MGEX Debuts Canadian Conference Call

Cindy Zimmerman

The Minneapolis Grain Exchange has been doing a monthly conference calls with commentary on USDA crop and supply/demand reports for many years. Now they are doing the same for their friends north of the border. Today was the inaugural MGEX conference call in conjunction with the Stats Canada agricultural data releases, following the release of March Intentions of Principal Field …

Audio, Wheat

What’s New With Wheat

Cindy Zimmerman

Caught up with the execs of the National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates at the 2012 Commodity Classic to find out what’s new with wheat. What’s really new for NAWG is a brand new scholarship program with BASF just announced at the Classic, and CEO Dana Peterson says they are happy about the scholarship but sad about …

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Trade, Wheat

BASF Supports Scholars with ASA, NCGA and Now NAWG

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Crop Protection is expanding its support of young people pursuing careers in agriculture by joining with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Foundation to establish a memorial scholarship to honor longtime wheat industry friend and BASF employee Jerry Minore. As a BASF Senior Market Manager, Minore was a liaison to the wheat industry, including NAWG and the Foundation, …

ASA, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, Video, Wheat

First USDA Planting Guess

Cindy Zimmerman

Our ZimmPoll question this week is about what you think will be planted this year (just for corn and soybeans, with our apologies to the wheat and cotton growers), and USDA’s Chief Economist gave his answer at the 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum last week. “We’re estimating corn plantings at about 94 million acres, the largest plantings since 1944,” said Joe …

Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat, ZimmPoll

Commodity Classic to Feature Night at the Opry

Cindy Zimmerman

Some of Nashville’s top talent will take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry for the 2012 Commodity Classic Evening of Entertainment on March 3, sponsored by Monsanto. Entertainers in the lineup for the evening include Darryl Worley, John Conlee, Sarah Darling, Mike Snider, and Joey+Rory. (We just saw Joey+Rory, best known for their hit “Cheater, Cheater, last week in …

Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

BASF Helps Custom Applicators in North Dakota

Cindy Zimmerman

At the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) convention last week I had the opportunity to chat with Chris Wharam, a BASF tech services rep with in North Dakota, about how they help farmers and custom applicators in his state. Chris was already pretty familiar with the crop protection business before he took the job with BASF, since his family owns …

Audio, BASF, Crop Protection, NAAA, Wheat

Bill Pool Joins Wheat Growers

Chuck Zimmerman

Wheat Growers has announced Bill Pool as Director of Communications and Corporate Marketing. “Bill Pool has a depth of understanding and knowledge of our industry that will help significantly move our communication and marketing efforts forward,” Steve Briggs, Wheat Growers Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Agronomy, said. “His experience with and connections to major agricultural enterprises will serve Wheat …

Ag Groups, Wheat

Vilsack to Address 2012 Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is confirmed to once again be the keynote speaker for an expected crowd of more than 4,800 corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers and guests during the 2012 Commodity Classic, March 1-3 in Nashville, Tenn. “The secretary’s return for a third straight visit is testament to the value of our grower constituency in Washington,” National …

Commodity Classic, Corn, sorghum, Soybean, Wheat

BASF Stamina F3 Cereals Seed Treatment Receives EPA registration

Cindy Zimmerman

Stamina® F3 Cereals fungicide from BASF Crop Protection has received EPA registration for seed treatment use on small grains, including wheat, barley, rye, oats and triticale. “Stamina F3 Cereals arms our growers with an effective seed treatment for their small grain seedlings,” said Don Guy, Marketing Manager, BASF Cereals Portfolio. “As one of our SeedSolutions treatments in our cereals offering, …

BASF, Seed, Wheat

USDA Releases 2011 Prospective Plantings Report

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA expects more corn, wheat and cotton to be planted this year, but slightly less soybeans, according to the Prospective Plantings report released this morning. Corn growers intend to plant 92.2 million acres of corn for all purposes this year, up 5 percent from last year and 7 percent higher than in 2009. If realized, this will be the second …

Audio, Corn, Cotton, Soybean, USDA, Wheat