New Holland CMA iPod Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland CMA iPod ContestYou may remember that New Holland gave away a video iPod at Commodity Classic as part of their ongoing promotion with country music star, Michael Peterson. The iPod was pre-loaded with all my content from Classic (audio interviews, pictures and video of Michael’s performance). To say the contest was a hit would be to put it mildly.

With that successful first campaign under our belt, New Holland and I are doing it again at the Country Music Association Music Festival which starts next week. Although we’re not running an online contest, CMA Festival attendees can register to win a video iPod while they are there. The winner will receive an iPod that’ll come pre-loaded with all my content from blogging the event. It will include pics and audio from the final day Celebrity Boomer Tractor Race which now has 85 celebrities on the list to compete.

Michael Peterson CD CoverAs a little bit of extra creativity New Holland has made a life size replica of the Michael Peterson CD cover that’s missing Michael. If you buy a CD at their booth you get to stand in front of it and have your picture taken, which will be given to you immediately so you can have a special memento to take away with you.

This is very cool. In fact the whole promotion has continued to generate momentum since Michael plays personal performances at dealerships and private events for New Holland all over the country. Although the CD is still only available at New Holland dealers, a new version with some extra songs will be hitting retail outlets in the near future. I think New Holland and Michael Peterson already have a bit hit on their hands.

Agribusiness, Tractor

Recorder For The Farm Podcaster

Chuck Zimmerman

Belkin TuneTalk StereoWhile I’m on podcasting. How long before you see your favorite farm podcaster sticking one of these in your face at a farm meeting? I’m guessing only as long as it takes me to get my hands on one since they’re supposed to be available this month.

I think it’s worth a shot. It’s high quality digital audio and another use of the gadget I take with me everywhere. It is the Belkin TuneTalk Stereo, which allows you to record onto a video iPod. Learn more about it from the same place I did: Engadget.

Of course I love my Marantz PMD 660 but this might be worth a try.

Podcasts

Listening To The Whole Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman

PodtracAs if you haven’t heard enough from me about podcasting, but I think you’ll be interested in this. Especially you, “we have to measure it” types. Podtrac, which claims to have the largest database of demographic information on the people who listen to podcasts just released the results of their quarterly survey. Here’s some interesting findings:

According to their survey, over half (56%) of the podcast audience is listening and viewing podcasts on their computers, 46% on a portable device, and the vast majority (88%) listen or view the entire podcast episode. The survey also found that podcast awareness continues to grow as 41% of U.S. online adults were aware of term “podcasting” at the end of Q1 2006 versus 32% at the end of Q4 2005.

Would you think farmers are any different?

via Podcasting News

Podcasts

Recruiting Down Under

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag CareersIt seems like I was just in Australia. Actually I do hope to visit there someday. Ag Careers is there now.

AgCareers.com, a Farms.com Company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rimfire Resources PTY Ltd. of Australia to cooperate on a number of strategic human resource offerings.

The Memorandum of Understanding will allow each group to offer innovative, yet proven services in its home countries. These include: Read More

Agribusiness, International

Bounty On The Bay

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity Classic 2007It seems like I was just in Anaheim for Commodity Classic and now we’re talking about Tampa in 2007. Here’s the new poster.

And of course that means the website looks different too. And who’s that funny looking guy on the left? Why, I believe it’s a stalk of wheat.

“We are so excited to join corn and soy at Commodity Classic,” said Dale Schuler, NAWG president. “This is a great opportunity for wheat growers and our organization.” Producers can expect to receive updates in association publications over the coming months.

Ag Groups, Commodity Classic

Dairy Month Festivals

Chuck Zimmerman

June is Dairy MonthYou must not get out much judging by the lack of “Here’s my favorite festival . . . “ responses. So I’ll just have to take up the slack. Actually dedicated reader Dave Mehlhaff said he’d go with me to Olean next year.

While researching a post for World Dairy Diary and since it’s now Dairy Month I found a couple of dairy-related festivals coming up.

To start with there’s Harvard Milk Days. This is in Harvard, IL. “The Longest running festival in the state of Illinois. Milk Days has grown from a small hay wagon stage with street dancing to a week of 30 plus different events. It is yearly attended by thousands of people all along it’s two mile route through the town of Harvard, IL.”

Then there’s the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival in Little Chute. “The Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival is a three-day event that takes place at Doyle Park. The festival is a family event that features music, the Big Cheese parade, cheese tasting, a cheese carving demonstration, a cheesecake contest, a cheese curd eating contest, carnival rides, children’s games and entertainment, the Golden K’s Big Cheese breakfast, and food and refreshments sold by nonprofit organizations.”

If that’s not enough you know what to do. Google for more.

Dairy

USDA Broadband Loan Lawsuit

Chuck Zimmerman

Not everyone is happy with the way USDA’s Rural Development office is doling out rural broadband loans. According to a story on C/net yesterday, the department is being sued by Mediacom Communications, the same company supplying us with our high speed access. Apparently a competitor (Lisco) in Fairfield, IA received a low interest loan to develop a system in a community that already has 2 other providers.

According to the story, “The lawsuit seeks to force the USDA to rewrite the regulations that determine how the program is administered. It’s also looking to block Lisco’s $9.5 million loan.”

On the surface it seems like Mediacom has a point. If the intent of the program is to provide incentives to companies in rural markets that don’t have broadband access it doesn’t seem to make sense to provide this money in a market where companies have already invested private dollars. In this case Lisco followed the language of the regulations. Mediacom is saying that the language needs to change. I can’t say I disagree. Let’s get those tax dollars working in areas where farmers can’t get broadband right now. Of course there’s at least one company that would argue that all farmers already have broadband available.

Internet, USDA

Don’t Miss This

Chuck Zimmerman

Olean Testicle FestivalI asked you to send in your favorite summer festivals but so far no response. I guess I’ll just have to keep finding my own. There’s this perennial favorite in Missouri. It’s the 13th Annual Olean Testicle Festival. That’s pronounced, Oh-lee-ann.

Come on, you’ve got to have your favorites. Send me a note/link/pic. Don’t make me find ones stranger than this one, okay?

Surprisingly they don’t have a website but you can make a phone call to learn more.

Olean Testicle Festival, June 3, Downtown Olean. For vendor info call 573-392-4698. General info call 573-392-5757.

Uncategorized

Audio Still Available From Harris Nesbitt

Chuck Zimmerman

Agriculture and Protein ConferenceIn case you missed it, Harris Nesbitt, the U.S. investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group held its first annual Agriculture and Protein conference. The conference was held on Thursday, May 18, at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City. You can still hear the presentations though from companies like Bunge, Monsanto, Corn Products International and others. The idea was to provide investors with greater insight into the agriculture industry.

Agribusiness

Poultry Innovator Nominations Sought

Chuck Zimmerman

PoultryPoultry Magazine is looking for nominations for an “Industry Innovator” — a poultry processor whose products, processes or overall approach to marketing or management have improved not only its own bottom line, but raised the standard of excellence for the entire poultry industry.

Last year, Wayne Farms LLC was honored for its projects such as next-generation R&D and advanced logistics management. Wayne Farms’ approach to doing business can be summed up in four words: Break parity through innovation. Wayne Farms’ CEO Elton Maddox believes success in the poultry business means listening to every employee and staying focused. Deadline for nominations is July 21, 2006.

To submit an online nomination, click here.

Publication