Rural Lifestyle on Highway 6

Iowa Power Farming Show - Wrap

If you live on a farm or acreage chances are you've been to a "farm show".  Over the years I've been to many, sometimes six to eight in a season.  Here in Des Moines we just put the lid on the 55th Annual Iowa Power Farming Show and I was there all three days of the event.  A couple of observations...

It's great to be there.  It's something that many of our city cousins don't understand but seeing, touching and yes, smelling all this machinery that supports farmers and feeds the nation is exhilarating. 

The technology is amazing.  When I moved to the farm back in the 1970's from Detroit we didn't have a tractor (we were so green I wouldn't have known what to do with it) but we did have a couple of mules.  So, I can relate, in a strange way, to another era.  When you see how far agriculture has come in just a couple of generations and the high tech, high touch equipment...  Well..you get it.

Going to a farm show is stress reduction.  There isn't any hurry.  You can wander from booth to booth, visit for a bit and move on.  We're not texting we talking...and it's great to visit with new and old friends.

It's a social event.  No kidding I saw folks I've been seeing at farm shows for over twenty years, in fact this is often the only time I see them.  It's great to catch up on family stories...

But you already know all of this...ain't it great?

You can keep up with us on Twitter @RuralLifeRadio, thanks for coming by.

 

 

 

Iowa Power Farming Show in Des Moines

Hey and welcome back.  As you know our advertising agency now does a daily business radio/tv show called Insight on Business and we promised that we'd keep our fingers in the world of agriculture (because of our love of the industry and the clients we serve) so heads up!  To listen live today:  FOLLOW THIS LINK.

Today Andy Goodman the man behind the Iowa/Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association will be on with us talking about the 55th Annual Iowa Power Farming Show that starts today and runs through Thursday.  By the way, it's the fourth largest indoor show in the nation.

We'll visit about the economic impact of a show like this.  The importance of agricultural manufacturing to Iowa and your state.  We'll visit about farm equipment trends, farm equipment dealer issues.  Come on by and ask your questions?   We're on today (Tuesday) starting at 12:30PM Central.  To listen to the show LIVE just follow this link.

Andy Goodman and farm equipment today with Insight on Business.

You can follow us on Twitter:  @RuralLifeRadio  or @MichaelLibbie Thanks for coming by...

Michael Libbie, acreage owner and host.

Propane & People

This past harvest season farmers in Iowa were using load after load of propane to dry down wet corn.  Trucks were rolling in from all over the South and Midwest.  And, following the laws of supply and demand the price of propane went up...  We talked about it on our daily business radio show, Insight on Business.

Now, propane is back in the news.  This time suppliers are finding ways to cut off or not deliver product to customers.  This weekJason Clayworth from the Des Moines Register tells us about the "loophole" in Iowa Law.  "Propane Users Left Out In The Cold".

So, what do you think?  Should propane suppliers be forced...as other utilities...to assist individuals with credit and economic issues and not be allowed to "turn off" the heat between November 1 and April 1?  We're interested...

 

Soil Fertility, Farms, Lawns & Gardens

This week we had Craig Dick from Calcium Products in to talk about soil fertility and crops.  We then got into a discussion about lawns and gardens.  The tv/radio show is Insight on Business with me, Michael Libbie, and we often bring in interesting rural guests to talk ag.  Craig's portion starts at the 30 minute level.  But, if you are into learning more about business and advertising, marketing and consumer trends the first thirty minutes should be good for you as well.  Enjoy and thanks for finding us.  You can keep connected with us on Twitter:  @MichaelLibbie (personal and business), @InsightADV (business baby...business) or @RuralLifeRadio (all about our love for everything rural.)

Watch live streaming video from desmoineslocallive at livestream.com

No Till Conference - Mike Lessiter - Today

Hi and welcome back.  As many of you know we've rolled our weekly Highway 6 Radio Show into our daily show, Insight on Business which can be seen and heard on Des Moines Local...LIVE Monday - Thursday from 12:30PM Central until 2:00PM Central.  If you MISSED the live show, no problem.  Here it is!

Watch live streaming video from desmoineslocallive at livestream.com

 

 

 

Our major focus with Insight on Business is advertising, marketing and consumer trends.  Because our advertising agency works with many agricultural type clients we also continue to bring ag-related programing to the show in an effort to help educate others. 

We've got "double the pleasure" today with two in-studio guests.  Mike Lessiter is in town for the No-Till Conference being held here in Des Moines.  Mike is with the family business, Lessiter Publications based in Wisconsin.  The No-Till conference is for farmers and those of us in agri-business who understand the need for conservation of our soils.  This is really a big deal when you figure thousands of acres of top-soil runs into rivers and streams each year.  For folks who don't know, No-Till is a method of farming that creates a minimal disturbance to the soil.  We'll talk about those implications and a look at the agricultural machinery industry. 

And we'll ask him about a story we hinted at yesterday...that John Deere closed another dealership in Dubuque County, Iowabecause they failed to attain 40% market share.  40%!!!  Mike has the inside on this and more...join us at 12:30PM?

Thanks for reading/watching/listening - You can keep up with us on Twitter @RuralLifeRadio (all rural) or @MichaelLibbie(businness and personal) 

Fastline "Gets It"

I spend much of my time working with our advertising agency clients and non-clients on social media issues.  What to say and what not to say.  How much of your message should be "sell" and how much of your message should be "the conversation".

