I’ll Have Some A-1 With My Pizza

Chuck Zimmerman

Domino's Steak Fanatic PizzaI’ve been wanting to write about this. Heck, I’ve been wanting to eat one of these! Is it only a guy thing though? Hat’s off to the Beef Checkoff for teaming up on a huge promotion like this. I wonder what the results will be? Besides a Dominos Steak Fanatic Pizza they’re even talking special furniture to sit in front of the television with.

The Steak Fanatic Pizza combines guys’ ultimate food cravings — steak and pizza — into one delicious arrangement. The new Steak Fanatic Pizza is crafted with Domino’s signature hand-stretched dough piled with Angus steak — on top of more steak — and smothered in American and provolone cheeses. To embolden the distinct steak flavor, the new Steak Fanatic Pizza is topped with a special sauce developed specifically to complement the hearty Angus steak topping. And of course, no authentic steak experience would be complete without a layer of fire-roasted onions and thick mushroom slices.

Domino’s is partnering with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Federation of State Beef Councils division of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association on this promotion, bringing together two tastes that Americans crave — steak and delicious Domino’s pizza. The U.S. beef industry’s highly recognized Beef Checkoff logo will appear on many of the promotional materials associated with the roll-out.

Ag Groups

Podcast Advertising Ideas

Chuck Zimmerman

PodcastingNo audio with this post. Just pointing you to an interesting article on Forbes.com. If you think this podcasting thing is just a fad or that it just doesn’t apply to your work then you really need to think again. It’s real and models are being created for distribution as well as advertising!

I’ll tell you what we’ll do. As an incentive for you to advertise in our ZimmCast we’ll produce your commercial at no charge. How’s that for a deal? I like the idea of short embedded commercials in the podcast and also pre/post sponsor tags. So what are you waiting for?

Podcasts

Food Safety Research At MU

Chuck Zimmerman

MBICDuring food safety month the Missouri Beef Industry Council decided to do a series of releases on the subject to highlight their efforts in this area. Here’s number two in a 3-part series, featuring food safety research funded by MBIC checkoff dollars.

You can download the release here: MBIC Food Safety Release (Word doc)

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef

Senator Talent On CornTalk

Chuck Zimmerman

CornTalk podcastThis week’s CornTalk, a program of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, features Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Biofuels Caucus. Cindy interviews the Senator who discusses legislation he is sponsoring that would provide additional disaster assistance for Missouri farmers, and what he is doing to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to quickly implement the new standard for ethanol and biodiesel.

You can listen to this week’s CornTalk here: Download MP3 File

CornTalk is a weekly AgWired podcast which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar.

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Podcasts

New Communications Director At NPPC

Chuck Zimmerman

National Pork Producers CouncilWith Kara Flynn leaving the National Pork Producers Council for new opportunities with the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology we’ve been wondering who would be the replacement and now we know.

Dave Warner has been hired to join the Washington Office as the NPPC’s Communications Director. Warner brings a wealth of experience in business communication to the position, such as eleven years of communication work for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

For questions, comments and suggestions or to subscribe, contact: Elizabeth Power, NPPC Acting Communications Assistant, at (202) 347-3600, or via e-mail at powere@nppc.org.

Ag Groups

MFA HealthTrack Qualifies For MO QSA

Chuck Zimmerman

MFA HealthTrackMissouri is the first state to apply for a Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) program and MFA Incorporated’s Healthtrack program allows a producer to participate. To let them know MFA sent out a Talking News Release.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is currently developing a Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) program that will allow producers to sell source and age verified cattle with third party verification through branded programs such as MFA’s HealthTrack Program, according to Mike John, Director of Beef Marketing for MFA, Incorporated.

“The QSA program is a tool that USDA has provided to the industry to comply with the beef export verification program. And this particular QSA will involve source and age of feeder cattle. So the system that is in place has to be designed such that it gives USDA confidence in proclaiming that they guarantee that the animals are so source and age verified.”

Download Full Release

Agribusiness, Audio

News From Husker Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Husker Harvest DaysI didn’t get to go to Grand Island for the Husker Harvest Days show again this year but I could still keep up with it thanks to Willie Vogt and his staff. You can find lots of good information like the story about Secretary Johanns farm listening forum, complete with pictures: Nebraska Farm Forum Draws Big Husker Crowd

There’s just too many farm shows and not enough time! I know a lot of you were there last week. I hope it was good one for you.

Farm Shows

Meet The New AAEA President

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 34 - CrummettIt’s the American Agricultural Editor’s Association new president right here on AgWired in our ZimmCast for this week. He’s Dan Crummett, Farm Progress Companies. I interviewed him right after he got sworn in at the recent Ag Media Summit. Dan talks about AAEA and why he thinks the organization has become stronger. He also discusses AAEA’s new strategic plan.

You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Download MP3 File (2.3MB MP3 File)

The ZimmCast is AgWired’s weekly podcast which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar.

ACN, Ag Media Summit, Audio, Podcasts, ZimmCast

We’re Going To Kansas City

Chuck Zimmerman

NAMA Convention 2006I just had a feeling this would happen. I applaud the decision and look forward to having the biggest and best NAMA convention ever in Missouri next year!

We were notified this week by the Hyatt Hotels national sales office, that the Hyatt New Orleans will be closed through December, 2006. In an Executive Committee conference call on Wednesday, September 14, the decision was made to hold the conference in Kansas City. We are now in the process of making the arrangements for this change.

The conference theme will remain “Jazzed!” as Jazz music “grew up” in Kansas City and shares that musical bond with the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans.

Special thanks to those of you who called, e-mailed or sent information to the NAMA office regarding alternate locations for us to explore. We greatly appreciate the time and effort you spent to help us during this waiting period.

If you’re not a NAMA member yet then fill out this online form to become one. There’s also a permanent “Join Now” button in the left sidebar.

NAMA

Mulhollem Retires From ADM

Chuck Zimmerman

Archer Daniels MidlandIt’s succession plan time at Archer Daniels Midland, the “Resourceful By Nature” people.

Paul B. Mulhollem, President and Chief Operating Officer, announced his decision (yesterday) to retire from the Company, effective immediately. G. Allen Andreas, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ADM, will temporarily assume the duties of President and COO.

“Mr. Mulhollem’s contributions to the Company in his various assignments over his years with ADM are significant,” said Mr. Andreas. “Paul’s insight and acumen will be missed. During his tenure, Paul worked closely with me in expanding our global reach and building a solid foundation for the continued growth and success of ADM. On both a personal and professional level, Paul’s contributions are appreciated by all of us at ADM.”

“In retiring from ADM, I am leaving behind a great company and many friends and colleagues,” said Mr. Mulhollem. “I wish them and the Company continued success in the future.”

Agribusiness