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

Educational Videos Now Available Via Internet

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensAn educational video production company in White Fox, Saskatchewan has launched a new internet based delivery system for making available its training videos. Since 2001 DNL Farms has been producing videos to teach swine industry employees the skills they’ll need to work with pigs and last week the company launched a new internet based delivery system.

Over 90 videos, including a series on low stress pig handling and more than 40 skills training videos, 16 of which are also available in Spanish, can be purchased outright or on a pay per view basis. Read More

International

Australian Blogging Workshop

Chuck Zimmerman

Porter Novelli Adelaide GroupI just finished a blogging and podcasting workshop with the Porter Novelli agency in Adelaide, Australia. I only wish I had been able to be there in person. This fine looking group did send me a picture from during the presentation. I had control of their computer with NetMeeting and we were on speakerphone.

Like many agencies I’ve had the honor to present to, they wanted to see some real world examples and talk about what I’ve learned from over a year in the new media world. I hope it was helpful. We looked at various blogs and podcasts that I’ve been involved in or know of and all with an ag focus.

I really enjoyed the workshop experience with the folks in Adelaide. Thanks to Liz Kellaway in particular and Mary Wallman for coordinating it. I met Liz at last year’s IFAJ Congress in Switzerland and will see her at this year’s Congress in Norway.

If you’d like a workshop of your own please feel free to contact me.

Agencies, International, Podcasts

Nicholson Kovac To Help Market Beef

Chuck Zimmerman

Nicholson KovacI guess they know where the beef is. Nicholson Kovac was just named agency of record for Creekstone Farms Premium Beef.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef has retained Nicholson Kovac, Inc. to provide marketing communications services to promote the company’s natural and premium lines of Black Angus beef. John Stewart, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef owner and CEO said, “We have so many great stories to tell, and we are excited to work with Nicholson Kovac to help grow the Creekstone Farms Premium Beef brand. We feel Nicholson Kovac’s combination of strong business-to-business expertise and industry knowledge will allow us to work together to create a strong and memorable brand for Creekstone Farms Premium Beef.”

Agencies, Agribusiness

Blogging Coast To Coast

Chuck Zimmerman

ASHTO 50 Year CelebrationEvent coverage is me. At least it seems that way lately. Besides the upcoming CMA Fan Fair, I’ve got a very interesting one that I can announce. It’s the 50 year celebration of our national interstate system. I will be driving one of the vehicles in the convoy that will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the federal law that brought the Interstate Highway System to America. The trip begins June 16 in San Francisco and ends June 29 in Washington, DC. You can see the full schedule here. I’ll be writing each day, including interviews and pictures as I find them and I know there will be a lot. My involvement with the trip is being sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. In fact, I’ll be driving a truck that will be wrapped with their logo. You can see a current list of the sponsoring organizations for the whole event here. I’ll be driving through a lot of farmland.

Kansas Lottery Indy 300Then, it looks like I’ll fly from the closing ceremonies of the Interstate event to Kansas City for the Kansas Lottery Indy 300. This is one of the races on the Indy Racing League Schedule and it will be nice to get in a little more race action. Gotta love that ethanol-powered fuel they put in those cars.

Ethanol

Will it be for Food or Fuel?

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry Siemens“India – what an eye opener,” says friend and colleague John Duvenaud of Winnipeg, Man. He recently returned from India where he attended the World Bean Congress . “There is industrial scale farming but the bulk by far is one or 2 acre plots with oxen or horses – no fertilizer, bin run
seed, primitive equipment.

Indian yields are about 20 bushels per acre. There is certainly potential to increase production but my feeling is that things won’t change a lot. What is happening is that the people are getting richer in a hurry. India has, or soon will, pass China in growth rate of eight to nine percent a year. A common sight – newly rich kids drinking Coke and carrying a big belly. Even the beggar children have fat cheeks. Poor people actually have very healthy diets. They eat lots of lentils and chickpeas, very little, or no, meat. Spend any time in a city and it’s clear that westerners have no monopoly on obesity. Read More

International

EPIC Progress On ZimmCast

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast70 - EPIC ProgressSince I’m posting this before leaving the Indianapolis Motor Speedway you can probably guess what the ZimmCast is about this week. Actually I interviewed Tom Slunecka, Executive Director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and we talked about what a year it’s been for the ethanol industry and the organization.

Tom says it’s been a “perfect storm” of circumstances that’s made for an amazing year of promotional successes. You can listen here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 70 (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, Ethanol, Indy Racing, ZimmCast

Ethanol Can’t Lose

Chuck Zimmerman

Ethanol CarLap 152 was not a friendly one for the Ethanol Car as it went out with damage.

It’s a great looking car and Jeff Simmons has been driving it well today but a finish is not meant to be.

As has been pointed to me though, no matter what car finishes today, ethanol wins since it’s in all the cars this year.

Ethanol, Indy Racing

Indy 500 Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Green Flag StartJust in case you haven’t been looking at Domestic Fuel I’ll give you this post from the start of the Indy 500 today. I’ll have more later today or tomorrow depending on what happens during the race (or the finish!).

The race has started. After the first lap we had a two-car accident but no injuries and car #17 is looking good right now. After this post I won’t do any until after the race.

The one thing you like to hear here is the famous words, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.” You can hear it here: Listen To MP3 Start Your Engines (1 min MP3) Post Update: It was pointed out to me that Ms. Hulman said “Lady” and not “Ladies.” I would assume the singular but it sounded plural over the PA system in the stands to me and those around me. Maybe we need our hearing checked.

I’m also listening in on a radio scanner to the driver/pit communication which is very cool. It sounds like things are going well right now.

Watch here: Watch WMV Cars Home Stretch (1 min wmv)

Audio, Ethanol, Indy Racing, Video

Indy Parade Day

Chuck Zimmerman

Indy Parade GroupToday has been a relatively quiet day here in Indianapolis. Except for the annual parade that is. This fine looking group found a shady spot to watch. Included in the picture are EPIC and RFA staffers and ethanol powered vehicle drivers.

We cheered for Jeff Simmons, Ethanol Car driver, when he passed by. The drivers are spaced out in the parade in the same row lineup as they will be in the race. Jeff is starting in row 9.

You can watch a short video clip of him in the parade here: Watch WMV Jeff Simmons In Parade (1 min wmv)

Remeber that you can see lots more coverage on Domestic Fuel, including during race day tomorrow.

Ethanol, Indy Racing, Video