You see, the first word in Social Media is....social.  It's about the conversation, about people connecting with real people.  Letting folks get to know your "voice" and then selling to "friends".  

Fastline, a farm equipment magazine out of Buckner, Kentucky ,"gets it".  Sure they are out there selling their products and services to farmers, farm manufacturers, farm dealers but they also promote the human side of who they are.  

Want an example?  Here is their post from today: "Farm T-Shirt Friday".  They are being light, funny and real... 

Nice job!

We're Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications a full service advertising agency based in Des Moines, Iowa that specializes in agriculture, rural life style and rural economic development.  You can keep up with us on Twitter:  @MichaelLibbie (personal and business), @RuralLifeRadio  (postings about our love for all things rural), @InsightADV (business baby...all business)

Ken Root - Today with Insight on Business

We're really excited to bring you our special guest, live and in studio.  Ken Root has had an amazing run at ag broadcasting.  Here is the post from our show page for Insight on Business.

Welcome back to our daily, live 90-minute radio/tv show dealing with advertising, marketing, consumer trends and best business practices!  Insight on Business is part of Des Moines Local...LIVE and can be heard Monday - Thursday starting at 12:30PM Central.  Here is the link to listen/watch live! 

On the show today we'll have veteran farm broadcaster Ken Root in studio talking about marketing to farmers and people who are connected in the "food chain".  We'll discuss why "city folks" need to pay attention to what is going on and why more seem to be engaged in watching where food comes from and where it is grown.  We'll also touch on the state of broadcast radio and what is happening with local programing issues and who, in the end, gets the "short stick".

Join us today...as we talk media with a guy who knows it from the ground up...Ken Root.

In other stories...

I caught some flack over an article I wrote this past Sunday for the Des Moines Register and our agency blog.  Here is that article...we'll talk about it.

Also...while we're on the agency side of things....here are some questions you might want to ask yourself about loads of things...before the end of the year.

Mixed reactions regarding the Christmas Shopping Season from retail.  We'll talk a bit about what you might want to consider doing...before first quarter 2009.  Yep, it's retail based.

That and more today with Insight on Business brought to you by:

NatraTurf - Your lawn and garden have a "chemical dependency problem".  Now you can help them "kick the habit" with natural turf and garden products from www.NatraTurf.com

Feeling Low About Your Income?

This won't help.  Here is a piece we picked up from our friends at the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) regarding the salary of John Deere executive Samuel R. Allen. 

"The Associated Press reports that Deere & Co.'s president and chief executive Samuel R. Allen, who held those offices only the last two months of the company's fiscal 2009 after his promotion within the company, received annual compensation of $4.28 million for the year.

Allen, 56, took the helm Deere on Aug. 1, after serving for two months as chief operating officer during a planned transition. He has worked for Deere for 34 years. He also joined the company's board in June, and will become chairman on Feb. 24.

The bulk of his compensation came from non-equity incentives totaling $1.61 million and stock and options valued at $1.65 million at the time they were awarded. Allen also received $222,299 in other compensation, including $27,738 for personal use of the company's aircraft.

Allen succeeded Robert Lane as CEO. Lane will step down as chairman in February 2010. For fiscal 2009, Lane received compensation of $14.02 million. That included a salary of $1.51 million, non-equity incentives totaling $4.86 million and stock and options valued at $7.49 million at the time they were awarded."

From The Shortliner published by FEMA

Farmers & The Internet

Yesterday my friend Mike Winter from Worthington Ag Parts posted this piece about Internet Usage Among American Farms/Farmers.  While I've seen higher connectivity numbers (especially among "rural lifestyle" folks) this is another reminder that if you are not expanding your "digital footprint"...well, your business is dying.

Thanks for coming by for a read...and do click on Mike's piece.  Then the next step for you is to figure out a way to connect to agriculture.

Thanks for reading...you can follow us on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or @RuralLifeRadio and our ad agency website is, www.InsightCubed.com

The Thanksgiving...

Tomorrow most Americans will gather around tables for Thanksgiving.  This week has been full of shopping, cooking, cleaning and getting ready for the "big day".  We, like many of our friends, will also mark the date with as many traditions as we can.

Over the years Thanksgiving has changed from being a day set aside to be thankful for the blessings of a good harvest to simply being, "thankful".  That's not surprising because, today, there are so  many folks that have never had a farming experience.  So, I thought I'd infuse a little "rural thanks"...into Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow the kitchens and dining rooms located in the farm homes and acreages that dot this country will be wild with activity.  Folks will rise early to finish chores and then help where they can to prepare the meal.  There will be chopping, slicing, dicing, pie-baking and mixing.  The houses will smell of fresh bread, sage and pumpkin.  Even if it's cold, windows will be open and the smells and sounds will drift out to the pasture, across the fields and a mile down the road to the next home-place where the activity is just as intense.

And then, at a time agreed upon by the adults in charge, people will make their way, quietly to the place where the meal will be served.  And there they will bow their heads and offer a prayer of gratitude.  And some, looking out the window, will see the images of livestock and field stubble and they will forget the hard work, the bills and the struggle it takes to be in agriculture.  With heads bowed and a sense of pride in their hearts coming from the knowlege that they have fed thousands of others...they will quietly say, "Amen".

Thank you...thank you for what you do.