Where You Are Coming From

Chuck Zimmerman

AgWired Visitor Geo OverlayI am constantly asked who visits AgWired and I wish I could provide some sort of answer that includes all your names, addresses, phone numbers, etc. However, that would violate privacy (if I even had it). Besides this website is all about you deciding to visit and not have to register and log in. That’s just so annoying isn’t it? Basically, I give freely and you get something I hope you like and find useful and entertaining.

I’ve pretty much converted my web analysis to Google Analytics and for some sites we’re also using Mint. This picture is from Google Analytics and it’s just one of the many ways they analyze traffic. It’s a snapshot of the first quarter of 2007. It takes the IP address of the computers that are connecting and creates this nice overlay. I just made a picture of the North American area but it shows them on a global map. AgWired has had visitors from 100 countries so far this year. The country with the least number of visits on the list is Zambia. The top five countries include in order, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and Poland.

Internet

USB Communications Contract RFP

Chuck Zimmerman

United Soybean BoardIt’s my understanding that the United Soybean Board has issued an RFP for its Communications Contract.

You can find the RFP on their website but will need to be registered to access it. I believe you can find it on this page.

Ag Groups, Soybean

Fast Food and Frequently

Chuck Zimmerman

Sandelman AssociatesI’m assuming that with all the talk in America about obesity and research like the following that it’s only a matter of time until we have a law saying getting fat it illegal. I can even see somebody thinking we should outlaw fast food places or some such stupid thing. Maybe it’s already in the works. I hope people will come to realize that no law will control this. Things will only change if and when people take more personal responsibility for their actions and that includes eating. I don’t think I’m overweight but I still enjoy a hamburger, large fries and a root beer!

In 2006, 59 percent of fast-food users in Greenville, N.C., patronized a quick-service restaurant 12 or more times a month (nearly three times a week), making it the No. 1 market for frequent fast-food users in the United States. Portland, Maine, ranked last, with only a 27 percent incidence of heavy QSR users.

These findings are based on the quarterly syndicated Quick-Track research program conducted by Sandelman & Associates, a San Clemente, Calif.-based market research firm that tracks consumer trends for the restaurant industry. In 2006, the study tracked quick-service restaurant awareness, usage and customer satisfaction attribute ratings in 61 markets throughout the United States.

Notably, three of the Top 10 markets are in the Carolinas and three are in Texas. The remaining leaders are located in the southeast United States and Oklahoma. Indeed, none are north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Interesting but probably most useful to anyone wanting to start a new fast food restaurant don’t you think? I would be thinking “head south young man.”

Food

Improve Your Beef

Chuck Zimmerman

Beef Improvement FederationThe list of meetings going on in agriculture is seemingly endless. At least it looks that way sometimes when you look at the calendar.

The Rocky Mountains provide the backdrop for the annual meeting and 40th anniversary celebration of the Beef Improvement Federation. The meeting will be held June 6-9 in Fort Collins, Colo. It will focus on the future of genetic evaluation and improvement with a variety of presenters from around the country.

The meeting will take place at the Hilton Fort Collins. To register and for program details go to www.beefimprovement.org under the conventions tab. Pre-registration is due May 15. For information contact Willie Altenburg, 970/568-7792, willie@rmi.net or Mark Enns at 970/491-2722, Mark.Enns@Colostate.edu. “The BIF meeting is a great opportunity for cattlemen from around the country and the world to come together and discuss genetics and how to improve our industry,” says Altenburg, Colorado planning chairman.

Ag Groups, Beef

Zimfo Bites

Chuck Zimmerman

  • Stratego Fungicide receives Section 3 label in soybeans – Growers have a new choice for managing soybean diseases, improving overall crop health and increasing yield potential. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a Section 3 label registration for use of Stratego® Fungicide on soybeans. Stratego is approved to control alternaria leaf spot, frogeye leaf spot, anthracnose, septoria brown spot, cercospora blight, pod and stem blight, rhizoctonia aerial blight, powdery mildew, and Asian soybean rust.
  • USDA OFFERS FREE CREDIT MONITORING TO FSA AND RD FUNDING RECIPIENTS – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer free credit monitoring for one year to people whose private identification information was exposed on a Federal Government website that is accessible to the public. The information was removed from the website immediately after USDA learned of the potential exposure. There is no evidence that this information has been misused. However, due to the potential that this information was downloaded prior to being removed, USDA will provide the additional monitoring service. USDA funding recipients who wish to take advantage of the credit monitoring offer will be provided with instructions for how to register. Any USDA funding recipient with questions may call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636) or visit USA.gov. The call center operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EDT), Monday-Friday.
  • Farm Aid wants you to become a family farmer! We need more farmers – we lose almost 330 family farmers a week! A trend we would like to see reverse. The more farmers we have on the land, the easier it will be for all to recognize their hard work and enjoy the fruits of their labor. And, the more we learn about how to grow our own food, the more we will understand how very important farmers are. Want to join the good food team?
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers will gather together supply chain and procurement professionals in the off-road equipment industry June 4-6, 2007 for its annual Supply Chain/Purchasing Seminar. The seminar will be held at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. This AEM seminar is designed specifically to address equipment industry needs and help industry professionals better manage the increasingly complex supply chain, purchasing and procurement processes. The seminar will explore key elements of the supply chain cycle such as forecasting and planning, order/demand management, sourcing, purchasing, order fulfillment, logistics and asset management.
  • Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation – 2007 Golf Classic, Friday, June 22, 2007, Railside Golf Club, Gibson City, IL
Zimfo Bytes

