Winecast Is Seeking Sponsors

Chuck Zimmerman

One of my favorite podcasts is Winecast, hosted by Tim Elliott. Each week I learn about a new variety from his perspective. He seems to know what he’s talking about.

I was interested to see today that he’s outsourcing the sales representation of the show to a company called BackBeat Media. Sales reps for podcasts? Interesting concept.

“After more than a year of doing the show, I felt it was time to find a partnership with a company who could focus on the business side of Winecast so I could focus on the podcast itself,” said Tim Elliott, host of Winecast. “I’m confident that BackBeat Media is that partner who will grow Winecast even further.”

Winecast is the first and most educational wine-related podcast. Each week Tim focuses on a wine region or grape variety with tasting notes for these wines along with other wine-related subjects and interviews. Listened to by wine aficionados and novices alike, Winecast’s listeners are smart, loyal and eager to hear each week’s installment. Listeners may subscribe to Winecast by visiting www.winecast.net or the major podcast directories such as Apple’s iTunes Music Store.

It’s nice to listen to a commercial free show but I would put up with commercials because I’m sure Tim needs the money. I can relate. Since it’s been just about a year since I started the ZimmCast I think it’s high time to get it sold.

Podcasts

Bodisen Launches Mancozeb Facility

Chuck Zimmerman

Bodisen Biotech It seems like we’re seeing more and more news from China these days. In this case, Bodisen Biotech, which claims that it is the “first China-based environmentally friendly bio-fertilizer company listed on a US stock exchange (AMEX),” today announced the launch of its new pesticide raw materials production line which is expected to make it one of the largest producers of Mancozeb in China.

Mancozeb is the most versatile chemical used in the production of fungicides due to the fact that it can also be utilized as an end product on crops and not just as a raw material. Bodisen’s state of the art facility, which is expected to be completed in March 2006, will employ some of the most current agricultural technologies available. The new manufacturing facility gives Bodisen a competitive advantage, which it believes will increase its production density up to 20% higher than its competitors, making Bodisen an emerging leader in China’s agricultural and raw materials markets.

Bodisen is a Delaware company with headquarters in Shaanxi, China’s agricultural hub.

Agribusiness, International

New AGCO Website

Chuck Zimmerman

AGCO AGCO has a new website. One thing I like about it is the simplicity and that pages load quickly. That’s a definite plus for anyone and most importantly their customers. Here’s how they describe some of the elements of the new site:

The world map background on the opening page of the website invites visitors to learn more about this international manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment. The prominent images of people on every page reflect company recognition that its success is dependent upon its customers, dealers and employees. With AGCO’s growth from start-up in 1990 with the purchase of Deutz Allis to 2004 sales of $5.3 billion and a position on the Fortune 500 list, the home page invitation
to “GROW WITH US” is particularly appropriate. The website showcases the growth of the company through its 21 acquisitions to world leadership positions in tractor sales, superior technology, innovative solutions and unsurpassed customer service, all dedicated to agriculture.

I would urge them to consider adding an RSS Feed of their news releases. This is a growing trend with companies and would make it easier to receive them. They do have an email signup for news and other announcements though.

Agribusiness, Internet

BASF Podcasting, Almost

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF I’ve been waiting a while to write about this since I was told I’d be receiving one but so far, nada. It, being an iPod Nano from BASF (or their agency, Quarry Integrated Communications). When I first heard that BASF would be podcasting I got excited. Then I realized it was only for the press, not their customers. Hmmm.

I just received a release about their latest product, Cabrio EG fungicide. On it there’s a link to the BASF Ag Media Central website where as reporters we go to get information. The very first thing it says is “BASF Ag Media Update is our new podcasting service for our friends in the agricultural media. Tune in on your new iPod Nano. It’s easy!” I agree it should be. If you have an iPod Nano of course. Or if you could subscribe to it.

So let’s say I’m a reporter with an iPod (I do, just not a free Nano from BASF). And let’s realize that a podcast is something you subscribe to so that you automatically receive it on your computer and your iPod or other digital audio player. The way this is set up, I have to download the MP3 file and then drag it into my iTunes before I can listen to what they have to say on my iPod. That’s not podcasting. That’s just uploading an audio file that someone can download. Assuming that there will be more of these reports I would have to download them manually each time before loading them into my iPod.

