National Agriculture Day News

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag Day LogoIt’s going to be spring very soon and that means we’re getting closer to National Agriculture Day. Here’s some of the latest:

We are pleased to announce the National Ag Day Honorary Chairmen:

Secretary Mike Johanns
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Ranking Minority, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry

Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture

Representative Robert Goodlatte (R-VA)
Ranking Minority, House Committee on Agriculture

Latasha CoteThe winner of the National Ag Day Essay Contest is Latasha Cote, Briar, MO. You can find her essay and a list of all the state winners online. Here’s an excerpt from Latasha’s essay:

I have high hopes on the future of agriculture. It is only the year 2025 and we are well on our way to finding faster and easier ways to farm and statistics say that the number of agriculture majors is at a steady increase. Knowing that our future is in the hands of our youth, I am confident that we will continue to grow as an industry and a nation at large.

Ag Groups

Zimfo Bites

Chuck Zimmerman

  • Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., has relaunched its Web site – www.pioneer.com – to bring growers and other users updated content, improved navigation and a more user-friendly, results-driven search engine. Pioneer focused on feedback from growers, Pioneer customers, employees and media to drive the Web site relaunch project.
  • Hero insecticide from FMC receives EPA registration. Hero delivers fast knockdown and longer control of many foliar pests and has just received EPA registration in field, seed and sweet corn, cotton, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, head lettuce, head and stem brassicas, pecans, succulent peas and beans.
  • 56th Annual National (Poultry) Breeders Roundtable Announced. The seminar will be held May 3-4 at the Airport Marriott Hotel in St. Louis, Mo. The program, sponsored by the Poultry Breeders of America and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, will allow poultry breeders the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas in order to maintain a progressive and dynamic poultry breeding and genetics industry.
  • The deadline for submitting entries into the 2007 AAEA Writing, Photo and Design Awards Program is Monday, April 16. Entry fees are the same as last year: $20 per writing entry; $10 per design entry; and $5 per photo entry.
  • The history and, in many cases, benchmark discoveries gained during the past 20 years of beef checkoff-funded research are profiled in the new research annual report, Creating Opportunity with Knowledge. This year’s report provides a historical perspective on many key issues that have confronted and continue to challenge the beef industry and summarizes findings from several benchmark research efforts.
Zimfo Bytes

Hello, I’m Almost a Mac

Chuck Zimmerman

Purchasing My First MacBeing in a baseball town makes being a slider sounds like a pitch. However, it also means being a dude who slides between a Mac and a PC. That’s me. Actually within a few days.

Here’s Tim Kotthoff, Apple Store, St. Louis Galleria (left) after he just completed my purchase of a Macbook Pro. I am excited. Can’t you tell. No, I’m not thinking about the affect on my bank account. Hey, a problogger needs tools don’t you know.

So all you Mac fans. I have done it. In fact, I’ll be writing about my conversion experience here for those of you who have been contemplating the same thing. So, stay tuned.

Uncategorized

New Holland Blue iPod Winner

Chuck Zimmerman

iPod WinnerNew Holland held a drawing for a blue iPod Nano this year at their booth at Commodity Classic. That’s so one more person in agriculture can subscribe to and listen to farm podcasts right?

Well the drawing was held and the winner is:

Ms. Edith Gaffner from Greenville, IL

We’ll be contacting Ms. Gaffner to let her know she won. She’s a soybean and wheat grower according to her entry form. Thanks to all the people who entered the contest at the New Holland booth this year.

I’ll be loading all the interviews and pictures I took at Commodity Classic before sending the iPod so it’s going to make one very nice Commodity Classic Keepsake.

Commodity Classic, New Holland

John Thaemert New President of NAWG

Chuck Zimmerman

John ThaemertSomehow I missed getting to see and talk with John Thaemert at Commodity Classic. He’s the new President of the National Association of Wheat Growers and he’s from Sylvan Grove, Kan.

Thaemert’s operation includes the production and marketing of wheat, grain sorghum, alfalfa and hay. Thaemert also currently serves as vice president and trust investment officer for Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. of Ellsworth, Kan. Thaemert is a past chairman of NAWG’s Domestic Policy Committee and a past president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. He and his wife, Shelley, have two children.

Other officers elected to new positions include:

• David Cleavinger, first vice president, Wildorado, Texas.
• Karl Scronce, second vice president, Klamath Falls, Ore.
• Jerry McReynolds, secretary-treasurer, Woodston, Kan.
• Dale Schuler, immediate past president, Carter, Mont.

