No image here. I know I usually have something but you just don’t always have to. I hope you got something out of my blogging the Ag Media Summit. Love to know what you think. I will still have some content to present when time allows. As I was checking my feeds tonight I came across a link to an interesting blog you might want to visit. It was pointed out on Adfreak. They turned me on to Russell Davies, an account planner. He just blogged the AAAA Account Planning Conference in Chicago. Looks like he did a good job. I can relate!
Celebs Protesting Ag Subsidies
New on Adjab today is a short note about an upcoming advertising campaign by Oxfam America to try to impact agricultural subsidies. According to the article celebrities like Minnie Driver and others will be doused with chocolate, coffee and other ingredients. It’s supposed to be a magazine campaign. I couldn’t see any mention of it on the Oxfam America website so I’m not sure where the information comes from. Adam says in his post, “The campaign is spurred in part by advocacy group Oxfam America which urges places like the United States to stop presenting cheap product to world markets which makes it difficult for smaller countries to compete.” So there you have it. I’m sure many people would like to see Minnie Driver wearing chocolate.
The story comes from the International Herald Tribune.
Nitrogen Cycle Debuts At Fertilizer Conference
This is definitely one of the more creative ideas I’ve seen lately. Motorcycles are cool right now so Agrotain made a theme cycle to use in a trade show. You’ll be able to see it at a number of shows coming up like Commodity Classic next March.
AGROTAIN International, L.L.C. Launches Themed Tribute Motorcycle to the Fertilizer Industry
August 3, 2005, San Antonio, TX – AGROTAIN International, L.L.C. introduced its customized American Ironhorse Texas Chopper motorcycle on July 25 at the South West Fertilizer Conference & Meeting in San Antonio.
A themed tribute to the fertilizer industry, the bike is customized to look like AGROTAIN treated liquid and granular nitrogen is powering the engine, as well as being applied via a spreader spinner and spray nozzle – thus the name, “The Nitrogen Cycle”. When asked how the name came about, Andrew Semple, VP Global Marketing for AGROTAIN International, explained: “AGROTAIN International’s products help reduce nitrogen loss to the environment while providing an economic and agronomic gain to the users of our products. We are known as the nitrogen experts, and have climbed to that level by leading and educating the industry about nitrogen loss potentials. The nitrogen loss cycle is often explained using a pictorial diagram – which is customized on the bike – so it seemed natural to name the bike “The Nitrogen Cycle”.
For more information contact Andrew Semple.
Barry Wins Brock Associates Ipod
Barry Nelson, John Deere, worked some of his magic at the AMS trade show all right. Now he doesn’t have any excuse not to subscribe to our ZimmCast. He’s the winner of the Brock Associates Ag Media Summit booth giveaway of the latest and greatest Ipod!
Hey Barry, if you need some help setting your new gadget up, including the subscription to our weekly podcast just give me a call.
Consumer Confidence & Producer Attitudes On The MBIC Report
In this week’s Missouri Beef Industry Council Report, chairman David Dick of Sedalia talks about consumer confidence and producer attitudes, two recent surveys released by the beef industry. You can see the surveys using these links: Consumer Confidence & Producer Attitudes
You can listen to the MBIC Report here 
The MBIC Report is a weekly podcast on AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar.
The Energy Bill Is The Topic of CornTalk
This week’s CornTalk is with Missouri Corn Merchandising Council chairman Terry Hilgedick of Hartsburg and the topic is the Energy Bill passed last week by Congress and what it means to Missouri corn growers. CornTalk is a weekly podcast on AgWired that’s produced for the Missouri Corn Growers Association.
You can listen to CornTalk here
You can use the link in our sidebar to subscribe to the CornTalk podcast.
Midwest Drought Focus of Monsanto Release
The lastest Talking News Release from Monsanto focuses on the extremely dry conditions we’ve been having in the midwest. Let’s hope we get some rain!
Midwest Drought Conditions Boost Corn Insect Pressure
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (August 2, 2005) – The dangerously dry conditions across much of the Midwestern Corn Belt this summer are taking their toll on what was expected to be a record crop causing development problems as well as increased insect pressure.
Monsanto Corn Technical Manager Dr. Rob Ihrig (EYE-rig) says corn is in the middle of its most critical development period right now.
“Corn is a tremendous utilizer of water and the crop really becomes stressed later in the season as it attempts to fill the ear so the water demand is much, much higher. The challenge that this crop is under is that there’s no water for it to really remain healthy and there’s very little water available to produce the sugars and photosynthate necessary to fill the ear.” ( monsanto-ihrig-cut1) (:26) (Full Release)
For more information contact Lisa Cassady or Lee Quarles.
A Suzie Humphreys Brunch
The final event of the Ag Media Summit was a brunch featuring Suzie Humphreys, who was everything her bio says. It was a time to laugh and be inspired and she did a great job. Let’s hope all the attendees have a safe trip home.
Dan Crummett New AAEA President
At the AAEA annual meeting the new president took over from Susan Davis, Davis Communications. He’s Dan Crummett, Farm Progress Companies and he’s seen here presenting a recognition plaque to Susan for her service as AAEA president.
I’ll have an interview with Dan for you to listen to in a couple days. According to the reports at the meeting, the organization is doing well with 350 members, 20 new ones in this past year. The organization passed a vote to adopt a new strategic plan and I’ll find details from it to pass along when it’s available.
LPC Annual Meeting Over
Today is the last day of the Ag Media Summit and both AAEA and LPC hold their annual meetings, followed by a brunch. At the Livestock Publications Council meeting, outgoing president, Joe Roybal, Beef magazine, turned the reigns over to Lori Maude, American Gelbvieh Association. I’ll have an interview for you with Lori within a few days after I get back home and have more time to edit some of the audio I collected here.