Connecting Rural America

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAIt’s really getting hard to ignore the fact that broadband internet access is available or in development everywhere in rural America isn’t it? We’re sure not ignoring it. In fact, we’re helping companies take advantage of it!

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Connor today announced the availability of $8.9 million in grants for communities without broadband service to provide residential service and connect facilities such as police and fire stations, health care, libraries and schools. “The Community Connect Grant Program has proved to be effective in reaching those rural communities where broadband service is least likely to be deployed,” Conner said. “Connecting residents and essential community facilities improves local services and the protection of the citizens of these communities.”

Grants are available to communities in the most rural, economically challenged areas where loans will not be sustainable. In Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, for example, no company had invested in providing broadband delivery to the community of 770 people. However, local businesses, schools and residents worked with the BitSmart Corp. to file a USDA Community Connect Grant, which was approved. Now, BitSmart has established wireless internet availability and an integrated system connecting law enforcement, health care providers, and school and government offices. Additionally, students in a business class at the high school are serving as BitSmart’s local operations staff.

Applications for grants are due by close of business August 13, 2007. There is a minimum grant level of $50,000 and a maximum grant level of $1,000,000 for projects. The application guide for this grant program can be found at http://www.usea.gov/rus/telecom/ .

Internet, USDA

A BASF and Monsanto Headline

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF It seems like these two companies are sure working together a lot lately. You can listen to BASF’s director of business operations talk about Headline here.

Monsanto BASF Corporation and Monsanto Company announced a co-promotional agreement today that will see each partner’s sales force promote Headline fungicide from BASF – an ideal combination to help corn and soybean growers improve yields and manage risk.

“Today’s agreement is significant for BASF and Headline,” said Markus Heldt, Group Vice President, North America, BASF Agricultural Products. “We’re seeing a lot of momentum for Headline fungicide driven by outstanding results from growers who applied Headline last year. This agreement provides another platform for us to take that message and share those success stories with even more corn and soybean growers.”

The agreement, which covers marketing to corn and soybean growers nationally, recognizes that successful growers are looking for crop production system solutions that are proven to boost yield and reduce their risk.

Under the agreement, Headline will be promoted in Monsanto’s Roundup Rewards program.

Agribusiness, BASF

Carbonate Your Strawberries

Chuck Zimmerman

Carbonated StrawberriesThis sounds like a very tasty treat. Carbonated strawberries you can make yourself. I love strawberries, always have. I remember my Mom telling me that when we’d go to the U-pick field near where I grew up in central Florida I’d always eat more than I picked. I think she exaggerated. Thanks to the California Strawberry Commission for this idea.

Fireworks won’t be the only thing making people exclaim “oooh” and “aww” this Independence Day. Carbonated Strawberries will eclipse almost any light show going on overhead. That’s right — Carbonated Strawberries! Fresh, delicious California strawberries that sparkle and effervesce like Pop Rocks when you put them in your mouth. Ice cold and fizzy, they will be sure to be a crowd pleaser and conversation piece.

The secret seems more like a science experiment than a recipe. It’s an easy combination of strawberries, dry ice and water. Dry ice really isn’t frozen water, but rather carbon dioxide in its solid state that holds a temperature of around -100ºF. It doesn’t melt but turns into carbon dioxide gas when it warms up. Carbon dioxide is what makes sodas bubbly. When it infuses the strawberries, it carbonates them just like a beverage.

How to make Carbonated Strawberries:

Place dry ice in a large metal bowl. Cover dry ice with a barrier — a piece of styrofoam, plastic or other material — to keep strawberries separated from the dry ice. Make sure to leave some space between the barrier and the edges of the bowl. Place strawberries on a plate and set on the barrier. Slowly pour water into the space between the barrier and the bowl so that it contacts the dry ice. The dry ice will then begin to create a “fog” around the berries. You don’t want to pour too much water in all at once — add as needed once the “fog” starts to dissipate. Strawberries will be carbonated in 20 to 30 minutes.

Ag Groups, Food

Facelift For World Dairy Diary

Chuck Zimmerman

World Dairy DiaryThe last ZimmComm site to get a facelift this year is our World Dairy Diary. The new theme is now live and there are a few more tweaks that we’ve got to do but I think it’s ready for prime time.

I have been very pleased with how we’ve seen the traffic grow on this site. With the type of niche content we’re dealing with you know who we’re reaching. A lot of thanks go out to the sponsors we’ve had including Pioneer Hi-Bred for whom we’re producing a bi-monthly podcast called Forage Forum which is syndicated via this site and also on their Growing Point website.

We have a lot of development potential for World Dairy Diary and hope to continue to build on the base we have established. If you or one of your clients would like to be involved please let me know. We can come up with some creative marketing ideas using this new media mechanism.

Dairy

Boot Up Your Agri-Marketing Knowledge

Chuck Zimmerman

2007 Boot CampIt’s hard to believe it’s time to look forward to another NAMA Boot Camp. But you can now register online if you’re interested in attending.

Post Update: ZimmComm New Media is now a sponsor of this year’s NAMA Boot Camp. We’re sponsoring the closing session on Thursday at 10 am on “Ethanol – Today and Tomorrow” presented by Robert White, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Join the National Agri-Marketing Association for the 4th annual NAMA Boot Camp, August 21-23 in Kansas City.

