New Business Units at Becker Underwood

Chuck Zimmerman

Paul HollidayUsing AgNewsWire.AgWired.com today, Becker Underwood announced two new business units. One of them will be headed up by Paul Holliday, pictured here.

As a result of its rapidly expanding businesses in seed colorants and polymers, seed coating services and inoculants, Becker Underwood has announced major changes to its North American Seed Enhancement Business Unit. Becker Underwood will expand the current business to form two new units, an Inoculants Business Unit and Seed Enhancements Business Unit.

“This business unit will be dedicated to our growing inoculants business and will enable us to arrange our business around our inoculants customers, including distributors, retailers and growers, and emphasize the products and technologies that best fit into this market channel,” says Peter Innes, chief executive officer of Becker Underwood. The Inoculants Business Unit will be headed by seed-industry veteran Paul Holliday, beginning on January 2, 2007. In this newly created post, Holliday will oversee all sales and marketing activities, and all inoculants manufacturing operations in the United States and Canada.

Agribusiness, Seed

New Wranglers For Beefmobile

Chuck Zimmerman

Stephanie AusfahlThink beef. Think Beefmobile Wranglers. Think “new” Beefmobile Wranglers. That’s who Stephanie Ausfahl and Craig Hamilton are. In case you’re wondering, Stephanie is pictured on the right and Craig on the left.

As the Beefmobiles roll out for a fourth year on the road, two new “Wranglers” are at the helm to help beef and dairy producers to better understand how their beef checkoff dollars are being spent. Stephanie Ausfahl and Craig Hamilton, both well-versed in the livestock industry with firsthand experience as beef producers, are taking their industry involvement to new levels as they marshal the Beefmobiles – mini-vans emblazoned with mouth-watering images of sizzling beef, across the United States. They join veteran Wrangler Tracey Orsburn, who is starting her third year with the Beefmobile program, now serving as project coordinator.

Craig HamiltonThe three undertake the lofty task of visiting more than 250 livestock marketing facilities and beef events and 10 consumer venues.

At each location, the checkoff-funded Beefmobiles and their Wranglers reach out to producers throughout the country to provide information – and solicit input – about the Beef Checkoff Program.

I’m sure we’ll get to learn more about the new wranglers at the upcoming Cattle Industry Convention.

Ag Groups, Beef

National Corn Yield Contest Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

National Corn Growers AssociationThe National Corn Growers Association has announced the winners in their annual National Corn Yield Contest.

You know what this means? Bragging rights. Who had the best yielding varieties. In fact, the releases are already coming out. Here’s some details from NCGA.

“This year we had winners from such non-traditional areas as Idaho and Utah,” notes NCGA President Ken McCauley. “That shows that growers can meet the challenge of increasing demand.” This year’s contest drew 3,157 entrants from 44 states.

The 27 winners in nine production categories had verified yields of more than 240 bushels per acre, compared to the national average of 151.2 bushels per acre. Seven winners posted yields of more than 300 bushels per acre. “Poor weather at harvest time lowered yields from some areas in the Midwest, but that’s part of the challenges that all farmers meet,” says McCauley. “The biggest benefit of the NCYC is the opportunity to test production techniques and seed hybrids in real-world conditions.” While there is no overall winner in the NCYC, yields of farmers who placed first, second and third in their production categories ranged from 240.9675 by Tanner Farms of Union City, Tenn., to 347.2698 from Kip Cullers of Purdy, Mo.

Ag Groups, Corn

Rhea & Kaiser On China Business Development

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast98 - Steve Rhea in ChinaThis week on the ZimmCast I spoke with Steve Rhea, president, Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications. Steve was in China recently for a business conference and he has some interesting perspective to share.

Steve Rhea in ChinaRhea & Kaiser is affiliated with WorldWide Partners, “the world’s largest network of independent marketing communications companies.” The organization hosted a China Marketing Summit at which you can see Steve speaking.

Steve says that his trip was interesting from both a personal and professional perspective. He says that Rhea & Kaiser has made some great contacts with the Chinese agency, WE Worldwide Partners, which was very involved in the conference. He says that it’s essential to work with a local agency there when developing business in China due to cultural and political considerations.

To listen to my complete interview with Steve and hear about his trip you can download the ZimmCast: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 98 (9 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast98-12-18-06.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.

Agencies, Audio, International, ZimmCast

Taking a TextDrive

Chuck Zimmerman

TextDriveThis week ZimmComm New Media is going to take a TextDrive. Basically this means we’re moving to a new server. For a couple years now we’ve been with HostGator and for the most part they’ve been a good fit.