Hey folks, give me a call and I’ll be happy to show you how to create an XML file so that the reporters you’re targeting can subscribe once and then automatically receive your reports in the future. That’s podcasting. This shows that there’s still a lot of mis-understanding about what podcasting is and how to do it. That’s why ZimmComm New Media exists. To help companies like BASF and their agency understand and do it right.

All right. So BASF isn’t actually podcasting, but they’re moving in the right direction. I applaud them for taking the step. Now I’d like to call on them to take an even bigger step. Bigger than just creating a file you can subscribe to. Now I am suggesting that if you’re going to pay a company to produce a slick sounding report on your latest products and services – Go Direct To Your Customers!! Podcasting isn’t about reaching the press. I agree that it’s one way you can do that but . . . Why not let farmers who might want to buy Headline or Cabrio or any of the myriad of products you have, subscribe? They have iPods. They use them. The ones who do are probably at the top of your target list. They’re the early adopters, information junkies and risk takers.

Agencies, Agribusiness, Podcasts

Calling For Agriblogging Farm Podcasters

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m looking for agribloggers. Interested?

I’m not talking full time job here. I don’t need or want full time workers. Here’s who I’m looking for:

Passionate about agriculture
Willing to write one or more articles per day at least 5 days per week
Can be brief and yet offer significant information and ideas
Computer literate (knows how to make a hyperlink, Google’s to find out stuff, etc.)
Already blogs would be nice
Can take a decent digital photo and edit it
Owns a digital camera and notebook computer

I’m looking for more than one of these people. If you are one please let me know. We’ll be starting out on a per-post payment plan which I’ll negotiate with you individually. I’m willing to provide some training and possible software if needed.

Writers are needed for AgWired, DomesticFuel and World Dairy Diary. There may be some travel opportunities as things progress.

Now if you really want to get my attention let me know that you would like to start farm podcasting. By that I mean producing regular audio content (interviews, etc.). I need someone who can take care of the production which would include uploading files and managing an xml file.

I don’t care if you have a “day” job. I don’t care if you’re currently unemployed even. What I will care about is quality, self-initiative and dependability.

Podcasts

Video Podcasts From Monsanto

Chuck Zimmerman

Conversations About Plant Biotechnology Someone on Monsanto is getting on the Cluetrain. I reported about Monsanto’s “Conversations . . . ” a while ago. Now they’re podcasting them.

The new multimedia website Conversations about Plant Biotechnology at biotech-gmo.com is launching weekly video podcasts. Viewers are now able to set their favorite video podcast aggregator or portable digital media player to retrieve the latest videos of farmers and experts discussing their personal views and first-hand experiences with genetically modified crops.

To subscribe to these video podcast feeds, viewers simply paste the following URL in their podcast directory: http://www.monsanto.com/biotech-gmo/rss/podcast.xml. This new video podcast service begins with three compelling videos about the benefits of biotech crops . . .”

What’s in your iPod?

Agribusiness, Podcasts, Video

Golf Irrigation By John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

John DeereIt’s tough getting your groove back after a 2 week road trip but I’m working on it. I just saw an announcement for John Deere Golf Irrigation. They’ve entered into an exclusive strategic alliance with Signature Control Systems, Inc.to jointly research, create and distribute water management products and solutions for the golf market. Which means that:

John Deere Golf & Turf One Source announced the launch of John Deere Golf Irrigation, a full line of state–of–the–art heads, valves, and control, sensing and communications systems available to One Source customers this spring.

“We’re pleased to offer this new product line to our golf customers,” said Gregg Breningmeyer, director of sales and marketing. “Until this point, One Source distributors only had access to irrigation products in specific regions. With this introduction, all 44 North American One Source distributors are now able to provide a full range of John Deere golf irrigation products.”

I haven’t even checked yet. Will you also drive around in a green golf cart?

Agribusiness

Are You On The Cluetrain?

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s the end of a long two weeks of on the road agriblogging. Thanks for hanging around for all the fun from the Cattle Industry Convention and the National Biodiesel Conference. Whether you like my coverage of these events or not I think you have to admire the fact that the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the National Biodiesel Board have moved way ahead of the pack when it comes to openly and personally communicating with the public and the people who are paying the bills. They just plain “get it.” I’m not even sure if they’re aware of the Cluetrain or not but they’re on it.

I love this line from an email I received about the NBB blog, “While a blog is great, obviously, for reaching their internal audience who knows how to get to it . . .” What? Internal audience who knows how to get to it? Have you ever heard of a search engine? Don’t you know how search engine optimized blogs are? Sure, the “internal audience” has been alerted. But what about the masses who might be searching for this kind of information? Are they sitting in front of the TV or radio hoping that someone will clue them in? No. Of course this comment comes from a MSM person.

