Laser Engraved Produce

Chuck Zimmerman

Laser Engraved ProduceNow this is cool. I hate peeling those little labels off fruit and vegetables after you buy them. Sometimes I think they’ve been put on with super glue. Even when you get them off they sometimes leave a sticky residue. This company has got a great idea and I can see this catching on, not only for product labelling but also for advertising!

Durand-Wayland, Inc. has created the process of laser engraving fruits and vegetables after conducting some very interesting consumer research.

A major consumer research study was conducted in four geographically dispersed US markets by Clark & Company, Inc. Clark & Company is a certified, national, independent research firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Participants in the study were frequent consumers of one or more hand-held, edible skin fruits and also consumed non-edible skin fruit. The study found that the “laser/controlled light” labeling process is preferred because it eliminates the negatives of the stickers and it can provide much useful information about the origin of the produce. Most consumers want to have as much information as possible concerning where their fruit comes from. The study revealed that consumers see many shortcomings in “stickers” currently being used. These include hard to remove even to the point of removing some of the produce. The glue residue is also seen as a problem.

For more information contact Ray Perry, Vice President of Sales by phone at 1-800-241-2308, ext 127.

Agribusiness

You Can Still Register For IFAJ Congress

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ 2005Borrowing from the latest International Federation of Agricultural Journalists newsletter, “more than 180 journalists from 24 countries have registered to attend the 2005 IFAJ Congress in Switzerland next month.” That’s where we’ll be blogging the trip thanks to Pioneer Hi-Bred, our sponsor.

“We are extremely pleased with the number of people who booked to attend and are looking forward to a successful event with high calibre speakers and exciting tours,” said Hans Mueller, President of the Organizing Committee. Although registrations officially closed at the end of May, Hans encouraged people who wanted to attend but had not registered to contact the event organisers in case it is possible to make a last minute booking. The four-day event, starting August 31, will be held on the shores of Lake Thun. The lake is surrounded by hills and mountains. “With its mild climate, the Bernese Oberland is a good place for the IFAJ congress,” Hans said. “During the whole time of the main congress we will stay overnight in our hotels in Thun and make day trips to farms, factories and mountains”.

You can learn more about the IFAJ 2005 Congress on their website.

Pioneer Hi-BredAgWired reports on IFAJ Congress 2005 are sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred.

IFAJ, Media

Japanese TV Crew In Illinois

Chuck Zimmerman

NCGA Japanese TVI think I’m turning Japanese. I think I’m turning Japanese. At least Leon Corzine might have been singing that.

NCGA President Leon Corzine gives a farmer’s perspective on the benefits of biotechnology for a Japanese TV series on biotechnology. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the U.S. Grains Council hosted the film crew’s visit to Illinois, where they met with Corzine to find out how biotechnology is being used successfully to grow abundant and safe corn to meet the needs of both domestic and export markets.

Ag Groups

Jeri Omernik ARC Interview

Chuck Zimmerman

Agricultural Relations Council Summer MeetingIt’s getting closer to time for the Agricultural Relations Council summer meeting. Are you an ag public relations professional? Are you a member? Want to know more about it?

Then listen to my interview with ARC president Jeri Omernik. Jeri talks about the mission of ARC and how it’s evolving and the program at our (I’m a member) annual meeting just prior to the Agricultural Media Summit.

You can listen to my interview with Jeri here Download MP3 File (MP3 file – 7.5MB)

ARC, Audio

USB & ASA Create USSEC

Chuck Zimmerman

United Soybean BoardAnother ag organization. You’ve got your USB, your ASA and now you’ve got your USSEC! Not much information sent out about this yet. I’m betting we’ll hear more. Wonder what agency they’ll work with. Anyone know?

Soybean Checkoff Farmer-Leaders Witness Historic Signing of New International Marketing Entity

ST. PAUL, Minn. (July 18, 2005) – Soybean checkoff farmer-leaders witnessed a monumental occasion at the recent United Soybean Board (USB) meeting. Leaders of USB and the American Soybean Association (ASA) signed a contract establishing the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

USSEC co-chairmen Mark Pietz, USB vice chair of International Marketing and a soybean farmer from Lakefield, Minn., and Neal Bredehoeft, ASA Chairman and a soybean farmer from Alma, Mo., signed the contract for USSEC, which will become the international marketing implementation arm of the soybean checkoff. USSEC will establish a unified and coordinated international marketing program to build demand and brand for U.S. soybeans and products.

For more information contact Chris Toebben.

