Our BASF Agricultural Products sponsored trip to Brussels included informative visits to all segments of the European Union political system. That includes the European Commission, where we met with ag commissioner spokesman Michael Mann, the EU Council, and the European Parliament, which was not in session as it was Friday and they have a four day work week. It was …
Reporting from Brussels
BASF Agricultural Products set up a nice visit for ag journalists here in Brussels at a great time to get some real news for the farmers back home. It was announced just yesterday that the European Commission was proposing to eliminate the mandatory ten percent set aside to help increase production for the coming crop year, and possibly permanently. We …
Competing Crop Solution Companies Monsanto and Dow Launch Joint SmartStax Innovation
The competition in crop protection is getting rather friendly. Two of the largest suppliers of technology-based agricultural solutions in the U.S., Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences, are teaming up in the unprecedented release of an eight-gene stacked corn combination. See the Zimfo Bites Melissa posted for media event information. Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, …
Zimfo Bites
Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, have reached a cross-licensing agreement aimed at launching SmartStax™, the industry’s first-ever eight-gene stacked combination in corn. The agreement is expected to create a new competitive standard for stacked-trait offerings and present an expanded growth opportunity for both companies’ seed brands and traits businesses by the end of …
OECD-FAO Assumption Outlook
The more information I receive and read from the FAO, the more I’m disillusioned with the whole organization. I think there’s a lot of well-meaning people there but between them and the Organization for Economic Co-operation (OECD) I’m now more inclined to put them in the whacko classification. Take their “OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook – 2007-2016” report that’s already being quoted …
Getting Ready For Japan
In just a couple days Cindy and I will be winging our way to Japan and the IFAJ Congress 2007. What a week for ZimmComm New Media. Cindy’s in Brussels now as you’ve probably read and I’m back from Canada. Actually I got back last night and went up to Des Moines today to host the first in a video …
US Ag Journalists Meet With Top BASF Officials
The agricultural journalists on this week’s media event in Germany had the honor of being able to personally interview some of the top corporate executives of BASF Agricultural Products. You have to admit, this is a darn good looking group. We do clean up well. Along with myself, the seven other journalists on the trip and our BASF communications manager …
“Straight From the Horse’s Mouth”
That title comes straight from Farm Safety USA. The organization is releasing a new children’s farm safety program available on audio CD. The program will feature animals in its kid-friendly campaign. Animals teach farm safety in a one-of-a-kind, highly entertaining, audio CD series — created to educate children on farm dangers. “As farmers approach fall harvesting, safety is of high …
Growing Propane
I didn’t have any flight delays unlike Chuck and Cindy, however, my posts on the 2007 Propane Technology Forum were delayed due the strict security of the internet I was accessing at the conference. I am back at my hotel now, online now with full access. Here’s the first of many posts to come… Cutting-edge innovation and environmentally friendly applications …
Multi-Use Propane
For Robert Jacobs, it’s about maximum output. Robert is the Chairman for the Propane Education & Research Council Agriculture Advisory Committee. He headed a panel at the 2007 Propane Technology Forum that demonstrated the different ways propane application can be applied to agriculture, including heat remediation, heat defoliation of crops, heat sanitation and pest control. I spoke to Robert about …