Organic Vegetable Farmers Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

If you’ve always wondered about organic vegetable farming there’s a farm apprenticeship available at Old Shaw’s Farm in Vermont. The link will take you to the farm blog which was started by the former attorney owners who decided to get away from all that stuff and move out into the country.

It’s also interesting to note how well their blog is doing. According to a newspaper story, farmer Peter Griffin says they receive a couple hundred visits a day and emails from people all over the world. “There are a lot of farmers out there who have blogs,” he said. “For us it is a couple of things. I don’t view it as a marketing tool, but we do have CSA (community supported agriculture) customers, and CSA members read the blog. People send e-mails to us (saying), ‘I’ve always wanted to have a farm and I can live vicariously through you.’ ” Other farmers send them e-mail to inquire about unusual vegetables or how to find seeds.

Of course the story about this was posted onto LexBlog where “real lawyers have blogs.” Thanks to Smays for the alert.

Farming

Research Beef Online

Chuck Zimmerman

Beef Research WebsiteAs if the Beef Checkoff doesn’t have enough websites, now there’s one more. I’m really not sure I understand the philosophy behind the whole multiple website strategy. This one focuses on research. You can find a lead-in site to all of them at Beef.org (16 just for the Checkoff).

The topic of research may sound a little academic, yet it has been the cornerstone of nearly every decision that impacts the beef industry. Without research, there wouldn’t be a Flat Iron Steak, or monumental improvements in beef safety or even the unforgettable ad tagline, “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.” A new Web site, www.beefresearch.org, showcases checkoff-funded research in fact sheets and summaries, graphics, extensive resource listings, related Web sites, staff contacts and even glossaries of terms. The site is basically reader-friendly, presenting facts and findings in layman’s terms.

Research presented on the site was managed by the checkoff-funded Center for Research & Knowledge Management (R&KM) at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, in four priority areas: human nutrition, beef safety, market research and product enhancement. Much of the information on the Web site, ranging from ethanol byproducts to anti-carcinogenic activity in beef, has stemmed from cooperative research efforts at some of the country’s leading university agricultural and meat-science programs.

Ag Groups, Beef, Internet

Give Me Broadband For Christmas

Chuck Zimmerman

eMarketerHow many of you remember when most households didn’t have a television set or even a radio? It wasn’t that long ago. A new estimate by the folks at eMarketer shows that when it comes to broadband internet access we’re fast approaching a saturation level. Are you making sure your communications strategy is geared up for this?

According to eMarketer’s estimates, an important milestone will be reached over the next 12 months — high-speed Internet penetration will surpass 50% of US households, equating to over 60 million residential broadband subscribers.

They also state in this article that “an increasing number of broadband households are utilizing their high-speed connections for value-added services such as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), Internet protocol TV (IPTV), paid audio and video content and more.” None of these national studies and estimates breaks out farmers but does anyone really think they’re somehow different from the rest of the population?

Internet

LaBarbera Promoted at Rhea & Kaiser

Chuck Zimmerman

Rhea & KaiserSue LaBarbera has been promoted to management supervisor at Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications.

“Sue is a natural leader who doesn’t shy away from responsibility, which she takes very seriously,” said Steve Rhea, president and chief executive officer of Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications. “She’s of immeasurable value to clients and this agency.”

LaBarbera started at Rhea & Kaiser as an account executive with the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare account. She later took on team leadership responsibilities for the Aurora Healthcare and TechPac accounts. LaBarbera was a member of the Rhea & Kaiser new business team that won the American Academy of Dermatology account in 2002 and she is a part of the agency’s new-business management team.

Agencies

Remembering Sonja Hillgren

Chuck Zimmerman

I just learned that Sonja Hillgren, senior vice president/editorial for Farm Journal Media, just passed away after a battle with cancer. This is sad news. All of us involved in agricultural communications will sincerely miss Sonja.

Since I’m sure many of you knew Sonja I’m posting the obituary that was forwarded as well.

SONJA HILLGREN of Philadelphia on December 19, 2006, she was the loving wife of Bruce T. Downs, also survived by her sister Annette M. Bray (William L.) of Richfield, MN, brother John A. Hillgren (Shirly J.) of Sioux Falls, SD and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Service at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1904 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 11:30 A.M. on Friday, December 22, 2006. Int. Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD. In her memory, donations to the Church (address above) would be appreciated. Oliver H. Bair Co. 610-446-8585

Publication

World Ag Expo is 40

Chuck Zimmerman

World Ag Expo is 40In case you didn’t know it, the World Ag Expo is turning 40. That’s not old though, I’m here to tell you.