Ag Groups, Soybean, USB

MBIC Report With Alane Lidolph

Chuck Zimmerman

MBIC ReportThe Missouri Beef Industry Council has a new director of consumer information. Her name is Alane Lidolph. She just started last week and is interviewed in this week’s MBIC Report.

Alane LidolphYou can listen to our interview with Alane here Download MP3 File

The MBIC Report is a weekly AgWired podcast. You can subscribe using the link in our sidebar.

Ag Groups, Audio, Podcasts

Valmont Holds Audio Conference Online

Chuck Zimmerman

ValmontValmont held an online audio conference today to discuss the company’s second quarter performance among other things. You can listen to the conference since it was recorded by going here.

Although the overall corporate business is up, the irrigation unit is their main agricultural market and the picture wasn’t too rosy, although the company remains positive for the future.

In the Irrigation Segment, second quarter sales were $65.4 million, a 25% decrease from last year’s record second quarter results. Operating income for the segment declined 37% to $7.5 million due to lower volumes and reduced factory utilization. Cost cutting measures were taken during the quarter. In North America, demand fell substantially due to lower crop prices and inflation in energy and fertilizer costs for growers. Many farmers use large amounts of diesel fuel and prices have risen to record high levels. Certain crop fertilizers are produced as a by-product in the production of natural gas, where prices are also fluctuating in tandem with crude oil. In international markets, sales levels increased in the smaller markets while declining in major international markets largely due to lower world crop prices and increased energy costs. Valmont believes the long-term economic and water saving benefits of mechanized irrigation continue to be compelling.

For more information contact Jeff Laudin +1-402-963-1158.

Agribusiness, Audio

World Ag Expo Chairman Back In Business

Chuck Zimmerman

World Ag ExpoI guess he had some serious health issues but he’s over them now and he must be in good shape for the schedule he’s outlined.

’06 World Ag Expo chairman Erin Ferguson: “Helping is my business!”

TULARE, CA: 2006 World Ag Expo chairman, Erin Ferguson, wore a big grin as he talked about his connection with World Ag Expo, both past and future.

Erin FergusonWith last year’s physical concerns behind him and his health restored, Ferguson says he’s looking forward to working with the show’s exhibitors, visiting as many as possible in person, in addition to attending several trade shows including the National Farm Show in Louisville. Visits have already included the Gehl Corporation and Case IH.

“One of our goals this year is to call every past exhibitor whom we have not heard from yet about the ‘06 show,” Ferguson said. “So far we’ve been very successful in reaching out. We want to help them have the best show possible. Helping exhibitors is my business!”

For more informatin contact Doreen Nagle.

Farm Shows

Monsanto’s YGPL Root Reports Hit The Airwaves

Chuck Zimmerman

MonsantoThis isn’t the first year they’ve done it but they’re doing it a little differently this year. That is they’re using ZimmComm to pre-record interviews with growers and technical representatives for a series of radio reports. They’re Osborn & Barr for their client, Monsanto, and the reports are about YieldGard Plus with a focus on corn plant root conditions.

This is kind of an adaptation of our Talking News Releases. We interview the grower and edit the sound bites. I upload them to our server. Then I create a document that contains the questions, followed by a hyperlink to those mp3 sound files on our server. The broadcaster is emailed the document. Then they can download the audio files and he/she’s got a ready made “live” interview to walk into the studio and record!

I’m sure these are tied into a paid advertising schedule. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. The broadcaster has the flexibility to work with the material we provide to suit their format. They can edit the sound bites further if they need to for example.

Here’s a couple examples of what I’m talking about. Without posting a full document (there’s lots of them from multiple states) the broadcaster will get something like this:

What is the outlook for corn rootworm pressure this year, and why is it important for growers to conduct root digs to assess root damage? Audio monsanto-obermeyer-rootdig-cut1

That’s with Dr. John Obermeyer, an entomologist with Perdue University.

Another example would be:

How does your YieldGard Plus corn look at mid-season, and what are your expectations of how it will yield at harvest?
Audio monsanto-russell-cut6

That’s Joe Russell, a grower from Muncie, Indiana. Each interview and document has multiple Q&A which the broadcaster then turns into a “local” report for their listeners.

So you see, there’s lots of creative ways you can work with ZimmComm! Let us be your audio experts and we can help you prepare and distribute information to broadcasters more efficiently and easily for you and them.

Agencies, Agribusiness, Audio

Time To Ride The Katy

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck on the Katy TrailEvery once in a while you just have to take a break from the computer and “get on your bikes and ride.”

So, I head to the Katy Trail with my Schwinn. I had to play with my gadgets while riding too. My new phone (Treo 650) actually takes pretty good pictures.

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