Farm Aid New Media Show Day

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Aid Board - Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve Inc. 2004It’s Farm Aid show day and you can catch it via webcast. Here’s the board of Farm Aid. From the left there’s John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and Neil Young.

One of the cool things they’re doing besides webcasting is having the whole thing blogged. Actually this has been going on for a while leading up to today’s event, which already has posts today from backstage. Think of how you could be having this done for your convention, trade show or other type of event. Are you thinking of cool new media ways to reach your audience like Farm Aid is?

Nitty Gritty Dirt BandThey’ve got quite a lineup of entertainment on stage today, including bands like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, shown here. Here’s where you can find the current lineup.

If you want to watch via web there’s a special page which allows you to do so after making a donation or choose to view without doing so.

Farm Shows

Iraq Meat Markets

Chuck Zimmerman

Iraq Meat MarketHere’s the lastest story from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team on assignment in Iraq. I really appreciate what he’s doing and the look at agriculture in a country like Iraq. This time he visits a meat market.

The shopping experience in Iraq is quite unique. Fruits and vegetables are purchased at farmers markets and roadside stands. Lamb is often purchased directly from the village butcher. Meat and poultry are bought at local meat markets. Listeners may be surprised to learn what one of the preferred meats in Iraq is.

Here’s Paul’s report: Listen To MP3 Iraq Meat Markets (1 min MP3)

Audio, International

PCVAD Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

PCVAD AwardsPCVAD is a whole lot easier to say than porcine circovirus associated disease don’t you think?

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. announces the recipients of its inaugural research award program directed at porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD). The $75,000 PCVAD Research Awards will fund three research studies designed to improve the industry’s understanding and management of this devastating disease complex. The following 2006 award recipients and their research proposals were recognized at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minn.:

  • Darwin. L. Reicks, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, Minn.; The effect of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine on the prevalence of detection in serum, blood swab, and semen in adult boars.
  • Tanja Opriessnig, DVM, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Comparison of different PCV2-antibody ELISA assays and detection of PCV2-specific antibodies after vaccination or after infection with distinct PCV2-isolates.
  • Tanja Opriessnig, DVM, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Characterization and comparison of the immune response to PCV2 in pigs from different genetic origin.

    • Agribusiness, Livestock

    Vaccines Winning the War

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Harry SiemensThe introduction of two new vaccines has helped turn the tide in the battle in Canada to contain a potentially deadly condition that’s taken a huge toll on swineherds around the world.

    Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease (PCVAD), previously called Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS), is a viral disease that typically affects young pigs, weanlings, from eight to 16 weeks of age. However, symptoms tend to manifest themselves in the grower phase and the disease is often fatal. The disease, first characterized in western Canada in 1995 became widespread worldwide since then. Read More

    International

    Developing Kentucky Sheep/Goats

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Kentucky Sheep & Wool ProducersThe sheep and goat groups of Kentucky are working together on a project just approved by the Kentucky Ag Development Board.

    The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers (KSWP) for $184,000 in state funds to establish the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office. This was one of 27 projects approved. According to Roger Thacker, sheep producer and member of the project’s working group, “This two-year grant will allow the sheep and goat industries of this state to work together on projects that are mutually advantageous. We are excited to begin this joint effort which will provide more political visibility for each organization.”     Read More

    Ag Groups

    LiveAuctions.tv

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Live Auction TVSometimes it pays to go through your junk mail box to make sure that it’s only got junk in it. I did just now and found an announcement from LiveAuction.tv.

    I can’t say that I’ve heard of them. It looks like you can choose between live auctions and auction markets around the country.

    Here’s the instructions that were in the email announcement:

    How To Bid
    Step 1) Register for a free LiveAuctions.tv account (one-time registration).
    Step 2) Log-in to your desired auctions and “Request a Buyer Number” for each auction you desire to bid on.

    Special Note:
    Due to the increasing numbers of online bidders and “Buyer # Requests” please register and sign-up early to guarantee that your online seat is saved and your buyer number has been processed. LiveAuctions.tv makes no guarantees that a user will be assigned a buyer number the day of the sale.

    I didn’t create an account to see how it works. If you have, let me know what you think.

    Livestock

    You Haven’t Taken Our Survey Yet, Have You?

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I know, I’m being a pain. But we want our survey (1st annual?) to be as meaningful as possible. We’ve had quite a few done so far (Thank you) but I’d really like more of you to chime in. I just did one last night for somebody that was agonizing in more ways than one. It had pages full of questions, all kinds of questions. Our is short, simple and you really don’t have to think hard to answer the questions.

    AgWired Survey

    So come on, take maybe 3 minutes and get your survey done today. Please?

    Uncategorized

    Reaching Foodies Today

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I know there are a lot of you who work for or support groups who want to reach consumers about various kinds of food. You might be interested in a recent story on eMarketer.com that contains some study information like in this graphic.
    eMarketer.com Study

    They pulled together information from a couple of sources like the following:

    According to comScore Media Metrix, 39 million Americans visited food Web sites in July 2006, up 23% from a year earlier. FoodNetwork.com claims the top spot among all food Web sites in the US, capitalizing on its TV popularity and developing deeper relationships with its viewers.

    Food, Internet

    Zune Availability Announced

    Chuck Zimmerman

    White ZuneNow we know when the Microsoft digital media player will be on the market. This 30GB bad boy will be in stores by November 14 with a retail price of $249. It has some nice features and will play more types of files than an iPod.

    Just letting you know what to get your favorite farmer for Christmas. You know he/she will want to be listening to the latest farm podcasts.

    Learn more from this story.

    I’ve got to believe that between Apple and Microsoft marketing their products heavily, we’ll soon be reading statistics that say something like the average home in America has 2.556 digital media players.

    Podcasts