ZimmComm – New Media, LLC

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

The ZimmComm offices will closing early today to get packed for the big re-location next week. However, Chuck and Cindy are available by phone and will be checking all message sources. Please pardon our dust the next seven days. If you would like to update our contact information the following will be official starting May 19:

Address: 1507 Templemore Dr., Cantonment, FL 32533 Phone/fax: 850-780-6617. All other contact information, including email and mobile phones, remains the same.

The agricultural communications community lost a good one this week with the passing of Stewart Doan, Agri-Pulse. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Agri-Pulse team. Stewart has helped us out more than once when we needed an interview or some audio that we couldn’t obtain ourselves. He’s been a friend for many years and will be greatly missed.

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should raw milk be allowed for sale?” The question was prompted by one of the panelists at the 2012 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit. She is a reporter with a food safety publication who says that this issue is the one that gets the most comments and response of any other. This question generated the most comments of any ZimmPoll to date so we understand what she was saying. Actually, most comments wanted a 4th response option to allow the sale of raw milk but with sufficient regulation and testing to ensure it is safe. We saw the comments too late to make that change so don’t know if these results would have been different. So the answer, Absolutely with no regulation received 66%; On a very limited and regulated basis received 20% and Definitely not, too many health concerns received 14%. Surprised? We’re thinking that we not only have a lot of raw milk lovers in the ZimmComm News Network community but they are very active at getting others to vote! This poll also had one of the highest number of responses we’ve had so far. Why do you think that is?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “When was the last time you talked to a journalist about agriculture?” The question is inspired by this week’s AgChat Twitter conversation and a question that had been submitted by @BASFAgro! We’re supposed to stand up for our industry and livelihoods that are threatened by lots of misinformation that gets spread by the media. What are we doing about it? How are we speaking out? Are we willing to develop a relationship with the reporters at our local mainstream media outlets (newspaper/radio/tv/web)? More questions we know but there is a lot we can all do to help educate the ultimate consumers of the products we produce. Keep it up. It does make a difference!

Let your friends and neighbors know they can participate by sharing this link.

Here are some interviews you might have missed this week:

• Scott Bross, GROWMARK, Manager of Network Services, talks about the growing IT as the cooperative grows
• Kay Johnson Smith, Animal Agriculture Alliance, sums up a record Stakeholders Summit

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

Chuck attended this week’s Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit where the organization celebrated 25 years. You can find his coverage on AgWired and photos here. Thanks to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the United Soybean Board for making his coverage possible.

Over the next two weeks the ZimmComm team will be very busy but not like you might first guess. It’s ZimmComm World Headquarters relocation time! Yes, we’re moving. From central Missouri to Florida! Chuck and Cindy are from the Sunshine State and although they love the Show Me State the time is right. So, over the next couple weeks the team will be packing and moving. You may not even notice but maybe you will. And by the way, this doesn’t mean any changes to ZimmComm New Media as you know it. We’ll just be closer to the beach and to an airport!

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “With all of the discussion on projected corn acres this year, how many acres of corn do you expect to plant this year?” A full third of respondents said More than 2,000 acres. That was followed by less than 200 acres at 27%; 200-500 acres at 23%; 1,501-2,000 at 7%; 1,001-1,500 at 7% and 501-1,000 at 3%. Looks like we have a wide cross section of corn growers in the ZimmComm News Network community!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Should raw milk be allowed for sale?” This week’s question is prompted by one of the panelists at the 2012 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit. She is a reporter with a food safety publication who says that this issue is the one that gets the most comments and response of any other. Seems people get pretty passionate about their beliefs when it comes to milk. Raw milk is still the suspect in an E. Coli breakout with 14 confirmed cases in central Missouri that put a couple of people in the hospital. What do you think?

Here are some interviews you might have missed this week:

• Mike Cornman, New Holland Marketing Manager for Hay/Forage talks MegaCutter
• Tom Steever, Brownfield, President of NAFB, talks about how farm broadcasters help tell farmers story
• Shelly Kramer, V3 Integrated Marketing, talks blogging
• College Aggies Online Scholarship Winners
• Janie Gabbett, MeatingPlace.com, talks about ag’s voice in the media

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

The 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference was fantastic and the highest attended since in a decade. If you missed it you really ought to check out our photos and coverage to see what you missed. You might especially enjoy the Brownfield Red Solo Cup Dancers, for example. It was a great time seeing so many of our friends and clients. We hope to see you at next year’s conference which will be in Kansas City again before moving to Jacksonville, FL in 2014.

Cindy just returned from a New Holland media event at the company North American headquarters in PA. She took a lot of great photos and will be posting stories during the next week. We really appreciate our long standing relationship with New Holland and all their support!

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Would you be willing to donate the proceeds from one acre of your farm to help your local food bank?” Apparently we have some very generous farmers out there since 61% said Yes and 39% said No. Of course they may be many areas that don’t even have a local food bank too. We don’t know. But we sure appreciate everyone who participated!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “With all of the discussion on projected corn acres this year, how many acres of corn do you expect to plant this year?” So how about it corn growers? We wonder how many will grow corn for the first time this year too. Should be interesting. Let your corn growing friends and neighbors to know we’d like to know what they plan and remember this is an anonymous poll! Use this link to share.

Here are some interviews from this week you might have missed:

• John Becherer, USB, remarks upon receiving NAMA Agribusiness Leader of Year Award
• Greg Guse, Paulsen Marketing, remarks upon receiving NAMA Marketer of the Year Award
• Beth Burgy, Broadhead and NAMA President, talks about NAMA
• Walter Bond, former NBA player, talks about getting bigger, stronger and faster
• Abe Hughes, VP New Holland North America, talks about company success at PA headquarters

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

Are you ready for some 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference fun? Hopefully we’ll see you at booth #412. You can see the Connection Point layout on the NAMA website. Stop and say hi to Chuck, Cindy and daughter Caitlin who will be helping us this year as well as Dave Larson, our sales manager. Please use the official conference hashtag, #NAMA12, to tweet or just follow along with what’s happening and keep your eye on AgWired too. In fact, if you don’t have the AgWired app on your smartphone, now’s a good time to get it.

We’d like to say a big Thank You to new AgWired sponsor, Monsanto. Some of you many remember that way back in the early ZimmComm days (over 8 years ago) Monsanto was one of our first clients and we can’t say how much we appreciate their support then when we were just starting out and now as this little new media company continues to “mature.” Well, maybe mature isn’t the right word. We’re still just kids at heart anyway! Thank you Monsanto!

Our latest ZimmPoll asked “Will we have a farm bill by end of 2012?” Is it any surprise to you that 77 percent of our respondents said No and that only 23 percent said Yes? The farm bill is a big deal to anyone who eats or produces food but in reality it’s only about 2% of federal funding. It touches a lot of nerves though since it directly impacts everyone.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Where are best job opportunities in agribusiness?” The outlook for ag jobs seems very positive according to an AgCareers.com analysis. Job postings were up last year. What area holds the most promise right now in your opinion? If you attend next week’s Agri-Marketing Conference you’ll run into some very qualified and motivated young folks, many of whom are looking for their ag career opportunity!

Here are some interviews from this week you might have missed:
• BASF Great Growers episode #1 with Kip Cullers
• South Central FS CEO Randy Handel

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

The ZimmComm team wants to wish you and yours a wonderful Easter holiday. We’re going to be pretty much closed down starting Good Friday but of course we’ll be peeking at the web. Of course!

We’ve been having a nice break from the agriblogging highway but things will start picking up again with the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference. Have you registered? Please stop by the ZimmComm booth, #412. We’ll have something unique for you!

It is hard to believe but AgChat is celebrating three years! The AgChat Foundation is celebrating two years and the 2012 Agvocacy 2.0 Conference is scheduled – August 23-24, Kansas City, MO.

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should ABC News be Liable for Job Losses due to Lean Beef Trimmings Story?” Sixty percent of you said Yes and forty percent said No.

