New Record for Monthly Visitors

Chuck Zimmerman

October was another record month for traffic on AgWired. Our statistics show over 15,000 unique visitors and almost 100,000 page views.

I am not only amazed but thankful to all the people who visit, comment, share, email ideas and provide their support. I don’t know where we’ll wind up in the future but I promise to keep bringing you all the information I can.

I’m sure you know we haven’t done any formal advertising of AgWired. Other than my periodic email to those of you who are in my personal contact database I’ve got to believe that good old word of mouth is spreading the message that we’re doing something unique and I hope valuable to a growing audience.

We’re going to keep on making AgWired a more and more valuable online destination for anyone involved in, or interested in agricultural marketing. Keep an eye on us.

Uncategorized

New Grain Scale

Chuck Zimmerman

OhausAs long as nobody wants to weigh me I’m okay. However, if you want a pure grain weighing product, here’s a new one. I imagine a lot of these are in use right now.

The Ohaus Corporation, a leading manufacturer of balances for specialty, industrial, education, and laboratory markets and worldwide, has announced the addition of the new Adventurer™ Pro Grain Scale to its line of measurement products. The Adventurer Pro has been designed as a durable and accurate grading scale for use in commercial grain weighing applications.

The Adventurer Pro offers the capacity and precision needed in the grain weighing operations that prepare the product to be sent to the marketplace. Farmers and grain purchasers use the scale to sample grain in the purchasing process to determine grain purity percentages of shipments for pricing.

Agribusiness

Global Forces Shaping Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast91 - NAMA Agribusiness Forum With Chairman Jessica LamkeyThe NAMA Agribusiness Forum is just around the corner (November 14-15) so I interviewed this year’s chairman, Jessica Lamker, Director of Member Development & Communications, CHS-Land O’Lakes Member Services.

Jessica gives us the rundown on the program which is focusing on the Global Forces Shaping Agriculture. A big part of the program will be looking into the future from the eyes of several of the people doing presentations. This is a common element of the annual event.

Download this week’s program: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 91 (13 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast91-11-1-06.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.

Agribusiness, Audio, NAMA, ZimmCast

Think Small

Chuck Zimmerman

Next year’s NAMA Conference theme may be “Think Big” but starting tomorrow you can think “small” as in the 14th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference.

It’s going to be held at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia, MO. They have heated buildings in case you’re worried about that.

Some of the sessions on the agenda include, Native plants as cut flowers, Fruits, nuts & medicinal herbs, Crop diversification options, 10 Ways to make money from trees, Ethanol from waste fruit and Legal matters. There’s quite a few more too.

According to the show organizers, last year, over 4,400 people and over 150 exhibitors attended.

Show Hours: Thurs, Nov 2: 9 am-5 pm, Fri, Nov 3: 8 am-5 pm, Sat, Nov 4: 8 am-5 pm. Call 800-633-2535 to register.

Farm Shows

Boot Camp LPC Style

Chuck Zimmerman

Livestock Publications Council Boot CampIt’s almost time for the second round of the Livestock Publications Council Boot Camp.

This year it’s in Louisville, KY.

If you haven’t already then you need to get registered.

They’ll have sessions on all the Adobe design software, AP Style Book (I actually have my own style!) and photography.

Contact Diane Johnson to get registered.

You can find out more about it in their latest newsletter (pdf file).

LPC

Firing Up The ZimmCam

Chuck Zimmerman

I have been wanting to work with a webcam for some time now and took the initial plunge today. Let’s just say that now that I have an “agricam” I’m even more armed and dangerous. I’ve already thought of a number of ways to use this. One of the first things I’ve got to do is learn how to use the video editing software I purchased earlier this year. I’m also wondering if it’s time for a video version of the ZimmCast using my new tool, the ZimmCam. So to get the ball rolling here’s a little demo.

Feedback? Stick with audio? More makeup? Actually I’m thinking of a lot more production value in a video podcast. You’ll just have to be patient with me. We’ll get there.

Video

Upcoming Schedule

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Equipment Manufacturers AssociationHere’s one of my next stops on the agricultural marketing highway. The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association will be holding their convention in Minneapolis next week. I’ll be part of a panel titled, “Marketing Communications Strategies & Tactics.” It’s going to be on Tuesday afternoon and features some real experts like, Dale Bentlage of Global Reach Internet Productions, Joe Baitinger of Farm Market ID and Connor Flynn of Lessing Flynn.

I’ll be showing attendees what blogs and podcasts are and planting the seeds of ideas for using them in their corporate communications plans. I guess you know that you’ll be seeing posts from there.

After that it’s time for my annual hunting trip. That’s going to be from November 10-14 so posting will be light on those days. I’m just giving you a heads up.

After that, it’s on to the NAMA Agribusiness Forum in Kansas City, followed by the NAFB Convention. This year the two groups are having an overlapping session on Wednesday afternoon.

Ag Groups

View From The Porch

Chuck Zimmerman

I want to thank the Front Porch Rocker for a link to AgWired from her blog. People are always asking me who reads AgWired. Well go visit one of our readers.

Here’s her profile. “I am a twenty something Business Analyst in Central Missouri. I grew up working on my family’s cattle and hog farm and could not have asked for a better childhood. The oldest of four, I graduated from MU and returned home to marry the man I had dated through high school and college. We’ve been married since April, have jobs that we love, and our friends and family and their children to keep us busy.”

If anyone wants to link to AgWired, you’ve got my permission. Let me know you’re doing it and I’ll post about your website too.

Uncategorized

A Treat From Paulsen

Chuck Zimmerman

Paulsen HalloweenThanks to Paulsen Marketing I now remember that it’s Halloween and I don’t have any candy for the kids yet. Time to go shopping and pick up my absentee ballot since I’ll be out of town on election day next week.

It looks like the Paulsen office is into the spirit.

The gang at Paulsen Marketing celebrated Halloween by dressing-up. The company is known for its family atmosphere and team-oriented approach to all tasks. Paulsen Marketing Communications is a full service advertising agency and public relations firm specializing in strategic planning and brand development. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota based agency has been in business for over five decades and now has satellite offices in Kansas City and Madison, Wisconsin. Check out their web sites: www.paulsenagribranding.com, www.paulsenmarketing.com and www.paulsenpr.com.

Okay. Now we really need to discuss an ongoing brand awareness plan here on AgWired.

Trick and here’s your treat.

Agencies

Monsanto Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship

Chuck Zimmerman

MonsantoIf you know a high school senior who wants to pursue a career in agriculture then get them to apply for a Monsanto Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship. See a list of this year’s awards here and download the application form (pdf).

Monsanto and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting have teamed up for the third year in a row to offer the Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship Program to high school seniors nationwide. One hundred $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in agriculture who clearly demonstrate excellence in the areas of academics, leadership and real-world agricultural experience.

In order to qualify for the scholarships, applicants are required to come from a farm family, plan to enroll as full-time students in an agriculture-related academic major in an accredited school, and be committed to pursuing a career in agriculture. Applicants will also be evaluated on their academic records, leadership and extracurricular activities, and personal essays submitted as a part of the application process. The scholarship application deadline is February 15, 2007. Established in 1999, the Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship Program has awarded more than three quarters of a million dollars in support of young people interested in agriculture.

Agribusiness, NAFB