Promotions at Rhea & Kaiser

Chuck Zimmerman

Pat ArthurIt’s promotions time at Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications. Pat Arthur is now a management supervisor. When Arthur joined the Rhea & Kaiser team in 2005, he brought to the agency more than a decade of agricultural communications experience and an extensive understanding of the seed industry. Prior to joining Rhea & Kaiser, Arthur had been public relations manager for Pioneer, communications manager for Mycogen Seeds, an associate editor for Farm Industry News and an agronomist for the Vigoro® Seeds division of Royster-Clark. In his new role, Arthur will manage the Bayer CropScience corn and soybean portfolio communications and branding efforts for Rhea & Kaiser. He is also the general manager of the Rhea & Kaiser Durham, N.C., office.

Joshua TausteinNext up is Joshua Taustein who is now an account supervisor. Taustein joined Rhea & Kaiser in 2002 as an assistant account executive and was promoted to senior account executive in 2004. Taustein manages the Underwriters Laboratories public relations account. Prior to joining Rhea & Kaiser, he served as project manager for Spiral Solutions, Ltd., Karmiel, Israel.

Katie KaiserAn finally we have Katie Kaiser. Kaiser joined Rhea & Kaiser in 2005, bringing more than seven years of agency experience to her position. Kaiser works on the day-to-day account management, plan integration and financial responsibilities for the Pfizer Animal Health REVOLUTION® account. Prior to joining Rhea & Kaiser, she was an account executive with Ogilvy & Mather in Chicago, where her clients included Reynolds American Tobacco and Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Agencies

Advertise On AgWired

Chuck Zimmerman

Advertising on AgWired is now officially available. You’ve already seen some of it in fact from companies like Rhea & Kaiser, New Holland and Pioneer Hi-Bred.

They’ve chosen a very popular way to increase brand awareness through event coverage sponsorships like BIO 2006, IFAJ Congress or Commodity Classic. Tying your brand to my coverage of an event shows your support for the event and the daily chronicling of what happens in agricultural marketing.

But there are other ways to advertise and you can find information, including rates on the Advertising page. I’m hoping that you creative types out there will come up with some very interesting ideas, especially you advertising and public relations agencies. Advertise yourself or add us to the media mix for your client. It’s a new media world and we’re leading the way.

Besides AgWired, we’re also accepting advertising on Domestic Fuel, which has its own Advertising page. We should also have the Advertising page available for World Dairy Diary by next week as well.

Uncategorized

Sheep Shearer Back Saver

Chuck Zimmerman

ShearezyTired of that sore back from the old fashioned way of shearing your sheep? Then you need the new ShearEzy from Peak Hill Industries.

Why you ask? Because of the significant amount of money the industry spends on back injuries. This handy system alleviates the problem. Watch the video (wmv).

Sheep are delivered to the shearing platform from the optional loader or a ramp at waist height and are restrained ready for shearing. Using two hinged belt ‘wings’, the platform then automatically manipulates the sheep which presents optimal shearing surfaces to the shearer. Shearing for different sheep types and sizes is automatically handled, and the shearer can manually override the sequenced movements at any time. Fleeces fall onto a wool conveyor that may easily be linked into new or existing handling systems.

Agribusiness, Video

He’s Got Bragging Rights

Chuck Zimmerman

Russ BraggRuss Bragg is moving up to product communications manager for Dow AgroSciences from sales rep. He’ll be working with Bader Rutter & Associates, and other marketing specialists on the the creation and execution of brand messaging and tactics for Mycogen brand seeds, Herculex Insect Protection traits and crop protection products for corn, soybeans, small grains and other specialty crops. Bragg most recently served as a sales representative in southwestern and central North Dakota.

Agribusiness

Canadian Tattoo Numbering System

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensThe Canadian Pork Council reports the latest communications from the provincial pork organizations indicate the switch to a new national tattoo numbering systems is on track for June 1.

To accommodate the creation of national multi-species identification and traceability system for tracking the movement of livestock in Canada, the provincial pork organizations are allocating new slap tattoo numbers which unique to each location housing hogs. CPC technical affairs specialist Francois Bedard says indications from provinces that have not yet made the switch to the numbering scheme will be ready to do so June 1.Read More

International

Closer To Home

Chuck Zimmerman

We just got onto I-64 at Mt. Vernon, IL on the trek back to the mighty MO. Chelsea is driving so I can do a little email and posting. And I do mean “little.” But some is better than none right? I’ll be back in full swing tomorrow.

Uncategorized

Put B20 In Your New Holland Tractor

Chuck Zimmerman

Ed HeglandBiodiesel fans can cheer New Holland today. They are the first equipment manufacturer to fully approve B20, a 20 percent blend of biodiesel, in their tractors. The release I received came from the National Biodiesel Board which is appropriately happy.

Ed Hegland (pictured), a soybean grower in Appleton, Minn., has waited for this news for years. The maker of his tractor, New Holland, has approved the use of 20 percent biodiesel (B20) in all of its equipment using New Holland engines. It is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to announce full support of B20 in all of the diesel engines that it produces.

“I am elated that New Holland has taken this step to show support for biodiesel, a farmer-grown fuel,” Hegland said. “Their customers asked for it, and they listened. I truly hope others will follow suit soon.” Read More

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Biodiesel, Tractor

DTN Hires Matthew Herman

Chuck Zimmerman

Data Transmission NetworkDTN has a new VP for agribusiness advertising. He’s Matthew Herman and he’ll be based out of the Minneapolis office.

Herman is responsible for sales of advertising to major agricultural companies across the United States. He will supervise sales representatives in Texas, Michigan, Nebraska and Indiana as well as plan the placement of DTN’s advertising efforts to agribusiness. Prior to joining DTN, Herman worked as a national sales manager at Farm Journal Media in Minneapolis, as an associate publisher at Farm Journal Corp. in Philadelphia and as a regional sales manager with Intertec / Primedia. Herman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Media

Coordinator of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Jonathan OverlyThe big award winner at the Clean Cities Congress was Johathan Overly, Executive Director of East Tennessee Clean Fuels (right). Jonathan won the Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year award. Presenting him the award is Gunnar Lindstrom, American Honda Company, (left).

Jonathan describes what the award means to him in a short interview I did just before he had to head back home. You can listen to my interview with Jonathan here: Listen To MP3 Jonathan Overly Interview (4 min MP3)

Audio

Brother, How Art Thy Hobby

Chuck Zimmerman

HorsesI’m slowly making my way back home to Missouri from south Florida. Chelsea (one of my college daughters) and I are spending today out in rural Georgia on my brother’s farm. We hear so much today about hobby farming and I’ve got a great resource to watch and learn from.

Paul works in pharmaceutical sales and when he’s not selling he’s building fence, mowing, planting, taking care of the horses or something. Actually one of the something’s is establishing some great deer stands. Another sideline for him is fire ant treatment. He has an applicator mounted on a 4-wheeler and is certified to apply pesticide. He does it mainly on pasture and large lots in the area.

We are out in the middle of the woods a long way from any town and he’s set up with wireless broadband from his DSL connection. He spends a fair amount of time online, including finding and learning about how to develop and take care of his place.

Farming