The 3 Amigos on Stage

Chuck Zimmerman March 1, 2008

Each year at the Commodity Classic general session we get to hear from the Presidents of the participating associations. Here they are on stage involved in an interactive discussion with moderator John Phipps. Pictured left to right are John Hoffman, ASA, Ron Litterer, NCGA and John Thaemert, NAWG.

John starts out wondering how in the world these three guys got so lucky as to be President this year when we’ve got such fantastic market prices. It’s a lively discussion which I hope you’ll enjoy.

Listen to the 3 Amigos here: cc-08-3-presidents.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, New Holland, Soybean, Wheat

Rick Tolman is NAMA Agribusiness Leader of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman March 1, 2008

Earlier this week the National Agri-Marketing Association announced that NCGA CEO Rick Tolman is their Agribusiness Leader of the Year. Here he’s standing next to their booth at the Commodity Classic trade show.

The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.

“We congratulate Rick on this prestigious award,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “His commitment and dedication is apparent in the many accomplishments that benefit agriculture, especially in the areas of ethanol, trade, transportation, biotechnology, and farm policy.”

Tolman will receive the award April 17 at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, BASF, Corn, NAMA, New Holland

Classic Scholarships

Cindy Zimmerman February 29, 2008

BASF, the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association are supporting the future of agriculture by awarding scholarships to young people working towards careers in the industry.

The first scholarship winners were announced today at a Commodity Classic news conference. I did interviews with all the winners who were here, which I will post later, but here is a group photo with the four students with (left to right) Adam Burnhams of BASF, ASA president John Hoffman, champion soybean grower Kip Cullers and NCGA chairman Ken McCauley.

The students pictured are – from left to right:
Lauren Schlosser of Missouri, James Seitzer of Minnesota and Catherine (Catie) Simpson of Colorado – all NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarship winners – and Laura Stevens, a high school senior from Nebraska who won the first ever “Kip Cullers” Secure Optimal Yield (SOY) Scholarship.

(I assume you can figure out the difference between the students and the presenters!)

The other NCGA scholarship winners were Jason Buss of Illinois and Josh Yoder of Ohio. Congrats to all the winners. BASF will continue their sponsorship of this program next year and applications will be available from NCGA and ASA in the fall.

Listen to the scholarship awards press conference here:
cc-08-basf-scholarships.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, New Holland, Soybean

BASF Family Affair

Cindy Zimmerman February 29, 2008

The BASF theme at Commodity Classic this election year is all about family values – family of growers and family of products. And what better way to visualize that theme than in pictures.

The BASF booth is giving away disposable cameras and photo frames and encouraging their grower family members to go out and shoot pictures at the Classic and then return the cameras to have them developed.

World Champion soybean grower Kip Cullers paused to pose for a picture in the booth – and I just couldn’t resist the little cutie in the pink cowboy hat. Her proud papa is grower Kurt Hora from Washington, Iowa.

We have our own BASF Commodity Classic Flickr photo album on-line here for your viewing pleasure. This is separate from the general Classic photo album, since we have so many just from BASF events here!

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board Appointments

Melissa Sandfort February 29, 2008

Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer announced the appointment of three incumbents and six new members to the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.

Re-appointed to serve second terms are: Brian Haugh, Dallas, Texas and Michael A. Krueger, Phoenix, Ariz.

Re-appointed to serve a first term after filling a vacancy lasting less than 18 months is: Jay B. Simon, Stockton, Calif.

Newly appointed are: James F. Walsh, Lynnfield, Mass.; Michael R. Smith, Lakeland, Fla.; and Steven M. Turner, Covington, Tenn.

Newly appointed to fill vacancies lasting less than 18 months are: John R. Zuroweste, Dallas, Texas; Charles S. Mayfield, Jr., Athens, Tenn.; and Janey K. Thornton, PhD., Elizabethtown, Ky.

Terms for these appointees begin July 1, 2008, and expire June 30, 2011, except for Mssrs. Zuroweste and Mayfield, and Dr. Thornton, who are filling vacant positions with less than 18 months remaining and whose terms expire June 30, 2009. All appointees will be seated at the board meeting July 17-19, 2008.

Dairy

New Holland at Maximum Capacity

Chuck Zimmerman February 29, 2008

The head of the Cash Crop Segment for New Holland is Ed Barry who is here at Commodity Classic. He says they have a T8040 Tractor on display and a CR9060 Combine along with a lot of training aids.

Business is good as evidenced by the somewhat short supply they currently have on equipment. He says that New Holland has a Pre-Sell Program and that participating customers have ordered at the highest rate they’ve ever seen. Ed says that all their plants are operating at maximum capacity right now to meet demand.

You can listen to an interview I did with Ed here: cc-08-barry.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Equipment, New Holland

Classic Babies

Chuck Zimmerman February 29, 2008

I don’t know if you can see it clearly on this small photo but this baby’s sporting an E85 sticker and her jumper suit says “Smell of Ethanol” on the back. On the front she’s got an Indy Racing League logo too.

I think her name is Danica after IRL driver Danica Patrick. You know this baby’s in a corn grower family and one that fully supports ethanol.

I just love babies and there seemed to be quite a few around yesterday afternoon in the trade show. These two are already planning to grow up and be corn/soybean/wheat farmers.

Babies take great pictures and I just love to hold them. At this point mine are all grown up and I have to admit that it’s nice to give them back to their rightful owner after holding them for a few minutes.

I tried to do some interviews but they were in a “no comment” mood at the time.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

The Classic New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman February 29, 2008

Here’s the New Holland team ready for action in the trade show.

These folks have been very busy which is a good sign. This portion of the booth has their information on how they support the use of biodiesel in their equipment, something that New Holland has been recognized as being an innovator and leader in doing.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Secretary Schafer Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman February 29, 2008

After his speech Secretary Schafer met up with the press near the media room.

You might find this more interesting than his speech since he gets to respond to specific questions. He fielded quite a few relating to the recent meat recall and made the point over and over that “the rules will be followed.” He said that although he doesn’t agree with the Humane Society on tactics and on a lot of what they do, he appreciates them bringing the problem with the plant in question to USDA’s attention. Nice politically sensitive statement. I might have worded it differently. But that would be why I’m not electable.

You can listen to Secretary Schafer’s press conference here: cc-08-schafer-press.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland, USDA

Secretary Ed Schafer’s Commodity Classic Speech

Chuck Zimmerman February 29, 2008

Our Secretary of Agriculture made an appearance here at Commodity Classic. He took the stage after we heard from political analyst Charlie Cook who provided a pretty clear analysis of where we’re at with the Presidential campaign.

I like the way session moderator John Phipps, U. S. Farm Report, described our Secretary as the “closer” following up on the work of Bush Administration Secretary Mike Johanns and interim Chuck Conner. Schafer talked about the farm bill of course and from the sound of it we’re getting closer to an agreement but I know we keep hearing that and so far we don’t have one. I didn’t hear anything new that we haven’t heard before but you are welcome to listen for yourself.

You can listen to Secretary Schafer’s speech here: cc-08-schafer.mp3

USDA released a document (Word doc) “developed from Administration analysis of impacts to current USDA programs – in the absence of enactment of a new farm bill or an extension of the 2002 farm bill past March 15, 2008.” It’s nice to have a “just in case.”

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland, USDA

Page 1,917 of 2,381
←
1
...
1,916
1,917
1,918
...
2381
→