When we talk about having the resources to feed the world in the future, most of the time we’re thinking land and water, but having adequate human resources is equally, if not more, important. That’s really what the 2011 AgCareers.com North American Ag HR Roundtable is all about. To kick off the 9th annual event, being held this year at …
AgCareers North American Ag HR Roundtable Starts Today
I will be finding out more about AgCareers this week at the 9th AgCareers.com Ag HR Roundtable, in West Lafayette, Indiana, which is being hosted this year by ADM and Purdue University. The event brings together agribusiness employers, professional organizations and college career counselors “to talk about issues facing the recruitment and retention of entry level and professional level talent …
NCGA and Pioneer Offer Growers NASCAR Dream Day
Start your engines, NASCAR fans, because the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Pioneer HI-Bred are offering NCGA members a chance to win a NASCAR dream day to the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn., on Saturday, Aug. 27. The dream day race package includes access to the DuPont-Pioneer hospitality tent, a pit tour, and a …
Koch Agronomic Services to Acquire AGROTAIN International
AGROTAIN International had some big news to talk about today at the Ag Media Summit Info Expo – the company has signed an agreement to sell its assets to Koch Agronomic Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Koch Fertilizer, LLC. AGROTAIN VP of Global Marketing Jeff Whetstine, pictured here with Dr. Harold Reetz of Reetz Agronomics, gave Chuck the lowdown in …
Retail and Acquisitions Put the GROW in GROWMARK
Retail businesses and acquisitions really put the “Grow” in the GROWMARK system. Shelly Kruse is GROWMARK vice president of retail and acquisitions and I spoke with her earlier this year about her job. “I work a lot with our retail divisions, which are member cooperatives that have actually merged into GROWMARK,” Shelly said. Three of those retail divisions are located …
MPK Teaches Peanut Industry Some New Moves
I had the opportunity to see the lovely and talented advocate for agriculture Michele Payn-Knoper in action last week at the 2011 Southern Peanut Growers Conference where she was the keynote luncheon speaker. “We have to engage with the 98 and a half percent of the population who are not farmers,” she said, encouraging the peanut growers to use the …
Country Living Association Says Farewell
The Country Living Association (CLA) has decided to discontinue operations effective today. In an email to readers, members, stakeholders and friends, CLA director Courtney Yuskis wrote that economic conditions forced them to make this difficult decision. It’s with some sadness that I am writing to you this week. The Country Living Association has decided to discontinue operations effective today. The …
Peanut Proud Helping Tornado Victims
Peanut Proud was an effort started two years ago when the peanut industry faced the salmonella outbreak that threatened consumer perceptions of healthy peanut butter. When the industry came through the challenge stronger than before, Peanut Proud started looking for a way to give back to the people, and that opportunity came without warning when a string of tornadoes struck …
Farm Bill Forecasting at Peanut Meeting
Prospects for a new Farm Bill dominated a discussion at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City over the weekend. Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN) of the freshman class in the House of Representatives for 2010 would like to see the next Farm Bill delayed until after the 2012 election. “We’ve got to make sure as we approach writing a …
Time for Peanuts on the Beach
It’s time once again for peanuts on the beach in Panama City, Florida – where it’s cooler than it is here in the Midwest! It’s the 13th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference (SPGC), being held once again at the beautiful Edgewater Beach Resort, July 21-23, and I will once again be the official SPGC blogger. This will be the fourth …