Although this is another “phone” picture I had to post it because Spike Blake & Earthquake just plain rocked the place last night after our preliminary IFAJ 2009 Planning Dinner. If you’re looking for a band keep these guys in mind! There’s much better pics on their website too.
For a very short demo of how these guys sound listen here: 
The best way to kick off the planning process for the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress 2009 seemed to be a Friday evening dinner at Cheeseburger In Paradise, Kansas City. Here’s the co-chairs of that planning committee in deep discussion just prior to the start of our after dinner entertainment (more on that). They are Andy Markwart, The Furrow, and Mike Wilson, Prairie Farmer.
Excuse the quality of the picture. That’s a Palm Treo in very low light!
I’m always looking for pictures that would make a good “Zimmage” (see top right image in sidebar). I’ll offer a free AgWired t-shirt to whoever submits their own photo that gets selected to post as a Zimmage (or in a regular post). Just email it to me. I’m looking for seasonal images, farm images, ag-related images of any kind. Let’s see how this goes.
I would like to receive them 200 pixels wide and can use just about any format you choose, although jpeg is preferred. Please include how you’d like to receive credit (name, company, etc.) as well as an address to send you a shirt (if you’re picked). It’ll be a panel of at least one (me), unless Cindy gets involved too.
This is appropriate for a Friday afternoon post. I noticed a story on Just-drinks.com that Heineken announced today that they’ll be introducing Heineken Premium Light next spring in the United States. Then in researching it I found this release on the Heineken corporate site that announced this in March. I guess it takes a while to get the ball rolling across the big pond. I’m sure the light version will be just as good as the “original.”
Date: 11 March 2005
Location: Amsterdam, Heineken N.V.
Publisher: Heineken N.V.
Heineken N.V. announced today the introduction to the US market of a new light Heineken beer. This new beer, Heineken Premium Light Lager, is brewed in the same high quality tradition as the original Heineken, but is lighter in taste and has fewer calories and carbohydrates. Heineken will test this new beer in selected US markets in 2005.
The introduction of Heineken Premium Light is consistent with Heineken’s strategy to expandand optimise its product portfolio and to capture an ever-growing share of the premium import segment of the US beer market.
Posting may be a little light today since I’ll be in Kansas City, MO. Tomorrow a group of us will be meeting to start pre-planning the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress 2009. I think the plan is to hold it in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit that year. If you have any ideas you’d like to offer, please feel free to let me know and I’ll be happy to pass them along.
I’ve never written a post to AgWired that I could preview in WordPress until now! I guess I got so used to it that I didn’t know there was a plugin that allows me to see what I’ve created before you do.
I don’t know how many of you have a blog or use WordPress but if so you have to have this plugin and if I can install it anyone can. You can find it on Matt’s Googly Site.
You have to have a password to get into the Pioneer Growing Point Website but inside you’ll find a pretty cool feature right now. Virtual Plot Tours. I know they’re not a “new” thing but these are very well done in my opinion. They’re short videos that let you see the product in action and then there’s a ton of support information available. It’s also done by hybrid number so of course there’s lots of videos!
Who else is doing virtual plot tours? Let me know about them and we’ll feature them here too.
Have you heard about Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendel? I would find it hard to believe you haven’t. Unless he’s wasting a lot of public relations dollars. Here’s the latest from the PA Gov today:
Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced investments of more than $1.9 million to strengthen Pennsylvania’s multi-billion dollar agriculture and tourism industries. “Pennsylvania is investing in 11 projects that will help two critical components of our growing economy — agriculture and tourism,” Governor Rendell said. “Our resources are helping to create and retain more than 60 jobs.”
That’s a story I think. I mainly post it because this guy sends out more news releases than anyone I know. It’s daily and they are well written and they’re often about things I’m interested in that have to do with ag in one way or another. I feel like I know him better than any other state governor and I’ve never met him. That’s includes Matt Blunt here in Missouri!
Anyway, maybe they have a strategy in all this. I know I just used one of his releases on our sister renewable fuel news blog, DomesticFuel.
This announcement of the 1.9 million is just a drop in the bucket too. The PA Gov has “enacted one of the largest economic stimulus packages in the country – 2.3 billion dollars of programs and grants designed to revitalize jobs, bolster business growth, and sustain communities.” That’s a lot of economic stimulus! You can find out all about it at NewPA.com. I need to talk to him about Talking News Releases!
You may be wondering. What’s Sirius got to do with ag communications? Well we might be surprised how many of these Sirius and XM satellite radio receivers are out there in trucks, tractors and combines. I’d sure like to know. I’ve written to them before trying to get them interested in some good ag news programming without much success. Hoever, today Sirius announced a new marketing director. What do you think the chances are that he’d have some influence with the programming department? Would he see ag as a good target for his product? On the surface you’d think rural customers would be a target but I’m wondering if the numbers are there to make them care.
SIRIUS Satellite Radio announced today the appointment of Martin Lee as Senior Vice President of Marketing. Lee will be responsible for all aspects of SIRIUS brand marketing and will report directly to Scott Greenstein, President of Entertainment and Sports, who will continue to oversee all marketing efforts. Lee, who was recently selected as 2005 Marketer of the Next Generation by Brandweek magazine, brings a wealth of national and international experience in product and brand marketing to SIRIUS, including eight years in consumer electronics.
Okay, here’s some more new varieties. Phew. They just keep coming out. It’s the result of all those years of work we’ve reported on for so long right? We knew they’d be showing up. This time it’s Pioneer.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., is introducing 22 new “M-Series” soybean varieties for the 2006 planting season. Leading the way are Pioneer® brand soybean varieties with resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and Phytophthora root rot as well as tolerance to sudden death syndrome (SDS) and iron chlorosis.
The varieties range in maturity from Group 00 for northern growing areas to Group VI for the southern U.S. All of the varieties contain the Roundup Ready¹ gene.
