- DEKALB has announced the launch of DEKALB WingWear, a clothing line featuring custom-designed graphic apparel and accessories for young men and women ages 15 to 24. A portion of all DEKALB WingWear proceeds will be donated to help fund a new DEKALB Ag Youth Scholarship for high school and collegiate students pursuing agriculture-related degrees. Ten students will be awarded a $2,500 DEKALB Ag Youth Scholarship; all scholarship dollars will be administered via the National FFA.
- Pioneer introduces 21 new High Total Fermentable (HTF) ethanol hybrids for 2008 planting for growers looking for more bushels per acre and more ethanol per bushel. These hybrids deliver higher levels of fermentable starch, resulting in higher ethanol output. Currently, Pioneer has more than 180 HTF-designated hybrids available across a wide range of maturities. In addition, many Pioneer HTF ethanol hybrids contain the Herculex I or Herculex XTRA insect protection traits which reduce insect damage to grain and prevent molds and mycotoxins. This helps maximize grain yields and ensures a more consistent supply of high-quality grain.
- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns reappointed one member and appointed one member and two alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board. The terms for all of the appointees will run from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2010. More information on USDA Research and Promotion Programs, can be found here. Secretary Johanns also announced 33 appointments and three alternate appointments to the United Soybean Board. All appointees will serve three-year terms, beginning December 2007. Click here for a complete list of appointees.
FAZD Provides FMD Information
In case you don’t know much about foot and mouth disease there’s a new website with all the information. It’s produced by the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease at Texas A&M University.
As a Department of Homeland Security National Center of Excellence, the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense is focused upon the development and application of integrated transcending methods and capabilities that specifically address priority areas set by the Department of Homeland Security. It is a key and active participant in the evolution of the national network of collaborating and cooperating universities, national and federal assets, and private sector partners.
You’ll find some good Q&A on the topic among other things. I’m not sure what “transcending methods and capabilities” are but I’m sure they do them well.
Dave Mehlhaff at American Hereford Association
My main man Dave Mehlhaff is back to his livestock communications roots. He’s the Director of Communications for the American Hereford Association.
In this position, Mehlhaff will manage and direct the organization’s strategic positioning of the Hereford brand and the attributes that convey value advantages of the breed and the organization. He will also create communication strategies that put an innovative and positive face on the Hereford breed within the seedstock, commercial cow-calf, feeding and food sectors of the beef industry. Mehlhaff will work with both the AHA and Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC communication efforts and will serve as the communication link between the AHA, CHB LLC and the news media.
Country Living Olympics
I’m not sure what you do at a Country Living Olympics but I’d sure like to find out. It must have something to do with animals though since it’s going to happen during the American Royal Livestock and Trade Show. Besides country living sports the Country Living Association is planning a full day of speakers and panel discussions to help us better understand this growing marketplace. Make your plans to attend now by registering online.
More and more Americans are buying the farm – literally. Whether looking to get away from the city, enjoying the outdoors and their animals, or seeking the privacy and safety of the rural setting, country living consumers are becoming a growing and important market segment.
Individuals and businesses looking for ways to develop strategies to reach out to this growing rural lifestyle market are invited to attend two upcoming events sponsored by the Country Living Association (CLA): The Country Living Outlook Conference and the CLA National Event and Country Living Olympics.
“As the country living segment revives small towns across America, it is becoming an increasingly prominent buying segment,” says Courtney Yuskis, director of Country Living Association. “The Country Living Outlook Conference will help businesses and other entrepreneurs appeal to this burgeoning group and its unique needs and priorities. The National Event and Olympics is for families and individuals interested in the rural lifestyle, whether currently living in a rural area or considering a move to the country. It’s an opportunity to meet others, share information and have fun.”
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Zimfo Bites
- Railroad Commission of Texas, will test an innovative power generation system on a Texas dairy farm. “The Railroad Commission of Texas is honored to receive funding both from PERC and NRCS,” said PERC Agriculture Advisory Committee member Dr. Steve Jaeger.” The support of both organizations proves we are on the right track to find environmentally friendly technologies for the U.S. agriculture industry.” NRCS provides grants to organizations that will develop or utilize innovative technologies to provide solutions to environmental issues affecting the agriculture industry. PERC also supported the project with a grant. The Railroad Commission of Texas’s Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division (AFRED) will manage the project to monitor the efficiency of a combined heat and power (CHP) system in generating electrical power and supplying hot water to the dairy. The CHP system will utilize three propane-fueled micro-cogenerators to produce the electricity.
- Farm Aid, The New School and Food Systems Network NYC gathered community food and farm activists, local and state policy makers and policy analysts Wednesday to identify strategies for strengthening family farm agriculture, advancing food security and helping connect more people with family-farm identified foods. The New York Food Policy Forum: Fresh Ideas on Farms and Food emphasized the importance of strengthening family-farm agriculture through New York and federal policy changes. “The New York Food Policy Forum is a vibrant example of this legacy of encouraging cooperative action among activists, advocates and political figures. Together, we’re building a good food future for New York City and the nation,” said Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar.
- Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and Exelixis Plant Sciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelixis, Inc., has announced that the companies have signed a major research collaboration agreement which includes the purchase of selected assets by Dow AgroSciences’ affiliate Agrigenetics Inc. The agreement is focused on the development of new tools for gene discovery and validation of novel crop traits. The asset purchase by Dow AgroSciences includes certain intellectual property and physical assets used for crop trait discovery.“This asset purchase and collaboration will accelerate our gene discovery and validation efforts as we work to bring revolutionary solutions for our customers,” said Daniel R. Kittle, Ph.D., vice president of Research and Development for Dow AgroSciences.
