New U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns speaking to corn and soybean growers in Austin, TX at the Commodity Classic. I should have audio from his press conference later. Right now I’ve got to work on a Talking News Release for John Deere that needs to go out to reporters still this morning. 
Opening General Session Photo
Here’s a shot of Leon Corzine making his opening comments at the General Session of Commodity Classic. I wrote about this earlier.
In The General Session
I’m in the opening general session here at Commodity Classic. Leon Corzine, President, NCGA, is speaking about re-energizing rural America and how important farmers are to that growth.
Next up is Neal Bredehoeft, President, ASA. Neal is now talking about accomplishments of the soybean industry and the Asian Soybean Rust problem facing growers this coming season.
Coming up soon is our new Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns. I’ll record his statement at his press conference later and provide a link to it by lunchtime.
This morning things kind of got started out with a press conference by Monsanto. They were there to talk about some new research that has found that a corn rootworm variant now has somehow adapted and learned that it can lay eggs in soybean plants since the field will be planted in corn the next year. So it kind of lies in wait. Pretty scary huh?
Next press conference was with John Deere who was presenting information from some research they did in South America about the most effective way to spray fungicide on soybean plants to treat Soybean rust.
As I’ve been typing Secretary Johanns was just introduced. He’s telling Nebraska jokes now and talking about his first political campaign.
Time to head back to the newsroom. If you want to know what Johanns comments are today come back later to listen to his press conference.
Lots Of Good Looking Booths
Another company that incorporates Talking News Releases into their communications strategy is BASF through their agency, Brighton Agency. In this picture the Commodity Classic trade show was just kicking off on Thursday afternoon.
In the BASF booth they have an outdoor scene complete with the sounds of crickets and birds. The audio changes throughout the day to match what you’d normally hear outside.
Commodity Classic Trade Show Kicks Off
Monsanto has been one of our biggest supporters and first Talking News Release clients. Through their agency, Osborn & Barr Communications, we’ve sent out numerous product-related news releases with audio. They have the first press conference on Friday morning bright and early at 7am. I’ll be there to record the announcements and bring it to you here on Agrimarketing Pros.
NCGA CEO Talks About Putting On Commodity Classic
You can listen to my interview with Rick Tolman, CEO, NCGA here: Commodity Classic 1.
Rick talks about the jointly run annual meeting of ASA and NCGA. He says that they’ve actually formed a separate corporation with farmer board members from each organization to run this meeting and there is a separate full time staff that works on it all year long. The interview is less than 5 minutes.
First Press Conference Completed
At the first press conference Leon Corzine, President, NCGA, made a speech to a large gathering of media.
Commodity Classic Newsroom – We Need More Internet Access Points
Here’s some working journalists at the Commodity Classic. This is the very small area set up with internet access. There’s actually a line waiting to get connected. Thanks to Jeff Nalley, pictured in the back, interviewing Rick Tolman, CEO, NCGA, we have a multiple access switch which allows more reporters to get connected to the interne! To the right is Sara Wyant, Agripulse, working on a newsletter.
In The Commodity Classic Newsroom
Hi from Austin.
I made it and am in the convention center newsroom. Sitting here among a bunch of reporters like Jeff Nalley, from Kentucky (Cromwell Ag Media) and Michelle Rook from South Dakota(WNAX), Sara Wyant from Illinois, (Agripulse) and others.
C5 internet connection jacks are at a premium here. Commodity Classic needs to double the connections or arrange for wi-fi for the press!
I’m hoping to interview leaders from NCGA and ASA and post those for you to listen to in a few minutes.
Later this afternon the trade show opens to the media only and I’ve got interviews scheduled with John Deere for a Talking News Release project tomorrow! I’ll post it here as well as sending out to the reporters in the areas they want me to.
Posting From The Plane In Dallas
On my way to Austin. I had to get one of those connection cards for my notebook. It’s not broadband speed but I’m connected.
I can’t believe how many Blackberry’s I’ve seen this morning on the plane and airports. They must be doing good. People are walking around talking and typing. It’s almost weird to see this many.
Maybe they’re posting to their blogs as they walk!
You never know.
I’ve already been able to chat with some of the communications folks from Monsanto on the way down. There should be between 3 to 4,000 attending Commodity Classic this week.
More to come.