UglyRipe Tomato Fight

Chuck Zimmerman

Uglyripe TomatoThat’s definitely an UglyRipe tomato in case you’re wondering. Apparently consumers like it but the Florida Tomato Committee doesn’t.

The overwhelming majority of comments submitted to the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) support the department’s proposed rule change to grant a partial exemption to the Minimum Grade Requirements for the UglyRipe(TM) tomato, a perennial consumer favorite. The UglyRipe tomato is an heirloom beefsteak variety tomato developed over decades with over $3 million in research funding by Procacci Brothers Sales Corporation. While consumers love the flavor of the variety, its characteristic ridges and crevices prevent it from meeting the shape standards of a typical Florida Round variety.

The Florida Tomato Committee (FTC), a group of competing growers sanctioned by federal law dating to the 1950’s that sets all size and shape standards for tomatoes entering the U.S. market from mid-October to mid-June claimed the UglyRipe was too misshapen and would damage the reputation of the Florida marketplace.
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Ag Groups, Agribusiness, USDA

MGEX Podcasting Monthly Commentary

Chuck Zimmerman

MGEXThe Minneapolis Grain Exchange has just started podcasting. Here’s a great example of a way to use this new media tool.

They’ve been doing a monthly USDA Crop Report Commentary which we began recording for them last month and uploading immediately to their web server so that it could be listened to from a link on their homepage. This month we helped them take it one step further. Now you can subscribe to the program using this link: MGEX USDA Crop Report Commentary (xml file). You’ll want to use your iTunes or other podcatching software to subscribe. If you still don’t know how to do this they have a “How To Subscribe” page.

The program is a call-in that features a different analyst or advisor each month who talks about the latest USDA Crop Report and takes questions from participating media. The length varies depending on how many questions are asked but will probably range from 15 to 30 minutes. This is the great thing about a podcast. There really are no limitations on length!

Agribusiness, Audio, Podcasts

Irish Farm Broadcaster

Chuck Zimmerman

Damien Interviewing Dairy Farmer in NorwayOne of the people I’ve come to know through IFAJ is Damien O’Reilly. He’s a farm broadcaster from Ireland. You can find him online at RTE Radio 1 with his show Farm Week.

Here he is at the recent IFAJ Congress in Norway interviewing dairy farmer Thors Jacobson. He’s got some other pictures online from the Congress.

I encourage all U. S. agricultural journalists to get involved with IFAJ. If you’re a member of AAEA then you already are automatically but even if you’re a member of LPC or NAFB or whatever, I’m sure they would welcome your involvement. It’s a great way to expand your horizons and learn from our counterparts around the world.

IFAJ, International

Biobased Products At The Pentagon

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast85 - Survey TimeIt’s nice to produce a ZimmCast from the office for a change. This week’s program has a little information on our current AgWired Survey and . . .

I also include an interview with Jacqueline Garmier, President, Renewable Lubricants. She was one of the exhibitors at last week’s Dept. of Defense Biobased Products event I worked at on behalf of the United Soybean Board.

I’m interested to know of your ideas for interviews for upcoming programs. Who would you like me to interview? What would you like me to ask them? Send me your suggestions and I’ll try to get it done.

Listen to this week’s program: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 85 (11 min 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, USB, ZimmCast

Small Rural Communities Join Forces

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensThe Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation is encouraging small rural communities to join forces and work as regions as one way of empowering their local leadership. Last month the Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation released a study entitled ‘Identify a Process for Effective Rural Economic Development’.

The report features an analysis of historical and future macro trends in rural regional population in North America and explores the ‘Action Humboldt’ initiative” which used various methods of leadership empowerment to develop a strategic plan for the region. Read More

International

High School Photos To Haunt

Chuck Zimmerman

High School HairAt first glance this may not have anything to do with agricultural marketing. My old buddy, Bennie, from high school emailed this picture to all the committee members of my 30 year high school reunion that’s coming up in a couple weeks.

