ZimmCast

Once again ZimmComm worked with ARA to produce a virtual ag newsroom via our AgNewsWire service and you can find it on AgNewsWire.com.

So, in this week’s program I want to share a couple of interviews I hope you’ll enjoy. The first one is with Melisa Augusto, ARA’s Director of Communications and Marketing.

One of the key sponsors of the ARA conference and expo is FMC. The company sponsored the charging station for all our mobile devices with a place to sit down and relax. I met several FMC representatives which included Christina Coen, FMC’s North America Marketing Director. We talked about what she is doing and a major marketing project she oversees.

This week’s program is dedicated to discussions with the leadership of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. NAFB just held its 75th annual convention in Kansas City. Cindy and I attended and obtained some great content which you’ll find in our virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire.com as well as story posts on AgWired.

First up in the program is the just past-president of NAFB, Tom Cassidy, Ag Radio Network.

The next person I talked with about NAFB is Tom Brand, NAFB Executive Director. Tom worked with me once upon a time a long time ago in Jefferson City, Missouri with the Brownfield Network.

The new NAFB President-Elect is Rita Frazier, RFD Radio Network. One of her jobs this next year is working with the staff to coordinate the 2019 convention. She is very open to ideas and suggestions.

Finally in this week’s program let me introduce you to the new NAFB President, Lorrie Boyer, KSIR and Northeast Colorado Broadcasting.

So there you have it. An NAFB ZimmCast with old and new leadership. From what I heard I think it’s safe to say farm broadcasting will continue to provide a valuable service even as technology continues to change.

In this week's program I share a conversation with farm broadcasting legend Everett Griner who just announced his retirement after 70 years in the broadcast business! Ev was also a mentor for me and Gary Cooper when I worked with him many years ago. Ev continued working for Gary and Southeast AgNet until this week.

Next in the program I have an interview with Kelly Davis, Renewable Fuels Association, about their co-partnership with the Export Exchange conference that brings together international grain buyers with U.S. grain trade representatives. In RFA's case, they value the promotion of an ethanol production co-product called DDGs.

Finally, I have an interview conducted by Jamie Johansen, Honey Creek Media, with Pat Crowley, Alltech who talks about mycotoxin myths.

In this week's program you'll get to hear from these FMC representatives who did presentations in the field for agricultural retailers.

Ryan Osborn, Southeast Region Business Manager, FMC
David Wheeler, Technical Service Manager, FMC
Matthew Wiggins, Technical Services Manager, FMC
Craig Heim, Senior Technical Service Manager, FMC
Jake Franklin, FMC Research Station Manger
Del Brandenberg Retail Marketing Manager, FMC

FMC has acquired a number of products to round out their portfolio of tools for customers, including some that will be available in the near future.

In this week’s program we’ll hear several John Deere representatives talk about the company’s newest forage harvester, the self-propelled 9,000 Series. I spoke to these folks on the morning the product was launched at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Each of the guys I talked with provide a different perspective which I thought would be interesting.

First up is: John Thomassen, Global Director – Hay & Forage Harvest.

Next I spoke with: Dan Paschke, Director of Marketing – Hay & Forage.

Next in the program is:Jarrod McGinnis, Dairy & Livestock Production System Manager.

Finally in this week’s program I visit with: Matt Hatcher, Territory Sales Manager.

You can find more about the new John Deere 9000 Series Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters on AgWired.com. Just click on the John Deere category and you’ll see some other interviews I’ve already published from the product launch.

BASF is in high cotton since the acquisition of Stoneville and Fiber Max as a result of the Bayer-Monsanto deal, as well as soybean varieties such as Credenz and Liberty Link. This is a new field for BASF but along with the brands came many specialists from Bayer who know the products well.

Over the past month, Chuck has been to several field days and events spotlighting the BASF cotton and soybean brands so we are featuring some of the interviews he has done in this ZimmCast.

The person who has been in charge of these events is Rachel Walters, Cottonseed Marketing Manager for BASF.

The first field day he attended was in Louisiana, where he talked with Jerry Ford, regional seed lead for the South Delta region.

At that same field day, regional agronomist Kyle Fontenot (fon-ten-no) talked about some of the hot cotton and soybean varieties BASF is excited about.  

The annual Celebrate Cotton Texas Tech football game, which has been an annual event for years to spotlight FiberMax and Stoneville cotton, helped to introduce the new owners of the brands to a larger audience. Monty Christian, Head of Global Cottonseed for BASF, was previously with Bayer and has always looked forward to the celebrate cotton event.

During a field day in Marion Arkansas, BASF regional seed lead Lance Rochelle talked about their commitment to the cotton industry.

BASF just held a big field day in Lubbock Texas with hundreds of growers and retailers. US Agronomic Services Manager Steve Nichols talks about the experience of the agronomic team that BASF has in place for their new portfolio.

In addition to talking with cotton farmers and retailers, the company is also getting acquainted with buyers who are looking for sustainability in the cotton they source for clothing. Chuck talked with Malin Westfall, U.S. Cotton Lead for BASF, during a field day in Lubbock Texas about the E3 initiative that came with the Bayer cotton business.

This week's program features interviews with Melanie Rice, Brownfield Ag News, who is the Chair of the NAMA Fall Conference committee; Jerry Gennaria, Brighton Agency, recipient of the PDA for Excellence in Marketing Communications; John Robinson, NCBA, recipient of the PDA for Excellence in Public Relations and Laurie Fleck, newly appointed President/CEO of FLM Harvest.