Creating New Media Measurement Standards

Chuck Zimmerman

ADM MeetingThe Association for Downloadable Media is holding its first ever meeting in advance of the Podcast and New Media Expo. So I’m on the ground and ready to learn more about how new media works and how we can improve the product we produce.

Everyone is interested in metrics and that’s one of the main things we’re supposed to accomplish with this new group – a method to standardize advertising standards and measurement reporting. Right now we’re hearing from people who have submitted their names for board positions and I guess we’ll be holding an election after we’re that.

I’ll primarily be posting onto ZimmComm.biz but also here when I find something I think you’d be interested in. And of course I’ve got a photo album started: Podcast and New Media Expo Photo Album

Uncategorized

New Media Revolution in Agricultural Communications

Chuck Zimmerman

e-agricultureThe FAO is just concluding e-Agriculture Week in Rome.

A week-long dialogue focusing on the use of information, communication, and associated technologies in sustainable agricultural development and food security. “e-Agriculture” is an emerging field comprising the enhancement of agriculture and rural development through improved information exchange, communication and learning processes, based on the use of internet and other digital technologies by actors in agriculture locally, regionally and worldwide.

Basically they’re talking about usine Web 2.0 strategies for agricultural communications. That would be blogging and podcasting! I guess we’ve started a worldwide “revolution.”

I’ve got an audio clip with Mr Anton Mangstl, Director, Knowledge Exchange and capacity Building Division (FAO). He talks about an “e-Revolution that can make reform and changes happen in FAO” …starting with a Director’s blog?”

Listen to Mr. Mangstl here: fao-web.mp3

Audio, Podcasts

Podcast and New Media Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Podcast & New Media ExpoIf you’re going to be a new media creator then the third annual Podcast & New Media Expo is the place to be. That’s where I’m headed today. I’ll bet there won’t be too many agriblogging farm podcasters there. Actually I hope there are and that I run into them.

This is professional improvement for today’s media pro. That’s why I’ll be there. If I’m going to live up to the moniker of “Godfather of ag blogging” then I’m going to make sure I’m up to speed on all that’s new. One of the things I’m looking into is some better telephone interface equipment since we do so many over the phone interviews and recordings. I’ll find that in the trade show portion of the event.

Another thing I’m very interested in is tomorrow morning’s early first ever meeting of the Association for Downloadable Media. I’m hoping that by working with a group like this we can come up with some standards and methods to better measure what we do for the benefit of our audience and sponsors.

The schedule looks like this:

Friday – Sept. 28, 2007
Keynotes & Conference – 9:00am-4:15pm
Exhibit Hall – 10:00am-4:00pm
Attendee Reception – 4:00pm-5:30pm
CultureCatch Salon – 8:00pm-11:00pm

Saturday – Sept. 29, 2007
Keynotes & Conference – 9:00am-4:15pm
Exhibit Hall – 10:00am-4:00pm
Expo Concert – 6:30pm-9:00pm

Sunday – Sept. 30, 2007
Keynotes & Conference – 9:00am-12:45pm
Exhibit Hall – 10:00am-1:30pm

Podcasts

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • Trimble announced that it has acquired Ingenieurburo Breining GmbH of Kirchheim, Germany, a provider of customized field data collection and office software solutions for the cadastral survey market in Germany. Financial terms were not disclosed. The addition of Breining software resources, expertise and products enable Trimble to further address local application requirements and provide customized survey solutions for the German market.
  • Bing Graffunder, CEO of Fairmount Food Group, LLC, announced the acquisition of Advantage International Foods Corporation, a privately held importer and distributor of specialty cheese. The transaction significantly increases the portfolio of Fairmount, the United States’ largest importer and marketer of specialty and deli-style cheeses. Advantage Foods marks the sixth cheese industry acquisition for the Dallas-based investment firm and its equity sponsor, GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC.
  • Mark your calendar – The Farmland Investment Fair is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 at the new Joliet Junior College Weitendorf Agriculture Education Center. Visit the Web site for more information.
Zimfo Bytes

ABM Agri-Council Starts Agri-Intelligence Report

Chuck Zimmerman

ABM Agri-CouncilThe American Business Media Agri-Council is starting a quarterly report for those of us in the ag media called, “Agri-Intelligence Report.” It’s an e-newsletter filled with information from research they’ve conducted among other things. For example the first issue includes this summary statement from the 2005 Harris Interactive, Agricultural Media Study.

. . . which concluded that farmers and ranchers are spending increasingly more time on the Internet and have a desire to learn more about the use of digital media. When asked how the time they currently spend with Ag media or information services, including the Web, will change in the next 3-4 years, 37 percent of farmers and ranchers anticipated that they will be spending more time on Internet sites. More specifically, more than half of the younger generation of respondents (between ages 20-39) said they will spend more time on Internet sites in the next 3-4 years. Furthermore, the study indicated that researching products or services and checking the weather are the top two ways farmers and ranchers use the Internet, with more than half going online to learn about technological advancements in farming and 42 percent to purchase new products or services.

