Merle Haggard Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Merle HaggardOne of the newest stars to advocate biodiesel is Merle Haggard. The legendary country star performed for attendees at this year’s National Biodiesel Conference after meeting with the press and the board of the National Biodiesel Board.

Before coming to the auditorium where he performed though his bus got a fill up with biodiesel. During the press conference Merle said that he was learning about the benefits of biodiesel. When asked what attracted him to the renewable fuel source his answer was “the smell.”

Merle Haggard Press ConferenceAs someone who is in a diesel powered bus a lot he says he really doesn’t like the smell of burning diesel but heard that biodiesel smelled different and that was what got him interested. He also said that he’s happy for how the development of biodiesel is helping American farmers. We didn’t really have a good place to put our microphones for the press conference so Joe Jobe’s biodiesel straw hat was recruited.

I recorded the full press conference which you can download and listen to here. It’s moderated by NBB CEO Joe Jobe: Listen To MP3 Merle Haggard Press Conference (14 min MP3)

Or listen here now:

nbc-07-haggard.mp3
Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel

AgriTalk Video

Chuck Zimmerman

AgriTalk in Production on LocationI was in the media room here at the National Biodiesel Conference today watching AgriTalk get set up and had to ask John Herath, producer, why he had a very nice looking little Sony camera set up since they’re a radio show. He’s in the foreground working the computer and other gear.

Here’s his answer which he emailed me later:

Here’s the rundown on our new video offerings. We started adding video clips to our website to off our listeners a glimpse of the people and places we see in our travels. Currently on our front page at www.agritalk.com We are featuring AgriTalk segments with actor Larry Hagman and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson from the National Biodiesel Convention in San Antonio. Check out the archives for video highlights of our coverage from the Cattle Industry Convention, including an interview with USDA Secretary Mike Johanns.

I think I need a little video editing lesson from John. I like what they’re doing. Branching out! The rules have changed. John inspired me to shoot my own video so here’s what the media room was like this morning:

Biodiesel, Media, Video

A Beefy Media Room

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-105 - Joe Schuele, NCBAOne of the best media rooms you’ll find at a major sized conference is managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Joe Schuele and Grace Webb are always there during the event to help with any question and never lose their patience.

Before the Cattle Industry Conference ended last week I interviewed Joe Schuele about how they run the media room. I think he offers some good advice, especially as it relates to working with new technology and even those new media reporters.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast and my interview with Joe here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 105 (20 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast105-2-5-07.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.

Ag Groups, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Media, ZimmCast

From Beef to Biodiesel

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello from San Antonio, location of this year’s National Biodiesel Conference. I just got in and am using the Internet Cafe here in the convention center. It’s sponsored by BioEnergy of America, Inc., giving everyone a convenient place to check email or as in my case, post onto their blog. It was snowing when I left Nashville this morning but not here where it was 61 degrees when I got in.

I’ll be cross posting from here primarily on Domestic Fuel and the Biodiesel Conference Blog. My sponsor is John Deere and I’m sure I’ll find some things to post for you here too. There are a number of celebrities on the docket and I’m sure they’ll get some media attention.

Right now a lot of people are getting checked in or attending one of the opening sessions like the one on membership in the National Biodiesel Board. Later we’ll all go off site to a Super Bowl party and I’m looking forward to that. I’m going to be collecting pictures and hopefully some interviews this afternoon before the party and will try to get some of them posted later this evening.

Biodiesel

Super Dairy Bowl

Chuck Zimmerman

Super BowlIt’s Super Bowl time and the dairy industry is ready for it.

Regardless of whether the Colts or the Bears win Super Bowl 41 in Miami, dairy producers have already scored big thanks to another successful year teaming up with the National Football League to increase milk, cheese and yogurt sales. Brian Baxter has more in this report.

Download and listen to Brian’s report here: Dairy Checkoff Super Bowl News (2 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

dairy-checkoff-news-nfl.mp3
Audio, Dairy

From Alice To Bader Rutter

Chuck Zimmerman

Betsy FrancoeurSometimes it pays to be Alice in Dairyland.

Betsy Francoeur has joined Bader Rutter & Associates as an account executive in the agency’s Public Relations Group. Prior to joining the agency, Francoeur was a marketing communications manager for Landmark Services Cooperative. She was also named Wisconsin’s 2004 “Alice in Dairyland.” A Merrill, Wis., native, Francoeur earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse majoring in communication studies, with an emphasis in public relations and organizational communication.

Agencies

Gary Schulz Is All WET

Chuck Zimmerman

Gary SchulzIt looks like Gary Schulz is keeping busy these days after so many years with World Ag Expo. I just hope he can stay dry.

Central Valley Business Incubator CEO Craig Scharton has announced the hiring of Gary Schulz as Program Director for the new Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator program located on the campus of California State University, Fresno. The 13,000-square foot WET Incubator will be home to five start-up or early-stage businesses specializing in water or energy technology. The developing businesses will have a wide variety of services available to them to dramatically increase their potential for growth, success and job creation.

For 15 years Schulz served as General Manager of the International Agri-Center in Tulare, home of the World Ag Expo. During that time, the expo grew to host over 1,500 exhibiting companies, was served by over 1,200 volunteers and visited by trade teams from over 60 foreign nations. The World Ag Expo has become known as the world’s largest farm equipment exposition.

Agribusiness

IRON Solutions Has Canadian Agreement

Chuck Zimmerman

IRON SolutionsIt looks like IRON Solutions is making inroads in Canada.

IRON Solutions, LLC, Wheel & Deal and The Big Dealer have signed an agreement to work together to bring one-step marketing solutions to Western Canadian equipment dealers. This new partnership takes the next step in used equipment marketing, which is the combination of software systems, internet technology, and print media. By working together, this new partnership offers dealers the ability to take control of their marketing programs in ways never offered before. One entry into the IRON Solutions system can result in used equipment inventory control, equipment listings going directly to online search sites, and print ads going directly to Wheel & Deal and The Big Dealer, allowing dealers to make use of the technology available to them. This reduces the usual time consuming tasks of creating lists, working on different ad formats, and doing the same tasks over and over again.

Agribusiness

Wrapping Things Up in Nashville

Chuck Zimmerman

Online Photo AlbumThings are wrapping up here at the Cattle Industry Convention. It’s on to the National Biodiesel Conference tomorrow where we will kick things off at their Super Bowl Party.

I wanted to remind you that there is an online photo album of all the pictures I’ve taken here which you may feel free to visit. You can find it using this link: 2007 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album. I think I’ve got almost 250 photos in there.

It’s been my pleasure to be the Beef Board Blogger again this year. Besides my pictures and interviews one of the key functions of Beef Board Meeting.com is a section where each committee has a page on which agendas, reports and minutes are posted. Those reports will trickle in over the next several days but a number of them have already been posted. This makes finding information about what the Beef Checkoff is doing very easy.

Cattle Industry Conference

Meet The New Beef Board Chairman

Chuck Zimmerman

Ken StielowThe new chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is Ken Stielow. Ken is a cattleman from Kansas.

Ken took over at this morning’s business meeting. I interviewed him afterward.

Ken says that making sure the money invested in the Checkoff is goal number one and he’s going to make sure that’s done successfully again this year. Ken says increasing demand is also going to be high on the priority list.

Listen to my interview with Ken here: Ken Stielow Interview (4 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-22-stielow.mp3
Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference