In case you’re wondering if blogging is still all the rage you might want to look at some information from David Sifry, on the “State of the Blogosphere.” There’s a lot of blogging going on. In fact, we just created a new one for ZimmComm New Media. It will focus more on information like this and other things little ole ZimmComm is up to. But back to Sifry. He’s got some nice graphs you might want to look at. Here’s a summary of some of his findings:
Farm Leader Now Farm Podcaster
When your farmer board members tell you to podcast, you podcast. That’s what Dean Kleckner, Truth About Trade & Technology is doing. Dean is the former president of the American Farm Bureau Federation and a farmer from Iowa. We brought his podcast to your attention recently and at the BIO 2006 Convention I got to ask him about it. You can hear his answer here: 
Kleckner Soundbite (30 sec MP3)
Besides having farmers tell him to podcast Kleckner says, “It’s the wave of the future that’s here today. So that us farmers, when we’re in our tractor, combine, pickup, we can listen to what’s going on in the world.”
Kleckner was at BIO 2006 to talk about how much biotech crop acreage has grown in a decade. We talked next to the indoor corn field where his organization had their acreage counter on display. You can listen to the full interview with him here: Kleckner Interview (5 min MP3)
AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by: 
Standard Convention Communications
Here’s some business communicators who are using the new media tools. They’re the International Association of Business Communicators. Their annual convention is coming up in Vancouver, British Columbia. Can’t make it? Me either.
But you can keep up on it with:
IABC 2006 Convention Blog: In Session
IABC 2006 Convention Podcast: ConferenceCast
Puerto Rico Governor Wins BIO Award
During BIO 2006, Puerto Rico Gov. Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá (pictured) was named BIO “Governor of the Year.” I missed him and the reception to honor him but caught up with his Secretary of Economic Development, Jorge P. Silva-Puras.
In my interview with him he talks about how important the agricultural biotechnology business is to Puerto Rico. One of the reasons is the climate which is very friendly to year-round crop testing. You can listen to my interview with Jorge here: Jorge Silva Interview (3 min MP3)
I interviewed Jorge during the Puerto Rico pavilion trade show reception. You can see and hear the celebration here: : 
Puerto Rico Reception (1 min wmv)
AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by:
Canada’s Trade with Mexico increases under NAFTA
Trade between Canada and Mexico has increased significantly since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United States (US), Canada and Mexico in 1994.
Mexico has become Canada’s fourth largest agriculture and agri-food export market and Canada is now the third largest market for Mexico exports. For 2004-2005, Canadian agri-food exports to Mexico were $995 million versus imports from Mexico of $635 million. According to the Bi-weekly Bulletin of Ag Canada, Mexico has the sixth largest agricultural sector in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which it joined in 1994. Corn and beef are its main agricultural commodities. Primary agriculture still accounts for 6 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to 2 percent in Canada and the US. More importantly, the agricultural sector employs 19 percent of the work force compared to 5 percent in Canada and 3 percent in the US.Read More
John Deer Toy Tractor Contest
Are you a toy tractor fan? If so, the Deere Gear Store is running a contest to give away a John Deere toy of your dreams each week for 4 weeks. It’s the “John Deere Toy Tractor a Week Contest.” You can enter every week for 4 Weeks.
The contest is being sponsored by Retired Tractors. The first winner will be announced on Friday, April 21.
BIO 2006 Photo Album
It’s Good Friday and not a day to do a lot of posting so I’m only going to provide you with my Photo Album from the BIO 2006 Convention. I didn’t get to go to the Career Fair but I found this picture from the BIO website.
Have a very enjoyable Easter weekend.
You can find the online Flickr photo album here: Bio 2006 Photo Album
AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by:
Blog, Podcast and RSS Advertising Outlook
There’s some interesting new research out about how advertising on new media outlets is growing. This one comes from PQ Media. You can see an executive summary of the report and even listen (MP3) to it. Some of the report highlights are:
The culmination of six months of primary research, this report found that blog, podcast and RSS advertising are the fastest growing segments of the alternative media industry. These segments, known as user-generated online media, expanded at an aggregate 198.4% to $20.4 million in 2005, and are expected to grow another 144.9% to $49.8 million in 2006.
Collect Cards To Exit
At the closing reception you had to find these guys and obtain one heart, spade, clover and diamond to get your take home gift on your way out from the reception.
Each card was printed with facts about Iowa and it’s biotech industry.
Fortunately you didn’t have to memorize the cards, just show them at the exit door. I think this is a great idea.
AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by:
Closing Reception Band
Iowa was the sponsoring state for the closing reception. They hired a great band to play on the main stage.
In another area karaoke was going on and there was casino action in the upper levels of the theater.
You can hear and see the band here: : Closing Reception Band (1 min wmv)
AgWired coverage of BIO 2006 is made possible by: