BASF Plant Health Symposium Underway

Chuck Zimmerman February 28, 2007

The BASF “Science of Plant Health” symposium is just getting underway here in Tampa at the Hyatt.

We’ve got a nice crowd of agricultural journalists here like Willie Vogt, Farm Progress Companies on the right. I think he’s telling world record corn and soybean yield growers like Kip Cullers how to get even more yield out of their crop (Not). All in all I think there’s about 24 journalists here. I’m recording the presentations and will be posting some of them later on.

Here’s an interesting note. We have a mult-box which allows multiple people to connect to an audio feed to record it. Willie is one of several publication editors using it and he joked that the “print guys are fighting over the mult-box.” This new media world is changing how we all do our jobs!

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BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

ASA Sandcastle

Chuck Zimmerman February 28, 2007

Before leaving the Convention Center this morning I stopped in to see the progress on the trade show.

In the main entrance this lady was working on a very nice looking sand sculpture. I guess they want to let us think of the beach even though we’re inside during some beautiful winter weather.

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BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Meeting The Media at Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman February 28, 2007

As is often the case, yours truly is one of the first into the media room. One of my sponsors for AgWired coverage here is New Holland.

They also sponsor the media room each year as you may have heard in my interview with Gene Hemphill yesterday in this week’s ZimmCast. I’m looking forward to his reception for the media tomorrow evening too.

Once you arrive at the media room the first persons to greet you are these smiling faces. I interviewed Bob Callanan, ASA (right) and Mimi Ricketts, NCGA (second from right) about how they work together to prepare for Commodity Classic and the media. I think they’ve now got almost 100 registered media for the event which is an increase from normal. Hot topics for the media will probably be the farm bill and renewable fuels according to these two communications directors.

Listen to my interview with Bob & Mimi: cccast-2-media.mp3

The interview is also part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series started just for this year’s Commodity Classic.

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Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Commodity Classic Photo Album

Chuck Zimmerman February 28, 2007

Inside the Tampa Convention Center there are some early arrivals getting checked in but it’ll probably be this afternoon before things get into full swing.

I’m going to be uploading all my pictures to an online photo album as usual. Feel free to browse it and if you want to use any of them just give us credit if you can. If you need hi-res versions just let me know. You can find the photos two different ways.

One way is with the Zimmages you see in the top right side of the AgWired homepage. Just click on any of them and that’ll take you to a page that displays them for you. The other way is to use a direct link to my Flickr photo set using the following link:

2007 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Tampa Convention Center

Chuck Zimmerman February 28, 2007

It’s a beautiful day here in Tampa at the Convention Center.

Things are kind of relaxed and quiet but there are already meetings taking place as companies and the sponsoring organizations get ready for all the farmers who will check in starting today.

If you’re trying to reach me, be patient, since Sprint mobile service isn’t great inside the media room.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
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BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Meyocks Group Agency for Valent BioSciences

Chuck Zimmerman February 27, 2007

The Meyocks Group is named as agency of record for marcomm work for Valent BioSciences Corporation.

The agency will continue to handle corporate communications responsibilities for the company. Valent BioSciences is a worldwide leader in the research, development and commercialization of low risk, environmentally compatible technologies and products for the agricultural, public health, forestry and household insecticide markets.

“As a global leader in the commercialization of biorational products, Valent BioSciences is working to build this overall category and differentiate our product line around the world,” said Mike Donaldson, president of Valent BioSciences. “The Meyocks Group is well-suited to help us achieve these objectives.”

Agencies, Agribusiness

Charlene Finck VP of Editorial for Farm Journal Media

Chuck Zimmerman February 27, 2007

I want to congratulate Charlene Finck for her new position as Vice President, Editorial for Farm Journal Media. She succeeds Sonja Hillgren, who passed away in December.

In her new role, Finck will oversee editorial for all Farm Journal Media magazines and work closely with the editors of Farm Journal Media’s other outlets such as AgWeb, Pro Farmer, AgDay and U.S. Farm Report to provide the best integrated coverage of agriculture. Finck, who continues as editor of FARM JOURNAL magazine, will report to President/CEO Andy Weber and serve on the company’s senior management team.

“I can’t think of anyone better than Charlene to succeed Sonja, though we both wish it had been several years from now,” said Weber. “Charlene has been a continuous innovator with unique editorial cornerstones like our Test Plots, Tractor Tests and Corn Navigator Series. She has always demonstrated a true, hands-on appreciation for what producers need and as a magazine editor has championed the need to deliver that content to producers in all of our multi-media formats.”

Media, Publication

Commodities in the Sunshine

Chuck Zimmerman February 27, 2007

We got into Tampa this afternoon and the sun is shining in the Sunshine State.

Arriving early gives us a chance to get situated and prepare for all the events and activities that’ll take place over the next several days.

Cindy and I will be taking off in a few minutes to see a very good college friend we haven’t seen in years, so we’re looking forward to that.

While I was getting us online she took a picture of the BASF (one of our sponsors) Shuttle Bus poster in the lobby of our hotel.

We’ll be featuring a lot of interesting things about what they’re doing here at Classic.

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BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

The BARN Owners Take Over ABN

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2007

I thought I was finished posting for the day, but noooo . . . Lindsay Hill has to send me a major announcement. The BARN owners have acquired the ABN (Agri Broadcast Network) in Ohio. I’d say that the Buckeye agriblogging, farm podcasting broadcasters are doing very well! Congratulations Andy and Lindsay.

Ohio’s longest-running farm radio network, the ABN (Agri Broadcast Network) has moved to a new home. AdVance Broadcast & Communication, Ltd., founders of the Buckeye Ag Radio Network (BARN) has taken over operations of the ABN. Owned by Andy Vance and Lindsay Hill of rural DeGraff, Ohio, AdVance will continue to operate both networks, expanding the company’s programming reach from fifteen stations to over sixty-five stations.

“We’ve branded the BARN as the ‘Next Generation of Rural Radio,’” Hill said. “With bringing both networks in-house, we plan to focus our efforts with the BARN on a wider range of programming of interest to the rural audience, with more of a farm-to-table approach,” she continued. Meanwhile, the ABN will continue its focus of producer-oriented communication with a strong emphasis on farm news and commodity markets.

Vance and Hill explain the relationship between the two networks as complimentary. The BARN offers in-depth reporting on a broad range of rural lifestyle topics and issues. In contrast, ABN provides the day’s top agribusiness news coupled with expert market analysis and farm weather forecast.

Media

Podcasting About Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman February 26, 2007

It’s Commodity Classic week so why not have a ZimmCast about that? This week you’ll hear from Pat Morrow, BASF and Gene Hemphill, New Holland. They’re my sponsors for all the coverage you’re going to see and hear right here.

Let me remind you about another podcast, the CommodityClassicCast. I’m going to try to post all the interviews and other audio presentations we record to a podcast series. Set your podcast feed reader here.

To get us pumped up for all the activity in Tampa, FL listen in as Pat and Gene give us a preview of what growers can expect from their companies.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 108 (11 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast108-2-26-07.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.

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Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland, ZimmCast

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