Cotton Board Members Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAIt’s a job keeping up with all the appointments to all the commodity organizations that USDA is involved with. Here’s the latest on the Cotton Board. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the appointment of eight members and eight alternate members.

The Cotton Board consists of 36 representatives of cotton producers and importers, their alternates and one consumer advisor. The members and alternates named today will serve a three-year term, ending Dec. 31, 2009.

The re-appointed members are: Kevin G. Rogers, Mesa, Ariz.; Tom J. Gary, Greenwood, Miss.; Roger L. Blackwelder, Rotan, Texas; Janet C. Ydavoy, Ft. Myers, Fla.; and Sonja Chapman, Boonton, N.J. The re-appointed alternate members are: Walter A. Heiden, Arlington, Ariz.; William E. Harris, Benton, Miss.; and Carlos F.J. Moore, Naples, Fla.

The newly appointed board members are: James M. Lucas, Chester, Ga.; Mark D. Williams, Farwell, Texas; and Anderson D. Warlick, Gastonia, N.C. The newly appointed alternate members are: Benjamin O. Boyd, Sylvania, Ga.; Randy L. Braden, Midland, Texas; Linda F. Taylor, Wolfforth, Texas; Robert J. Mele, Cherry Hill, N.J.; and Teresa M. Nersesyan, Long Beach, Calif.

Ag Groups, Cotton, USDA

Farm Aid Holiday Greetings

Chuck Zimmerman

Happy Holidays From Farm AidHow about another holiday card?

We can’t have enough holiday cheer now can we?

This one is from Farm Aid.

You can still find information about their 2006 concert.

Anyone else have a card they’d like to share?

Ag Groups

Message From Mari

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ Congress 2006 Group ShotI just heard from Mari Bjørke, head of the organizing committee for this summer’s International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in Norway. She sent along a bunch of photos too like this one featuring a bunch of us Americans.

Mari sent along a holiday message to all the IFAJ Congress participants.

In Hamar, Norway we have not got our snow yet, but are anyway hoping for white Christmas this year, too. Most of the people here are celebrating Christmas, that means we are soon having a week off just caring for family and friends and a lot of traditional good meals! Merry Christams and happy new year to all of you, and thank you for being such good guests last august!

IFAJ

The Appaloosa Blog Spot

Chuck Zimmerman

Appaloosa Blog SpotSay hello to one of the newest blogs in the agricultural world. The Appaloosa Blog Spot is the official blog of the Appaloosa Horse Club. This is the international breed association and the blog is for the CEO of the organization, Steve Taylor.

Steve has just started his horse breed blogging career out there in Moscow, Idaho. He learned right away that having a “blog policy” might be a good thing.

This is the newest example of a ZimmComm New Media project. You may ask why Steve wanted a blog. He says it best in his blog policy, “Our goal is to provide an informal resource for Appaloosa Horse Club news and information. A primary reason for establishing this news channel is to give technically challenged staff people (like me) the opportunity to post from events, meetings and activities without shuffling information and waiting in line to have items posted on the website.” For those of you who don’t get it, Appaloosa horses are spotted. That’s where the name comes from. Duh.

Contact me for a free consultation on your next new media project (blog or podcast).

Horses

Go The Extra Yard For Beef

Chuck Zimmerman

Grace WebbThe ever so lovely Grace Webb and Joe Schuele (not picture and not as lovely as Grace) would like all the farm media to get their registrations in for the Cattle Industry Convention. Like now okay?

Today and tomorrow (Dec. 21) are also the final days that Grace will be available to submit your registration form for you. Please call her at 303-850-3338 or e-mail her at gwebb@beef.org, if you would like her to do so.

From Dec. 22 to Jan. 5, you will need to pre-register by fax or mail, as indicated on the form. If you do not have a registration form, you can find one at: http://www.beefusa.org/convregistration.aspx. Just be sure to indicate on the form that you are registering as media. When you arrive in Nashville, you can come straight to the Media Room and bypass the general registration desk.

If you miss the pre-registration deadline, you may still register on-site beginning January 30. But pre-registration is very helpful for planning Media Room meals, work space, and facilities. (If we don’t have an accurate head count for meals, Grace might have to serve Yard-O-Beef.)

Hey Grace I like the idea of some slices of summer sausage in the media room but can we still have chocolate too?

Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

A Little Luv Music from BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmComm With a BASF iLuvI just mentioned the BASF farm journalist iLuv late last week and guess what showed up today.

It’s an iLuv and just in time for Christmas. Thank you Pat and Joy and Dan and Amanda (all the rest of the people at BASF and Quarry Communications too).

It just goes to show you that a little Luv goes a long way.

weLuv BASF and Quarry.

Agribusiness

Santa Rock From Lallemand

Chuck Zimmerman

Lallemand Animal NutritionSince we’re getting into the holiday spirit let’s spread a little more of it around.

This time it’s Lallemand Animal Nutrition with their emailed card and this link to the animated online version with The Santa Claus Rock.

Thanks Kerri.

If you’d like to have your “holiday” card featured here on AgWired make sure I’m on your email list.

Agribusiness

Happy Holidays From FarmAssist.com

Chuck Zimmerman

Holiday Greeting From FarmAssistThe holiday cards have been rolling in here at the ZimmComm New Media office. I like getting them via smail but as a virtual business that’s using the internet to communicate it sure makes sense to send one online.

Syngenta’s FarmAssist.com isn’t the only company doing so but I thought you’d enjoy seeing this one.

Besides getting a nice html email card you can see the animated one online.

Agribusiness

2,600 Podcast Downloads

Chuck Zimmerman

I just got a little update on that Blog Business Success podcast I was the guest on recently. Wayne Hurlbert sent an email saying, “I just wanted to let you know that your show segment is very popular with the listeners. So far, your episode has received over 2600 downloads. As I expected, your topic would be very hot with the listeners.”

Wayne, I think it was the picture that went with the post don’t you think?

I know you’re thinking, “Who are those 2,600 downloads?” Admit it. If you are you’re possibly still not getting this whole new media thing. Possibly . . .

Podcasts