Share Your Holiday Party Pics, Audio and Video

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-147 - Holiday Spirits With BCS CommunicationsSince it’s holiday party time this week’s program contains the interview I did with Illinois, Leigh Ann and Kelly at BCS Communications during their annual party. If you’re having a party please send me pictures, audio or video to share with the rest of the agricultural marketing world.

Happy Holidays From BCSBCS Communications is in its 5th year and as you’ll hear the 3 amigos say, business is good and they’re always hiring.

Because it’s holiday time the program concludes with music from the Podsafe Music Network. This week’s song is “Joy-Kinda Holiday-ish” by the Charlie Crowe. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 146 (23 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:zimmcast147-11-29-07.mp3

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Agencies, Audio, ZimmCast

Get Ready For Ag Day Now

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag Day 2008It’s not too early to be looking ahead to spring and National Ag Day. Materials are ready for you to start planning your projects to celebrate this annual event.

What Is Ag Day?

It’s a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless other across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

When Is Ag Day?

Ag Day is celebrated on March 20, 2008 – the first day of spring. National Ag Day falls during National Ag Week, March 16-22, 2008.

Who Hosts Ag Day?

The Agriculture Council of America hosts the campaign on a national level. However, the awareness efforts in communities across America are as influential – if not more – than the broad-scale effort. Again this year, the Ag Day Planning Guide has been created to help communities and organizations more effectively host Ag Day events.

What Is Ag Day All About?

Ag Day is about recognizing – and celebrating – the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

* Understand how food and fiber products are produced.
* Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
* Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

Ag Groups

Chris Connelly New USDA Comm Director

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAThe USDA has a new Director of Communications and he’s Chris Connelly. Connelly replaces Terri Teuber Moore, who has been named the Deputy Director of Communications for Policy and Planning at the White House.

“Chris Connelly brings broad experience in management and public policy communications, a shared belief in the importance of transparency and a commitment to continuing this department’s reputation for responsiveness. He will be a great addition to the USDA team,” Conner said. “Chris carries on a tradition that Terri helped to build through her commitment, integrity and insight, which have been invaluable to USDA. I’m confident that she will do well in her new role at the White House.”

Connelly has served since 2001 as Chief of Staff and Communications Director for the Office of Representative Jo Ann Davis. Prior to that, he advised Members of Congress as Deputy Chief of Staff, Press Secretary and Assistant Press Secretary, as well as organizing and managing congressional staff. Connelly has served as a policy analyst and speechwriter on national issues. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Arts in Public Policy from Regent University.

Connelly will assume his new role at USDA on Monday, December 3, as will Corry Schiermeyer, who will serve as Deputy Director of Communications.

We welcome Chris and Corry and look forward to working with them.

USDA

Watermelon Promotion Board Members Appointed

Melissa Sandfort

watermelon-3-copy.jpgActing Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner appointed six producer and six handler members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

Two producer members have been reappointed for a second term, and four new producer and six new handler members have been appointed to serve on the board for the next three-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2008, and ending on Dec. 31, 2010. A full list of appointees can be found here.

Authorized under the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act of 1985, the board administers an industry-funded national research and promotion program to maintain and expand markets for watermelon. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the operations of the board.

Agribusiness, USDA

Happy Holidays From BCS

Chuck Zimmerman

Illinois, Kelly and Leigh AnnI’ve been on the road today and wound up at the BCS Communications holiday party.

Here’s the 3 amigos with Santa outside their office where the party is in full swing. We’ve got multiple inflatable holiday characters arranged around and on the building. One of them kind of deflated but thanks to the local fire department they’re back to full shape.

While I was here and before the cocktails started I interviewed the hosts. This is becoming a tradition now since this is the third year we’ve done this. So feel free to get caught up on what’s going on with BCS in this YouTube video (give it a few minutes to process if it doesn’t play yet):

Here under the moose, elk, mule deer, caribou and other assorted mounts the party is one you don’t want to miss. I’m sure we’ll do it again.

