A Look Forward To Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-126 - NAMA Boot CampI think this is one of those lazy kind of weeks. We’ve got a national holiday in the middle of it! Either you’re getting ready for it or you’ll be recovering from it afterward. But some of us are working at it. One of those people is Jenny Pickett, Chief Operating Officer for the National Agri-Marketing Association.

I talked with Jenny on the phone about the Boot Camp program coming up August 21-23 in Kansas City. Jenny reviews the program with me and talks about who should attend.

If you’ve never attended a Boot Camp or even if you have you are welcome. ZimmComm New Media is a sponsor of this year’s program too.

The program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network and a band called The Vinyl Strangers. The song is “Patriotic Girl.” Just in time for your 4th of July celebration.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 126 (12 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast126-7-2-07.mp3

The 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.

Audio, NAMA, ZimmCast

Appaloosa Blog Spotting This Week

Chuck Zimmerman

National Appaloosa ShowI have a niece who would probably love to go to this show which is taking place right now in Oklahoma City. I emailed her yesterday that she will be able to see a lot of what’s going on here on AgWired later this week. I’ll be covering activities there starting Wednesday. Yep. Independence Day. I guess it’s because the Appaloosa Horse Club is an international organization maybe? Why else be conducting a show on July 4th here in America?

Besides posting here on AgWired I’ll also be posting onto Appaloosa Blog Spot, their blog. If you’re curious about what’s taking place there you can find the schedule here and they have a live webcam going in the ring.

Horses

I Scream You Scream For Dippin’ Dots

Chuck Zimmerman

Dippin DotsHave you ever tried Dippin’ Dots? They are awesome. How about winning a year’s worth?

Kicking off the summer season with “cool” news for ice cream lovers, Dippin’ Dots today announced a call for entries for the “Adventures of Packy Movie Mash-Up Challenge” — the company’s first-ever, user-generated online contest.

Contestants are invited to create an animated short film starring Dippin’ Dots’ mascot, Packy, via an easy-to-use, web-based game tool located at www.dippindots.com/contest. The grand prize winner will receive $2,500 and Dippin’ Dots for a year; and a wildcard winner will take home $1,000 and a six-month supply of Dippin’ Dots ice cream.

Entrants will be able to produce a 15 to 90-second movie using the all-in- one director’s tool. No cameras or audio/video uploads are required. The tool allows easy selection of various background scenes, animations, props and soundtracks provided by Dippin’ Dots, as well as the ability to add bubble- text dialogue similar to a comic book.

A panel of Dippin’ Dots judges will select the top five movies based on website visitor ratings and views, plus creativity and originality. The selected movies will advance to the finals where contest members will vote for their favorite as the grand prize winner. The top five movies will also be posted on YouTube where the most viewed entry will win the wildcard prize.

Notice how they used the “Y” word here (YouTube).

Food

Jax Your YouTube Video Onto Your iPod

Chuck Zimmerman

AppleSince I’m getting pretty comfortable with my Mac now I might from time to time let you know about some things that make using it even more fun. One of those is a cool little app I found from Joesoft called Jax. If you want to load video onto your iPod and you want it to be easy then this little program is what you need. It even lets you load YouTube videos which is what got my attention. The best thing about it is that it integrated right into iTunes.

Joesoft says their software is “Software for the Average Joe.” After downloading and trying it I would agree.

Uncategorized

iPhone Mania

Chuck Zimmerman

iPhone ManiaI think I have to mention iPhone mania, especially since you can even find it in a little town like Jefferson City, MO.

This is outside the local AT&T store here in Jefferson City, MO. There were people lined up even here to get their iPhone before anyone else. I think the store kind of overdid it on the security thing. They were locked up tight with a police guard outside. At 6pm they let in the first nine people. You can see number one-in-line going inside in this photo. Then they locked it back up again. One of the reporters outside said that a customer stopped by to pay her bill but they wouldn’t let her in. Now that’s crazy.

While I was standing there taking these pics a guy who looked like the store manage walked up in an AT&T logo shirt. Even he had trouble getting in. He wouldn’t do an interview either.

iPhone ManiaI stopped first at another local AT&T authorized dealer and they said Apple wouldn’t send them phones for today’s launch. Why? I need to buy one for the winner of our NAMA convention booth drawing. I’m not standing in any line to wait though.

So why should you care? Apple is going to revolutionize mobile content delivery. That means the information and way you communicate with your clients. Think about it.

I did go to the Apple Store just now and got this message saying I need to come back later. I guess that’s what I’ll do. Post Update: I was able to place my order online last night. It says I will have a 2-4 weeks delivery time.

Uncategorized

FEW Trade Show Tour

Chuck Zimmerman

Fuel Ethanol Workshop Trade ShowYou can learn all about this week’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop trade show right here.

Cindy’s getting into this YouTube thing finally. I did have to do some editing for her though.

In the video she does a walking tour through the trade show with BBI International (conference organizer) president, Kathy Bryan.

Cindy’s also got her pictures from the event in a photo album too: 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

Ethanol, Video

Farmers’ Markets Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Farmers MarketsThe Home Cooking blogger is now doing a little farmers’ market blogging. She’s Lane McConnell who is Ag Promotions Specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Ag Business Development Division. Isn’t it amazing what you can do with these things?

Farmers’ Markets are an essential part of Missouri’s agricultural economy, providing an outlet for Missouri farmers to sell their produce to consumers across the state. A Look at Missouri Farmers’ Markets blog-site, offered by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, has been created for both consumers and marketers. This site features an insight look of the markets including photos, area market news and events and ways other markets across the state are marketing their local farmers’ market. The site will also serve as a place for marketers to go to find complete farmers’ market resources.

Uncategorized

Watch Your Fertilizer

Chuck Zimmerman

The Fertilizer InstituteIt of course pays to be vigilant and I would assume that most of the members and affiliates of The Fertilizer Institute take very good precautions. Even so, TFI felt compelled to issue this alert to members today.

In light of the recent discovery of a potentially viable explosive device in London, England, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) wants to remind you to continue to be vigilant in the protection of your fertilizer products as you prepare for the Independence Day holiday. This morning, TFI participated in a conference call with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the London incident. At this time, DHS has not raised the threat level in the United States.

TFI encourages you to report any suspicious activities to the appropriate law enforcement officials. Incidents can also be reported to the National Infrastructure Coordinating Council (NICC) at (202) 282-9201 or via email at nicc@dhs.gov.

Ag Groups

More From Monsanto

Chuck Zimmerman

Monsanto Speaking of Monsanto (2 posts back). . . Here’s some more news from the company about their investment plans related to corn production facilities.

Monsanto’s Board of Directors has approved a three-year, $610 million capital investment for the company’s U.S. corn production facilities. The investment plan includes expansions at nine existing corn production facilities, as well as two sites in the heart of the Corn Belt. This represents the largest reinvestment that Monsanto has made in its history as an ag company. Additional details related to the expansion have not been disclosed at this time.

Additionally, Monsanto posted projected trait acreage (pdf) for 2007. Final numbers for 2007 will be released this fall. Read More

Agribusiness, Corn

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