4-H Club Wins World Ag Expo’s Video Contest

Jamie Johansen

Ashly Anderson submitted a video on behalf of the Desert Sandblasters 4-H Club and won the World Ag Expo’s “Feeding Tomorrow’s World” video contest. Members of the club from Indio, CA showed different careers they might pursue as adults and how they related back to the agriculture industry.

Entries were evaluated by a panel of judges and the top videos were posted on World Ag Expo’s website, where the public voted for their favorites.

“We’re really pleased with the entries we received this year,” said Jerry Sinift, CEO of the International Agri-Center. “It was great to see video submissions from around the world that show the importance of agriculture.”

The Desert Sandblasters 4-H Club will be recognized at World Ag Expo’s Media Day on February 10th where they will be presented with a $3,000 check.

Ag Groups, Video

Predicting Social Media Trends

Chuck Zimmerman

Social Media Predictions for 2014Q: Hey Chuck, what’s the next big thing? A: I dunno.

But what I do know is that there’s no stopping social media and its impact on agricultural marketing. For that reason I strive to learn about and try everything I can. Hence the ZimmGlass Project.

I don’t really make predictions because things can change so suddenly. However, there are lots of early predictions like these below from Chris Apaliski, Magic Logix. Click on that link to see more about each prediction.

  • Expect to see a spike in native social media ads
  • More employees will be active on social media for their company
  • Video oriented media will continue to grow and be relevant
  • Micro video apps like Vine are poised to break out
  • Companies will face more pressure to pay to sponsor ads
  • Expect a rise in using brand advocates to appeal to a user base
  • More articles and discussion will take place regarding Google Glass as the future of technology, but we’re still years off from it being viable and relevant

    • See more at: http://www.magiclogix.com/blog/infographic-7-social-media-predictions-for-2014/#sthash.270DE5Gd.dpuf

What really caught my eye was the last prediction since it was about Google Glass. It is already coming true in part. I would probably add a note to it though. Glass is a technology that has direct benefits in business applications that don’t need a universal customer base to be successful. In the agricultural world think crop scouting, equipment repair in field and many more applications. However, this is considered by every individual I’ve spoken with to be “cool” technology. When it goes on sale to the general public I’ve got a gut feeling you’re going to see some pretty fast adoption. What do you think?

Social Media, Social Networking

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Roberts

Cindy Zimmerman

New on Agri-Pulse this week:

open-micAs the U.S. Senate prepares to approve a new farm bill this week, supporters and critics are still weighing in on key provisions in the 949-page package. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, understands the difficult dynamics involved with gaining approval of complex food and farm legislation, having served as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in 1996 when “Freedom to Farm” was adopted and as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee when deliberations first started on the present bill in 2011. Even though he is pleased with changes made to enhance crop insurance, Roberts explains why he continues to have long-standing concerns about the commodity title and is likely to vote against the Agricultural Act of 2014 this week.

Listen to the Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview with Sen. Pat Roberts here.

Agri-Pulse

Texas Cattle in Super Bowl Ad

Cindy Zimmerman

There was a lot of social media buzz surrounding the 2014 Super Bowl commercial for Chevy Silverado featuring a Hereford bull on the make for some sexy ladies. Texas A&M University reports the cattle in the ad belonged to one of their board regents.

Regent Jim Schwertner’s ranch was the set for Chevrolet’s “Romance” commercial, which is slated to be aired tonight during the Super Bowl. The commercial can be seen ahead of game time on YouTube.

The plot centers around a cowboy who hauls a Hereford bull in a trailer using his Chevy Silverado. The background music — Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” — plays while the cowboy makes his way back to the ranch where several cows are waiting for the new stud.

Watch the commercial here:

Advertising, Livestock, Video

Novus Sponsors Poultry Science Student Lunch

Cindy Zimmerman

ippe-14-novus-bereshKeeping with the Novus International dedication to supporting scientific careers, the company this year sponsored the Poultry Scientific Forum student luncheon this year as part of the activities at the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta.

Bob Buresh, North American Technical Services Manager, says the founding societies sponsoring the student events at the forum set up the luncheon a few years ago and this year Novus came in as a sponsor. “We had 60-65 undergraduate and graduate students participating this year,” Bob said. “We have a strong commitment to developing the next generation of nutritionists, physiologists, geneticists, and sales people.”

Novus also provided a couple of door prizes for a couple of lucky students – nice little Vivitar digital video recorders – in addition to Novus flash drives for everyone, something that is always useful to a college student.

Listen to my interview with Bob here: Interview with Bob Buresh, Novus International


International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Sponsored by Novus International Inc

Animal Health, Audio, Education, IPPE, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) announced the launch of GreenDecoys.com, a website devoted to exposing radical environmentalists camouflaged under outdoor-sounding names whose real objective is to serve the interests of their wealthy backers.
  • The Aurora Cooperative, a leading grain marketer and agricultural supplier based in Nebraska and serving America’s farmers in multiple states, announced finalization of its Aurora Agronomy expansion in Colorado with the acquisition of Tri County Ag, located in Wray and Paoli, CO.
  • Registration is now open for the 2014 New England Meat Conference happening March 7-8 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, New Hampshire.
  • Three long-time members of the agriculture community and one media organization were honored for their contributions to the sheep industry during the American Sheep Industry Association/National Lamb Feeders Association Convention, held Jan. 22-25 in Charleston, S.C.
Zimfo Bytes

Novus Endowed Poultry Professorship

Cindy Zimmerman

ippe-14-novus-profIn 2003, Novus International inaugurated a new Endowed Professorship in Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas and the first recipient was poultry nutrition professor Park Waldroup.

Last week at the International Production and Processing Expo, Novus honored professor Waldroup for his work and endowed a new professor with the honor – Dr. Casey Owens, who specializes in Poultry Processing and Products. Both are pictured here with Novus chief innovation officer Chris Knight and president Thad Simons. (left to right: Knight, Owens, Simons, Waldroup)

Park says the professorship allowed him to supplement his research program and support graduate students in poultry science. “Over the course of the years I was able to put three graduate students through for their PhD and they all have entered the poultry industry,” he said. “I’m a poultry nutritionist and have worked over the years on just about every aspect of poultry nutrition, focusing on amino acid requirements, energy requirements, you name it.” Interview with University of Arkansas Professor Park Waldroup

This is just one of many ways that Novus supports education and research in the field of animal health. Novus focuses on Solutions, Service and Sustainability for the industry, and Thad notes that people are an important part of sustainability. “The Novus vision is helping to feed the world wholesome and affordable food and improve the quality of life,” said Thad, noting that Novus expands that vision by encouraging young people to pursue scientific and agricultural careers in a variety of ways, from endowments to student support to internships, both in the United States and developing countries. Interview with Novus International CEO Thad Simons


International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Sponsored by Novus International Inc

Animal Health, Audio, Education, IPPE, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Meet New ZimmComm Intern

Jamie Johansen

Kristin-Liska-HeadshotOur internship program has been a huge success. Not only have the young college students who have taken advantage of the opportunity gained skills in all aspects of the ag media industry, but have also added so much to our team.

The ZimmComm Team is proud to announce our spring intern. Join us in welcoming Kristin Liska from Nebraska. She is a senior at Iowa State, but is proud to say she is still a Husker fan. This May she will be wrapping up her degree in animal science and journalism. Kristin has had a busy college career with her involvement in numerous clubs, including Block and Bridle and Bacon Expo. Twitter seems to be her number one hobby, along with reading and taking pictures. Be sure and follow her on Twitter at @KristinLiska1.

The ZimmComm Team have a full schedule of events this spring and you will have the opportunity to meet Kristin at Commodity Classic and NAMA Convention. So, don’t be shy when she comes up to you with a mic in hand.

Ag Groups, Education, ZimmComm Announcement

Climate Corp Adopts Data Privacy Standards

Cindy Zimmerman

The Climate CorporationThe Climate Corporation today announced principles and commitments related to data use and privacy published on-line in a Guiding Principles on Data and Privacy statement.

climate-corp-friedberg“The application of data science in agriculture is relatively new, and with the development of new technologies comes some level of uncertainty about its potential implications. In our experience, farmers are more likely to embrace new technologies that will drive the evolution of agricultural production when they have certainty about the use, privacy and control of the data they personally generate on their own farms,” said David Friedberg, CEO of The Climate Corporation.

The Climate Corporation, which was acquired by Monsanto in October 2013, also announced the formation of an Open Agriculture Data Alliance (OADA). The alliance will be comprised of “providers and farmers to act as an independent body that will ensure that different platforms share common interoperability, common data formats, and security and privacy standards.”

Climate Corporation held a call with reporters on Friday to talk about the announcement: Climate Corporation media call

Since privacy of agricultural data is becoming a big concern for farmers and ranchers, the American Farm Bureau Federation adopted specific policies this year on that issue. AFBF president Bob Stallman issued a statement on the Climate Corporation announcement saying they are “encouraged that agribusinesses are taking our clear policy position into consideration” noting that “the company is working to address some of the concerns about data privacy, security and ownership expressed by our members.”

AFBF, Audio, Precision Agriculture

Why One Democrat Voted for Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

More Democrats than Republicans voted against the conference committee farm bill this week in the U.S. House, mostly because of the nutrition program reforms, but 89 did vote in favor despite that and one was Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), former mayor of Kansas City.

cong-cleaver-2In an interview today, Rep. Cleaver said it’s not a perfect bill, but it’s the best bill they could get. “I’ve been pushing compromise since I went to Congress ten years ago and this was an opportunity for me to practice what I preach,” said Cleaver, who is a United Methodist pastor by profession.

Rep. Cleaver, who has both rural and urban interests in his district, says he was heavily lobbied by Democratic groups, including the Progressive Caucus, to vote against the bill. “Because I represent almost four rural counties where I have a large number of farms and where I operate with a farmers’ advisory committee, I believed that in spite of some of the deficiencies, this was the best chance we had of getting a sound farm bill,” he said. “After all, it’s been two years trying to get a bill approved.”

Cleaver is hopeful Congress will make progress this year in other legislation important to agriculture, such as transportation and immigration. Interview with Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)

Audio, Farm Bill