You know “blog” really isn’t a very pretty word. But what else are you going to call it? What if it’s an ag-related blog?
Would it be a “blag?” (Sent in by the oh so creative Steve Mays)
And would a bunch of blags be a blaggle?
Writing Our Way To Switzerland
Actually I hope we can eat some good cheese and chocolate and sample some great wines!
I’ll be in some excellent company on my trip this fall to the IFAJ Congress in Thun, Switzerland. At this point I know that John Walter, editor, Agriculture Online/Successful Farming, Mike Wilson, editor, Farm Futures, Kelly Schwalbe, BCS Communications and Greg Lamp, editor, The Corn And Soybean Digest will also be going.
I’ll be writing more about this trip as we get closer. It’s not until the end of August.
A New Angus At Hard Rock Cafe
I love beef and I love the idea of Certified Angus Beef at a rock and roll restaurant! My middle name begins with an “A.” It could stand for Angus. Can I have one free too? Please . . .
A NEW LEGEND IN BURGER HISTORY
Hard Rock Cafe Introduces New Legendary Burger Made with Certified Angus Beef®
Orlando, Fla., March 29, 2005 – Get ready AC/DC . . . there’s a new Angus in town! For more than 33 years, Hard Rock Cafe has been known for great American food and its unparalleled collection of memorabilia from the world’s greatest rock legends including Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, U2 and Nirvana. Today, Hard Rock Cafe announced the addition of the world’s next great icon – the Legendary Burger, the company’s tastiest burger yet, made with 10 ounces of Certified Angus Beef®, the world’s premium brand of fresh ground beef.
And
ANGUS EATS FREE!
Hard Rock Cafe Offers Complimentary New Legendary Burger To
Anyone Named Angus
Orlando, Fla., March 29, 2005 – Hard Rock Cafe is calling all those “branded” with the name Angus to try its new Legendary Burger, made with Certified Angus Beef®, for free! From April 3rd through April 4th, 2005, anyone with the name Angus, first, middle or last, is invited to stop by their local Hard Rock Cafe in the continental United States to enjoy the company’s most succulent burger yet . . . on the house.
For more information contact Crystal Meier at Certified Angus Beef.
Publication News & Notes
1. I got the following note from Robert Jan Fernhout, updating me on his re-location and new duties.
Dear Chuck,
thanks for your e-mail re: the blog, much appreciated.
I wanted to let you know I was transferred from The Netherlands to Chicago to represent various global agri magazines such as World Poultry, Feed Mix, Avicultura Profesional and Pig Progress. I will send you a press release soon on this.
Companies like Cargill, Novus International, Schering Plough, DSM, Pfizer, Alltech, Trouw Nutrition etc. etc. use our books as an integral part of their international communication. If you know of other US/Candadian based companies that want to target an international audience, I would be happy to advise them.
For more info go to Reed Business Information Inernational Agri- & Horticulture or AgriWorld.
I will keep you updated, attached is my latest newsletter.
Kind regards,
Robert
You’ll have to contact Robert about his newsletter. It’s a great looking piece but I just couldn’t publish it here.
Commodity Group News & Notes
1. Shae Dodson, Communications Coordinator for R-CALF USA has been busy! I’ve received several releases announcing mtgs., fundraising results and more. Here’s excerpts from them. Please contact Shae for more information.
Billings, MT ~ Cattlemen who gathered at Northern Livestock Exchange in Minot, ND on February 25, 2005, raised $6,000 for R-CALF USA. Roger Sundsbak and Marilyn Hagen, owners and operators of Northern Livestock Exchange said, “We appreciate R-CALF USA for the work it is doing to support the ranches we do business with. We want to support the organization taking care of our customers.”
Fort Scott Livestock Market in Fort Scott, Kan., will host an informational meeting and fund-raiser for R-CALF USA and Kansas Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) on Tuesday, April 5. A dinner at 6:30 p.m. CST kicks off the event, followed by speakers from each organization and then a rollover calf auction.
