The Future is Bright For Agribusiness

Chuck Zimmerman

Sano ShimodaThe NAMA Agribusiness Forum is over and it’s NAFB Convention time. I’m getting ready to head over to today’s Trade Talk session after this post. You can see and hear more from the Forum though over on the NAMA blog.

The last presentation at the Agribusiness Forum yesterday was given by Sano Shimoda, BioScience Securities.

Although the title of the session started out with “The Final Frontier . . . ,” Sano thinks we’re just beginning. He’s very optimistic about the future of American agribusiness. In reference to biofuels, which were a topic of discussion here, he says that we’re going to have to become cost competitive in order to fully develop our capabilities.

Listen to my interview with Sano: forum-06-3.mp3

Audio, NAMA

Anita is Excellent

Chuck Zimmerman

Anita VanderwertMy former compadre from the Brownfield Network was presented a very deserving award today at the NAMA Agribusiness Forum.

Anita Vanderwert was recognized for her sales efforts with the NAMA Professional Development, Award of Excellence – Sales.

After many years of doing interviews for Anita’s client’s I got to finally interview her.

She talks about what this award means to her.

Listen to my interview with Anita: forum-06-1.mp3

Audio, NAMA

Condolences For Two Rivers Marketing

Chuck Zimmerman

Two Rivers MarketingI was very sad to receive the following message from Greg Ehm at Two Rivers Marketing. I’m posting it here so that those of you who know him and the staff at the agency are aware of this tragedy and can offer your condolences as well.

Four of our Two Rivers Marketing family members were killed in a plane crash near South Bend, Indiana, on Monday night. Among them was Tom Dunphy, one of the founders of Two Rivers Marketing. The others were Leslie O’Bannon, Eric Jacobs and Josh Trainor.

Words cannot express how much these individuals meant to us as friends and teammates, and of course a mentor and leader. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the husbands and wives, a fiancé, parents, children, and other family members who we know are grieving the loss of loved ones. We are still somewhat stunned from the news, but we know Tom and the others would have urged us to try and maintain our poise and go on, as difficult as that may be. As we steadily pull through this together, our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this terribly tragic time. You were likely touched by one or more of these individuals just as we were, and we deeply appreciate your condolences.

I’m sure the agency will be providing more details. Please contact them if you have questions or would like more information.

Agencies

It’s Legal Now

Chuck Zimmerman

Templeton RyeI wonder if any of this will be consumed in Kansas City this week. I’m sure if there’s someone attending the NAMA or NAFB meetings from The Meyocks Group it might happen.

Templeton Rye, a new rye whiskey company with history dating back to Prohibition and Al Capone, has retained The Meyocks Group to support product launch efforts. Scott Bush, president of Templeton Rye, says, “We have one chance to introduce Templeton Rye — legally — to the world. The Meyocks Group has extraordinary ideas and passion to help make sure we do it right.”

Templeton Rye has a storied history. When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in 1920, many enterprising residents of the small town of Templeton, Iowa, chose to become outlaws — producing a high caliber and much sought-after whiskey. Templeton Rye became Al Capone’s whiskey of choice, quickly finding its way to the center of his bootlegging empire. With its introduction later this year, Templeton Rye will soon be available legally for the first time in its arresting history.

Agencies

Chris Jones at Bader Rutter

Chuck Zimmerman

Chris JonesHere’s the latest news from Bader Rutter.

Chris Jones has joined Bader Rutter & Associates as an assistant account executive in the agency’s account services group. Prior to joining Bader Rutter, Jones was a media and direct marketing specialist for Brady Marketing Group. Originally from Schofield, Wis., Jones graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and psychology.

Chris, I think that degree in psychology will come in handy in this business!

Agencies

AgNewsWire.AgWired.com Makeover

Chuck Zimmerman

AgNewsWire.AgWired.comMany of you are familiar with the ZimmComm, AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service. Well AgNewsWire.AgWired.com.com just got a new look.

Our online news release distribution service is doing very well. We send your news release to all farm broadcasters as well as farm publication and website editors. It’s a comprehensive service that has been delivering releases for several years now.

We’re really glad to unveil the new look of AgNewsWire.AgWired.com this week as so many of our friends and clients gather in Kansas City.

The best way to deliver your news releases to the farm journalist community is with AgNewsWire.AgWired.com. Hey, we are them. Who better to know how journalists want to receive news releases?

One of the best things about our service is our ability to add in useful multimedia content like audio, images and even video to your news releases. Wouldn’t you like to have award winning farm journalists working on your public relations efforts?

Hey, did I just use journalists and public relations in the same sentence?

Contact me with questions or to handle your news release project.

Public Relations

Agribusiness Forum Starts Today

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA Agribusiness ForumIt’s time for the NAMA Agribusiness Forum. I’ll be the NAMA blogger once again this year but don’t arrive until tomorrow.

In case you missed a recent ZimmCast with the Chairman of this year’s conference you can still find it.

It’s going to be a good program and once again overlaps with the NAFB Convention. Maybe I’ll see you there.

NAMA

Traditional and New Media in Indiana

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast93 - Hoosier Ag TodayI’m not back to regular office hours yet. Give me another day or so. But I do have internet access so you do get a ZimmCast this week.

In this week’s program you’ll hear from Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Today. Gary just got started with his new venture recently and he’s got a website, radio network and has started podcasting.

I interviewed Gary at his office in Indianapolis on a recent trip and learned more about what he’s doing and what he thinks the future holds.

Download this week’s program: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 93 (8 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast93-11-13-06.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.

Audio, Media, ZimmCast

Got Deer?

Chuck Zimmerman

Hunting 2006My nephew came up with the title for this post.

We’re at our hunting camp and will be here for a few more days until it’s time to head to Kansas City.

For those who are wondering I think this picture speaks for itself.

It’s been a great opening day out here and the weather has been beautiful.

Uncategorized

Get The AgriEdge

Chuck Zimmerman

Agri/EdgeThe online world continues to grow. This time it’s Syngenta with another website. This one’s for their AgriEdge program.

Growers and retailers can use a new national web site, www.AgriEdge.com, to learn more about maximizing yields and minimizing risk with the AgriEdge™ Corn and AgriEdge Soybean programs from Syngenta. Customized by state, the national site details the broad range of crop production technologies and services and industry-leading risk management assurances that characterize the AgriEdge programs.

“The AgriEdge web site puts all the resources of the program at retailers’ and growers’ fingertips,” said Rex Wichert, Agribusiness Marketing Manager at Syngenta. “With a simple mouse-click, growers can see how participating in the AgriEdge programs can help them optimize yields, manage risk and integrate flexible agronomic solutions that best fit their particular farming challenges.”

Agribusiness, Internet