At this year’s NAMA Boot Camp, attendees got to hear from a panel of producers. One of them was Hal Swaney, Platte City, MO. Hal has a very diversified family farm with corn, soybeans, cattle and burley tobacco. I asked him what his primary sources of information are for making buying decisions. He says that he’s very “local” minded. He …
Tour of the Chortí Maya Agricultural Training Center
I made it to La Ceiba on the north coast of Honduras. The city is much more set up for tourists and I was able to wander into a local resort and get a good enough connection to load some more video. Finally! So, for those of you interested in getting a better look at the ag program Billy Collins …
Ag Steward of the Chortí Maya
There is a group of indigenous people in Honduras that live off an average of $300 a year… less than one dollar a day. At least two months out of every year they starve. That’s the reality as Billy Collins sees it. Billy has been working with the Chortí Maya, the direct descendants of the Mayan Indians, for five years. …
From the Cullers Family to 2000 Growers
I have to give Michelle Cullers a lot of credit for the Kip Cullers’ Record Breaking Field Day event this week on the family farm. Her mother and sisters also helped out with the event, including making some absolutely delicious homemade ice cream for the BBQ. Kip is blessed with a wonderful family – including sons Noah and Naamen, who …
Field Day Headliner
Kip Culler’s Record Breaking Field Day photo album One of the main secrets to Kip Cullers’ record breaking yields is BASF Headline fungicide and it was definitely one of the stars of the show this week at Kip’s Record Breaking Field Day in Southwest Missouri. I spoke with Dr. Gary Fellows, Technical Service Manager for BASF, who says that Headline …
Kixor Kicks Up Weed Control
Let’s make this perfectly clear up front – Kixor is not yet registered for use by the EPA. Registration is anticipated in late 2009 for the 2010 crop year. Okay – that being said – BASF is very excited about this new broadleaf herbicide they hope will eventually be approved for use on over 90 different crops. Trials are taking …
Soybean Champion Coach
Every successful champion has at least one good coach and world soybean yield champ Kip Cullers has several. One of his main advisers is BASF Technical Services Rep Dennis Belcher, who is based in Columbia, Missouri. “Kip and I over the last few years have worked very closely together,” Dennis says. In fact, Kip is in touch with Dennis on …
Top BASF Exec Visits SW Missouri
The chance to visit a tiny town in southern Missouri where the biggest soybean yields in the world have been achieved was a great opportunity for Markus Heldt, BASF Group Vice President responsible for the ag chemical business in North America. Markus was really interested to see BASF products in the field and he was very impressed with the turnout …
Honduras: The Dry Land Panama Canal?
Honduras lies just about 1,000 miles southwest of Miami. A great location for commerce with the U.S. if you ask Antonio Young. Antonio is the Executive Vice President of FIDE, Honduras’ Foundation for Investment and Export Development. He says Honduras’ strategic location provides an invaluable access to Latin American markets. And, with the continued development of Honduras’ north-south highway, called …
Agri-Tour in Honduras
Business leaders in Honduras are boasting that their country is a country ripe for foreign investment, especially American investment. Honduras’ Foundation for Investment and Export Development is hosting an “agri-tour” of sorts, showcasing what the tropical, Central American country has to offer to U.S. agricultural investors. I’m fortunate enough to be ZimmComm’s representative on the trip. I’ll be getting a …