Thad Simons 2013 Agribusiness Leader of Year

Chuck Zimmerman

The President/CEO of Novus International, Thad Simons, is the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) 2013 Agribusiness Leader of the Year. This award, which is NAMA’s highest honor, will be presented at the Opening General Session of the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference, “Forging New Frontiers,” April 18, 2013, in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ll be there to see Thad receive his award. The award …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, NAMA, Novus International

Twitter Doesn’t Always Reflect Views of General Public

Chuck Zimmerman

I love Twitter but have wondered for some time how the “voice” you hear compares to the general public, most of whom are not using Twitter. I am no fan of The Pew Research Center but they just came out with some interesting results from a project on just this subject. The reaction on Twitter to major political events and …

Social Media, Social Networking

Precise Disk Drills from New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Just how important is it to plant seeds precisely as you’d like to? Very important. That’s why New Holland has come out with a new series of disk drills. Whether seeding into summerfallow or stubble, New Holland’s new P2000 Series disk drills slice through crop residue to ensure precise, uniform seed placement with very low soil disturbance. Both the new …

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Equipment, New Holland, Precision Agriculture, Seed

ASTA Seed Treatment Guide

Chuck Zimmerman

A guide to seed treatment stewardship is a new project by the American Seed Trade Association along with a collaboration of seed companies, researchers and organizations like CropLife America, National Corn Growers Association and Farm Bureau. Growers will soon find “The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship” online. I spoke with Andy Lavigne, ASTA President/CEO, during Commodity Classic about this project …

Ag Day, ASTA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Farming, Seed

Bayer Connect Turns One

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Bayer Ag Issues Forum it was announced that Bayer Connect is one year old. Happy birthday! Bayer Connect is where Bayer CropScience pulls in all their social media channels and content. I visited with Beth Roden, Director of Communications & Bayer CropScience NA Coordinator, Bayer CropScience. She says Bayer Connect was created to provide not only farmer customers …

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Social Networking, ZimmCast

Mount Your iPhone in a John Deere Cab

Chuck Zimmerman

You knew it had to be coming didn’t you? OEM’s creating custom mounts for your mobile device in their cabs. John Deere has announced them along with several other things during last week’s Commodity Classic. Patrick Sikora updated ag media on what is going on with the John Deere FarmSight system that was announced at Commodity Classic two years ago. …

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Equipment, John Deere

Commodity Classic Media Man

Chuck Zimmerman

I don’t know what the final, final totals are but before it ended the 2013 Commodity Classic broke records that include 6,180 attendees, 3,024 of which are growers and 1,024 first time attendees. The high number of first time attendees was especially pleasing to Ken Colombini, Communications Director for the National Corn Growers Association. I sat down with him during …

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA

Veterinarians on Call Videos

Chuck Zimmerman

Zoetis has created a series of YouTube videos with veterinarians to show the public how farmers of all sizes take care of their animals. In new YouTube videos released today, swine veterinarians Dr. Matthew Turner of North Carolina and Dr. Tara Donovan of Wisconsin join veterinarians and farmers from across the country in speaking out for responsible livestock farming by …

Agribusiness, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Veterinary, Video

Commodity Classic Presidents Speak Out

Chuck Zimmerman

A highlight of the general session of Commodity Classic is the visit with the Presidents. Here are our four commodity group presidents. Moderator Mark Mayfield is seated on the left. To the right of him are Terry Swanson, National Sorghum Producers; Erik Younggren, National Association of Wheat Growers; Pam Johnson, National Corn Growers Association and Danny Murphy, American Soybean Association. …

Ag Groups, ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, NAWG, NCGA, NSP