June Marks Season for Farmers Markets

Laura McNamara

CAHI GroupA cooking demonstration, live entertainment and a raffle for various prizes will kick off the summer Farmers Market season. The openning of the 12th season of the USDA Farmers Market will also feature a booth offering nutritional information and food suggestions from the USDA for the home. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner will officiate the openning Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m.

“Farmers markets benefit both producers and consumers alike, continuing to grow in popularity from the enjoyment of eating fresh, local products directly from the farm,” Conner said.

Each Friday through October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the USDA Farmers Market features fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, maple products, fresh-cut flowers from local farms in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

There are 4,400 farmers markets nationwide, more than three times as many as the 1,755 estimated in 1994. Estimated sales volume nationwide is $1 billion in 2005 – up from $888 million in 2000. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides a National Directory of Farmers Markets, http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm.

Agribusiness, Food, USDA

5 Pork Producers Named to National Pork Board

Laura McNamara

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced five new appointees for the 15-member National Pork Board Wednesday. The new members will serve three-year terms on the board. Johanns said the appointees were chosen from among 8 nominees.

“I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to provide their time and
expertise,” said Johanns. The five were chosen from among eight pork
producers nominated by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body during its
meeting in Anaheim, Calif., in February.

The appointees are: Tim A. Bierman, Larrabee, Iowa; Henry E. Moore, Clinton,
N.C.; G. Steven Weaver, Elk Grove, Calif.; Bruce A. Samson, Three Forks,
Mont.; and Everett L. Forkner, Richards, Mo.

Established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act
of 1985, the National Pork Board develops budgets and awards contracts to
carry out a coordinated program designed to strengthen the position of pork
in the marketplace. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service oversees the
operation of the board.

The mandatory program is funded by an assessment of 0.40 percent of the
market value of all hogs sold in the United States and an equivalent amount
on imported hogs, pork, and pork products.

Agribusiness, Food, Pork, USDA

Satellite Broadband Internet Access

Chuck Zimmerman

Hughes NetThis is a freebie plug for HughesNet only because I just saw a commercial for them on the monitor in the little bistro here in Buffalo airport. The announcer asked if you lived in an area where broadband internet access was unavailable and told how that’s no longer the case with their satellite internet packages.

I looked them up to see the pricing plans and they’re not bad. After a $300 one time installation you have your choice of plans that range up to about $80/month. That’s a good investment in today’s business world.

HughesNet isn’t the only option in satellite either. There’s Wild Blue which looks like it has about the same pricing. I found one called Skycasters. Look for yourself by doing an internet search.

Internet

Presenting New Media At CAHI

Chuck Zimmerman

CAHI GroupHere we are in the meeting room for my morning presentation to the Canadian Animal Health Institute annual meeting. I’m talking about blogging and podcasting. Right after we’re done I’ll be heading on home but I’ll try to get some additional posts done along the way.

This is a demo post as some of you are familiar with seeing when I do these presentations. I like to show live examples because I think it makes it easier to understand ways to use new media in a corporate communications plan.

The companies represented here need to communicate to different audiences and a blog site or a regular podcast are excellent channels to reach them very efficiently. In fact, as they’ll see from some of my examples they have member companies already doing it. So whether they’re trying to reach farmers, veterinarians or pet owners, new media tools provide a great use of new technology to reach them in new and creative ways.

Jean SzkotnickiThe president of the CAHI is Jean Szkotnicki.

After our breakfast this morning I interviewed her to learn more about CAHI and why they are having me in for this presentation.

She says that in today’s online world companies need to look at new ways to reach out beyond just the traditional printed forms of communication and using the internet only makes sense.

You can listen to my interview with Jean here: cahi-07-szkotnicki.mp3

I thought I’d post some of the resources I’m using here and later I might add the audio recording of my presentation too just in case you’re interested and only if I think I sound okay. So linked to here are the agenda for my presentation (Word doc), my Power Point slides (PPT file) and a little resources handout (Word doc).

I’ll also be giving away a few sets of ZimmComm retractable ear buds to some lucky winners too.

Ag Groups, Animal Health, Audio, International

CAHI Recognizes Its Leaders

Chuck Zimmerman

CAHI LeadersThe Canadian Animal Health Institute has started the CAHI Recognizing It’s Leaders Award which might normally go to one person.

