USDA Ponders Future of Crop Report Release Times

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA is pondering the future of crop report release times in light of movement toward 24-hour trading. USDA is reviewing release times for several major statistical reports due to recent changes in market hours by major commodity exchanges. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB), the USDA entities responsible for the reports, will seek …

Corn, USDA

Atrazine Settlement a Relief for Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta is hoping that a settlement reached last week over atrazine in water supplies will help the farmers who depend on the herbicide that is more than 50 years old. The proposed settlement agreement will cost the company $105 million and still requires court approval but the hope is that it will “end the uncertainty and expense of almost eight …

Corn, Crop Protection, NCGA

GROWMARK Hosts French Cooperative

Cindy Zimmerman

In the spirit of cooperation between cooperatives, Illinois-based GROWMARK hosted leaders from the French cooperative Terrena last week as part of a 12-day tour of United States agriculture. “We were approached by the tour leader about coordinating an exchange of ideas between the Terrena leadership and GROWMARK’s leadership,” said Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK director, Government Affairs. “Because our agricultural products compete …

GROWMARK

Iowa Great Grower Pleased with Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

Another of our 2012 BASF Great Growers is Steve Miller of West Union, Iowa in the northeast part of the state. He farms with his dad Henry and is pictured here with his adorable son Cam – the picture of a true family farm! I was actually supposed to interview Steve and his dad back in the freezing December of …

Audio, BASF, Corn, Crop Protection, Farming, Soybean

Thank Domino’s Ag Pizza Party Weekend

Cindy Zimmerman

We know what’s for dinner tonight – Domino’s Pizza! This weekend has officially been declared “Thank Domino’s Ag Pizza Party Weekend” by the agriculture social media community. It is our way of saying thanks to the pizza corporation for not caving into the demands of HSUS (Humane Society of the U.S.) Last month, Domino’s Pizza shareholders voted against a resolution …

Animal Activists, Farming, Food

Stewart Doan Services

Cindy Zimmerman

Information on services for Stewart Doan have been finalized, along with a college fund set up for his daughters, Lauren and Sara. Visitation will take place on Monday, May 14, from 6-8 pm at the Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock, AR 72205. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 15 at 4:00 pm at Faith …

NAFB

Tributes Pouring out for Stewart Doan

Cindy Zimmerman

Tributes to the life of Stewart Doan have been pouring out from all over the agriculture industry today as news of his sudden passing yesterday has been spreading. According to Sara Wyant, president of Agri-Pulse, where Stewart had been senior editor, they do not have all the details, “but we know that he had not been feeling well and saw …

NAFB

GROWMARK Keeps IT Growing

Cindy Zimmerman

As a multi-state agricultural co-operative system with over 6000 employees and numerous brands, information technology (IT) is a vital aspect of GROWMARK‘s ability to communicate on a number of levels. That keeps GROWMARK Manager of Network Services Scott Bross busy keeping up with the latest on-line communications tools – from improved websites to blogs and all the various social networking …

Audio, GROWMARK, Social Networking, Technology

SmartTrax Boost New Holland Tractor Productivity

Cindy Zimmerman

The New Holland T9 Series Tractors with SmartTrax have been getting a lot of attention at farm machinery shows since last fall and High Horsepower Tractor Marketing Manager Sean Dorosz says there are good reasons for that. “SmartTrax tracks boost the productivity and pulling efficiency of our T9 Series tractors,” Sean said at the recent New Holland media event, where …

Equipment, New Holland, Tractor, Video

AgCareers are Hot!

Cindy Zimmerman

Careers in agriculture are hot right now, a bright spot in the overall economy. We talked with Eric Spell, president of AgCareers.com, at the recent National Agri-Marketing Association annual convention, where the company was actually born 12 years ago as a student presentation by the University of Florida. (Go Gators!) “It is an exciting time to be in agriculture,” Eric …

AgCareers, Audio, NAMA