrum weed control. The unique formulation of Prowl H2O has less odor, produces less staining, contains no VOCs, and doesn’t bind to field surface residue like organic solvent-based products.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Ag Dept Reaches Children Through Disney and Video

    Laura McNamara

    USDAThe latest ploy from the USDA to teach kids about nutrition features characters from Walt Disney’s ‘The Jungle Book.’ The Ag Department is working with Partners with Ad Council and Collaborates with Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment in an effort to promote nutrition education to children and families.

    The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services and the Ad Council announce today the launch of a multi-media public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to inspire children and families to adopt healthier lifestyles.

    Walt Disney World OutreachCreated pro bono by Saatchi & Saatchi, the “Nutrition Education” PSAs aim to inspire parents to encourage healthy habits by emphasizing that “good nutrition can lead to great things” and can help their children be the best at everything they do. The campaign places an emphasis on reaching low-income families, who tend to be at greater risk for overweight and obesity, and directs audiences to the USDA’s www.MyPyramid.gov website, an effective tool for guiding healthy choices.

    In addition to Saatchi & Saatchi produced PSAs, the Ad Council and USDA partnered with Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, on a series of PSAs featuring the lovable characters and memorable songs from Disney’s original classic The Jungle Book. An extension of the USDA’s Nutrition Education campaign, these new spots, available for television, radio, outdoor and internet media, highlight the importance of balancing good nutrition and physical activity, by emphasizing the “Bare Necessities” of healthy living and sending a message to parents and children that leading a healthy lifestyle can help them be the best at everything they love to do.

    Check out the video about the new partnership which you can find at this link.

    Ag Groups, Education, Food

    January Farm Meetings

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It’s going to be a busy farm meeting season right after the holidays. Have you given any thought to having your event covered online? How about sponsoring coverage of an event as a way to promote your company or products? Here’s a few meeting ideas for you that we don’t have sponsors for but would love to cover:

    American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting – New Orleans
    International Green Week and IFAJ Board Meeting – Berlin
    International Poultry/Feed Expo – Atlanta

    If you want to look ahead a little into February then consider:

    World Ag Expo – Tulare

    By sponsoring our coverage of an event you’ll get great online exposure and custom created content that can be used for a variety of purposes. Let me know if you’re interested in a proposal or would like to discuss in more detail.

    Uncategorized

    A YouTube Phone

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Helio OceanHere’s a gadget that today’s agriblogger might want to have in the kit. It’s the updated Helio Ocean that now allows you to take a video clip and immediately load it to YouTube. I’m not sure what the quality is like but for that quick upload from an event this phone might be worth checking out.

    Helio is a stand alone phone and service provider but they are leasing their service from Sprint so you know it’s on a fast network if you’re in one of their EVDO cities. If anyone tries one out let me know how well they work.

    Just think about doing a quick video interview at Commodity Classic or any of the upcoming annual farm meetings, uploading it to your YouTube account and linking to it as soon as you update your blog! It doesn’t get any easier than that.

    You can find a video demo on their website.

    Podcasts