NAMA’s New CEO

Chuck Zimmerman September 10, 2007

I talked the new CEO of the National AgriMarketing Association, Jenny Pickett, into taking a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk to me for this week’s program. If you don’t know Jenny then listen in and hear about her plans for NAMA.

For one thing Jenny says that NAMA is going to focus on more chapter leader support. That sounds good since I know that finding the time to run a local chapter has become increasingly difficult in today’s agricultural marketing place. Jenny says that her background which includes working for an agency, along with her time on the staff, provides her with a good member perspective of the organization. She also gets in a plug for the upcoming NAMA Agribusiness Forum in our interview.

The program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. Since ZimmComm is “out and about” I’ve got “Travel Song” by a group called Causeway.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 136 (15 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast136-9-10-07.mp3

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Audio, NAMA, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort September 10, 2007

Novus International, Inc., announced it has formed a company doing business as Arenus to produce products for the equine, canine and human health markets. Arenus will initially produce and market its products in the continental U.S. beginning this year.The company’s initial product, STEADFAST™ EQUINE dietary supplement, has been designed by nutritionists and veterinarians specifically for horses with high-demand lifestyles. STEADFAST EQUINE dietary supplement helps to support and maintain Total Structural Health – including healthy joints, bones, hooves connective tissues, skin and coat. These structural components may be impacted over time due to the effects of athletic performance, environmental conditions and aging. While many equine health products may be useful in addressing one component of a horse’s framework, STEADFAST EQUINE dietary supplement takes a unique and multi-faceted approach in supporting the horse’s entire structural system.
Dow AgroSciences LLC announced it has secured exclusive rights to Chloroplast Transformation Technology (CTT™) from Chlorogen, Inc. This license will allow further work to be done which will enhance Dow AgroSciences’ animal health and agricultural biotechnology businesses.CTT™ is a unique method for expressing foreign genes in plant cells. While current methods involve placing a foreign gene in the cell nucleus, CTT transforms the genome of the approximately 100 chloroplasts within the cell. Each chloroplast contains about 100 copies of the chloroplast’s genetic material, so the amount of protein produced in a single cell is increased exponentially. In addition, because chloroplasts are inherited maternally, they are not found in pollen. This greatly diminishes concerns about spreading recombinant genes through pollen.“This agreement is another illustration of Dow AgroSciences’ commitment to provide differentiated solutions to customers globally through unique technology and capabilities,” said Daniel R. Kittle, Ph.D., vice president of Research and Development at Dow AgroSciences.
The Chicago Farmers “Trends in Farm Leasing” meeting will be held Sept. 17th. Join speaker Penny Lauritzen of Farmers National and Don McCabe of Soy Capital Ag Services. Topics to be covered are trends in lease arrangements, cash rent levels, returns on custom lease arrangements and options for variable lease arrangements.To register, call 312.388.FARM or visit the Web site. Reservations are due by noon on Thur., Sept. 13th. Cost for Members with Reservations: $25; Member Walk-ins: $30; Non-Members: $40.

Zimfo Bytes

Maple Leaf Meats in Brandon gearing for twin shifts….

Harry Siemens September 10, 2007

With the addition of a second shift at its Brandon, Man processing plant, Maple Leaf Foods will ramp up in slaughter capacity over the next six to eight weeks. According to Maple Leaf spokesperson Jeanette Jones, the current hog slaughter capacity of 45,000 to 50,000 hogs per week will climb to at least 75,000 per week by the end of October.

Here is Harry’s audio commentary on this issue. ss091007mav.mp3

Part of the increase in hog numbers will come as Maple Leaf continues with its stated plan to close processing facilities in other parts of the country – including its Marion Street facility in Winnipeg, which is scheduled to close Oct. 26 – and consolidate operations in Brandon.

Audio, International

Equipment Trader Insider Blog

Chuck Zimmerman September 10, 2007

I noticed recently that Equipment Trader has a blog called the Equipment Trader Insider.

In fact, their blog was one of many to pick up on AgWired coverage of the Farm Progress Show. They also linked to some other bloggers covering the show like Karlie Elliott, who is a junior at the University of Illinois, majoring in Agricultural Communications. She was there doing it for Monsanto. Monsanto also had Shane Roethle, Agronomist, blogging about their exhibit. What a concept. A company blogging about their activities. Who’d have thought that possible? Hmm?

Agribusiness, Equipment

Ethanol Wins IndyCar Season

Chuck Zimmerman September 10, 2007

Well, the 2007 IndyCar series is over and as we’ve been saying all season, “ethanol won.” I hope you had a chance to watch some of Laura’s coverage over on Domestic Fuel. She did a great job posting 31 times with most posts containing interviews. She’s also got 179 photos online in her photo album. Thanks to the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council for once again sponsoring our event coverage.

Obviously she was in victory lane after the race too. Here’s her take on the winner:

Just one word is fitting for Canadian Club Driver Dario Franchitti: Champion. Dario cinched the the 2007 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 after Scott Dixon fell behind the Scottish driver in the last few hundred feet of the race after racing with Dario neck and neck. The win also secured Dario the 2007 IndyCar Series Title. The Andretti Green Racing teammate also won the Indy 500, the Iowa Indy 250 and the Richmond Indy Challenge, where he set both a track record and an IRL record. Rumor has it Dario will be switching to stock cars next season. A report on Yahoo.com confirms that sources say Canadian Club will replace Coors Light as the sponsor for Ganassi’s No. 40 Dodge in NASCAR and Dario will make the switch with Canadian Club. After winning the Championship Sunday, Dario consistently dodged questions about the move.

