IFAJ Really Is International

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ MemberI know you’ve heard me say before how beneficial involvement is in IFAJ. Getting outside our little comfort zones when you’re reporting on a global industry is something that all agricultural journalists should take time to do.

I will have to meet this guy tomorrow and find out what country he’s from and what he’s going to do with the video he was shooting of tonight’s presentations. I spoke with people from Japan, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Switzerland, The Netherlands and of course, the good old USA. Many of these people are becoming friends as we see each other at different meetings out and about.

I’m actually here representing Joann Alumbaugh on the IFAJ board since she couldn’t make it. Tomorrow I’ll provide a report of the plans we’re making to host the IFAJ Congress 2009 in Texas which will be held in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit.

Farm Shows, IFAJ, International

IFAJ Leaders Ready To Meet

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ LeadersInternational Green Week makes a very convenient spot for the IFAJ to hold its annual board meeting. Seen here are IFAJ President David Markey (l) and Senior Vice President Mike Wilson (r).

Our welcoming reception tonight courtesy of Messe Berlin was a great place to touch base before we get down to business tomorrow. We’ll start out with a morning meeting before taking part in some press conferences tomorrow afternoon.

On Saturday IFAJ has another meeting in the morning and then an afternoon professional improvement session. It’s going to be a busy couple of days here.

Farm Shows, IFAJ, International

Messe Berlin Opening Reception

Chuck Zimmerman

Raimund HoschWelcoming agricultural journalists to Berlin this evening was the CEO of Messe Berlin, the company that organizes International Green Week. He’s Raimund Hosch and I interviewed him after the presentation.

Raimund describes his organization which puts on huge shows like this one throughout the year. When I get to the venue tomorrow I’m sure I’ll collect some interesting statistics for you.

One of the interesting things Raimund points out is how this big agricultural food show has become a very political scene as each year more and more politicians use it as a platform to make a case for their various positions. Each year a different country plays “host” to the show and this year it’s Germany. However, Raimund says that Germany decided to take a back seat and make the publicized host the European Union. They’ve got to like that.

Listen to my interview with Raimund:ifaj-berlin-2007-1.mp3

Audio, Farm Shows, IFAJ, International

Blogging From Berlin

Chuck Zimmerman

Checkpoint Charlie BearI will find out the story behind Checkpoint Charlie Bear. He sits outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel here in Berlin city center. He certainly helps you know where you are.

I just got settled in to the hotel and thought I’d start off with a short video clip for you. You can expect more than this over the next several days. Once I get into the Green Week complex there’s going to be lots of demonstrations that will lend themselves well to video.

I can’t say that Berlin is the prettiest city I’ve ever been in but then I don’t have a car to drive around in either. I was here for International Green Week years ago and got to take a tour. I know there’s a lot to see in the area.

You’ll be seeing a lot of information from the IFAJ board meeting and the show at International Green Week. As I recall it’s acres of food from around the world. When I was here before I didn’t even have a digital camera but I did take a lot of pictures. I should have scanned some of them. Now why didn’t I think of that.

Post Update:

According to a hotel staffer the bear is a “buddy bear” which is one of many scattered throughout the city (sounds like the Cow Parade) and the bear is the city mascot. If you’ve got more than that let me know.

IFAJ, Video

Make Farmetrics Predictions Receive Rewards

Chuck Zimmerman

FarmetricsIt always helps to have a cool name. Farmetrics. The release says the site is “sponsored” by Bunge Global Markets, Inc. The copyright on the site says Bunge so I’m thinking it’s more like a Bunge website don’t you think? If not let me know.

Farmetrics, the first prediction market tailored for U.S. agribusiness, enables participants to learn more about local, state and national crop conditions. Using their knowledge and experience in the agricultural industry, participants submit predictions for local planted acreage, yield and harvested acreage at www.farmetrics.com. These predictions are aggregated and shared weekly with participants. Farmetrics provides access to information as local as the county level. Farmetrics participants can even earn Reward Points redeemable for prizes at an online catalog. There is no cost to participate or win.

“Gaining real-time, more accurate information about local crop conditions is vital to U.S. agribusiness,” said Bill Towles, who manages farmer focus programs for the Web site’s sponsor, Bunge Global Markets, Inc. “The Farmetrics Prediction Market helps everyone manage risk more closely. It is already proving to be an important tool in understanding supply conditions around the country.”

Agribusiness

National Corn Marketer

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast102 - Fred Stemme, NCGAThe National Corn Growers Association is familiar to just about everyone in agriculture but how many of you know how their marketing department works? To find out what they do there in St. Louis I dropped in and spoke with NCGA Vice President of Marketing, Fred Stemme. Fred used to work here in mid Missouri for the Missouri Corn Growers Association before getting his job with the national organization.

Fred Stemme, NCGAThis week’s program is a conversation between Fred and myself. I asked Fred when he’s going to start the NCGA blog and he didn’t say “never.” I also asked him if he thought news bloggers could be considered legitimate media. You’ll have to listen to hear his answer. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Fred’s pictured here in the NCGA office in Chesterfield (west St. Louis) in front of their display of products made from corn.

To listen to my complete interview with Fred you can download the ZimmCast: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 102 (23 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast102-1-15-07.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.

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bites

Chuck Zimmerman

Zimfo Bytes

Blog Post on AgWired = High Search Engine Rank

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag SpeakI spoke to a representative from AgSpeak on Friday and as we were talking I did a Google search of their name. They already knew this but the results show their website at the top and the 2 posts I did on them on AgWired show up as numbers 4 and 5 on the list! That’s higher than the news release they sent out through PRNewswire.

I’m pointing this out for a couple of reasons.

1. If you want to show up high in online searches for people searching a lot of ag related terms and keywords then figure out how to get on AgWired. That may be from me writing about you and your company or product or event. That might be from some type of sponsored content or advertising. How about having me do a review of a product or service? Let’s say it’s a tractor. I could drive it, take pictures of it including video and write about the experience and interview you while doing this. Just giving you some ideas.

2. To point out again one of the key ways a blog helps you in your online strategy. These websites are highly search engine optimized. How much are you paying for SEO? How much would it cost to start a blog? You might want to compare these things.

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bites

Chuck Zimmerman

Zimfo Bytes