Honoring USDA Employees

Chuck Zimmerman

Secretary's Annual Honor AwardsAgriculture Secretary Mike Johanns honored USDA employees from across the nation for exemplary service and achievements during the 59th annual USDA Honor Awards Ceremony held today.

“The Honor Awards recognize truly outstanding service by USDA employees who have achieved great things through their dedication, leadership and hard work,” said Johanns. “The men and women we are honoring today deserve our gratitude and I am proud to celebrate their contributions to the Department of Agriculture.”

The Honor Awards are the most prestigious awards presented by USDA. This year there are 34 individual and group award winners. In addition, USDA is recognizing employees who participated in rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita for their many sacrifices.

You can see the program and full list of honorees here (pdf file).

USDA

Boomtown ABC’s

Chuck Zimmerman

Boomtown Institute's ABC BookI keep up with Jack Schultz who may travel more than I do. He’s the Boomtown USA guy.

Now the Boomtown Institute has a new book out, “ABC Volume One: Enriching Your Community One Letter at a Time” by Megan Beeler and Coleen Phillips.

Direct and to the point, this pint sized book is overflowing with provoking concepts and compelling ideas to aid in your economic and community development efforts. Buy multiple copies to distribute to board members, neighbors, newcomers and natives. It only takes a few minutes to read, but a lifetime to live. Quantity discounts available. To order go to www.boomtowninstitute.com.

Publication

AgNewsWire.AgWired.com vs. NFBS?

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m often asked what the difference is between our AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service and the NAFB member service called NFBS. Then today I received an email from a client of ours that contained a report from the NFBS showing which NAFB members (by name and company) downloaded their audio files. This client wondered if we could provide the same information. The short answer is “no.”

Since we started our AgNewsWire.AgWired.com/Talking News Release service we have viewed the download identity of the journalists we email news releases to as confidential. To start with, we polled several journalists for their opinion and were told that if we ever identified them personally to our client and they found out it would be the last time they ever used releases sent by us. No other newswire service I know of reports this either. Additionally, although I understand why companies and organizations want to know who downloaded their release or any multi-media files that are included, there’s a danger to the journalist of that information being used to reward or punish their station, magazine or website. Read More

Media, NAFB

New Ag Hall of Famers

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agricultural Hall of FameThe National Agricultural Hall of Fame will induct three new members. What a diverse group. To attend the ceremony on October 27 contact their office: 913-721-1075 or info@AgHallofFame.com

The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the election of three outstanding leaders in agriculture into its Hall of Fame. Former Kansas Senator Robert J. Dole, Order of Patrons of Husbandry founder Oliver Hudson Kelley, and ag chemist Justus von Liebig will be recognized for their monumental achievements in agriculture during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, October 27, 2006. Read More

Ag Groups

Nitamin Distributed by Wilbur-Ellis

Chuck Zimmerman

NitaminSpecialty ag markets need a special distributor for their specialty fertilizers.

Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc. today announced a long-term agreement with Wilbur-Ellis Company to expand the availability of Nitamin liquid fertilizers. As part of the agreement, Wilbur-Ellis will have the exclusive right to distribute Nitamin fertilizers to the specialty agriculture and commodity crop markets that Wilbur-Ellis currently serves in the United States.

“Georgia-Pacific is pleased to enter into this relationship with Wilbur-Ellis. Their extensive crop production expertise and excellent reputation as a leading distributor in key ag markets makes them a natural fit to distribute our innovative Nitamin Steady-Delivery fertilizers,” said Rick Urschel, president of Georgia-Pacific’s chemical division. “This business collaboration highlights a goal that both Wilbur-Ellis and Georgia-Pacific share – to provide efficient crop fertilization solutions and value to growers who are looking to maximize their return on crop input expenses.” Read More

Agribusiness

Three Managers For Three-Sixty

Chuck Zimmerman

Food 360Vance’s Food360 division has some new managers. They are Gary English, Eileen (Shay) Weishaar and Cheri Knoy. All of them will work in the Produce Group which publishes The Packer, Produce Merchandising, The Grower, and Citrus & Vegetable as well as web sites and other electronic products covering production through retailing of fruits and vegetables.