Although we’ve created only a few blogs for clients, we noticed today that one of the ones we’ve created shows up higher (and with more results) on Google than their corporate website which has been around for years! Can you say heartburn for the traditional website gurus? Of course I think that the company leadership that hired us is clued in. They outsourced when the insiders refused.

I’ve spoken with several people in the last couple weeks that just aren’t on that cluetrain yet. One guy I spoke with seemed overly concerned that , as he put it, “so many of them (blogs) aren’t edited.” That was a reason given for why this person doesn’t blog and from what I can gather won’t even consider it or recommend it to his clients. He can’t seem to grasp the fact that the “gatekeepers” of information have changed and that the customers are in charge. I feel sorry for him. He, like many others I’ve spoken with in the last year, seem to be afraid of a world in which we pick and choose our own information sources. You can read an interesting piece about the whole “gatekeeper” thing here. That’s from a post on the Doc Searls Weblog.

So what if there’s a lot of blogs out there written by people who have no idea what they’re talking about? Does that mean that you shouldn’t? If you think there’s a lot of mis-information out there wouldn’t that be an even greater reason to start sending out your own “correct” information? This same person was worried about legal issues and libel. Why? Would you post confidential information? Would you libel someone? Would you hire someone who would? Why worry about this? Because he’s still thinking in terms of getting “someone else” to write about him, his company or his client. Not, do it himself! That’s what this is all about folks.

Cindy said she got a call yesterday from someone who is intrigued by the way we’re using blogs and podcasting. They thought these were things some sort of whackos did, not professionals or reporters or “true journalists.” It’s made us realize there’s a lot of mis-information out there about blogging. This isn’t about whining about the democrats or republicans. It’s about using a new form of social communication to communicate with your clients and members.

I keep seeing it referred to as “Consumer Generated Media.” I think that’s a term that’s helping promulgate this belief that professionals don’t blog. The really good bloggers are doing a better job than so many in the MSM. Are they just consumers? I don’t look at Cindy and myself as a couple of consumers who have created “media.” We are professionals who are reporting on the business we’ve been involved with for over 20 years. We’re using new media tools to do it.

What do you call it when we create sites for our clients and train them to begin blogging? Are they just “consumers” burning some corporate communications budget that could be used more effectively on traditional media? I don’t think so.

The blogging and podcasting business is alive and well though and I can’t tell you how excited I am about the future. I love this phrase from a main stream ag media company that’s looking for “energetic journalists with a passion for agriculture and all things “new media.” Maybe they’re not so main stream anymore.

Podcasts

MooBella Fresh Ice Cream Vending Machines

Chuck Zimmerman

MooBellaMy favorite dessert is ice cream. I want to see these next to every soda machine in the country! MooBella machines. Freshly made ice cream when and where I want it. Even mixed with the toppings I want like cookies’n’cream and walnuts.

Simply stated, MooBella is where taste meets technology. The MooBella team has created a multi-patented, fully automated ice cream process that will change ice cream forever! Fresh ice cream, on the spot, made to order. Smooth texture, fresh flavors, great mix-ins. MooBella blends taste with technology to create an amazing ice cream experience for ice cream lovers with the very highest standards.

They have 12 flavors and 5 mix-ins. Want to know more about it? Here’s a little video on the product: MooBella Testimonials (5:14 wmv file, 20.4 MB)

Dairy, Video

Snowfall Futures

Chuck Zimmerman

CMEI thought the Chicago Mercantile Exchange had some strange tools before but this takes the cake. Snowfall futures and options, starting with 2 cities, New York and Boston. How many people will buy these I wonder?

CME, the world’s largest and most diverse financial exchange will begin listing and trading snowfall futures and options on futures beginning Sunday night, February 26 on the CME Globex electronic platform. CME Snowfall futures will be based on a CME Snowfall Index and will be offered initially on two U.S. cities – Boston and New York. These contracts will trade on a monthly basis from October through April. “The impact of weather can influence regional and local markets, playing a critical role in the overall economy,” said CME Managing Director of Products and Services Rick Redding. “Since 1999, CME has been offering temperature-based futures products to help market participants manage weather-related risks. Backed by CME Clearing, CME weather futures provide the safety and soundness investors are seeking to manage their weather-related risk.”

Agribusiness