As Cindy has said about this issue, “Yellow journalism makes pink slime.” Have you read various online stories about this? Maybe worse than the terrible and slanted reporting are the comments we’ve been seeing. There are really some seriously stupid people out there judging by their comments. We know that some people object to the use of the word stupid but “Stupid is as stupid does.” Thank you Sally Fields. Of course the reporting is giving them an outlet to showcase their ignorance. But the real tragedy is the impact this has had on people’s lives. This includes the ones who have lost their jobs and the consumers who will be paying more for beef.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Will we have a farm bill by end of 2012?” Hmm. Election year, budget issues, should be interesting.

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

This week Chuck and Cindy took the GROWMARK Media Tour in central Illinois and learned more about one of our key sponsors. You can find lots of photos from the event in their photo album.

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think is a fair “death tax” rate?” It is no surprise that common sense and fair thinking respondents said Zero – 66%; 35% over $5 million – 0% under (current) – 21%; Other – 8 % and 55% over $1 million – 0% under (pre 2001) – 5%. This really is one of the most unfair taxes we’ve got and in our opinion there should not be any tax on a person’s estate after death. What are your thoughts?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Should ABC News be Liable for Job Losses due to Lean Beef Trimmings Story?” This is one of the worst examples of supposed “news” reporting we’ve seen lately. It shows how a desperate for ratings news network will not just distort facts but publish erroneous information. They have no credibility. However, a gullible public has embraced their misinformation. The result? Job layoffs for people with families to feed who were making a very safe and nutritious product. That’s twisted. Do you think ABC News should be held liable? Should the media be held accountable for the financial impact inaccurate news stories have on jobs and businesses? Another likely outcome of this debacle will be higher beef prices. Nice, huh?

If for some reason you don’t know what this is all about, here’s a link to the ABC News story and here’s where you can get the truth – BeefisBeef.com.

Here are some interviews from this week you might have missed:

• GROWMARK Govt. Affairs Director, Chuck Spencer, on legislative priorities
• Sec. Vilsack & Gov. Branstad press conference on BPI’s LFTB
• GROWMARK Electronic Communications Specialist, talks about new cropNAtion app

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

The 2012 Agricultural Relations Council Annual Meeting is taking place this week in Charleston, SC and Chuck is there. Check out his photos from the meeting and he’s posting stories and interviews on AgWired!

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is “Organic” food healthier than “Conventional” food?” The majority of respondents said No at 60 percent with only 40 percent saying Yes. Most of the people we know don’t think organic means healthier and although they will eat something that is certified organic they just don’t want to pay more for it. Do these results surprise you?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What do you think is a fair “death tax” rate?” Permanent estate tax relief and reform is extremely important not only to farmers but everyone regardless of what business you own or work for. Seriously, why should the government tax your estate just because you died? Didn’t you pay taxes all your life building that estate including real estate taxes, income taxes, etc? Here’s to hoping we get some reasonable long term resolution to this issue.

Here are some interviews you might have missed this week:
• Carla Mudd, Illinois Farm Bureau, talks about communicating the Illinois farm family message
• Tom Buis, CEO, Growth Energy, talks about ethanol on the NASCAR track in 2012

You can subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

It’s time to look ahead to the 2012 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Acres of Innovation.” ZimmComm will be taking up a very small portion of that acreage with a booth in the Connection Point once again. We hope you’ll stop by. The conference is April 18-20 in Kansas City. Get yourself registered!

We are looking for the right person (or people) to become a ZimmComm producer. The right person would be very self-motivated and passionate about agriculture, as well as having most or all of the following skills (listed in order of importance):
1. Computer savvy – Mac or PC
2. Flexible work schedule for on-site assignments
3. Digital photography – composing, shooting, editing
4. Audio production – conducting interviews, editing
5. Short format writing skills
6. Social Networking experience – Blog, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
7. Video production (web style) – shooting, editing
8. WordPress experience

Please contact chuck@zimmcomm.biz for more information.

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard more important to agriculture than the farm bill?” The statement was made during a recent meeting I attended that the Renewable Fuel Standard was more important to agriculture than the Farm Bill. In a show of how important it is 38% each of respondents said Yes and Both are important. Only 24% said No. What do you think? Many people seem to think the RFS only benefits corn/soybean growers but they don’t take into account that all farmers receive benefit from lower fuel costs just like the general public.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is “Organic” food healthier than “Conventional” food?” During Tuesday’s AgChat this topic received a fair amount of discussion. Even though there is a USDA Certified Organic Program it appears that the term is not widely understood. We haven’t seen any evidence that the public in general really cares that much either and are pretty sure that most would not want to pay more for food that has to conform to the certified standards. What do you think? We’ve already received feedback asking for definitions and saying that these aren’t simple terms to ask a yes/no answer of. Sorry but that’s the way it is. We believe one of the problems with this whole issue is a lack of common definitions that are accepted by everyone. We want the poll to come from individual perceptions. Should be interesting!

