I challenge you!!
Share your favorite podcast for a chance to win an iPod Nano.
I’m throwing down the gauntlet. With a few weeks remaining until seed hits soil, there is ample time for progressive, forward thinking producers to learn something new and get on board with a technology that can pay huge dividends during the coming growing season.
I dare you. In fact, I double-dog dare you. My challenge is to equip yourself with an MP3 player or iPod and learn how to access the growing list of relevant and valuable podcasts or audio programs that will turn cab time into a new frontier of education, management information, and even entertainment.
By definition, if you are reading this, you’ve recognized the potential benefits of the Internet – so this next step should not be intimidating. Podcasts are nothing more than digital audio or video files that are made available via the Internet. An MP3 player or iPod allows you to subscribe to a feed that delivers specific programs or podcasts to your computer. Your iPod or MP3 player grabs the files from your computer so you can enjoy them in the truck, tractor or even while you’re scouting fields this summer.
Here’s my experience: A year ago, on my way home from the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville Kentucky, a Farms.com colleague helped me buy an Apple iPod Nano. This little device is not much bigger than a book of matches, but it packs a powerful punch. I bought the thing so I could load it with music so I wouldn’t have to listen to the radio all day in the tractor. I liked the fact that I could select the music I wanted to hear rather than settle for the music or talk radio that was available via local stations.
Little did I know that I would learn to get so much more from this little device. Once I figured out how to use iTunes (http://www.apple.com/itunes/), which is the online software that allows you to buy music or access free podcasts, I started to go beyond music. I found that I could easily “load” up interesting news, sports and agricultural programs that made me the programming director for my tractor cab. At the end of the day, I simply plug my iPod into my computer, access iTunes and hit “refresh”. All the new editions of each podcast are automatically loaded into my iPod for the next day in the cab.
The list of available podcasts that would be of interest or value to farmers is growing by the day. Do a Google search on “agricultural podcasts” and you’ll see what I mean.
I’m not going to cover all the techno-talk that is at play – talk to your kids or hit the electronics store and find a turbo geek to help you. Click on this link to read what Wikipedia has to say about podcasts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasts). The bottom line is the equipment is cheap, the podcasts are free, and the potential upside is compelling – at least to me.
Here are a few of the podcasts I subscribe to:
Cropline- weekly agronomy podcast that covers wide range of topics (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/podcasts/cropline/standard.xml)
The Agenda – current affairs show for Ontario, Canada (http://feeds.tvo.org/TheAgendaWithStevePaikin)
USDA – Economic Research Service – offers a wide range of interesting information related to agriculture (http://www.ers.usda.gov/Podcast/Podcast.xml)
Planet Money – an NPR program that covers the financial issues of the day (http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289)
This American Life – an entertaining NPR program that looks at day to day life in America. (http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510289)
I know there are plenty of farmers out there who are discovering the benefits of podcasts. Please forward the name of your favorite podcasts for a chance to win an Apple iPod Nano. We’ll draw a name from those who participate on May 1, 2009.
At Farms.com, we’ll be offering more content via podcasts in the future. If you have a suggestion for content that you would like to receive via a podcast, we’re all ears.
Peter Gredig
Peter.Gredig@Farms.com
This commentary is for informational purposes only. The opinions and comments expressed herein represent the opinions of the author--they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Farms.com. This commentary is not intended to provide individual advice to anyone. Farms.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information, or for any damages or losses in any way related to this commentary.