This is too cool not to let you in on. We haven’t even started doing video here on AgWired (just wait) and already you can now do live video “broadcasts” from a mobile phone, direct to your blog. The company introducing it is Comvu and they call it PocketCaster. You can watch a demonstration here.
ComVu, a developer of innovative software and automated video delivery technologies, demonstrated an efficient new “direct to blog” feature of its live mobile broadcasting service at the recent BlogOn Social Media Summit. ComVu is the first to offer mobile users the ability to transmit live video broadcasts of any length and to any size audience using ComVu’s “do-it-yourself” video network. With this technology marketing and media professionals can now broadcast breaking news, spokespeople interviews and product demonstrations easily and inexpensively to its stakeholder audiences.
Syngenta Upgrades FarmAssist.com
You can’t be a weblog and not get into checking out websites. We will only report on them after doing so. That’s why I waited hours to post this announcement from Syngenta. These are the folks who created the very cool, Resistance Fighters site.
This time it’s FarmAssist.com and Syngenta has added more features in the hopes that farmers just won’t need to go anywhere else. For example, there’s localized weather, markets that you choose, customized news and a lot of other stuff. Of course you can find out just about anything you want to know about any Syngenta product. Registration is required to create your own custom profile or “MyFarmAssist.” I’m a weather buff so having localized weather from AccuWeather is certainly a plus.
I know that while I was looking at the name I wasn’t confused but I hope that if someone “hears” it they don’t think, pharmacist.com!
The Big O Invites You To NAFB
Maybe this is the last NAFB convention audio invitation? Who knows. They just keep coming. With all this effort I’m expecting to see about 10,000 of you there next week. This one is from Orion Samuelson, who talks about the NAFB Foundation Auction. Orion has been a foundation supporter for a long time.
I remember meeting Orion for the first time at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA when he was announcing a John Deere demonstration. I knew right away my voice was way outclassed in the farm broadcasting field. He does have the pipes. BTW. I did just see an announcement about Orion and his ever faithful sidekick and broadcast partner, Max Armstrong, are starting a new weekly tv show on RFD-TV. Congratulations guys.
You can listen to Orion’s invitation here: 
New FFA Officers
They’re such a good looking group I had to post them for you. This is the newly elected national officer group for FFA. Their convention is over and you can find out a lot about it on their website.
Travis Jett of the Oklahoma FFA Association will lead a slate of six officers consisting of Anita Estes, Central Region Vice President; Stuart Joy, Western Region Vice President; Jessie Geib, National Secretary; Ryan Peterson, Eastern Region Vice President; Erica Der, Southern Region Vice President.
I wonder if any of them would like to discuss a career in ag blogging!
Osborn & Barr People In The News
It’s people in the news time at Osborn & Barr Communications. This time we have several announcements for you:
Jill Gainer, the former manager of emerging initiatives and media manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, has joined Osborn & Barr Communications as media director. After eight years on the client side of the business, Jill returns to agency life to lead Osborn & Barr’s media department. Her responsibilities include recommending the media vehicles that best meet the client’s communication objectives and supervising media planning and buying on all accounts.
Anna LaRue has been promoted to associate art director for Intervet, John Deere Credit, and Pony Express and Specialty Fertilizer Products. As part of her creative responsibilities, Anna has undertaken major rebranding efforts and contributed to interactive Web site development. Anna received a bachelor of fine arts with a major in graphic design from the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kent Martin was hired as associate director of public relations to provide communications expertise for association clients and government clients. Kent is also responsible for helping to grow Osborn & Barr’s Gov-Link business, specializing in providing outreach and education services to government agencies.
Osborn & Barr Communications has hired Justin McCurry as production graphics specialist. McCurry will be putting his agricultural experience and graphics expertise to work on the agency’s John Deere accounts. He graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia and has degrees in graphic design, sculpture and ceramics.
Osborn & Barr Communications has promoted Roxi Beck to account executive. Roxi’s farming background and familiarity with ag production and financing bring ideal expertise to the John Deere Credit account. The Iowa Farm Bureau account, Foxboro Business Center and the National Pork Board have also benefited from Roxi’s strategic approach and detailed planning. Roxi graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she worked in the public relations department to develop marketing and advertising campaigns for various events and supervised sponsorship efforts.
Phew. That’s all for now.