Billings, MT ~ In an innovative way to integrate seedstock production sales into the fund-raising effort for R-CALF USA, the Lucky 7 Angus Ranch of Wyoming donated 10 percent of the proceeds from 10 bulls sold during its recent sale at Riverton Livestock Auction in Riverton, WY. The Jim Jensen Family, owners of Lucky 7 Angus, raised $4,535 in cash and memberships for R-CALF USA.
Billings, MT ~ Two sales held at Platte Valley Livestock in Gering, Nebraska on October 4, 2004, and February 28, 200,5 generated $5,500 for R-CALF USA. Jerry and Sally Weekes, owners/operators of the auction market said, “We believe the position that R-CALF USA has taken on critical issues in the cattle industry is right, and we’re happy to do what we can to help support the organization.”
2. From Lori McCubbins with Illinois Corn Growers Association:
March 29 – SPRING IS THE TIME TO TALK TRADE: Spring has arrived and so have Congressmen and Senators. Like a Robin they return to their Districts for Easter break. Spring is a time for new beginnings; so please take advantage of speaking with your representatives on Corn Grower issues while they are at home.
3. The Missouri Sheep Producers Executive Director, Doug Gehring sent this in:
(MARSHALL, Mo.)—Supporting the future of the Missouri sheep industry is a key strategy for the Missouri Sheep Producers (MSP) organization. Offering four $750 scholarships to current and former 4-H and FFA members involved in the sheep industry is one way the organization accomplishes this strategy.
For more information about the Missouri Sheep Producers Scholarship, please contact Sarah Shultz at 573-522-9213.
Agricultural Relations Council Stirring Up Interest
If you’re involved in agricultural public relations you’ve heard of ARC, the Agricultural Relations Council. I just received this note from Jeri Omernik with an announcement of ARC activities prior to the upcoming NAMA Conference in Phoenix.
Hi Chuck:
I’m looking forward to seeing what pops up on your agrimarketing blog!
I’m attaching the ARC Spring Fling brochure for your consideration.
The ARC board is working on several efforts to strengthen the organization.
We’re looking forward to seeing people and hearing from the membership
in Phoenix!
Best,
Jeri
ARC Spring Fling
April 19, 2005 • Phoenix
Ready for some fun in the sun? Join your ARC colleagues in Phoenix for a power-packed day of professional development and networking. The program will include a presentation on the growing “agritainment” segment along with sessions on land use and water resources in the parched Southwest. You’ll also learn about all the changes that now make earning your APR accreditation more accessible. Mark your calendar now to be at the Hyatt Regency Civic Center in Phoenix April 19, immediately preceding the Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show!
Program
April 19, 2005 (preceding the 2005 Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show)
Hyatt Regency Phoenix
9:00 a.m. Registration
9:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions, Jeri Omernik and Carroll Merry
10:00 a.m. That’s AgriTainment!, Carrie Schnepf, Schnepf Farms
11:00 a.m. Managing Water in a 9-Year Drought, Herb Guenther, Director, Arizona Department of Water Resources
Noon ARC Luncheon
1:00 p.m. Earning Your APR Through ARC, Everett Tacket, PRSA Chapter Accreditation Chair
2:30 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Land Use and Water Issues, Grady Gammage, Jr., partner at Gammage & Burnham
4:00 p.m ARC Business Meeting
5:30 p.m. “Waterin’ Hole Reception
7:00 p.m. Dinner on your own
To Register:
ARC Members $150 Before March 31 $200 After March 31
Non-Members* $420 Before March 31 $470 After March 31
* Includes one year of ARC membership.
Agricultural Relations Council
62768 N. Star Dr.
Montrose, CO 81401
Phone: 970-249-1465
Fax: 970-249-4385
Agribusiness News & Notes
1. Tamara Rozmarynowski sent in the following information from Wisconsin Public Service which you can link to:
The 45th Annual Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show
Wisconsin Public Service Enhances Web Site for Farm Customers
2. Novartis Animal Health News: ImmPact Guidelines for Vaccination and Beef Health Management Now Available
GREENSBORO, NC (March 28, 2005) – Keeping cattle healthy positively affects producers’ bottom lines. Knowing how to keep them healthy, however, isn’t always easy.