Listen to a clip of Dario’s comments at Victory Lane here:
Franchitti_Dario2.mp3
Listen to Dario’s comments about the race here:
Franchitti_Dario.mp3
Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 Photo Album

Ethanol

Off to Deutschland

Cindy Zimmerman September 8, 2007

While Laura is heading back from Chicagoland, I am heading off to Deutschland – Germany, that is. Just getting in the mood. I mean, who calls it Deutschland anyway, except the people who live there?

The trip is a ag media tour of BASF with about six other American ag journalists. We will be flying in to Frankfort and visiting in an around Limburgerhof, where the BASF headquarters is located. Later in the week, the group will be going to Brussels, Belgium to visit with EU ag officials at the European Parliament.

I started getting in the mood for the BASF trip last week at the National Institute for Animal Agriculture ID/INFO Expo in Kansas City where traceability was the topic and one of the presenters was Cristian Barcan with BASF’s traceability project. He spoke on Quantifiable Food Safety and Measurable Sustainability with the Help of a Whole-Chain Traceability Network and why that is important to a company like BASF which makes ingredients for fish and livestock feed, among many other things.

Listen to my interview with Cristian here:
niaa-expo-07-barcan.mp3

I do leave on September 10 and scheduled to arrive in Frankfurt on 9-11, so I was happy that the German authorities were on their toes and caught those alleged terrorists with plans to bomb that airport!

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, BASF

I Stand at the Crossroads

Harry Siemens September 8, 2007

Harry Siemens – There comes a time in one’s life when you have to stand up and take notice. I’m at such a point in my life right now. I found out on August 14, that three possibly four of my arteries to my heart are blocked from75 to 95 percent. That was the message Dr. Hussain gave me when I woke up after the angiogram that he had just performed at the St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Go home and take it easy because your heart is in good shape, but your arteries are not, so don’t do anything silly until we can get you an appointment with a heart surgeon.Read More

International

Jenny Pickett New NAMA EVP/CEO

Chuck Zimmerman September 7, 2007

NAMA has a new Executive Vice President/CEO and we want to congratulate her. NAMA president Stephanie Gable says it best in her announcement. Way to go Jenny!

Dear NAMA Member:

I am pleased to announce effective September 15, 2007, Jennifer Pickett will assume responsibilities of Executive Vice President/CEO of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA). Jenny is an accomplished not-for-profit professional with more than 16 years of executive leadership experience and a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry.

We conducted an extensive search for the new NAMA Executive Vice-President/CEO that resulted in a highly qualified pool of 70 applicants. It was Jenny’s combination of skills, experience and forward-thinking ideas that made her the most convincing choice for the position. We’re excited to work with Jenny in her new role and believe she can help the organization adapt as we continue to focus on the changing needs of our members.
Read More

NAMA

Off to Chicagoland

Laura McNamara September 7, 2007

Those of you who’ve been keeping up to speed with the Indy Racing League know that the league is rounding out its 2007 season at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL this weekend. I’m here at the track covering the close of a landmark year for Team Ethanol and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. All IndyCars have been running on 100% ethanol fuel throughout the season. It’ll be interesting to see how the league, Epic and the IndyCar drivers finish up the the first fully-powered ethanol season.

If you want to keep track of my coverage you can find it on energy.agwired.com.

Thursday EPIC held another ethanol pump promotion to educate consumers about E10 and E85 ethanol fuel blends. Team Ethanol’s new IndyCar Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay greeted consumers at Gas City in Joliet and doled out autographs and even a couple of race day tickets.

You can listen to my interview with Ryan here:
Hunter-Reay_Ryan.mp3

Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol

Husker Harvest Days Turns 30

Chuck Zimmerman September 7, 2007

I’ve been asked by several people if I’ll be attending Husker Harvest Days. Wish I could but I’ll be conducting a new media training class for ag communications grad students at the University of Guelph. This will be the big 3-0 for the show.

Husker Harvest Days has a special memory for me because I attended on September 11 in 2001. I remember driving there from Omaha, NE with Kim Lang who was my boss at the time when I worked for DTN. We had the radio on kind of low in the car that morning and weren’t really paying any attention. When we got to the show and walked in one of the first places I walked up to was a booth that had a tv and a growing crowd around it. I walked up wondering what was going on and like everyone else I was horrified and glued to the screen from that moment on. I think it was an Army recruitment booth if I remember correctly. By late in the day I think most of the booths there had acquired a tv to follow the events.

We drove back to Omaha the same day that President Bush landed there at the Air Force base. I think he had left by the time we got back. I then drove home to Missouri and kept looking at the skies, especially when I passed Kansas City International airport. It was eerie not to see planes flying.

So, I’ll miss the show this year but I’ll be flying to Toronto next Tuesday. I feel very safe doing so by the way.

Farm Shows

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