Tonight it went to 3 people who CAHI president, Jean Szkotnicki called her three wise men.

They are (pictured left to right), Dr. Paul Wilson, Bayer, Inc., Dr. Bruce Groves, Pfizer Canada, Inc. and Dr. Paul Doig, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada). The award is given for their tireless dedication, leadership and personal contributions to the CAHI, animal well being and veterinary medicine.

Ag Groups, Animal Health, International

CAHI Industry Leader Stan Eby

Chuck Zimmerman

Stan EbyOne of the awards presented here tonight at the Canadian Animal Health Institute dinner was the Industry Leadership Award.

This year’s recipient is Stan Eby for his efforts on behalf of the Canadian cattle industry.

Stan has served as president of the Ontario and Canadian Cattlemen’s Associations and during some trying times like the BSE crisis.

Ag Groups, Animal Health, International

Eating With CAHI Progressively

Chuck Zimmerman

Progressive DinnerTonight at the Canadian Animal Health Institute Awards dinner it was set up as a progressive dinner. I’ve never been on one of these but it’s a cool idea.

Basically every table is numbered and at your first seat you receive a card which tells you which table you go to next and then you rotate to one more. They’re spread out at random so you wind up at a table with totally different people each time.

So we started out with soup and salad at table one, main course at table two and dessert at table three. At tables of 8 that means you get to meat at least 21 different people. It’s a great way to get to meet other people attending the meeting and I had many enjoyable conversations with the people here as a result.

Ag Groups, Animal Health, International

Near The Niagra

Chuck Zimmerman

Niagra River ViewI’ve only ever been through Niagra Falls once before and a long time. It’s just as pretty as I remember it. This is a view of the river below the falls I took while waiting in line for Canadian customs this afternoon.

I’m here at the White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa and getting ready to head to the reception and awards banquet after a nice workout. You’ve White Oaks Conference Resort & Spaprobably noticed that I’m late again this week with the ZimmCast. I’ll have a new program posted by Thursday and you can probably expect some audio from this conference.

Tomorrow I’ll be conducting a presentation on blogs and podcasts and then traveling back home so expect to see some sporadic posts until I can get back to the office.

Ag Groups, Animal Health

Chinese Barbeque Tools

Chuck Zimmerman

Canadian Animal Health InstituteI get a lot of requests like this that I take a pass on but this one involves one of my favorite activities so I thought you might be interested too. This is from Dalen, the sales manager for H.X.I. MANUFACTURING CO., LTD, YANGJIANG, GUANGDONG, CHINA. I’ve heard that it’s grilling season. I say it’s always grilling season!

We are one of the leading BBQ tools manufacturers in Yangjiang, Guangdong, China, where the most famous hardware product manufacturing base. Recently, we have just updated our product E-catalogue, if you are interested in our BBQ stove, pan, grill…, welcome to click the following links and find your favourite items there: http://hi.baidu.com/bbq_tools/album

If you can’t open the above links, please contact us by email, and we will email you our product pictures with quotation directly.

Food, International

Off To CAHI To Talk New Media

Chuck Zimmerman

Canadian Animal Health InstituteHello AgWired fans. After spending a few hours home on Memorial Day it’s off to the annual meeting of the Canadian Animal Health Institute. It’s going to take place starting Tuesday evening in Niagra-On-The-Lake, Ontario. Their theme is “Harnessing Technology to Expand Markets.”

My presentation will take place on Wednesday morning and I’ll be addressing new media as communication platforms to reach out to customers in new ways. I will learn a lot more about CAHI and their mission and guess what? You’ll learn along with me.

The Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) is the trade association representing the developers, manufacturers and distributors of animal medications in Canada. Our industry is valued at over $500 million dollars and is an important contributor to Canada’s pet owning public, as well as our food animal producers and aquaculture sectors. The medications we develop and market support the health of our companion and food animals, safety of the food supply, competitiveness of Canadian agriculture and ability for veterinarians to deliver modern medicinal regimes. Those attending the CAHI annual meeting are the senior managers, marketing and sales personnel from our member companies.

It’s going to be a long travel day tomorrow but I’m sure I’ll find some computer time between now and then. Happy Memorial Day!

Ag Groups, International