By any measure, the 9th AgCareers.com North American Ag HR Roundtable was a big success and next year will likely be even bigger and better. I talked with Emily Gray with the University of Tennessee College of Ag Sciences and Natural Resources who has attended every one of the nine roundtables. “This is a very valuable event,” she told me. …
The Importance of Soft Skills to Employers
Soft skills are as important in the job market as software is to a computer. Soft skills include areas such as communications, leadership, problem-solving, self-management and professionalism – some of which must be developed over time rather than taught in a classroom – but the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) is taking a look at how their courses …
AMR Management Services Acquires Drake & Company
DrakeCo is now part of a bigger association management company. AMR Management Services (AMR), a full-service association management company (AMC) serving national, regional and local client partners, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Drake & Company (DrakeCo), an accredited AMC based in Chesterfield, Mo. “I have known Steve Drake for more than 15 years and have always admired his …
Agricultural Bio-based Careers are Booming
Novozymes was one of the companies that participated in the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable held this past week at Purdue University. Novozymes is a Danish-based international company which specializes in enzymes for bioag products, biofuels and bio-pharmaceuticals. Novozymes Recruitment and Employer Branding Manager Darlene Godsey says the company’s workforce has increased tremendously just in the last five …
Georgia Peanut Commission Celebration
The Georgia Peanut Commission board of directors celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this week by lifting a shovel and tossing a little dirt at the site for the new headquarters of the Commission in Tifton, Ga. The event held Monday, Aug. 1, brought more than 125 attendees to witness the groundbreaking and to celebrate the Commission’s 50 years of representing …
Novus’s MINTREX Gets New Feed Ingredient Category
A new feed ingredient category has been created for MINTREX® chelated trace minerals from Novus International. According to Novus, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) accepted this new feed ingredient definition July 31, during its 2011 Ingredient Definitions Committee Meeting in Austin, Texas. The Division of Animal Feeds within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary …
Agriculture Future of America at Ag HR Roundtable
An organization that helps prepare young people for careers in agriculture was very involved in the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable. I spoke with Nancy Barcus, Director of Leader Development Programs for Agriculture Future of America. “AFA works with college men and women and young professionals just entering the work force to provide academic scholarship support, career and …
Understanding Recruitment Philosophy for Ag
A panel discussion on recruitment philosophy for careers in agriculture at the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable on Tuesday featured a conversation from both the education and employer perspective. Ashley Collins, Education Coordinator with AgCareers.com, moderated the panel which included Deanna Pieper of Crop Production Services, Stephanie Shampine of ADM, Catherine McGinnis from Penn State University, and Noah …
Alltech on Raising the Bar for Student Recruitment in Ag
Instead of competing with each other for a limited talent pool, agribusinesses need to work together to increase interest in agricultural careers. Dan Rice, Strategic Analyst with Alltech, spoke on Raising the Bar for Student Recruitment in agriculture at the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable on Tuesday morning. He says part of the issue is pubic perceptions of …
Excellent Turnout for AgCareers HR Roundtable
More agribusiness employers than ever are represented this week at the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable at Purdue University. AgCareers president Eric Spell says they had over 145 attendees on Monday and today about 190 are at the 9th annual event to discuss recruitment and retention of talent in the agribusiness industry. “Some companies are sending 3, 4 …