Changing Mobile Phone Companies

Chuck Zimmerman

Marantz PMD 620The new Marantz PMD 620 has arrived at ZimmComm courtesy of Evan Slack, Evan Slack Network. Thank you Evan for the early Christmas present. It’s going to get a work out I can tell you. Look for it connected to the golden ZimmComm microphone at a farm meeting near you.

Posting has been light the last two days because I’m trying to get caught up on some stuff. The main thing being changing all my mobile phone plans from Sprint to AT&T. You definitely don’t want to hear my horror stories but I should really be sending an invoice for about $2,500 to Sprint for just the time they’ve cost me in the last 4 weeks. It’s unbelievable. I’ve been with Sprint for about 16 years and I’ve defended them and promoted them but they lost me. I moved 6 lines away from them and I’m sure I’m going to continue to have a fight on my hands dealing with the final billing. I don’t think they’re capable of getting it right.

So now that I’m at AT&T you’re probably thinking, “Chuck must have gotten himself an iPhone.” Nope. I got a Blackberry Curve (Titanium). This is a very cool phone with what seems to be a pretty decent camera in it. I also got an Option GT Max Express card for my computer. With the new Leopard OS installed all I had to do was plug the card in and it works. No software to install. That’s why I like Mac.

With my iPod Touch and my phone I think I’m pretty well set. I like my Touch, especially since I connect to the web on wi-fi so I don’t have to have my notebook for every situation. However, I’m more comfortable typing on the Blackberry keyboard than the Touch or iPhone screen. So there you have it.

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • AgraGate Climate Credits Corp. is now accepting applications for a new, five-year carbon credits contract that includes a bonus option for a sixth year for qualified land. The 2008-2012 contract is for cropland farmed with continuous no-tillage or strip-tillage practices, or with new grass plantings since Jan. 1, 1999. The contract also has a bonus provision for operators who used the conservation tillage practices in 2007.
  • Paul Hitch, cattle producer from Guymon, Okla., has resigned his position as president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) due to cancer. According to NCBA bylaws, the association’s vice president, Andy Groseta, cattle producer from Cottonwood, Ariz., automatically moves into the president-elect position. Groseta will then succeed John Queen as NCBA president after the upcoming annual meeting in Reno, Nev., Feb. 6-9, 2008.
  • Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner has announced the Jan 3, 2008 retirement of USDA Chief Economist Dr. Keith Collins and the appointment of Deputy Chief Economist Dr. Joseph Glauber as Acting Chief Economist. Glauber is currently on detail to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative and serving as Special Doha Agricultural Envoy. He is expected to assume the duties of Chief Economist full-time beginning in mid-December.
  • The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers announces Ag Pro Outlook ’08 and their 78th Annual Meeting held Feb. 17-20, 2008 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego, Calif. Registration and fee information can be found here. Early registration deadline is Jan. 18, 2008 to take advantage of discounted fees.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Egg Cocktails

    Laura McNamara

    Distilled Spirits Council of the United StatesEggs are not just for Nog for the experts at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. The organization says there are numerous options for egg-based cocktails and the “cracked creations” are perfect for the holiday season.

    This holiday season and beyond, a classic cocktail renaissance is inspiring the modern bartender to revisit a long-lost ingredient: the raw egg. Universally accepted during the holidays as a component to creating fresh eggnog, the egg was once commonly used as an element in a whole category of classic cocktails such as fizzes, flips and pickups. With old standards like these making a comeback, the egg is getting a second crack.

    Egg whites act as a great binding agent and create a distinct froth. The most creative bartenders are inventing new uses for the egg in drink recipes – infusing the whites with fruit syrups and floating them on top of drinks or zealously shaking them into modern day Fizzes and Sours.

    The recently launched book, “Imbibe!” by David Wondrich, chronicles the life of bartending pioneer Jerry Thomas, and it includes many recipes calling for the use of raw eggs.

    While the raw egg idea might make some squirm, it seems the trendsetters are on board: Those who order the Ramos Fizz at Audrey Saunders’ Pegu Club in Manhattan are immediately informed that it will take a while. Bartenders are then employed to endlessly shake the raw egg-white mixture to create the rich foam that makes this drink so unique. Julie Reiner, who is opening “The Clover Club” in Brooklyn in mid-December, has named the establishment after the classic raw egg cocktail and will be serving several variations of egg-based drinks.
    Read More

    Food

    Trimming the Pork

    Laura McNamara

    Pork belongs on pig farms or on the dinner table, but, for many taxpayers, pork doesn’t belong in politics. A new blog called The Swine Line is using your average farm animal as a star mascot for fighting “political pork.” Check out these videos from the organization that describes itself as “America’s #1 taxpayer watchdog.” Oh yea, actor Kiefer Sutherland, known around the globe as the indomitable “Jack Bauer” on Fox Television’s blockbuster series “24,” also makes an appearance.

    Advertising, Pork, Video

    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