The weather is threatening here in Louisville, but that is not deterring people from arriving to the 2009 National Farm Machinery Show, which just opened its doors. If the economy is bad, you wouldn’t know it here. More than 800 exhibitors are expected in the 27 acres of exhibit space here. I am a “newbie” to the show, so I …
New BASF Leadership
BASF Corporation this week announced the appointment of Markus Heldt as President, Crop Protection, BASF. Heldt, who held the position of Group Vice President, North America for the past three years, will relocate to the company’s global headquarters in Limburgerhof, Germany. Heldt is pictured here (right) with Michael Heinz, the man he is succeeding as president of crop protection, during …
Farm Equipment Legend Passes
The founder of Vermeer Corporation passed away today in Pella, Iowa. Gary Vermeer started the business with a cousin in 1948, after inventing a wagon hoist five years earlier, which made it easier to unload corn. From that small operation, the company has grown over the past 60 years to an international organization that manufactures agricultural, construction, environmental, and industrial …
New in the Novus Line-Up
A new line of products going to bat from Novus International for the poultry industry is CIBENZA feed additives and other Novus enzyme and probiotic products. The coach for this special team is product manager Dr. Nasser Odetallah. Nasser comes from Amman, Jordan, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from University of Jordan specializing …
All Star Prize Package
Novus International has been gathering entries for an “all-star” prize package ever since their first event at the International Poultry Expo way back on Tuesday at lunch. That’s when I took this photo of Novus team members Tricia Beal and Lorraine Magney collecting the entry forms. The package itself has all kinds of fun goodies in it – including an …
Columbian Poultry Success Story
As the name implies, the International Poultry Expo is a global event that attracts poultry industry professionals from around the world. I had the pleasure of meeting Jorge Bedoya, president of the Columbian Poultry Industry Association, at the U.S. Soybean Export Council booth and got to talk with him about how soybean producers in this country have helped grow the …
Lou Brock Steals Hearts at Poultry Expo
A man best known for stealing bases during his stellar career was stealing hearts today at the Novus booth during the International Poultry Expo. Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock, an all-star for the St. Louis Cardinals in his day, really hit a home run for Novus at the expo. He spent two hours signing autographs and taking pictures with …
Poultry Industry Outlook
2008 was a year the poultry industry would rather forget, but the outlook for 2009 is brighter, according to Tom Hensley, president of Fieldale Farms in Baldwin, Georgia. He presented “The Industry Outlook: An Executive Management Perspective” at the International Poultry Expo this morning. Hensley is optimistic about this year. “You can’t be in the chicken business unless you’re an …
Coaching the Novus Team
The key to a winning baseball team is a good coach and if Novus International was a baseball team, executive vice president of marketing and sales Giovanni Gasperoni would be that coach. “Novus was born in 1991, so we celebrate our 18th anniversary this year,” Gio told me in an interview today. “When I came to the states in 1995, …
Headline Receives Plant Health Label
BASF announced today that Headline® fungicide is the first fungicide to have EPA approved Plant Health claims on its label. State approvals are currently pending. “We believe this is a new precedent for the agricultural community,” said Nevin McDougall, Group Vice President, North America, BASF. “Agriculture must rely on innovative products such as Headline to meet the increasing global demand …