In this week’s MBIC Report Cindy Zimmerman interviews Dawn Thurnau about grilling beef this season. Of course with the weather the way it is you could say the season is upon us!
You can listen to the report here: MBIC Report
The most recent MBIC Report is always available in our “Audio Programming” sidebar. It’s set up as a podcast too, so you can subscribe to it. For more information on how, look at our FAQ’s page.
We certainly like hearing about companies that support our youth, especially for college. Maybe that’s because I’ve got 2 of my own at that age. It certainly isn’t getting any less expensive. A local newspaper editorial cartoon today showed a graduate getting their diploma while the parent behind them was handed a bill. I didn’t think it was funny. At least Garst is helping out!
Garst Seed Company Donates $12,000 to FFA’s Collegiate Scholarship Program
Company Continues Its Tradition of Investing in Youth Involved in FFA
SLATER, Iowa, May 18, 2005 — Garst Seed Company continues its tradition of investing in youth involved in FFA with its recent donation of $12,000 to the organization’s 2005 National Collegiate Scholarship Program. Twelve students each received a $1,000 scholarship funded by Garst. This is the second year the company has participated in the program.
“Garst realizes the importance of investing in young people’s futures and we’re proud to help these students achieve their dreams of pursuing a career in agriculture or an ag-related field. The scholarships are just one way Garst gives back to the ag industry and our customers,” says Steve Klein, director of marketing.
For more information contact Lori Thomas or Linda Leydens.
I know I just posted an article about Brownfield Network and here’s another one already but I think this is cool! I’ve been waiting for someone in the farm broadcasting community to “get it” when it comes to podcasting. I actually discovered this after making my last post. Hey Lane, mention your podcasts in your releases! It is something to brag about because the ag world is just starting to wake up to the new realities and you’re on the cutting edge.
You can subscribe to several programs that Brownfield’s podcasting here: Brownfield Podcast Page
The programs you can subscribe to are:
Hoofbeat
Managing for Profit
Rural Issues Forum
American Countryside
Derry Brownfield Report
Hoofbeat, a Brownfield Network program will be heard once again. Lane McConnell just sent me the latest from one of my former homes.
Brownfield Re-launches Hoofbeat
Jefferson City , Mo. May 17, 2005– Brownfield has re-launched the Hoofbeat program in an effort to better serve the equine industry and our web readers. The revised program retains some of the original format, but with a few new added features on the air as well as our special Hoofbeat webpage. This equine-specific program has broad audience appeal, explains Brownfield Farm Director Cyndi Young.
“We introduced Hoofbeat to Brownfield radio listeners 2 ½ years ago. Josh St. Peters has picked up the pace of the program, keeping the listener engaged and informed with more of a news format,” said Young. “We continue to serve the needs of the traditional farmer-listener, but appreciate the needs of our growing non-traditional listening audience as well.”
Hoofbeat focuses on equine health, news and event coverage, every Saturday (check for an affiliate near you) by Brownfield farm broadcaster Josh St.Peters. To serve our web users a Hoofbeat blog has been established on the Brownfield website. Each day St.Peters posts equine news and horse humor to the blog.
For more information contact Lane McConnell or Cyndi Young.
I just got this announcement from Dupont.
DuPont Professional Products Names Brenda Franke
as Marketing Manager
WILMINGTON, Del., May 19, 2005 – DuPont Professional Products today announced that Brenda Franke has been named to the position of marketing manager.
Franke joins the Professional Products team to lead marketing efforts across the pest management, lawn care and golf industries. She brings over a decade of experience in sales, marketing and management across both the agricultural and specialty chemical markets. Franke’s responsibilities will include strategic positioning and new product launches.
“Brenda is a great addition to our team,” said Mike McDermott, global business leader, DuPont Professional Products, “and she will play a critical role as we introduce new products and innovation to our customers.”
For more information contact Curtis Orrben or Erin Kretzschmar.
I couldn’t attend the World Agricultural Forum this week but Sara Wyant did. She was kind enough to email me the following update from the event.
World Agricultural Forum warns of water woes
Start looking for ways to use water more efficiently or risk food shortages and political instability. That was one of several messages delivered by global leaders during the World Agricultural Forum (WAF) in St. Louis this week as they addressed farm subsidies, rural poverty, renewable energy, rural development and a host of other topics. “No issue will test the mettle of leaders more than accommodating and feeding an extra 2.6 billion people by 2050 and responding to the very challenging policy implications of aging and declining populations in the developed world,” noted Jim Bolger, the former New Zealand prime minister who chairs the WAF.
The call for a renewed focus on water comes amid increasing concern about a link between water shortages, agricultural productivity and threats to global food security. The WAF is concerned about the effect that depletion of water tables, “desertification” and overuse of water for non-agricultural purposes in developing countries is having on the world’s ability to feed rapidly growing populations. “Agriculture is by far the largest consumer of water and [we] will be expected to make quite radical changes in the use of that water because there is simply not enough to go around,” added Bolger. He cited United Nations estimates showing that by 2025; about two-thirds of the world would be living in areas of the world with “water deficits.”
Wyant covered the event for Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. For a free trial subscription, email Sara at: APFreetrial@aol.com
Team Ethanol is at it again. At the end of next week the EPIC is hosting the media at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway to see the ethanol car in action. Yours truly is planning on being there, blogging it to you!
The event is to let the world know that performance can be earth-friendly at 220 mph. Do you think they’ll let me behind the wheel? Keep an eye on AgriMarketing Pros for more on this event next week.
I told you we were having a new design done! The transition is taking place and should be completed within a few days. I’ll tell you more about it when complete and we announce it.
Feel free to let us know what you think during the meantime. It won’t stop the blog machine from cranking out material. That’ll happen when they pry my cold dead fingers off my Logitech keyboard!
Hope you like where we’re going because our course has been steered by the comments, feedback and support of so many of you.
I’m a fan of RSS as a web content distribution mechanism and know there’s a lot of interest in using it for things like company newsletters. Imagine how much money you could save if you didn’t print and mail a newsletter and your reader just subscribed to it from an RSS feed (.xml file) on your website? Since RSS doesn’t go through email your reader doesn’t have to be worried about getting spam or infected by a virus.
Although it’s a little dated a great article explaining RSS can be found at PC World.
I’ve been asked several times lately about how to use RSS for a paid subscription publication (e-newsletter). I’m still looking into this and don’t have an answer. Does anyone reading know? Is there a way to create an RSS feed that is password protected?
Last month we asked farm radio reporters to send us feedback about our Talking News Release service. We told them that if they emailed us with their thoughts they’d be entered into a contest to win a digital audio player (Ipod Shuffle). Today we are happy to announce the winner. She’s Leah Guffey, ag director for WFMB-FM in Springfield, IL.
Leah was very kind with her remarks:
Chuck and Cindy,
Congratulations for making it with a new business venture! I appreciate getting the “Talking News Releases” from you.
Much continued success,
leah
Thank you Leah. Ironically, Leah’s station is running a contest for listeners who can win an Ipod Shuffle. She says the staff was just talking about how they’re ineligible to win one and she got our email letting her know she won one in our drawing!
I’m going to write a series of articles about news releases and how reporters use them in coming days which will feature the feedback we’ve received from people like Leah. Stay tuned!
