Ventura Foods Serving Low-Lin Oil

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast100 - Kelly Brintle - Ventura FoodsSince we’re all worrying about our weight after the holidays and resolving to eat right in the new year I’m offering you an interview with Kelly Brintle, Ventura Foods who talks about low-linolenic soybeans, specifically Monsanto’s VISTIVE soybeans that can reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids in processed soybean oil. He talks about how high the demand is for this healthy oil product and what that means for his company and farmers.

This is episode 100 of the ZimmCast. Can you believe it? We’ve been doing this for quite a while now. Time flies when you’re having fun. Please email me your suggestions for topics and people to interview and I’ll try to get it done.

To listen to my complete interview with Kelly you can download the ZimmCast: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 100 (7 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast100-1-3-07.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.

Agribusiness, Audio, Food, Soybean, ZimmCast

Applications Open For Andy Markwart Horizon Award

Chuck Zimmerman

AAEAApplications are now being accepted for the Andy Markwart Horizon Award that’s being offered by AAEA and its Professional Improvement Foundation. It honors Andy Markwart, a member and leader of AAEA who died suddenly from heart complications last year.

The program is being funded with a $25,000 grant over five years by John Deere (Andy’s employer for many years prior to his death) and matching funds to be raised by PIF. The winner will be an AAEA member 35 and under (affiliate or active). The first winner will be named at the 2007 AMS in Louisville.

The winner will receive a $2,500 stipend. The stipend can be used for attending the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists annual meeting, the AMS meeting or a special class, seminar, workshop, etc., that will be approved by AAEA and John Deere. This stipend will be awarded to an AAEA member who exemplifies the youthful vigor, energy, passion, dedication and creativity shown by Andy in his volunteer work for AAEA for many years. “This is a fitting next step for AAEA to forever honor Andy’s work with our organization,” said Den Gardner, AAEA executive director. “His tireless efforts and enthusiasm will always be remembered and the AAEA member selected each year will typify Andy’s volunteerism and spirit.”

You can find the application here (Word doc).

ACN

COWS Are Carbon Dioxide Emitters

Chuck Zimmerman

CO2WI don’t know if you know Bob McCarty but he does have a sense of humor. In fact, Bob likes to share that sense of humor through some design work he’s done on a variety of subjects. He describes his online shop as the “home of creative, humorous and thought-provoking items.”

For example, take his latest work. Like Bob I don’t believe in global warming and I think his latest design is very funny. There’s certainly been some information floating around about livestock being a major threat to the environment. So what does Bob do? He whips up a great design.

Some scientists say cows emit more carbone dioxide (CO2) than automobiles, according to recent news reports. SO WHAT! We still love cows, and the creative minds at The Bob McCarty Shop™ want the world to know it. If you share our love for things “cow” — such as hamburgers, milk, steaks, etc. — you’re invited to join us by finding an item you can use to share a bovine-positive message with the world!

Livestock

Larry Stoller at RFD-TV The Magazine

Chuck Zimmerman

RFD-TV The MagazineIf you’re an RFD-TV fan then you probably know that they a magazine which is called, RFD-TV The Magazine. Now the publication has a new sales manager and he’s Larry Stoller. According to Larry:

RFD-TV The Magazine is an exciting publication that serves the growing rural lifestyle marketplace. After only three years, its paid circulation has surpassed 116,000…and continues to grow daily at a steady pace. No other publication can match the frequency of readership, as RFD-TV The Magazine serves as a program guide for RFD-TV “Rural America’s Most Important Network.” It is no wonder that advertisers get hooked on RFD-TV The Magazine following their first schedule.

Here are some highlights of a 2005 survey:

87% of our audience lives in rural America with 84% reporting they either own or rent acres
59% raise crops
51% have livestock
39% purchase animal health products
37% own horses
26% either own or plan to purchase an ATV.

If you want to reach this growing demographic, you’ll want to include RFD-TV The Magazine on your media schedule. Please contact me with any questions. I look forward to being of service.

Congratulations Larry and best of luck.

Media, Publication

DTN Acquires The Progressive Farmer

Chuck Zimmerman

The Progressive FarmerThe Progressive Farmer magazine is now owned by DTN. And in case you’re wondering why they would purchase the publication from Time, Inc., their CEO explains.

