Rabobank Selects Morgan & Myers

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

Always happy to see announcements from my agency friends. This time it’s Morgan & Myers who have to be happy. As a former broadcaster it’s nice to see a plan for a blend of print and radio!

Rabobank Selects Morgan&Myers for Advertising Work – “Vision” Campaign Focuses on Helping Farmers Succeed

WATERLOO, Iowa August 9, 2005 Rabobank International has selected Morgan&Myers as its agency of record to develop an advertising program to reach the U.S. production agricultural market. Scheduled to start in September, the “Vision” campaign includes both print and radio advertising.

“Rabobank is committed to the success of U.S. agriculture, and we are equally committed to providing American farmers and ranchers with superior financial products and expert local service,” says Lynne Burns, head of corporate communications for Rabobank International-Americas. “The eye-catching advertising developed by Morgan&Myers tells producers that Rabobank has the resources, expertise and commitment to help them succeed and it helps build familiarity with our name.”

Janine Whipps, principal and director of integrated marketing services for Morgan&Myers, adds, “We have a lot of experience reaching Rabobank’s target audience of top tier production farmers. Rabobank’s financial strength, agricultural heritage, and commitment to agriculture make a compelling story. And, the team has been given the freedom to develop creative that will get attention. It’s a good fit.”

For more information contact Janine Whipps, 319.233.0502 or Lynne Burns, 212.808.2581.

Agencies, Agribusiness

Jeff Koenig Commodity Blogger

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

You know I love a blogger so I really like what Jeff Koenig is doing with his website. Jeff is using blogging software to build a very interesting site for his business which is full service or discount futures brokerage services for hedging. I think it’s laid out very well. It’s simple and contains a ton of information. You have to register in order to enter the site and see what’s he writes though. As he explains on the site, it’s because of the nature of the content and regulations that he has to adhere to. Registration is free and simple though. Once you’re inside you can find links to his commentary which is written as short articles like you’ll find on AgWired. They contain links and images. He also has sections with a weather product that localizes for you automatically, news stories that he collects using RSS subscriptions and of course a section on quotes and bids.

Jeff used to title his site “The Writing On The Wall” and you can find out why when you visit. You may wonder at the value of a site that has a lot of information on it that you can find in other places but Jeff says why best “More than ever, industry is full of information however information doesn’t equal knowledge. Knowledge only comes from careful filtering and synthesis of information.” What Jeff does is filter through information for his clients and visitors. That’s what I think we do here at AgWired for anyone in the agricultural marketing and communications field. We try to look through all of what’s out there and bring you what we think you’d be interested in knowing.

Good job Jeff and good luck!

Agribusiness

Bayer/Doane Desktop Rust Alert Tool

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

I’m not a big fan of installing extra software on my computer but for someone who wants the latest information on soybean rust this is an interesting tactic. Bayer CropScience and Doane Agricultural Services have launched a desktop tool called the FOLICUR® Fungicide First Desktop Alert. You have to go to the site and register and download the tool. I haven’t done it and would be interested to know the results of this project. It’s designed to work on both a dialup or broadband internet connection.

I think it’s an interesting use of the internet and shows that there’s lots of creative ways you can assist customers/prospective customers with information they want and need in a very “commercial” way.

Agribusiness, Internet

Linn Group Releases Crop Estimates

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

I assume the Linn Group sent this information out so that we would pass it along. They’ve produced some corn and soybean crop estimates on a nice looking map with breakouts by state. You can see the map here.

The Linn Group, a Chicago Board of Trade based consulting firm, released their National and Missouri 2005 crop production estimates for August 1 today which featured sharply lower corn yields from year ago record levels. Hot temperatures and a
persistent drought during the growing season reduced dramatically crops in Missouri and Illinois.

For more information it looks like you should contact Igor Rubchinsky.

Agribusiness

Missouri Drought Subject of CornTalk

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

MO Governor Matt Blunt has requested a disaster declaration for farmers in over 100 counties in Missouri due to drought conditions. In this week’s CornTalk, the weekly interview program of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, our guest is Judy Grundler with the Missouri Department of Agriculture who discusses the crop conditions around the state, what the crop losses mean for Missouri, and the details of the crop disaster declaration.