Agencies, Video

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • Bayer CropScience AG, Mertec LLC and M.S. Technologies LLC announced that they have entered into a long-term collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize several innovative trait technology products in soybeans. Under this agreement Bayer CropScience and M.S. Technologies will combine proprietary technologies and will make them available for insertion into high-yielding elite germplasm contributed by Mertec LLC. The agreement allows for resulting traits and products to be broadly licensed to the seed industry. One of the first products expected from the collaboration will be soybean varieties with tolerance to both glyphosate and to HPPD inhibitors, a class of herbicides that include Bayer’s Balance® Pro brand isoxaflutole, currently used in corn in the United States.
  • The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association announces the addition of Paul Pressley as vice president, Poultry & Egg Institute. He will provide overall strategic management for the institute. He will also be responsible for developing and implementing industry-specific human resources and employee education/training programs, risk management programs designed to identify and reduce risks to the industry in terms of property loss and employee safety and retention, and programs designed to assess and document the industry’s personnel needs. Pressley served as the director of risk management and insurance for Gold Kist in Atlanta, Ga., for 22 years.
  • Asoyia® is launching a new, higher premium program for 2008 to increase the bottom line even more for Midwestern soybean growers. The Non-GMO premiums will now start at $1.25 per bushel with a potential to earn up to $0.40 more per bushel subject to soybean market volatility. Pay no technology fees on any Non-GMO seed. Asoyia will offer 11 Non-GMO varieties for improved seed emergence, disease resistance and standability in a high yielding 1% Ultra Low Linolenic soybean.
Zimfo Bytes

Gatorade Inventor Passes Away

Chuck Zimmerman

GatoradeI was saddened to learn just now that the inventor of Gatorade died earlier today. He’s Dr. Cade and for us Gators he’s meant a lot. From a story on Reuters:

The retired Florida professor who invented Gatorade, the hydrating drink that created a multibillion-dollar sports beverage market, died on Tuesday at age 80, the University of Florida said.

Dr. Robert Cade created the drink in 1965 to help rehydrate the school’s athletes during games in Florida’s punishing heat and named it after the university’s mascot, the gator.

You can read more in the Gainesville Sun. I wonder how many bottles of Gatorade I’ve bought over the years. Do you remember playing sports and having to drink the first batches of the powder mix? Let’s just say the product has improved over the years.

Food

Renewable Fuel Cartoons

Chuck Zimmerman

CartoonThe Renewable Fuels Coalition is starting to crank up their campaign and it includes cartoons. That’s a great idea. You can find the first ones here.

The Renewable Fuels Now Coalition is a group of organizations and associations that support the need for a balanced energy diet in America. ZimmComm New Media is proud to be assisting the group in its efforts.

Biodiesel, Ethanol

James Garner Thanks Corn Growers

Chuck Zimmerman

I did not know that James Garner knew much about growing corn but in this YouTube video he sure thanks our corn farmers for the job they do. You can find it on NCGA’s Farmers Matter.

Maybe it’s because he was a spokesperson for the beef industry and learned how important corn is to a good steak!

Ag Groups, Corn

Eubank Joins HAT

Chuck Zimmerman

Andy EubankHoosier Ag Today has increased their staff with the addition of Andy Eubank. Maybe we’ll see some agriblogging from the HAT team now.

Hoosier Ag Today is proud to announce the appointment of Andy Eubank as Vice President of Operations. Eubank will join HAT President Gary Truitt in hosting and producing agricultural programs that are aired on 30 radio stations across the state. “Andy’s more than 30 years of experience in radio will make him a valuable part of the HAT team,” said Truitt. Most recently Eubank served as Vice President and General Manager of WSAL and WLHM in Logansport, IN.

Eubank will assume his position in early December and will be based in HAT’s new branch office and studio located in West Lafayette, IN. He has a long history of working with local farmers and farm organizations as well as extensive involvement in local civic and charitable organizations. “He shares our passion for serving the people of rural Indiana and will make a great addition to the team,” said Truitt. The addition of Eubank will give HAT the largest farm broadcast team based in Indiana.

Media