“Gary, Eileen and Cheri are three experienced industry veterans who are extremely deserving of these promotions,” Alford says. “We decided to move from a single sales manager to three in order to better support and mentor our sales staff and to improve service to our customers.”

Gary English will carry the title of “Sales Manager, Eastern Region” for the Produce Group. Eileen Weishaar will be “Sales Manager, Western Region” for The Packer, Produce Merchandising and other associated publications and electronic properties. Eileen will continue to be based in Lenexa, Kansas. Most people in the industry know her as Eileen Shay, but that changed with her recent marriage. Cheri Knoy, who has been with Vance Publishing for nine of her 15 years in the industry, will be “National Sales Manager” for The Grower and Citrus & Vegetable magazines.

Publication

Internet Explorer 7 Official

Chuck Zimmerman

Internet Explorer 7Since Microsoft officially announced Internet Explorer 7 this week I decided to make the switch. It only takes a few minutes and I’ve got it running on my 2 main computers now. So far I’m happy with it.

Besides the tabbed browsing feature I’ve liked about Firefox it’s also got a built in web feed reader that works like a charm. Basically, if you are on a web page that has an RSS feed, IE7 has a little icon in the top tool bar that you click on. It will display the feed and you just click “subscribe” and it’s added to your favorites where you can easily view the feeds anytime. The software keeps your feeds up to date for you.

So get IE7 and use it to add AgWired to your feeds if you haven’t already done so!

Internet

Who’s Yer HAT Daddy?

Chuck Zimmerman

Hoosier Ag TodayA couple years ago the idea of farm podcasting was just not “mainstream.” Now what’s happening? There’s a growing number of farm podcasters. Say it can’t be so Chuck. Sorry. It’s so.

Hoosier Ag Today, a radio program service Indiana’s agricultural industry, has announced the development of a multi-media web site, . The site focuses on serving the informational needs of Hoosier farm families and rural residents with a unique blend of text, audio, and graphics. A daily podcast that can be downloaded directly or by subscription through a podcast download program like iTunes is also offered.

“Farmers are using the internet in a variety of new and different ways,” said Gary Truitt, President of Hoosier Ag Today. “We have incorporated a variety of approaches into the site to take advantage of current and future trends.”

The daily podcast combines several of HAT’s radio programs into one informative and entertaining podcast. “The number of farmers and agri-business professionals that are using podcasts is relatively small, but the percentage is growing every year,” said Truitt. The podcst allows HAT listeners to hear the programs on their schedule. The site also contains audio files of all Hoosier Ag Today programs that can be listened to while on-line.

Hoosier Ag Today was launched in September of 2006 and is currently broadcast by 21 radio stations across Indiana

Media, Podcasts

New MBIC Chairman

Chuck Zimmerman

Andrew McCreaAndrew McCrea is the new Chairman of the Missouri Beef Industry Council. This will be his 6th and last year on the board too. He’s a cattleman from northwest Missouri and an award winning farm broadcaster to boot.

I think the MBIC has some great new leadership.

I interviewed Andrew for an upcoming MBIC Report podcast and asked him about what he thinks the priorities are for the MBIC in the coming year. Download his answer: Listen To MP3Andrew McCrea (1 min MP3)

Or listen right now:

mbic-mccrea-soundbite.mp3
Audio, Beef

MBIC Board Is Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Beef Industry Council Board MeetingToday I’m attending the board meeting of the Missouri Beef Industry Council. We’re meeting in Kansas City. Pictured here on the left is outgoing MBIC Chairman, David Dick who’s making a point to new Executive Director, John Kleiboeker.

I’ll be taking some pictures for them and doing some interviews for their weekly podcast. John’s the subject of my ZimmCast this week in case you haven’t had a chance to listen.

I’ll have an interview with the incoming MBIC Chairman coming up in a follow up post shortly. You’ll find out who he is then.

Ag Groups, Beef