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Editor's note: We invited some of the leading sales representative firms to provide an overview of the current marketplace.
STATE FARM RADIO NETWORKS
by Bill Farmakis, [email protected]
J.L. Farmakis, Inc is a multi-media rep firm specializing in local ag media. We represent state farm newspapers and the State Farm Radio Networks.
This group consists of 18 networks in 28 states consisting of 680 radio stations and 29 farm broadcasters (21 members of NAFB). These networks reach all parts of the country from the Northeast, Northwest, Midwest and South.
Through J.L. Farmakis, Inc., these networks provide advertisers the opportunity to place their commercials around state based programming with proof at the station level. Our 28 farm broadcasters allow advertisers to place their spots with some of the best known broadcasters in each state.
In many states, we are the only farm broadcaster in the state which has allowed us to put many unique programs together for advertisers. This includes "Crop Watch" "From the Fields" harvest and planting programs in the Midwest to "Ask your PCA" and "Citrus minute" - specialized and targeted sponsored programs in the Florida and California markets.
Ag radio's unique relationship with producers and its local programming have provided results to advertisers that has helped increase radio's share of the advertising pie in the last few years. This is more evident in certain markets/states then others.
The growth of farm radio can also be attributed to the continued research and marketing of NAFB and the AMR research. These tools have allowed buyers to justify and prove the results of farm radio to their clients.
We have also been excited by the NAFB Rural Research and our State Farm Radio Network companion study that shows the strength of radio in rural 3+ acre markets. Our calls on many of these rural advertisers have been very successful and a growing share of our advertising dollars.
NORTHERN AG NETWORK
by Rick Coyle
For over 32 years the Northern Ag Network has been the primary information source that agriculture trusts for daily ag information and market news, in Montana, Wyoming, and the western Dakotas. We produce and broadcast 22 different radio programs each day to over five dozen radio stations, plus four television programs to...