The board of directors for Family Dairies USA, Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative and Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers have unanimously voted to recommend a unified merger for their membership. Combined, these three cooperatives could soon become the largest Midwest dairy marketing cooperative under the new name of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative. “We are extremely excited about the future this effort will offer …
Water Management With SMS Tile Plan Editor
Welcome to the first of our new features called Insights Weekly from our sponsor Ag Leader Technology! One of the new features that Ag Leader is excited to release in version 12.5 of SMS Advanced is the new Water Management Module for tiling. This new optional editor allows growers to design tile drainage systems in a field by utilizing RTK …
GROWMARK supports Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
GROWMARK generously supports the non-profit organization Farm Safety 4 Just Kids in their effort to keep youth safe in rural areas. GROWMARK provides their customers with agricultural products as well as the means to deliver, market, and store those products. “GROWMARK’s sponsorship of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids demonstrates their commitment to their curstomers,” David Schweitz, executive director of Farm …
Do We Need GMO-Labeled Food?
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How important will rural vote be in election?” Our poll results: Sixty-five percent say very important and thirty-five percent said not important. It appears as though the majority of folks believe farmers and ranchers need to cast their vote. So remember, Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Less than a week away! Our …
Zimfo Bytes
Daryl Oldvader, FCS Financial Chief Executive Officer, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2012. Advanta US is pleased to announce Brannon Byers has been named global crop supply chain manager for sorghum for parent company Advanta. USDA, AMS, Cotton & Tobacco Programs is seeking nominations for 24 vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards. Syngenta announced a …
Chevy or Ford Man?
Our son “politely” tells all owners of red combines or tractors that they’re going to break down and that he likes green ones. He also has to ask every pickup owner if it has 4-wheel drive because “daddy’s does”. To a 4-year-old, life is one big competition. He’s also a Chevy man. This past weekend, my husband went to a …
Commodity Classic Caps Off with Classic Rock
What’s a better way to conclude Commodity Classic than with some classic rock? The Monsanto Evening of Entertainment at the 2013 Commodity Classic will feature World Classic Rockers, a group of standout performers from legendary rock bands. Commodity Classic is the nation’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused conference and trade show, presented annually by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, …
Upcoming Blackberry Field Day
Growing blackberries in the Midwest has been productive and profitable. Richard Barnes, a produce grower and founder of Trellis Growing Systems (TGS), invites growers to see and hear firsthand how blackberries are being grown in Ohio and surrounding states with great success at a field day on Friday, Nov. 2nd at Rhoads Farms in Circleville, Ohio. Field day participants will …
Zimfo Bytes
MGEX announced that its Board of Directors approved the 2012-2013 Board officers and committee representatives. Neil Dobbins is the new CEO of Rabo AgriFinance. A recent Farm Journal Pulse poll shows America’s producers overwhelmingly support candidate Mitt Romney in the upcoming presidential election. Pear Bureau Northwest has named Meijer as the 2012 Pear Retailer of the Year for its outstanding …
Shoppers Pay Higher Prices for Breakfast Items
Shoppers paid slightly more for food at the grocery store during the third quarter of the year, with many popular breakfast staples showing an increase in retail price. Higher retail prices for eggs, bacon, orange juice, milk and toasted oat cereal, among other foods, resulted in a slight increase in the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Quarterly Marketbasket Survey. The …