The John Deere PowerStick

Chuck Zimmerman

As I sit in the Des Moines airport one of my helpful gadgets is the new John Deere PowerStick. It’s a 2GB USB drive that also charges up and includes multiple connectors to power up your other gadgets! That’s a cool combo. You charge it while you use it and it charges your iPhone or other device when you need …

Agribusiness, Equipment, John Deere

John Deere Does Agile Development

Chuck Zimmerman

Agile Development is not something you might think of when you think of John Deere. It’s a term associated with software development that is “based on iterative and incremental development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing, cross-functional teams.” Guess what? That’s what John Deere is doing according to Aaron Senneff, Development Manager at John Deere Intelligent Solutions …

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere

New Chairman of American Seed Trade Association

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s the passing of the gavel. This time at the American Seed Trade Association convention. Here is new ASTA Chairman, Blake Curtis, Curtis & Curtis, Inc. (left) with past Chairman Mike Gumina, Pioneer Hi-Bred. I spoke with Blake at the end of the convention to find out things went in his opinion and what the future priorities are for the …

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

John Deere Announces MyJohnDeere.com

Chuck Zimmerman

Today John Deere announced MyJohnDeere.com and to learn a little about it I spoke with David Everitt, President, Agriculture and Turf Division. Dave has just announced his retirement from John Deere after a long career with the company. The announcements are being made at the John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit. David says this is the most exciting time to be …

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

It Will Be Dupont Pioneer

Chuck Zimmerman

Beginning this weekend you’ll see a new name for Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business. As of July 1 it will be known as DuPont Pioneer. According to information I received the change is a part of the company extending DuPont’s efforts in the agricultural and food industries. The change in the name is to reflect a joint mission to find …

Agribusiness, Pioneer

Ready For John Deere Technology Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello from the John Deere Technology Summit in Des Moines, IA. This is the welcoming committee for ag media. Starting this evening and continuing out on the farm tomorrow we’ll be learning about what’s new from John Deere. I don’t have any of that information to share with you yet but you can be sure I will. For those of …

Agribusiness, John Deere

ASTA Represents Vegetable and Flower Seed

Chuck Zimmerman

During the American Seed Trade Association convention the organization’s divisions conduct business and report on activities. One of those is the Vegetable and Flower Seed Division, chaired by Kent Croon, Monsanto. I visited with Kent after his report was given. Kent works in technology development within Monsanto Vegetable Seeds. Kent says that many people think corn and soybeans when they …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed

Alltech Symposium iBook

Chuck Zimmerman

Have you wondered what to do with all those photos from your event? Not ready to print a book? Then take Alltech’s lead and publish an iBook. The Alltech 28th Annual International Symposium, held May 20 – 23, 2012, in Lexington, Ky., was a venue for close to 3,000 delegates from around the world to discuss the future of agriculture …

Agribusiness, Alltech

NAMA Executive Committee Meets

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the Executive Committee of the National Agri-Marketing Association after an afternoon of meeting on the business of the organization. Things are going very well for NAMA and we’re going to have some exciting announcements soon about the new fall meeting. Which by the way needs to be on your calendar – September 25 – 26, Minneapolis, Minnesota – Graves …

NAMA

ASTA Assists With Seed Phytosanitary Issues

Chuck Zimmerman

During the American Seed Trade Association annual convention committees meet to set policies for the organization for the coming year. One of those is the phytosanitary committee. I visited with Darrell Maddox, Endless Sky Partners, about the work of this committee that he used to chair. Darrell says the committee works with USDA-APHIS to facilitate trade. They work with seed …

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed