Ag Media Summit Shatters Records

Chuck Zimmerman

2007 Ag Media SummitThe Agricultural Media Summit is shaping up to be an awesome event this year. It’s only 2 weeks away! This year’s event is record shattering because we already have the most attendees, most exhibitors and most sponsors ever. The coolest thing is that I made the highlight list.

AMS – which began in 1999 – is a partnership of the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) , American Business Media AgriCouncil (ABM) and the Livestock Publications Council (LPC). It also hosts the annual meetings of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) and Agricultural Relations Council (ARC). AMS focuses on professional education and networking for reporters, editors, designers, sales staff, publishers, public relations professionals, corporate communications practitioners and students involved in media and communications within the agricultural community.

Attendance will be at an all-time high of nearly 550, according to Diane Johnson, AMS registration coordinator. The attendees are coming from 33 states and three countries. This year’s attendees include a 17-member delegation from Mali, Africa. They are exchange students at Oklahoma State University. A record 75 exhibitors will be at the AMS Info-Expo according to Den Gardner, AMS exhibitor coordinator. This is the third successive year the trade show has sold out.

Dan Glickman, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, will keynote the conference at an 11:30 a.m. luncheon on Monday, July 30. And country singer performer Michael Peterson will entertain and motivate conference attendees at lunch on Tuesday, July 31.

Other highlights of the professional development program include:

• In addition to talking about interpersonal intelligence, Michael Bugeja, director and professor of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University, will unveil his newest book Living Ethics Across Media Platforms in a session with the same name.

• Bill Luster, Louisville Courier-Journal photographer, will talk about finding the right angle and other challenges facing news photographers.

• Brian Throckmorton, Lexington Herald-Leader, will speak on Creativity in Headlines.

• Chuck Zimmerman, co-owner of ZimmComm New Media, will present two sessions on blogging.

• Sheila Coles of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will focus on listening for better interviews.

• Syndicated cartoonist Leigh Rubin will talk about staying inspired, motivated and creative.

ACN, Ag Media Summit, LPC

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • BASF and Cibus, a US plant breeding technology company, have announced that they have reached a collaborative agreement to develop and commercialize non-GM herbicide tolerance in oilseed rape and canola. Cibus’ proprietary gene conversion technology, known as the Rapid Trait Development System (RTDSTM), will be used to enhance the CLEARFIELD® Production System in oilseed rape and canola. The joint project will enhance the value provided to the market by BASF’s unique herbicide tolerant cropping system, the CLEARFIELD® Production System. The CLEARFIELD Production System combines agronomically advanced seed varieties and custom-designed imidazolinone herbicides to provide extended grass and broadleaf weed control.
  • John Deere Publishing has revised four of its current educational books in the company’s comprehensive line of 2006 textbooks and guides. These books include “Combine Harvesting”, “Hay and Forage Harvesting”, “Tillage” and “Preventive Maintenance”. These educational books cover agribusiness management practices, agricultural machinery operation and adjustments, and equipment servicing and maintenance.
  • Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE/Nasdaq: CME) and CBOT Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BOT) today announced that they have completed the merger of their companies. The combined company, CME Group Inc., a CME/Chicago Board of Trade Company, will be the world’s largest and most diverse exchange, with all major benchmark asset classes ultimately available on a single trading platform and floor. CME Group stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “CME.” “This is a historic day for both companies, as our two Chicago institutions join to create CME Group,” said CME Group Executive Chairman Terry Duffy.
Zimfo Bytes

USAHA Moves To Midwest

Laura McNamara

The United States Animal Health AssociationThe United States Animal Health Association is trading East coast maritime scenery for rugged, river bluffs in the Midwest. This national animal health forum has relocated its headquarters to St. Joseph, MO from Richmond, VA.

“This is a very exciting time for USAHA,” says USAHA president and Georgia State Veterinarian Lee M. Myers. “We have been pleased with the results of our transition to Missouri, and plan to continue the same valuable contribution to the animal health community.”

Established in 1897, the USAHA aims to protect animal and public health by eliminating live stock disease. Its 1,400 members include state and federal animal health officials, national allied organizations, regional representatives, and individual members.

“St. Joseph has a strong animal health community,” says Ted Allison, president and CEO, St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce. “Both the USAHA and area companies will benefit from this move.”

St. Joseph lies within the KC Animal Health Corridor. The area represent one-third of global animal health industry sales.

“As we looked at the greater Kansas City area for our location, we felt St. Joseph provided our needs to manage the association, with an area that is well-known for its presence in animal health,” says executive director Ben Richey. “We are pleased to call St. Joseph our new home.”

“USAHA will find a collaborative animal health community in the KC Animal Health Corridor,” says Joerg Ohle, chairman, KC Animal Health Corridor Initiative and president and general manager of Bayer Corp.’s Animal Health Division, North America. “We welcome them to the team.”

“The addition of a prominent animal health trade association, such as the USAHA, is an essential element to the Kansas City animal health industry base,” says Bob Marcusse, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council.

Ag Groups, Animal Health

Pork Checkoff Blog and GMO Africa

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s some more blogs you might want to check out.

The Scoop: This is the blog of the Pork Checkoff. Thanks to Teresa Roof (one of the pork bloggers) for bringing it to my attention.

GMO Africa: He lives in Seattle and his name is James Njoroge. James specializes in agricultural biotechnology. He’s trained in mass communication and technical writing. He believes that “public understanding of science and technology is the cornerstone of economic development.”

Ag Groups, Biotech, International

iPhone Headed To Agrestic Solutions

Chuck Zimmerman

iPhoneThe winner of our NAMA Convention iPhone drawing is Paige Gilligan, Agrestic Solutions. She was the lucky one out of all the entries in the drawing we held with Truffle Media Networks.

She’s looking forward to getting her phone and it’s now on the way to her.

I ordered it during the mania of the phone’s release.

Why camp out when you can wait a couple weeks?

Because it’s cool. That’s why. So now Paige, you too can be cool.

NAMA

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • Dow AgroSciences announces that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has accepted label registration of new Cobalt™ insecticide for the broad-spectrum control of insects in row and selected specialty crops. Cobalt delivers powerful, consistent broad-spectrum insect control. Cobalt combines fast knockdown with residual activity to control a wide variety of pests, including, but not limited to, aphids, beetles, grasshoppers, mites, worms, weevils and many other insects. Cobalt is registered for use in alfalfa, Brussels sprouts, corn (field, sweet and seed), cotton, sorghum (milo), soybeans, sunflowers, tree nuts (almond, filbert, pecan and walnut) and wheat.
  • The National FFA Foundation announced today that Toyota has agreed to increase its annual support with a two-year commitment of approximately $1.4 million dollars in cash and product. These additional funds will support National FFA student leadership development and alumni programs, local community service projects, collegiate scholarships, special events, and enhance diversity in agricultural education. In addition to a monetary donation, 25 Toyota vehicles will be provided to selected local agriculture education programs and key agricultural education leaders and organizations across the country.
  • QUALISOY directors and staff will hit the road this summer and fall to bring the latest news on low-linolenic and other enhanced-quality soybean traits straight to the field. “Our customers in the food and feed industries are demanding enhanced-quality traits for improved human and animal health, like trans-fat-free cooking oils and feed that reduces animal wastes. Now it’s our job to grow and deliver those traits,” QUALISOY’s immediate past chairman, Jim Sutter, said.
Zimfo Bytes

Old Hand Steps Up For Leader Postion At Cattle-Fax

Laura McNamara

Cattle-FaxFormer Cattle-Fax director Mike Miller returns to the beef and cattle market information provider as a new chief. Miller is the new chief operating officer.

As COO, Miller will lead efforts to expand the quantity and quality of data collected from Cattle-Fax members, as well as remodeling the entire Cattle-Fax data collection, benchmarking and reporting systems. Miller will also direct Cattle-Fax’s newly created Customized Business Solutions division.

Miller had been with Cattle-Fax for ten years before leaving the organization in 2006. He served most recently as director of research. Previously, he served as director of business development, director of cost and performance analysis, and as editor of several Cattle-Fax publications.

“I am extremely pleased to announce Mike Miller’s return to Cattle-Fax as chief operating officer,” said Randy Blach, executive vice president of Cattle-Fax. “We have made some outstanding additions to our staff over the past year, and Mike’s return will help this team provide an even higher level of service to Cattle-Fax members.”

Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from Colorado State University. In addition to the services he provides to Cattle-Fax members, Miller’s business presentations and reports are well-known and widely requested throughout the cattle and beef industries.

Uncategorized

GMO Food For Thought Blog By AgBioWorld

Chuck Zimmerman

AgBioWorldThe GMO Food For Thought Blog has a new blogmaster. He’s C.S. Prakesh of Tuskegee University and AgBioWorld. His plans call for a weekly synopsis of topics of concern to the agricultural biotech community covering the latest news and innovation. The blog will also offer guest blog posts and industry news.

AgBioWorld provides science-based information on agricultural biotechnology issues to various stakeholders across the world. Its website and the newsletter AgBioView are a daily source of information for thousands of subscribers from dozens of countries. The AgBioWorld ‘Declaration in Support of Agricultural Biotechnology’ has been endorsed by more than 3,400 scientists, including 25 Nobel Laureates such as Dr. Norman Borlaug, Dr. James Watson, Dr. Arthur Kornberg, Dr. Marshall Nirenberg, Dr. Peter Doherty, Dr. Paul Berg, Mr. Oscar Arias Sanchez and Dr. John Boyer.

Ag Groups, University

InsectaPod Cast and Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

Insectapod CastIf bugs are driving you crazy then it may just be that you don’t understand them. Subscribe to the InsectaPod Cast and learn more about them and then maybe you can cope better.

Not only is there an Insectapod Cast but they’ve also started an InsectaPod Blog. They are Anna Fiedler and Jake McCarthy. Anna is a PhD. candidate in the Department of Entomology at the Michigan State University and Jake is an editor in the Department of Animal Science.

They “produce this monthly broadcast-quality dynamic audio report in order to deepen understanding of the connections between people, insects and the environment. If, in addition, we succeed in showcasing the achievements and resources of the Michigan State University Department of Entomology in a way that mixes entertainment with education, so much the better.”

Podcasts, University

Country Hedging Expands Consulting Ownership

Laura McNamara

Country HedgingCountry Hedging has moved into the third ownership level of consulting with its recent investment in Russell Consulting Group. The Midwest-based consulting group offers risk management and financial planning services.

“At Country Hedging, we are committed to continually find business opportunities that allow us to help producers understand and manage risk,” explained Scott Cordes, president, Country Hedging. “Russell Consulting Group has proven expertise in financial analysis and feasibility studies of farming operations along with marketing recommendations. Their operations analysis and recommendations are a perfect complement to what Country Hedging is already doing in risk management programs.”

Russell Consulting GroupMoe Russell, principal, Russell Consulting Group, continued, “We have had a marketing agreement with Country Hedging for several years already and know they share our customer focus and philosophy to manage risk through sound decision-making. This closer business relationship will allow both organizations to strengthen our program offerings.”

Russell Consulting Group offers producers invaluable advice on risk management and income protection through ongoing consultation services and detailed financial analysis. The company works through some 31 independent risk management consultants to serve grain and livestock operators in 32 states.

A subsidiary of CHS Inc., Country Hedging is a full-service risk management and commodities broker providing customized marketing strategies and educational services to producers, ranchers and commercial agribusiness through some 60 branch offices across the Eastern Corn Belt, Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Country Hedging is a Futures Commission merchant member with the National Futures Association and a clearing member of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and the Kansas City Board of Trade.

Agribusiness