Here are some interviews you might have missed this week:
• John Chism, Pioneer Hi-Bred Senior Marketing Manager talks about FIT®
• April Hemmes, Monsanto Farm Mom of the Year 2011 Midwest Region Winner
• BASF Personality Profile – Neil Bentley, Director of Marketing, U.S. Crop Business
• National Outstanding Young Farmers – Chad & Danielle Budy at National Ag Day Activities
• Dr. John Patience, Iowa State University, talks about hog feed choices at BIVI Swine Health Seminar
• vanderBroek, Bayer CropScience Global COO, on increasing productivity through innovation
• Greg Schwab, Koch Agronomic Services, on stabilized nitrogen

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

Happy National Agriculture Day. Well, officially that was March 8 this year as multiple activities took place in Washington, DC, coordinated by the Agriculture Council of America. Chuck was there again courtesy of the American Seed Trade Association. During his trip to the Nation’s Capitol, Chuck saw the ending of a USFRA Food Dialogues event and then took reception photos for Sara Wyant and Agri-Pulse. Then it was time for coffee at USDA, a lunch meet and mingle at the House building and dinner with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack back at USDA. We’d like to thank ASTA for their support and congratulate the Agriculture Council of America for putting on a great day to celebrate American agriculture and all the farmers and others who produce safe affordable food in such abundance. If you’d like to see photos from event, Chuck took lots of them. You can also find interviews and various speaker remarks on AgWired.

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is our food system broken?” Not according to you with 63% saying no and only 37% saying yes. During the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum held prior to the Commodity Classic, one of our speakers was Gawain Kripke, Oxfam America. He told us “our food system is broken.” We think the statement was made out of frustration that we produce more food than we can eat in this country and a huge amount goes to waste. Since we don’t have a system to get waste food to those who need it they seem to believe the food system is broken. It’s a provocative statement and we’d love your thoughts.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is maintaining the Renewable Fuels Standard more important to agriculture than the farm bill?” The statement was made during a recent meeting we attended that the Renewable Fuels Standard is more important to agriculture than the Farm Bill. What do you think?

Here are some interviews you might have missed this week:
• U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack remarks at National Ag Day Celebration Dinner
• High School FFA Students enjoying National Ag Day Activities
• Senator Debbie Stabenow on need to communicate with urban public
• Senator Pat Roberts on need to communicate with urban public
• Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse, talks about National Ag Day Activities
• Alan Bjerga, Bloomberg News, talks about moderating USFRA Food Dialogues

You can find the full e-Newsletter here and subscribe here.

Hello ZimmComm Fans:

The ZimmComm team says hello from Orlando, FL and the 2012 National Ethanol Conference. Chuck and Cindy have been covering the conference on Domestic Fuel this week. You can find some great photos from the event here. Next stop is the Commodity Classic in Nashville, TN this coming week.

In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “What’s the next “big” thing in ag comm/social media?” Your responses are: Smartphone/Mobile Apps at 49%; Pinterest at 17%; Farm reality tv show at 15%; Not created yet at 11%; Expanded 4G LTE at 4%; Mobile/Online games at 2% and Other at 2%. Surprised? Got any other ideas you’d like to share?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What will be planted this year?” We’re getting close to that time as National Agriculture Day is just around the corner. Let us know what you think.

Here are links to some audio and interviews you may have missed this week:
• Interview with Sec. Vilsack on outlook for ethanol industry
• Bob Dinneen, RFA President/CEO, gives State of Ethanol Industry Address
• Josh St. Peters, Pioneer, on new AcreMax products
• Thierry Mahe, New Holland Mexico, on new TS6 tractors
• Interview with Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the House on leadership/energy security

You can subscribe here.