He dared me to put it on the reunion blog I’ve been running and well . . . I’ve spared you the full photo btw.

This might have been taken back in 1976. You can see that I had that entrepreneurial gleam of intensity way back then. A few hair cuts later and here I am, trying to bring you the best news from the world of agribusiness.

Uncategorized

Have You Taken The AgWired Survey

Chuck Zimmerman

I want to thank those of you who have already taken the AgWired survey. I’m hoping to have at least a hundred of them filled out by the first of October, so please take just a few moments (3 minutes at most) to fill it out. I know a lot of you do surveys of your customers and various audiences and know how important this is. I will greatly appreciate your support in this project.

I thought I’d share another comment from one of the surveys already filled out:

“It’s difficult to tell if you ever cover anything because you think it’s newsworthy for agriculture and ag communications, or if you are only covering things because you have sponsors paying you to do it. Most of your posts appear to be directly related to your sponsors. Perhaps that’s not a bad thing, but some transparency about who your sponsors are would be helpful.”

Very good point. I know I’ve probably been guilty of not making it obvious in every post I’ve done. However, if I have a sponsor for event coverage my policy is to place a sponsor company logo/tagline in each post. I can’t think of a way to be more transparent. Otherwise I post items solely because I think you might find them interesting. To date, I’ve had no direct website advertising support (only because I haven’t solicited it – that’s about to change).

Having said that, my company has done a lot of project work for most of the major agribusiness companies and agencies in the country. We have our AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service for example that produces and distributes text and talking news releases and publishes them on a highly search engine optimized website. We are hired for photography and audio production services and will often write about an event that we’re attending while conducting these services for a client. Name a company or ag group and we’ve probably done some type of work for them. A lot of these projects have helped finance my AgWired habit which attracted over 10,000 unique visitors last month.

I really appreciate comments like this one and you can be sure that I’ll do my best to take them to heart as I continue to publish the only weblog devoted to agricultural marketing.

Uncategorized

Tractor Repair in Iraq

Chuck Zimmerman

Tractor Repair in IraqI just got another report from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team. He’s on assignment in Erbil, Iraq. This report is about the work being done to repair tractors in Iraq.

A joint effort between USAID and the Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI) is nearing completion on a $28.9 million tractor repair and renovation program. Thirty years of wars, sanctions and a tyrannical regime silenced thousands of farm tractors. After inspecting 10,000 tractors across the country, 5,000 were deemed repairable. Tractor owners are not charged for the repairs. USAID has partnered with Case New Holland and Massey Ferguson – whose brands make up the largest share of agricultural machinery in Iraq – to establish 14 workshops across the country.

You can listen to his report here: Listen to MP3 Tractor Repari – Erbil (3 min MP3)

Audio, International, Tractor

Double Shifting Hog Plants

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensThe head of Maple Leaf Foods [Canada] suggests improved wastewater treatment is key to double shifting the company’s Brandon hog slaughtering plant.

In an address to community leaders in Brandon recently, Maple Leaf Foods President and CEO Michael McCain reaffirmed his company’s commitment to double shifting its flagship Brandon pork plant as quickly as possible.

He notes, to overcome the financial hurdles of a new wastewater treatment facility, the City of Brandon in partnership with Maple Leaf Foods and Wyeth Organics have sought out a collaborative solution to their respective wastewater treatment challenges. Read More

International

$8.9 Million For Rural Broadband

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAJust last Friday I asked Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, what he thinks about farmers using computers and the internet and he responded with a personal anecdote. When I got back to the office I had a news release from USDA in my inbox announcing some more money to provide for “BROADBAND “COMMUNITY CONNECT” GRANTS.”

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner today announced the award of $8.9 million in broadband community connect grants. A total of 21 grants in eight states will be awarded today, elevating the program to $57.7 million invested to 129 awardees in its 5-year history. “These funds will provide a critical link between essential community facilities in areas where no broadband service currently exists,” said Conner. “The goal is to improve public safety and also enable residents to pursue educational opportunities.”

Internet, USDA