On October 16 they’ll be announcing the results of a new Forrester study on marketers, end users, and decision-makers which is in the field now. To subscribe to the Report just send them an email. You can read the brochure, “Agri Media Works 24/7” here (pdf).

Publication, Research

Blog Training at NCGA

Chuck Zimmerman

NCGA MailboxCan you tell that this is the National Corn Growers Association mailbox?

I spent some time there today doing a training session on Corn Commentary. If you haven’t checked it out then you’re missing a great application of blogging by an ag group. Of course I’m biased since we built and help manage content for the site.

In our session we performed a comprehensive look at how to manage the website including comments, posting, editing, adding pictures and links and all the ways you can use the software. We’re going to continue to insert Corn Commentary into the online conversation!

Fred, I was taking a picture of the mailbox for a post.

Ag Groups, Corn

Lower Insurance Premiums for Farmers Using Monsanto Hybrid

Laura McNamara

MonsantoMonsanto says its latest agreement with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation means farmers can opt to have their insurance premiums slashed by up to 24 percent in four states. Monsanto is launching an innovative crop insurance pilot program with its hybrid corn seeds.

A new pilot program recently approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) will provide farmers an opportunity to pay lower premiums if they plant a majority of their corn acres using hybrid seeds that feature YieldGard Plus® with Roundup Ready® Corn 2 or YieldGard VT Triple™ technology from Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON).

The insurance product will be offered as a pilot program in cooperation with Western Agriculture Insurance Company and will be called the Biotech Yield Endorsement (BYE). Western Agriculture Insurance will make the program available to all other approved insurance providers to offer to their farmer customers.

The pilot program will be initially available in four states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota. Implementation of BYE has yet to be determined pending available resources and priorities for the deployment and administration of the program by the Risk Management Agency (RMA). Read More

Agribusiness, Corn, Farming, Research, Technology

CropLife America Elects Board Members

Laura McNamara

CropLifeLeaders from top crop science companies monitor pesticide management regulation as newly elected and re-elected board members of CropLife America. CropLife has elected its new Board of Directors.

Eric Wintemute, president and chief executive officer of American Vanguard Corporation, was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of CropLife America, the nation’s largest trade association for pesticide manufacturers, formulators, developers and distributors, at its annual meeting September 24-26 in White Sulphur Springs, W.V. Wintemute most recently served as vice chairman of the board and chair of the communications committee.

Valdemar Fischer, president of Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., William (Bill) Buckner, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP, and Mike McCarty, president and CEO of Helena Chemical Co. were elected vice chairmen, and Mike Frank, vice president of Monsanto Global Chemistry, was selected secretary/treasurer.Read More

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, BASF, Research, Technology

Bunge Expands With Growth of Ag Shipping Industry

Laura McNamara

Bunge North AmericaThe number of shipments of raw and processed agricultural commodities is steadily increasing and Bunge North America is expanding its trade capabilities to meet that growth. The food and feed ingredient company has added a Georgia port to its shipping operations.

Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) , announced that it has signed a cargo-handling agreement with the Georgia Ports Authority to coordinate shipments of all agriculture products through the Port of Brunswick’s Colonel’s Island Terminal.

The facility is among the largest deepwater agri-bulk operations in the U.S. South Atlantic and features a dedicated agri-bulk berth. Capable of handling grains, oilseeds and their by-products, the facility is served by the CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern railroads and has truck access via Interstate 95. With the Brunswick Harbor Deepening Project having been completed in June 2007, Brunswick now maintains a harbor depth of 36 feet at mean low water enabling the handling of Panamax-class vessels. Read More

Agribusiness, Farming, Food

CropLife Rewards Pesticide Excellence

Laura McNamara

CropLife The nation’s largest trade organization for agriculture pest management, CropLife, has named the recipients of its annual awards for excellence in pesticide development. The CropLife awards are meant to recognize responsible and effective use of pesticides to provide a safe, affordable and abundant food supply.

Fourteen recipients of 2007 CropLife America industry awards were honored in six categories for excellence in and dedication to the pesticide industry. The winners, recommended by industry professionals and chosen by CropLife America leadership, were named during the CropLife America Annual Meeting: One Vision. One Voice. Endless Possibilities on September 24-26 in White Sulphur Springs, W.V.

“The CropLife America awards honor individuals within the pesticide industry who are truly making a difference. For the first time this year, we are also recognizing state policymakers and agricultural ambassadors who are instrumental in carrying pesticide benefits messages to their communities. Their commitment to supporting the world’s finest food supply network is commendable,” said Jay Vroom, president and CEO of CropLife America. “Without the benefits of pesticides, Americans would not be able to enjoy the world’s safest, most affordable and abundant food supply.” Read More

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, BASF, Research, Technology