“The acquisition of The Progressive Farmer supports DTN’s goal of expanding its media presence in a vibrant rural America,” said Robert D. Gordon, CEO of DTN. “The future for rural America is very bright, driven by the economic impetus of new investment in renewable fuels, the expansion of high-speed internet communications and a growing demographic seeking to enjoy the long cherished values of farm life. The Progressive Farmer provides DTN a leading position in meeting the information needs of the farm lifestyle market, allowing us to expand beyond our traditional commercial agricultural information products.

So what kind of media company is DTN? It’s getting harder to put us in a neatly labeled box isn’t it?

Media, Publication

Beef Cook-Off Looking For Family Chefs

Chuck Zimmerman

National Beef Cook-OffI haven’t eaten any beef for at least a day or so. Maybe that little headache I have is from beef withdrawal. That will get corrected with supper tonight. So maybe I should consider entering the National Beef Cook-Off.

This year, the 27th National Beef Cook-Off urges family chefs to send in their original beef recipes that provide a great eating experience while supplying fuel for their family’s active lifestyle. Family chefs are encouraged to enter their original beef recipes by March 31, 2007, for the chance to win the “Best of Beef” $50,000 grand prize. The 2007 Cook-Off, which will be held Sept. 11-13 in Chicago, is presented by the Beef Checkoff Program. Twenty-five national finalists, including five parent/child teams, will compete for nine cash prizes totaling $110,000. In addition to one ‘Best of Beef’ grand prize winner, four category winners and four runner-up winners will be chosen by a panel of judges.

Besides new categories you can enter your recipe online. Well you could if there was an online form there. Oops. It says it’s coming soon though.

Beef, Food

That’s A Lot of Garden Writers

Chuck Zimmerman

Garden Writers AssociationI don’t think I’ve ever written about these writers before. In fact, I didn’t know there was a Garden Writers Association. I found them while looking at a news release for All-America Rose Selections.

The Garden Writers Association (GWA) is an organization of over 1800 professional communicators in the lawn and garden industry. No other organization in the industry has as much direct contact with the buying public as GWA. The GWA is comprised of garden professionals including book authors, staff editors, syndicated columnists, free-lance writers, photographers, landscape designers, television and radio personalities, consultants, catalog publishers, extension service agents and more.

It’s interesting to see that they include communicators from all types of media (they’ll add online/web soon I’m sure). That makes sense to me. It kind of makes me wonder when the AAEA, LPC and NAFB will get together. Think of what that would look like if we had just one organization in traditional agriculture. You may say it’ll never happen. I have learned not to say never though.

The Annual Symposium of the Garden Writers Association is September 28 – October 2 in Oklahoma City.

Media

Happy New Year

Chuck Zimmerman

I’d like to welcome you all to a brand new media year. I can’t wait to see what new techniques and technologies will pop up in the agricultural communications business. ZimmComm New Media is planning on continuing to develop various forms of social communications platforms like blogging and podcasting and we’ve got some exciting announcements coming up in the next week or so.

It’s hard to believe we’re nearing our 3rd year anniversary and it is only possible because of all the wonderful people we work with. We hope you have a fantastic 2007.

Uncategorized

Corporate Podcasting Summit – Europe

Chuck Zimmerman

Corporate Podcasting Summit EuropeHow many of you are doing communications work in other countries? Have you ever wondered how you’re going to get your message into those markets? Here’s another reason to think about podcasting. And to learn more about it while you’re in another country add the Corporate Podcasting Summit Europe to your calendar.

This conference will be in London Kensington, UK, March 19 – 20 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel. Anita Yaa has a great program lined up.

New media tools like podcasting are not only a great way to communicate with your domestic audience but your international one as well. Agriculture is a global business so you need to keep that in mind when you publish your blog or podcast.

International, Podcasts

Burgerize Your New Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Red RobinYou may not be thinking hamburgers today but just in case you have a real desire for a big burger you might want to check out Red Robin and their new website. I haven’t been to one of these yet. The key word is “yet.”

On their site you can not only find locations and menus but some very unique sections like the Bugerizer. Here you can build your own custom burger and print out the ingredients. That makes it very handy when you walk in and place your order.

They also have a nice feature called Unbrideled Acts of Kindness, or UBA’s. These are stories of random acts of kindness performed by their employees with guests. Very cool idea.

Via Meatingplace.com.

Food