Communicating with the National Association of Wheat Growers

Chuck Zimmerman

This week’s ZimmCast continues my series visiting with farm organization Directors of Communications. At the Farm Progress Show I sat down with Caitlin Eannello, National Association of Wheat Growers, to talk about her career choice and what the challenges of the job are. Caitlin does not have a farm background but does have a passion to help farmers and a …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Progress Show, NAWG, Wheat, ZimmCast

John Deere Acquires Blue River Technology

Chuck Zimmerman

Farming just keeps getting smarter thanks to new technology like that being developed by Blue River Technology. It certainly caught the attention of John Deere which just announced acquisition of Blue River. To learn more about what Blue River Technology does and what this means to John Deere and its customers I spoke by phone with Willy Pell, Director of …

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, John Deere, Technology

FMC Offers Freedom Pass Program

Chuck Zimmerman

FMC has introduced a new program for Very Independent Purchasers called the FMC Freedom Pass. Farmers are pretty independent and want freedom of choices as much as possible. According to Mike Harper, industry relations manager for FMC Agricultural Solutions in the U.S. and Canada, the company is giving them that opportunity. I visited with Mike in the Illinois Soybean Association …

Agribusiness, Audio, Crop Protection, Farm Progress Show, FMC

Methane Concept Tractor from New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Tractors running on alternative fuels are not new. But what is new is a concept tractor from New Holland that is powered with methane or CNG. The tractor was on display during the Farm Progress Show. Pictured with the tractor is Carlo Lambro, New Holland Brand President. We had a chance to visit and talked about the new machine as …

Agribusiness, Audio, Biofuels, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Tractor, ZimmCast

GROWMARK CEO Reports at Annual Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

The CEO for GROWMARK is Jim Spradlin. Jim took the stage at the annual meeting here in Chicago to report on how GROWMARK is maintaining a focus on its core values while adapting to changing market conditions, leadership and the importance of engaged employees, implementing a strategic plan and being mindful of environmental concerns. He told me that GROWMARK has …

Agribusiness, Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

Preview of GROWMARK Annual Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

Just prior to the start of today’s GROWMARK Annual Meeting I spoke with John Reifsteck, Chairman/President to get a preview. I’m a first time attendee, so I needed it! The theme for this year’s meeting is Execute with Excellence. John says that for GROWMARK it is not something you say or do once but it’s a habit. “We think it’s …

Audio, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

Bayer at Work to Combat Citrus Greening

Chuck Zimmerman

During the 2017 Citrus Expo I visited with Adrian Percy, Bayer, about the partnership announcement between Bayer and the Citrus Research and Development Foundation to combat citrus greening disease. Adrian says that Bayer is uniquely qualified to take on the disease because of its long history in disease control and a great range of fungicide products and also work in …

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Citrus

Secretary Perdue in Florida

Chuck Zimmerman

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited the Citrus Expo in Fort Myers, Florida this week to learn more about citrus greening and hold a farm bill listening session with Congressman Tom Rooney of the local district. The only opportunity for reporters to ask questions of the secretary was a short, crowded, disorganized gaggle that covered a wide range of non-agricultural …

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, USDA