Autofarm and Raven Industries Expand Collaboration
It seems like the precision agriculture companies are doing a lot of collaborating these days. It makes sense when you consider how many different components have to work together from software to satellites to hardware. Here’s the latest announcement from Autofarm and Raven Industries.
AutoFarm and Raven Industries announce the expansion of a collaborative agreement for product development opportunities following the successful launch of the new Raven steering system, QuickTrax. The collaborative team is finishing development and test of a new system which will provide full-featured sub-inch accurate RTK automated steering designed by AutoFarm and state-of-the-art displays and controls such as Viper Pro and Envizio Pro by Raven Industries.
This expanded effort will take advantage of expertise and existing products from both companies: Raven, offering the displays plus sprayer and planter section control, boom height control and variable rate control for sprayers, spreaders and planters; AutoFarm, offering market leading technology in sub-inch accurate RTK steering systems.
“The system will be marketed mutually and will be available through the distribution channels of both Raven and AutoFarm by mid winter, which will expand the GPS steering market for both companies domestically and internationally,” says Justin Larouche, AutoFarm Director of Product Management.
Missouri Beef Industry Council Video PSA
The Missouri Beef Industry Council has been a client of ours since we started ZimmComm New Media going on four years ago. They called last week needing a video psa to use in the upcoming stage 4 event of the Tour of Missouri, a professional bicycle race across the state.
So with a little help from iMovie and iDVD it was easy to create some photos with the Beef Checkoff logo, use a Sam Elliott audio spot, add a tag and there you have it. Fast, easy and it works. The event in Columbia, MO will feature the video running on as a loop on a screen that’s managed by the Columbia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. So whenever you make a video what do you do with it? That’s right class. Put in on YouTube.
If I were competing in the race I’d sure want a nice steak to give me power and energy. MBIC will be serving beef samples at the event.
I’ll Be Your Geek Marketer
Many AgWired fans know I recommend Micro Persuasion written by Steve Rubel. The man has more insight into how new media can be used as corporate marketing tools than anyone else I’ve found. I have tried diligently to apply his ideas to the agricultural marketing world. He also writes a column for Advertising Age and his latest one is right on the money in my opinion.
He writes about a new career path that’s emerging on the advertising/PR agency and client sides called the Geek Marketer. “My thesis is this: it’s very difficult for anyone in marketing to keep up with all the twists the digital space because technology changes so darn fast. It’s like chasing a cheetah. Most marketers – be they clients or agency side – are heads-down running their business. Therefore, companies are creating a new role. They’re hiring people who act as translators between the ultra geeks and the marketers, if you will, and shepherd the development of pilot programs.”
He says about people like us, “They are marketers by trade, yet they also have a hard-core interest in technology and social anthropology. As curious individuals, they are constantly studying how digital advances are changing our culture and media. Armed with these insights, they regularly apply them in a marketing context by working closely with brand teams to codify new best practices.”
So, do you have a Geek Marketer on your staff? Are you willing to let that person try some new marketing programs that use technology you’re not familiar with or that you don’t use yourself? If Geek Marketer is not on your corporate flow chart then keep the Godfather of ag blogging in mind.
Get To Know Laura Mayfield
I had an opportunity this morning to talk with the new President of McCormick Company, Laura Mayfield. Our conversation will help you get to know her.
Laura says she’s worked with some of the staff at McCormick on projects over a period of several years so she’s not a complete stranger. She says that clients can expect the same great service they’ve come to expect from McCormick. Mark Perrin, will now serve as President of JLM1926 Holdings, the parent company of the agency.
You can also find out where the ZimmComm crew will be in coming weeks on the show. I’ve also included music this week from the Podsafe Music Network. Since we’re talking agency this week’s song is “Path Way” by a group called Space Agency.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: 
ZimmCast 135 (17 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:
zimmcast135-9-4-07.mp3The 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
New Leadership At John Deere
Various members of Deere & Company’s senior management have become, well, even more senior. The company also opened up a new position.
Deere & Company has announced the appointment of two new senior officers as well as new assignments for other members of the senior management team, including the creation of a position to leverage several key disciplines across the four divisions of the company.
“As has been Deere’s practice for generations, we continue to strengthen, deepen and broaden leaders at all levels of the Company, including the senior management team,” said Robert W. Lane, chairman and chief executive officer. “These changes will expand the experience of these individual leaders and enhance our ability to achieve high levels of sustained performance by distinctively serving John Deere customers.”
Joining the senior management team will be James M. Field, who will become President, Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division, and Markwart von Pentz, who will become President, Agricultural Division, Europe, Africa and South America and Global Harvesting Equipment Sourcing.
Von Pentz replaces H. J. Markley, who is being named to a new position of Executive Vice President with responsibility across the entire Deere enterprise for worldwide parts services; global supply management and logistics; enterprise information technology; and corporate communications.
“In the face of significant competitive challenges, it is essential that Deere focuses senior leadership on these four specific areas that serve the entire enterprise,” said Lane. “In this new role, H. J. Markley will help ensure that Deere’s remarkable power of aligned high performance teamwork is maximized across the enterprise.”
Von Pentz has been serving as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Product Support for Europe, Africa and Middle East. He has held a number of positions in marketing leadership for John Deere both in Europe and North America.
Deere also said that John J. Dalhoff will become Vice President and Comptroller to replace Field. Dalhoff has most recently served as Director of Finance, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division.
Additional changes in leadership include the assignment of Advanced Technology and Innovation and Intelligent Mobile Equipment Technologies to Samuel R. Allen, who is President, Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division and John Deere Power Systems; and the assignment of Corporate Human Resources and Industrial Relations to David C. Everitt, who is President, Agricultural Division, North America, Australia and Asia and Global Tractor & Implement Sourcing.