American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) outgoing chairman Craig Newman of AgReliant Genetics is pleased with the turnout and the mood of at the 131st ASTA annual convention this week in his home town of Indianapolis. “First time it’s ever been in Indianapolis and this is kind of the crossroads of America, plus it’s the crossroads of American Seed Trade Association …
Stitched With Love
This week Aunt Jeanette writes: When I was at Mom and Dad’s house a couple of weeks ago, we began talking about quilts and bedspreads. I wrote a story in January about the bedspread my maternal grandmother crocheted during the Depression. Although we lost many pictures and family mementos in our house fire the summer of 2001, miraculously some of …
Zimfo Bytes
Marrone Bio Innovations’ a Michigan-based manufacturing facility approved for USDA Bio-based Economy Loan Guarantee. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., is again seeking study proposals from swine veterinarians, diagnosticians, and public and private veterinary researchers in the United States, Canada and Mexico for its 2015 PRRS Research Awards. Genetically engineered foods are a politically charged, often misunderstood subject, and University of Florida …
BASF Ag Moving into Next Century
BASF itself will be 150 years old next year, but the ag products sector of the company is just a century old this year. “So we are the younger part of BASF but it’s obviously two important milestones for BASF,” said Markus Heldt, president of the global crop protection division, who adds that the future is very bright as BASF …
How ARC Programs Control Swine Disease
Dr. Erin Johnson, DVM, technical manager, PRRS Solutions Team explained that the goal of the ARC program, is to voluntarily get a group of producers in an area to work together to better understand and control the spread of disease in their neighborhoods, townships and counties. To make the ARC effective, continued Johnson, the producers must develop processes to provide …
NCGA CEO Addresses Fuel Ethanol Workshop
National Corn Growers Association CEO, Rick Tolman took the podium on his farewell tour to address the general session at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Indianapolis this week. It’s the 30th year for the workshop and during his remarks he commented on how things have changed in the last 30 years from the acres of corn planted and bushels harvested …
Understanding Farmer Attitudes
The Seed Leadership Program was held just before the start of the 131st Annual American Seed Trade Association Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. During today’s Green Flag Session, Brent Gloy, Purdue University professor discussed the key themes from the 2013 Large Commercial Producer survey. He says they survey helps both farmers and agribusinesses better understand where the commercial farm segment is going. …
ASTA Annual Meeting Kicks Off
Industry leaders and seed experts are in Indianapolis this week for the 131st American Seed Trade Association’s Annual Meeting. ASTA CEO Andy Lavigne says much of the discussion this week will focus on innovation and technology in the seed industry. The meeting kicks off Thursday morning with Purdue University president Mitch Daniels. Lavigne says Daniels will focus on innovation and that will set …
Farmers Dialoguing About Food
Two farmers got to discuss food on the panel for the USFRA Food Dialogues in Chicago this week. I visited with them and am sharing my conversations in this week’s ZimmCast. First up is Chuck Wirtz, a pork producer from Iowa. With the topic being “Integrity in Food Marketing” I wondered what that meant to the panelists so I asked …
BASF Ag Solutions Through Innovation
BASF – The Chemical Company – will be celebrating a pretty significant milestone next year. The company was established in 1865, which means it will be 150 years old in 2015. Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the board and Research Executive Director for BASF, says innovation is the reason they have survived so long. “Innovation is our life blood,” he said …