What you can expect.
You’ll be able to see the industry in action at the optional Ag Tour prior to the Boot Camp, hosted by the MoKan NAMA Chapter. In addition, you’ll participate in general sessions on Networking, Successful AgriTourism and Ethanol. Learn how to communicate effectively with producers during the producer panel as well as what to expect from clients and agencies during the Client/Agency panel.

Breakout sessions at the Boot Camp will include:

Little Red Writing Hood and the Big, Scary Communications Plan
Maximizing Your Trade Show R.O.I.
BioSecurity
Shifting Demographics in Agriculture
Farm Bill Update
New Media

And don’t forget the networking! We’ve got plenty of chances for you to connect with your peers at the Boot Camp. As an added bonus, all attendees will receive a notebook packed with ag terminology and facts as well as case studies and speaker presentations.

Who should attend?
Agency account executives; Media professionals; Art directors; Copywriters; Marketing professionals; Sales professionals; Previous Boot Camp attendees.

Register here.

NAMA

Rural and Farm Blogs

Chuck Zimmerman

Blog For Rural AmericaWhile I was doing a little online research for one of our clients I came across quite a few blogs I wasn’t aware of. Actually I did know about this one but not that the Center for Rural Affairs had moved their’s. On their site you can find links to other rural blogs.

The first one I actually landed on was for a Montana cattle rancher known as Sarpy Sam. His is called, “Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere.” He’s got great pictures and posts regularly. He’s also got one on which he writes about his opposition to mandatory animal id. Here’s a farmer showing you how it’s done because he obviously gets it. You’ll also find a number of links to other blogs he likes including his neighbors.

Who says farmers don’t blog or read blogs? Hmm?

Farming

Codex Alimentarius Commission Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

Codex AlimentariusI had to post this just because I like saying, “Codex Alimentarius.” Of course saying it and understanding it are two different things. If you really want to understand it then get yourself to Rome for the 30th annual meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. I can think of worse places to be.

Simply stated, the Codex Alimentarius is a collection of standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations. Some of these texts are very general, and some are very specific. Some deal with detailed requirements related to a food or group of foods; others deal with the operation and management of production processes or the operation of government regulatory systems for food safety and consumer protection.

Commission Agenda (pdf)

International

Downloading My Flickr Photos

Chuck Zimmerman

Where to find download sizes in FlickrI’ve been asked this often enough that I thought I’d post it for you. I’ve got lots of photos in my Flickr sets and sometimes someone wants to use one. Well, I’ve made them all publicly available and recently I started uploading them at the highest setting Flickr will allow. This lets you download a photo at a quality that you can print.

Here’s how to do it. Got to my Flickr set which is this one in this case. Find the photo you want in the set and click on it. That will open it up larger on your screen. To the right of the photo will be some stuff that includes the key words I’ve tagged the picture with. Underneath them is a section called “Additional Information.” I’ve highlighted that in yellow. One of the choices is “See different sizes,” which the arrow is pointing to. When you click on that a new page will open with multiple picture sizes of that picture. Choose the one you want and then right click on it and save it to your computer.

In this case the biggest size will give you a picture that’s 300 pixels/inch, 2048×1371 and 632k which should make a nice print. In any case you can always email me and I can send you a full size original if you want. If you use any of them we always appreciate credit if possible.

Uncategorized

On The Tonight Show Set With Jay Leno

Chuck Zimmerman

On the set with Jay LenoI got this photo from Joe Jobe at the National Biodiesel Board while we were in Nashville at the CMA Music Festival and stuck it in a note pad and just found it this afternoon.

This is from when we were on the set with Jay Leno recently before going with him to his garage after the show.

It’s a scan from a print. The Tonight Show photographer will only send photos to one person and we elected Joe to be the photo distributor. Thanks Joe.

Ag Groups, Biodiesel, New Holland

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • Mycogen Seeds announces the addition of four new hybrids to its sunflower lineup, with several protection options, including downy mildew and CLEARFIELD® resistance. “We are thrilled to offer these new hybrids in 2008, as they fit the needs of nearly all sunflower growers,” says Keith Porter, Marketing Specialist, Mycogen Seeds. “Because of our market versatility, a match can be made for those looking for advantages in the oil, bird food or confection markets.”
  • FMC Corporation delivers three dependable methods of pest control for rice growers with a comprehensive portfolio of crop protection products consisting of Command 3ME herbicide, Aim EC herbicide and Mustang Max insecticide. Aim and Command work together to control problem grasses and broadleaf weeds in rice. A combination of Command followed by Aim delivers one of the most complete, effective weed control programs available in rice production today.
  • First it was KFC, then New York City restaurants. More recently, Taco Bell, the Wal-Mart deli, Steak n Shake and Hardee’s took a stand. Now, the Indiana State Fair is removing all trans fat-laden cooking oils from its deep-fryers in what is believed to be the first policy of its kind for any fair in the country. “I’m glad this new zero trans fat oil makes the food healthier to eat, but frankly, I switched to this new oil because the food just tastes better,” said John Barto, owner of Barto’s Banquets & Catering, who has been an Indiana State Fair concessionaire for the past 18 years. “It adds to the quality of the food we serve.”
Zimfo Bytes