A New Variety Bonanza From Garst

Chuck Zimmerman

GarstThere is certainly a lot of new product news showing up all the sudden! Take this announcement from Garst. There’s a lot of new varieties available. Growers are going to have their hands full deciding what to buy for next year. I know this is the time of year they’re making those decisions but as I’ve also learned the last couple weeks, it’s also a really bad time to bother them. It’s harvest time!

Agribusiness

Bambi’s Dad In AgriFinance

Chuck Zimmerman

The Hartford I’ll be honest with you and say that what most attracted me to this story is the large rack on the the stag in the logo. I want to see one of those opening day this deer season! In fact, 2 years ago I at least saw a deer that looked like The Hartford stag. So I know he’s out there.

Agribusiness

CNH Reorganizes

Chuck Zimmerman

CNHI’m not real sure how this announcement is a departure from what the company has already been doing. I remember when CaseIH came under the New Holland umbrella and CNH was announced. We joked about seeing purple tractors (red + blue) but instead the brands have remained separate and marketed separately. They’ve even retained separate staffs to do this. So I’m not clear from today’s announcement how this is actually different but I guess we’ll see. I guess that when you see words like “underperforming” and new leadership it at least means that the HR department has been busy.

Agribusiness

Eat Local On September 29

Chuck Zimmerman

Bon Appetit Eat Local ChallengeI’ve got to find out is there’s anyone in central Missouri participating in this. I like this idea! It’s the Bon Appetit, “Eat Local Challenge.” I will warn you that the website opens with this very pretty flash animated segment and music. Aaargh! They are the bane of a web surfer’s life. At least you can skip it. I guess web designers feel compelled to use all the tools.

Agribusiness

Valent Not In Spray Oil Business

Chuck Zimmerman

ValentHere’s the kind of story you don’t see often in a news release. Valent announced yesterday that it has “exited the spray oil business and will no longer market Volck Supreme Spray Oil, Volck Clear or Premium Ag 100.” Usually you get an announcement that a company is now doing something, not withdrawing. Interesting. I applaud them for making an important announcement and using a news release to do so. This is a story and worthy of a release!

Agribusiness

Salad And MRE’s

Chuck Zimmerman

Arcadia BiosciencesNow let’s say you’re stationed in a foreign country, in a desert-like environment and all you’ve got to eat is your basic MRE’s. What would you give to have a nice bowl of salad with a little ranch dressing? How about $2.9 million dollars? That’s what Arcadia Biosciences has snagged from the DOD and I say “git ‘er done.” Get them boys some fresh veggies!!

Agribusiness