You can listen to CornTalk here

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

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Podcasts

NAFB Convention Registration Available

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

If you want to attend this year’s National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention you can register online. The convention will be held as usual at the Westin Crown Plaza in Kansas City, MO, November 9-11.

NAFB

Some NAMA News

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

If you’re a National Agri-Marketing Association member you may already know this if you read your NAMA e-News. If you’re not a member then . . . (become one!)

The deadline is August 15th to submit applications for the annual Professional Development Awards. You can download the application here. Awards for Public Relations, Sales, Product/Species Management and Marketing Communications will be awarded at the Agribusiness Forum in November.

Are you Jazzed about the work you’ve done? Start thinking about entering it into the Best of NAMA regional judging competition. Watch your mail (if you’re a member!) for the Best of NAMA Call for Entries which will be in your mailbox next week.

The Best of NAMA awards program honors the best work in agricultural communications. Actually, the best of the best, since companies/agencies must first qualify through regional competition in order to advance to the national level. The national awards ceremony will take place April 19, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

NAMA

2005 Agroterrorism Assembly

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

Agroterrorism is a hot topic right now. Aon Corporation looks like they not only have a handle on the issue but are being very proactive in helping create public dialogue.

On August 18, 2005, Aon, in cooperation with the US Department of Homeland Security and the University of California’s Western Institute for Food Safety & Security, is sponsoring the 2005 AgroTerrorism Assembly on August 18, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sacramento, California. The Assembly is designed to inform community leaders (government and business), food industry leaders, emergency responders (local, state and federal) — of the risks and vulnerabilities of agroterrorism and other food-related disasters.

Aon’s Agribusiness and Food System Group, based in Kansas City, works with businesses involved in the production, processing and distribution of food. About one-third of Aon Agribusiness and Food System Group’s business in the sector is agriculture, and two-thirds is food-related.

A Senate Agriculture committee reviewing protection for U.S. agriculture recently heard testimony suggesting that sabotaging the nation’s agriculture system would not be that difficult. Aon Agribusiness and Food Systems Group Senior Vice President Rick Shanks says he understands that perception exists, but that doesn’t mean U.S. agriculture is standing pat. “While agroterrorism is perceived as being alarmingly easy, the fact is, the cattle industry is implementing plans to protect against agricultural sabotage,” he says. “While nothing is 100% secure, as a nation we’ve taken big steps in the right direction.”

For more information contact Thaddeus Woosley.

Agribusiness, University

Energy Legislation Good News For Pioneer

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

I haven’t mentioned that President Bush signed the Energy bill into law earlier this week since you’ve probably seen it all over the news. However, it has a big impact on agribusiness and ultimately marketing for companies like Pioneer Hi-Bred. You know it means a lot to groups like the National Corn Growers Association, among many others but I haven’t seen many company releases until now. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with all this push for renewable fuel. Some are already predicting that we’ll see more production and use than the legislation mandates.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Applauds New Energy Policy Act

New Incentives for Biofuel Seen as Positive Step in Renewable Energy Production; Signals Opportunity for U.S. Growers, Agribusiness

DES MOINES, Iowa – Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., today is applauding the signing of the Energy Policy Act into law by President George W. Bush. A highlight of the act is the creation of a 7.5 billion gallon renewable fuel standard (RFS) that will expand the marketplace for corn and soybean growers by increasing use of renewable domestic fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

“Our nation’s crop producers are the most efficient growers in the world, and now they will have a further opportunity to put those high standards of efficiency to use in bolstering our country’s renewable fuel supply,” said Pat Hilliard, account manager – ethanol industry, Pioneer.

Pioneer currently offers 121 corn ethanol hybrids characterized as high- total-fermentable (HTF) in all maturity groups, said Hilliard. These hybrids are specifically selected for high-potential ethanol yield, he added.

For more information contact Jerry Harrington.

Agribusiness

Monsanto Completes Enviro-Chem Sale

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2005

Monsanto announced this deal in April and it looks like they finally got it done.

Monsanto Completes Sale of Enviro-Chem Systems

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) announced today that it has completed the sale of Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems Inc. to a new company formed by the Enviro-Chem management team and an outside investor. The new company will do business as MECS, Inc. Terms of the sale were not released.

For more information contact Lori Fisher of Monsanto Company, +1-314-694-8535.

Agribusiness

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