It’s okay to talk about Mark Bloom. I think he’s actually in Brazil right now with an Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation group. Mark is one of the staff members of IALF and he was exhibiting at the recent Chicago Farmers Farmland Investment Fair. Mark says it’s a great time for IALF since they’ve got an overlap in last year’s leadership …
All About the Blue
Green farm equipment apparel has gone pretty mainstream in the past several years, but if you see someone sporting a New Holland blue shirt or cap, you can be fairly certain they are a real farmer. I talked with Glenn Brumley who was staffing the New Holland toys and merchandise display at the National Farm Machinery Show about some of …
Virtual Wrench Speeds Precision Service
Virtual Wrench is a service offered by Leica Geosystems. For growers using precision applications it’s like having a technical support person in the cab with them. This remote service and support system uses built-in cell data modems and even incorporates Google Earth! To learn more about it I spoke with Darren Herstedt, Leica Geosystems service and support manager for North …
Public Relations Ducks Unlimited Style
In ZimmCast number 250 learn how Ducks Unlimited does public relations. I can’t believe I’ve done 250 of these. The first posted version of the ZimmCast was January 31, 2005! I wish I could say it seems like only yesterday but it really doesn’t. Getting on to the topic of this week’s program, I recorded the presentation made by Tony …
Land Values
Farmland values was a very important topic of discussion at the Farmland Investment Fair put on by the Chicago Farmers. One of the educational sessions on the topic was conducted by Mike Shane, First Farm Credit Services. Mike told me they focused on what land values are now and what drives them. They can’t predict them of course. He says …
New Beef News From BIVI
New things are coming to the cattle industry market from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica. During a media breakfast at the recent Cattle Industry Convention I spoke with Craig Jones, Sr. Associate Director Cattle Services. He told me that the company has had great interaction with producers who have been visiting with them in their booth. Their acquisition of products like Cydectin, …
Consumer Outreach For Ag at ARC
From Puerto Vallarto to Memphis, TN. Now that’s culture shock. But I’m here at the Agricultural Relations Council Meeting at the Westin off Beale St. Our program has just started with a presentation from John Charles Wilson, Agricenter. I’ll have a post on his presentation later. To get things kicked off I spoke with ARC President Deron Johnson, Rhea & …
Need For More Exports
The new U.S. Grains Council senior vice president of operations and industry relations is Keith Heffernan, pictured in the middle here. He was chief of staff for the Farm Credit Administration. Keith was also the first executive director for the Iowa Corn Growers Association; director of public affairs for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; assistant director for the Center of …
Learn About Trade With Mexico
Here at the U.S. Grains Council International Marketing Conference n this morning’s general session we had a panel discussion on trade with Mexico. In the discussion attendees were able to ask questions and answers. In fact, it was mostly a Q&A session. Allan Mustard, Minister Counselor, Office of Agricultural Affairs, US Embassy, Mexico City, introduced our panel. Our panelists and …
The Ethanol Industy Outlook From Reverand of Renewable Fuels
Cindy is working at the National Ethanol Conference and captured the speech from the Reverand of Renwable Fuels, RFA President and CEO, Bob Dinneen, who faced a much happier crowd than last year for the opening session of the 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference. “A year ago, at this event, we met amidst the worst economic climate since the Depression. …