Presenting New Media Opportunities

Chuck Zimmerman

Aaron Gilbertie & Chuck PresentingThis has been the scene in front of a number of agencies around the midwest this past week. Aaron Gilbertie, Truffle Media Networks (standing) and myself are pictured here doing a presentation at Osborn & Barr Communications today. Online with us are representatives from both the Des Moines and Kansas City offices. Very cool tools!

Besides presenting information about our own products and talking about advertising and sponsorship opportunities we’re also discussing custom-tailored new media projects (blogging and podcasting). Right now both of our companies have availabilities for clients wanting to target different types of producers. We are very open to exclusive category sponsorships too.

If you would like us to come in and show you what we have to offer or what we can custom design for your company or client please let Aaron or myself know.

Agencies

Farm Fueled Ag Hall of Fame Luncheon

Chuck Zimmerman

2007 Ag Hall of Fame BanquetWhen I first saw a picture of Tom Slunecka, Ethanol Promotion & Information Council in the invitation for the 2007 Annual Meeting of the National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame I thought he was being inducted. A little young isn’t he, I thought. Then I looked closer and saw that he’s the guest speaker at the luncheon on Thursday in Bonner Springs, KS. He’ll be talking about how the Indy Racing League is “Farm Fueled” this year.

That’s a timely talk since the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 will take place this coming Sunday and I’ll be there. I can’t make it to the luncheon on Thursday though because I’ll be at an EPIC pump promotion that’s taking place at the same time.

I’ll have a lot more from both later this week.

Ag Groups

Inventors Challenged by Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

2007 Farm Progress ShowI’ve got my media registration submitted and a hotel room somewhat near the 2007 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL. It doesn’t hurt to plan ahead.

If you’re an inventor and want a shot at some significant publicity then you might want to consider entering the Farm Progress Show Inventors Challenge.

Farmers have a chance to enter their original inventions and win cash prizes in the Inventors Challenge sponsored by Farm Progress Companies and Roundup herbicides, developed by Monsanto. The contest’s top three winners tap into $5,250 in cash prizes and the top 10 finalist inventions will be displayed at the 2007 Farm Progress Show held at Decatur, Ill., Aug. 28-30. Entries must be original creations and should be a concept that could easily be incorporated into any farming operation. Entry deadline is June 1, 2007. Full entry information is available on the Farm Progress Show Web site, www.FarmProgressShow.com.

Farm Progress Show

Earth Day Comments From The President

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s an excerpt from President Bush’s comments on Earth Day.

As we observe the 38th Earth Day this Sunday, we celebrate the rich blessings of our Nation’s natural resources, and we renew our commitment to protecting our environment so we leave our children and grandchildren a flourishing land.

By encouraging cooperative conservation, innovation, and new technologies, my Administration has compiled a strong environmental record. This Earth Day, harmful air pollutant levels are down more than ten percent since 2001. Millions more Americans are drinking cleaner, safer water. We have removed hazardous fuels from more than 19 million acres of federal land. We have created, restored, or protected more than 2.5 million acres of wetlands, and we have conserved almost 200 million of acres of habitat through Farm Bill conservation programs. And we are taking positive steps to confront the important challenge of climate change. Our work is not done. We also have a responsibility to pass on to future generations our commitment to the environment.

If you’re farming I hope you had a nice Earth Day out in the field!

Farming

A Nice Day in the Field

Chuck Zimmerman

Working the Missour River BottomsHere’s what I saw a lot of returning from my weekend retreat near Herman, MO.

The weather has improved a lot from the extremely cold spring we’ve been having. It was very windy this afternoon and the dust was flying.

Judging from all the stories you can find on Google right now the cold and wet spring has created havoc all over the place.

Farming