pro market wire

[agriman]

How do you get these services free?

I pay $150 for agriweek

[melvill]

I just received a fairly strongly-worded message from a publisher of a farm market newsletter. This publisher suggested that this thread and the other one discussing receiving market newsletters at no cost was, in fact, talking about finding a way to "steal" a copywritten product. It is under some conditions.

Really good quality market info is not available from regular farm publications. That's not their job.

Really good quality market info takes time and $$$$$ to research, compile, interpret and write. If farm managers receive these dedicated newsletters at no cost and circulate them to friends and neighbors at not cost, it won't be long before they start to disappear and that will be a long-term loss to producers.

I recognize that some farm suppliers such as BASF and Syngenta provide subscriptions to market newsletters to their "good" customers, whatever "good" means. Of course that is a different kettle of fish, so to speak.

However, a number of publishers I've talked to are considering implementing technologies to make certain that e-mailed or web versions of newsletters can only be read by one person. Stopping "leakage" as it's called, will slow down everyone's access but maybe that's a price we have to pay to maintain quality.

[parsley]

agriman,

One newsletter, for example, is subscribed to, and paid for, by a co-op. The newsletter also goes out to other subscribers.

The Co-op pays the author $X.00 according to the number of subscribers they send it to.

New readers are often brought on 'receiving rollcall' by way of one neighbor sending it to Neighbor Joe.

Joe, in turn, asks to have his name put on the list, and then the author is paid, by the Co_op, for an additional subscriber. No advertising here!

It's a win win, as far as I am concerned.

Being fair about payment is often an individual choice, anyhow.

I talked to a guy awhile back, who had not sent in money as a subscriber to a publication for awhile, but he did so, with a a good wad of cash to make up for it.

More often than not, there are loyal customers who care about the survival of a worthwhile business and will see the money gets there one way or the other, even late, as I just mentioned.

Payment will be accepted, but maybe not appreciated, especially if they have looked upon you as being nothing but a free-rider.

And of course, there are businesses who want only to choose their customers.

Parsley

[melvill]

Parsley, basically the co-op you're talking about is an informal marketing club whose purpose is to distribute market info. I have no problem with that as long as the group is paying the publisher/author for all the subscribers. In fact, some newsletters have a group rate provided that the names of all of the group are provided. One of the marketing clubs I deal with has this arrangement with at least one publisher.

However, there is still some "leekage" and some of the publishers are working on ways to stop this from happening. And, quite frankly, I don't blame them.

[parsley]

Nope. This co-op is a bonafide registered company.

Pays a fee for the newsletter and then sends it out.

I think great idea by the Co-op.Better than a Christmas card or calandar!

Good for the farmer. Can sign on or sign off.

Good for the Newsletter company. Extra Revenue. No advertising costs.

I hope that publishers are not going to become so protectionist/litigationist/proprietarythat farmers don't ever want to even read them again.

A few extra thoughts:

1.Sometimes "leakage" turns into a subscriber.

2. I like if a publisher will send a trial stating the perimeters. I don't think it's good business if I understand it's a trial, and then get a bill a while later.

3. I have sent a newsletter pdf to someone I thought would be particularly interested in their newsletter. I did just that yesterday, and got a reply from the recipient, as the information was very pertinent to his operation. I would not be surprised if he doesn't end up subscribing.

If that is wrong, I don't want the newsletter. But I know of some publishers would prefer I am not a subscriber, either, if I did just that. C'est la vive.

I try to be fair, although sometimes I've been whacked unfairly for it.

Parsley

[melvill]

Gee, bonafide registered co-op, eh Parsley. Careful somebody's gonna label it a d__m socialist organization!

I like the idea of subscribing to market info for co-op members. That'll get info out to people who wouldn't otherwise spend the money to buy it.

1. Yes, I suppose leakage could turn into a subscriber. I wonder how many.

2. Many or most of the publishers in the web address I posted offer trial subscriptions. That's a great way to try a product to see if it fits the bill. Potential subscribers should always ask for a trial.

Again, take a look at http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sis5223?opendocument

[parsley]

Co-op stands for co-operation.
Voluntary Co-ops work well.
Co-ops with forced participation are not.

Capice?

Parsley

[parsley]

melvill,

I visited the website (I thought you'd check), and perused your recommended sites on this webpage, and was amazed by the smorgasboard of current pens.

I really must get out more.

btw, I noted this:

"The service includes unlimited telephone consultation with the author on business days."

Does poor old Malmberg, (he sounds like a Swede!), know I am what agstar terms as "verbose"?

LOL

Parsley

[melvill]

Parlsey, I challenge you and Malmberg to a "talk-off" - last person standing wins. You might not win this one!

[parsley]

Good for him.

I'm Swedish, too.

He can contact me.

You have my number and email.LOL

Parsley