Pioneer & Dow AgroSciences Receive Herculex XTRA Approval
Pioneer Hi-Bred and Dow AgroSciences announced today that they’ve received U. S. regulatory approvals for Herculex XTRA Insect Protection. Growers can look for this trait in corn hybrids for 2006 planting. Of course this was produced and distributed as a Talking News Release!
Corn growers now have access to the broadest-spectrum in-plant insect protection in the marketplace with the federal registration of Herculex® XTRA Insect Protection.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. and Dow AgroSciences LLC, the trait’s developers, recently received registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Herculex XTRA Insect Protection. Kyle Whitaker, New Product Launch Manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, says this action gives the companies the ability to offer this trait in corn hybrids to U.S. growers for 2006 planting. Full Release
Andy Markwart Talks About IFAJ 2009
If you’ve read AgWired for long you know about the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). I got to attend this year’s congress in Switzerland and am on the planning committee for the 2009 IFAJ Congress, which will be here in the United States! We’ve already had our first planning meeting. I know 4 years seems like a long time but not when you’re planning an international event.
One of the planning committe co-chairs is Andy Markwart, editor of The Furrow, a John Deere publication. You can get some insight into the planning process as well as where we recommend it be held. The event will be held in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit that year.
You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast here:
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also now find the ZimmCast on CoolCast Radio.
Ag Editor Is Blogging
It was only a matter of time before we started seeing this. This, being an agricultural editor who is now blogging! I came across a link to Matt Mullen while visiting Paul Conley’s blog. Lo and behold, Matt’s actually got 3 blogs.
Matt Mullen – This blog provides independent information and a forum for parties interested in the business of agriculture and agricultural biotechnology.
B2BPubBlog – This is a blog on my efforts to better understand blogging and how it fits into participatory journalism, specifically trade journalism. This blog will provide a behind-the-scenes look at my attempts to start two blogs—one for people interested in the business of agricultural biotechnology and another for tobacco farmers.
Tobacco Farm Blog – The blog for tobacco farmers and other interested parties.
Of course you may wonder who Matt is. His profile says he’s “Magazine editor of publications providing growers of row crops with production and business information.” It looks like he writes for Tobacco Farm Quarterly. Maybe if he reads this he can provide more details.
I think we’ll see more of this. I was surprised to hear a friend of mine say there’s at least 10 people in his company who have their own private blogs that he knows of.
How many of you have a blog? Would you care to share with us? If you’d like, I’ll be happy to share it right here on AgWired too.
Nominate Your Excellent Soybean Grower Now
Do you know an excellent soybean grower? One who’s demonstrated outstanding achievements? Now’s the time to nominate them for the United Soybean Boards annual awards. Let’s flood them with nominations and make it really hard to pick one!!
The United Soybean Board (USB) currently seeks nominations for its annual 2005 Outstanding Achievement Award and 2005 Excellence in International Marketing Award. These awards recognize outstanding individuals who have made a strong contribution for the benefit of soybeans, soybean farmers and the soybean checkoff.
The USB Outstanding Achievement Award is the highest award recognition bestowed by USB. This is given to an individual, organization or group that has made an outstanding positive impact on the soybean industry and the soybean checkoff.
The USB Excellence Award is a rotating award that recognizes outstanding achievement in five categories: communications, domestic marketing, international marketing, new uses and production research. One excellence award recipient will be recognized annually. This year USB will present an award for Excellence in International Marketing.
Nominations must be received by December 16, 2005, for consideration. Nominations received after December 16 or by telephone will not be accepted. Supporting nominations and co-signatures also may be attached and are strongly encouraged. All nominations must be submitted on the attached nomination form and mailed, e-mailed or faxed to:
USB Awards Program
c/o Osborn & Barr Communications, Attn.: Karen Pfautsch
One North Brentwood, 8th Floor
St. Louis, MO 63105
fax: 314/726-6350
The awards will be presented at Commodity Classic next year.
Iron Solutions Announces New Sales VP
First the product announcements come out in droves, then it’s people announcements. Iron Solutions has someone new to lead their sales efforts.
IRON Solutions, LLC announced the appointment of Bruce Arduser, vice president of sales. Arduser brings more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience to IRON Solutions (www.ironsolutions.com). He has spent most of his career in sales management, primarily with Pioneer/DuPont, building sales teams, developing their skills and providing leadership to accomplish growth goals. “We are thrilled to have Bruce join our company and to lead our sales and marketing team,” said Merlyn Friesen, president and CEO.