The ImmPact program includes vaccination recommendations, along with management practices, that can be utilized prior to when animals become increasingly susceptible to disease. To order the ImmPact program educational brochures, call
1-800-454-3424, ext. 358. Contact Joseph Burkett for more information.
Release submitted by Morgan & Myers, contact Tricia Falter.
3. Consistent Results a Select Sires Trademark
PLAIN CITY, Ohio, March 29, 2005 – Select Sires owns more Top-100 TPI high-reliability sires than any other A.I. company. Four of these bulls exceed 97% Rel. and each is a graduate of the Program for Genetic Advancement(TM) (PGA(TM)).
Also:
Fifteen Holsteins Newly Designated as “Excellent” at Select Sires
PLAIN CITY, Ohio, March 29, 2005 – A classifier from the Holstein Association USA officially designated 15 new bulls “Excellent” for conformation at Select Sires – seven of which received final scores of 90 points or more on their first score. Approximately 50 percent of Select’s active-A.I. lineup is now Excellent with 18 bulls scored higher than 93 points.
For more information contact Cathy Bewley or Beth Ertl
4. Beck’s receives initial license for Herculex™ Rootworm technologies
March 24, 2005 – Beck’s Hybrids of Atlanta, Indiana accepted an offer from
Dow AgroSciences LLC to be the initial licensee for Herculex™ RW Rootworm Protection and Herculex™ XTRA Insect Protection. Depending upon EPA registration, Herculex RW is expected to be launched for 2006 and Herculex XTRA launched for 2007. Beck’s is excited to offer these new combinations of top genetics and insect protection to their customers.
For more information contact Scott Beck.
Agency News & Notes
Latorra, Paul & McCann Bring Home Addy “Best of Show”
March 10, 2005 (Syracuse, NY) – The Syracuse Ad Club sung its praises for Latorra Paul & McCann (LP&M) at the 2005 ADDY® Awards for advertising creative excellence. LP&M received “Best of Show” for its Syracuse Opera Poster Campaign, rounding out its collection of seven silver and two gold ADDY® awards. Entries were judged based on artistry, originality and creative strategy.
Although their award wasn’t for an ag account the agency does handle several ag clients, including: Fort Dodge Animal Health, the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council. Contact Lorrell Walter for more information.
Overwhelming Response From Agrimarketing Professionals To AgriMarketing Pros!
I have to say I’m overwhelmed with the great feedback so many of you have offered to our blog dedicated to the profession of agrimarketing. I’ve received so many items and ideas that it will take me a while to get to them all but I promise I will. To start with I’ll try to post at least an excerpt and a link to most standard announcements. Then our readers can go there to get the “full story.” This will happen on a regular basis starting tonight.
The more intriguing and involved ideas, stories and articles might take a little more time to develop but nothing will be ignored. I encourage you to write about your ideas. Be creative. Editorialize. What do you like? What don’t you like?
Thank you for your words of encouragement and interest. We’ll try to maintain the high standards that all agrimarketing professionals should adhere to.
By the way, if you have criticisms please send them in too. We’re grownups. We can take it. I really believe that’s what helps us become better at our chosen profession.
New John Deere Book Available That Tells The Secrets
I’d like to thank Barry Nelson for being the first person to respond to our email notification about AgriMarketing Pros. Barry pointed me to the press/news center of the John Deere website for the latest information from Deere and Co.
The latest is about the release of a new book.
THE JOHN DEERE WAY: Performance that Endures by author and journalist David Magee (Wiley; April 2005; $24.95, Cloth) is the story of how Robert Lane and his management team have kept John Deere at the top of its game.
The book is available at Amazon.com: The John Deere Way
The book contains some of the “secrets” to the company’s success such as:
I will not put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me.
If we don’t improve our products, others will make them in our place.
Always maintain integrity.
Concentrate on areas where you have a clear competitive advantage.
It is more important in business to listen than to lead.
It is more valuable to link than to leverage.
It is better to be lean than laden.
In a rigorously competitive market, virtue is necessary for sustained value creation.
It is important to build a business as great as your products.
Sounds like some great lessons for any business, including ours!