However, as we’ve evolved in the web publishing and social media world we need a company that really understands what we’re doing. As I was looking around at various companies we could work with I was pointed to TextDrive, a Joyent company. Ironically, this is the company that the original design artist for the AgWired theme moved to.

TextDrive is “hosting company run by and for people who love publishing on the web.” When I saw that slogan I had a gut feeling I was in the right place. This is going to be different kind of hosting management environment. I guess that means I get to learn something new. We’re hoping for a smooth transfer this week but just in case we have a hiccup you’ll know what’s going on.

After this move is complete it’s full steam ahead into the new year. This is going to be fun.

Uncategorized

iLuv BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF Media iLuvYes, iLuv BASF and they love me. For I think the third year in a row, registered media with their AgMediaCentral website (currently registered) can add to their iPod system by filling out a survey once they’ve logged in.

I got mine filled out earlier this afternoon. You may remember that 2 years ago it was an iPod Nano. Then it was a nice iTunes gift card. Now it’s an iLuv Stereo Docking System.

I don’t know how the folks at Quarry Integrated Communications and BASF knew I wanted one but they have a winner gift for the agricultural journalist. The alert that came in the mail today also included another iTunes gift card by the way!

Way to go BASF. You made my day in a very musical way. I think we’re going to see a lot more content for these gadgets in the agricultural communications world in the coming year. Stay tuned.

Agencies, Agribusiness

New Communications Manager For Holstein USA

Chuck Zimmerman

Jim LeuenbergerThe Holstein Association, USA has a new communications manager. He’s Jim Leuenberger. Jim’s going to work out of his home in Wisconsin for the Vermont-based organization.

In his position, Leuenberger will be responsible for overseeing all Association communications efforts. They include editing the Association’s quarterly member magazine the Holstein Pulse, writing news releases, working with graphic designers to produce advertising, trade show materials, informational brochures, the Association’s annual report, and publicity for the Association’s annual convention. He will also serve as the Association’s primary photographer. “Jim’s vast knowledge of the dairy industry and exceptional communications skills make him one of the Association’s key assets,” according to John Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of Holstein Association USA.

Ag Groups, Dairy

Happy Holidays From Farm Journal

Chuck Zimmerman

Happy Holidays From Farm Journal Farm Journal Media has a unique holiday card.

It says on the emailed “card” that they would rather make a $3 donation to one of 4 charities in your name than spend $2 on a card to mail you.

I think this is a great idea. Save some trees, use the web and help out a worthwhile cause while saying “Happy Holidays” to your clients.

The four charities you can choose from are:
FFA National Scholarship Fund
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
Unmet Needs – VFW program aiding families of our Armed Forces serving in Iraq
The American Cancer Society

The email says that the link to where you select is unique and not to forward so I can’t insert it here.

Media, Publication

Check The Status of BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF BASF just announced (pdf) that their Status herbicide has received EPA registration.

“We’re very excited to launch Status herbicide as the premier herbicide for broadleaf weed control in corn,” says Leon Duchene, Status Product Manager with BASF. “It offers superior control of tough broadleaves over the leading competitor while providing peace of mind with crop safety and simplicity.” The innovation of Status is based on three key components: active ingredients dicamba and diflufenzopyr, as well as a unique patented safener – isoxadifen. Together, these ingredients enhance control of all major broadleaf weeds in corn while setting a new standard in crop safety from BASF.

You can hear the story directly from Leon by downloading a sound bite right here: Listen To MP3 Leon Duchene (30 sec MP3)

Or you can listen here immediately: basf-status-leon-duchene.mp3

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn

She Has The Seven Year Itch

Chuck Zimmerman

Chelsea ZimmermanI would like to take this opportunity to tell you how wonderful my oldest daughter is. For those of you who don’t know, her name is Chelsea and she’s working part time for ZimmComm New Media. We’re a community here so I feel comfortable sharing this with you. Many of you know that Chelsea was in an auto accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down.

Well she is a daily inspiration to her family and friends and now she’s got “Dad’s bug” and she’s blogging. So now she’s becoming an inspiration to a growing number of people around the country.

Today marks the 7th anniversary of the day she had the accident and she wrote about it. I hope you will agree with me that she is something special and I’m so proud of her I just had to share this with you.

By the way, I have 2 other daughters and they are just as wonderful. Our family was really brought together in a positive way that is hard to describe by what happened to Chelsea. They’re all wonderful and although they’re all grown up we’re going to take a holiday trip together to see family in Georgia and Florida.

Thanks for letting me share this story with you.

Uncategorized