Ag Groups

Show Me The Honey

Chuck Zimmerman

National Honey BoardHere’s the latest appointments to the National Honey Board as announced by USDA.

Each member and alternate — nominated by the National Honey Nominations Committee — will serve a three-year term of office beginning on April 1, 2007, and ending on March 31, 2010.

Newly appointed members and alternates are: Producer – Region 2: James Daniel Rodenberg, Wolf Point, Mont., member; and Jerry Brown, Haddam, Kan., alternate; and Producer – Region 3: Zac Browning, Jamestown, N.D., member; and Joan Gunter, Towner, N.D., alternate.

Reappointed members and alternates are: Producer – Region 1: George K.
Hansen, Colton, Ore., member; and Glenda K. Wooten, Palo Cedro, Calif., alternate; and Handler: Nancy J. Gamber Olcott, Lancaster, Pa., member; and Steven C. Smith, Victorville, Calif., alternate.

Ag Groups, USDA

American Farmland Trust Podcast & Promotions

Chuck Zimmerman

American Farmland TrustWhile looking into this story I discovered that the American Farmland Trust has a podcast. You can use this link to subscribe in iTunes. But besides that they’ve just promoted a couple of really wonderful people.

William Kuckuck, Executive Vice President, American Farmland Trust (AFT) has announced the promotion of Jane Kirchner as Director of Marketing and Jennifer Morrill as Director of Media Relations.

As Director of Marketing, Jane Kirchner will oversee an integrated marketing program for the organization and help foster strategic external partnerships. Kirchner joined AFT in 2003, and has marketed AFT’s technical assistance consulting services, led the redevelopment and design of AFT’s website and developed an online communications program. Her prior experience includes food industry marketing and land use planning.

Jennifer Morrill joined AFT in 2005 with more than 15 years of experience in agricultural issues communication and program development. As Director of Media Relations, she will focus on the continued development and implementation of strategic communications and outreach and will serve as AFT’s first point of response to the press.

Ag Groups

Osborn & Barr AOR for ICL Performance Products LP

Chuck Zimmerman

ICL Performance Products LPOsborn & Barr Communications has been named agency of record for ICL Performance Products LP which manufactures and markets specialty phosphates.

“We hired Osborn & Barr for the agency’s expertise in public relations and the company’s reputation for delivering measurable results,” said Dick Kennedy, president and chief executive officer of ICL Performance Products LP. “We look forward to developing a strong partnership with Osborn & Barr as we continue to provide tailored solutions and high-quality technical support to our valued global customers in the phosphates industry.” The agency will be responsible for providing strategic public relations counsel to communicate ICL Performance Products LP’s corporate and product messaging to increase awareness and visibility of the company’s brand among industry audiences.

Agencies, Agribusiness

Podcast Measurement on a Winter Day

Chuck Zimmerman

Winter SkyWhy have a camera if you don’t use it right?

It was so nice today I had to get out for a break. In fact, it’s warmer in Missouri today than it was when I left Tampa, FL yesterday.

It almost got up to 70 degrees.

Now just so you don’t think, “Chuck why are you wasting my time with a stupid picture?” I am going to suggest you listen to this podcast episode of Business Week – The Cutting Edge. It’s about podcasting distribution and features Rick Klau, a vice-president at FeedBurner. He talks about “the rise of podcasts among the feeds his company helps manage. The business has turned its focus toward getting metrics that will afford podcasters and advertisers a better grip on their audiences.”

Very good material for those of you who are interested in where this podcast thing is going. I think I know and I’ll bet you can guess but hearing it from someone like Rick really brings it home.

Podcasts

AAEA Photo Management Webinar

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEAI am seriously late in posting this but just in case you want to get in on a webinar about “Digital Photo Management Made Easy: How to Edit, Archive and Catalog Digital Photos.” This is being offered by the American Agricultural Editors’ Association and it’s tomorrow folks. You don’t have to be a member to register and participate.

It’s not about looking at slides on a light table, tossing the ones you don’t like and filing the rest anymore. The digital process of editing and archiving photos is not as crazy as it may seem, and the process can be efficient. AAEA members and other experts in the field will discuss several programs and practical processes for both Macs and PCs that can make managing your digital photos easy.

Live Webinar takes place on Tuesday, March 6, 2:30-3:30 p.m. EST (1:30-2:30 p.m. CST)
Register now on the AAEA Web site at www.ageditors.com
Cost is $25 for AAEA members and $50 for non-members

ACN