The 40th World Ag Expo is just around the corner! The largest agriculture exposition in the world has something to offer every farmer, rancher, dairy producer or agribusiness professional. For the latest information and media resources, please visit our website at www.worldagexpo.com.

2007 World Ag Expo

Where: International Agri-Center- 4450 South Laspina Street, Tulare, CA 93274 (Located in California’s Central Valley, 45 miles south of Fresno and 60 miles north of Bakersfield, just off Highway 99. Airfields are located in Tulare, Visalia, Fresno and Bakersfield.)

When: February 13,14,15, 2007 (the second Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of February)

Cost: $9 General Admission; $24 for 3-Day Pass

Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact: (800) 999-9186; Fax (559) 686-5065; email info@farmshow.org

Farm Shows

You Can Feed Your Zune

Chuck Zimmerman

Feed Your ZuneFor those of you (like me) who were wondering why Microsoft would spend millions pushing a digital audio player that doesn’t let you auto subscribe to podcasts – wonder no more. Now you can FeedYourZune.

FeedYourZune is the perfect companion software for your new Zune Player from Microsoft! And it’s 100% FREE to download and use! FeedYourZune is a full featured RSS reader and Podcast Media Player.

I wonder why they didn’t do this to start with and bundle it in the software that comes with the Zune. Whatever the reason there’s now more choices for the consuming and farm public to get their podcasts. It’s getting easier every day folks.

Podcasts

My Niche is Barbeque

Chuck Zimmerman

NichePorkTo me, barbeque is a niche product and one I really enjoy. I’m not sure that’s exactly what NichePork has in mind though. But to find out I could attend the NichePork Pork Producer Conference on Jan. 23, 2007, at the Ramada Conference Center in Bryan-Montpelier, Ohio.

“This conference provides pork producers with an opportunity to learn from and share ideas with industry experts as well as other producers who are having success marketing niche pork,” according to Rick Pfortmiller with the National Swine Registry and member of the Niche Marketing Committee. “If producers have any interest in niche pork production at all, this is the place to be.”

The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The pre-registration fee is $30, while registration at the door is $35 Download a registration form at http://www.nichepork.org/ProducerHome.asp. Interested producers are asked to pre-register by Jan. 16, 2007. For more information, call Florian Chirra, Ohio State University Extension, at (419) 636- 5607 or email Chirra1@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu or call Beth Franz, Cass County Extension Office, at (269) 445-4438 or email franzeli@msu.edu.

Ag Groups, Pork

Midday News On Brownfield

Chuck Zimmerman

Brownfield Proving that they haven’t had enough programs to produce at Brownfield, they’re going to start something new.

Effective January 1, 2007, Brownfield will add a midday state specific program to the Monday through Friday program offering. The new program will be available in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Brownfield already features a Midday Agribusiness News report in Indiana.

“We are adding the Midday Agribusiness News to our Brownfield program offering because several affiliate radio stations requested another state-specific news program,” said Brownfield Farm Director Cyndi Young. “The program will feature state news, markets and weather information relevant to farmers and agribusiness listeners. We believe it will be a good fit and compliment to local programming.”

Media

Cotton Board Members Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAIt’s a job keeping up with all the appointments to all the commodity organizations that USDA is involved with. Here’s the latest on the Cotton Board. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the appointment of eight members and eight alternate members.

The Cotton Board consists of 36 representatives of cotton producers and importers, their alternates and one consumer advisor. The members and alternates named today will serve a three-year term, ending Dec. 31, 2009.

The re-appointed members are: Kevin G. Rogers, Mesa, Ariz.; Tom J. Gary, Greenwood, Miss.; Roger L. Blackwelder, Rotan, Texas; Janet C. Ydavoy, Ft. Myers, Fla.; and Sonja Chapman, Boonton, N.J. The re-appointed alternate members are: Walter A. Heiden, Arlington, Ariz.; William E. Harris, Benton, Miss.; and Carlos F.J. Moore, Naples, Fla.

The newly appointed board members are: James M. Lucas, Chester, Ga.; Mark D. Williams, Farwell, Texas; and Anderson D. Warlick, Gastonia, N.C. The newly appointed alternate members are: Benjamin O. Boyd, Sylvania, Ga.; Randy L. Braden, Midland, Texas; Linda F. Taylor, Wolfforth, Texas; Robert J. Mele, Cherry Hill, N.J.; and Teresa M. Nersesyan, Long Beach, Calif.

Ag Groups, Cotton, USDA