Agribusiness News & Notes

Chuck Zimmerman

According to a release I just received from Brandy Craig at Archer>Malmo, Select herbicide from Valent is doing very well with the growers of four different commodities.

Select® Holds Top Spot for Cotton, Soybean, Sugarbeet and Sunflower Growers

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (April 7, 2005) – Select® Herbicide has once again achieved the No. 1 spot in customer demand for cotton, soybean, sugarbeet and sunflower growers, according to Doane ag data. 2004 makes the fifth year Select has emerged as the No. 1 grass herbicide for cotton, soybeans and sugarbeets and the second year it has been named No. 1 for sunflower growers.

Valent Select Logo

For more information contact either Brandy Craig or Lori Theine.

Agribusiness

More Blogging From Meyocks Group

Chuck Zimmerman

Today I had a great meeting at Meyocks Group in Des Moines. We talked about public relations, Talking News Releases and blogging. I sensed a high level of interest in blogging and hope I was able to offer some good basic information through demonstration and discussion. If you look back through my previous posts and at all the links on our blog you’ll find many resources you can go to about various aspects of blogging.

I tried to anticipate questions in my presentation but some of the ones that were asked included, “Do we measure how many reporters use the releases we send out?” and “What’s different about your service and NAFB’s?” I have written about both these questions and would encourage you to look back in the archives of the category, Talking News Release to visit them.

I could see the wheels turning in the minds of the people in the room. “Are blogging, rss, podcasting, targeting broadcast news reporters good ideas and how do I integrate them into our client’s plans?”

I want to thank Jill Green for inviting me in today.

Chuck Interviews Doug Jeske

I interviewed Doug Jeske for an upcoming ZimmCast. Doug’s a Senior Vice President, Account Services for Meyocks Group.

Agencies

Blog Readers In The Agrimarketing World?

Chuck Zimmerman

There certainly are blog readers in the agrimarketing business!

This is now a documentable fact according to the results of Agri Marketing’s (magazine) first monthly online poll. They asked visitors to respond to a simple question, “How often do you read blogs of any kind?” The results are posted on their home page and are worth a look. You can also find articles in the March issue about blogging, including one written by yours truly at the request of Agri Marketing.

As I would have suspected from my on-going informal poll of agrimarketers I come in contact with, the majority said they didn’t at all. But only by a small margin, meaning that many do. I think this monthly poll is a great new feature of the Agri Marketing website by the way and I applaud them for starting it!

As you can see from my earlier posts today and you will see tomorrow, there’s definite interest on the part of agencies about this new web communications phenomenon. Clients are asking about it. Are you ready to answer them?

Our weekly podcast, the ZimmCast, will feature interviews with agency representatives, talking about what they’re doing when it comes to blogging and how they see it fitting into an overall communications and marketing plan.

Agencies, Public Relations, Publication

Real People Are Being Heard, Finally

Chuck Zimmerman

The folks at Edelman, a global PR firm, and Intelliseek, a marketing intelligence firm, have produced a great document on blogging you should download and read. They claim that blogging isn’t a passing fad but any company that fails to grasp this fact may be. Pretty strong words about something that has received little attention in the agrimarketing world!

The white paper is called, “Trust MEdia…How Real People Are Finally Being Heard”

Use the link to download the Edelman & Intelliseek white paper about the impact of blogs on communications. The document “explores the importance of the blogging phenomenon for public relations and marketers and provides a first-of-its-kind directory of influential bloggers, segmented by industry. “

Agencies, Agribusiness, Public Relations

Still Blogging From Two Rivers Marketing

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the nice things about blogging is that it’s so easy to do. My last post was done during a demonstration and presentation to a group of staff members at Two Rivers Marketing in Des Moines.

We’re done now and I’m posting one more time before leaving.

Two Rivers has their own internal IT department to conduct work for their clients so I thought it interesting that they needed me to come give a presentation on blogging. But this shows how new it really is to us in the agrimarketing business. We only had 1 hour to go from a definition of “blog” to how to post and distribute information on the blog and using RSS feeds. We did get into podcasting at the end.

I brought along my Dell AXIM with a ZimmCast already loaded on it to demonstrate how easy it is to distribute your own audio programming now. Of course I wanted to show them a podcast on my new Zen Micro but the one I ordered came in defective so I’m waiting on its replacement.

I hope the session was helpful to these great folks. I know they gave up a lunch hour to hear yours truly but our internet access worked and I think it went well.

If you’d like me to give a presentation or demonstration on blogging, podcasting or using Talking News Releases just give me a call.

Chuck At Two Rivers

Dude has a Dell!

Agencies

Agribusiness News & Notes

Chuck Zimmerman

I love getting releases like this because they come with pictures. I like pictures and need practice using them on a blog (the web). Hopefully at this year’s Ag Media Summit I can attend a seminar and learn how to use them more effectively. If you’ve got any tips you’d like to share with me please feel free to email me. I can handle constructive criticism too!

Thanks to Cathy Bewley for sending this along!

Terri Smith Hired at Select Sires

Terri Smith Hired at Select Sires

PLAIN CITY, Ohio, April 5, 2005 – Select Sires has announced the hiring of Terri Smith as its sales and marketing specialist. In this role her main responsibilities will be coordinating the photo program and producing promotional materials on a national and member cooperative level that support Select’s industry-leading image. Smith will be based at the company’s headquarters in Plain City, Ohio.

For more information contact Cathy Bewley, (570) 836-3168 ext. 3201

Agribusiness

Missouri Ag Leaders Meet

Chuck Zimmerman

We had a great meeting today in Columbia, MO at the Missouri Cattle Industry Headquarters. It’s the monthly meeting of the Missouri Agricultural Leaders Luncheon. This is an ad hoc group, meaning no memberships, no dues, nothing but great monthly meetings on topics of interest to the agricultural community. Of course, someone has to coordinate it voluntarily, hence ZimmComm’s involvement!

Alex Closeup

Today, Alex Stemme, Missouri Soybean Association, gave a talk on the new Missouri FFA Foundation Fund. This is an effort to raise money to create an endowment that will be able to provide financial support for FFA on an on-going basis. You can contact Alex at MSA for more information if you’d like to contribute. They’re also looking for some volunteer leaders too.

Ag Groups

Make A Contribution To The ABEF Auction

Chuck Zimmerman

I always like a good auction, especially for a good cause. But please, if you donate, make it something I won’t bid on or Cindy will not be happy with me.

ABEF Logo

Donations are still needed for the 2005 Silent Auction that will be held during the 2005 Agri-Marketing Conference Trade Show, April 20-21. Any worthwhile product or service will be gratefully accepted. Some of the most popular items auctioned in past years include:

Framed and limited edition artwork
Media packages for broadcast, print and Internet
Professional services
Premiums and wearables
Collectibles
Sports tickets and memorabilia

The success of the ABEF Silent Auction proves our association is eager to contribute to the growth and enhancement of the profession of agri-marketing. Please show your support and donate what you can (minimum of $50 value suggested.) All proceeds from the auction benefit NAMA’s Student Careers Program.

If you’d like to make a donation to the Silent Auction visit the website here.

NAMA