A Fighting Slogan For R-CALF

Chuck Zimmerman

R-CALF has an official slogan. They say it was approved along with all the resolutions proposed at their annual convention in January. The votes were handled via mail-in ballot. The record 23 resolutions dealt with topics ranging from animal health to animal identification to marketing to property rights to international trade issues – and to the organization’s now-official slogan: “R-CALF …

Ag Groups

Address By Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Ag Commissioner

Chuck Zimmerman

The Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development for the European Economic Union is Mariann Fischer Boel. She was the keynote speaker on the program today here at the World Agricultural Forum. You can listen to her speech here while she’s finishing up with questions and answers. In her talk she tries to clear up misconceptions about farmers, farming and the …

Ag Groups, Audio, International

Grower Perspective on the World Agricultural Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the directors of the World Agricultural Forum is Dick McWard. He’s taking notes during this morning’s speech by Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. Dick is a producer from Illinois who is also retired from Bunge North America where he worked in industry affairs. I asked him for his perspective on an event like …

Ag Groups, Audio

Flowers From Columbia

Chuck Zimmerman

The flower man from Columbia is Ernesto Velez, Columbian Association of Flower Exporters. He gave us a presentation at our evening reception at the World Agricultural Forum here this evening. He said that there was a 90+% chance that the dozen carnations I bought Cindy on Sunday came from Columbia. If you’d like to learn about where a major source …

Ag Groups, Audio, International

Sunset in St. Louis

Chuck Zimmerman

It is definitely the end of the day here in St. Louis at the World Agricultural Forum. We had a very nice reception. Just check out the photo album. The top of the hotel has a very nice outside area from which we had a good view of the city and the sunset. The best part was the ice sculpture …

Ag Groups, International

Rich Keller On The Job

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the people covering the World Agricultural Forum is Rich Keller. Rich is the editor of AgProfessional and AgLender, Vance Publishing. I think he dared me to take his picture as he was enjoying a big soft pretzel on a break. I’m sure there are some dares I won’t take but it’s nice to see Rich in action. It’s …

Ag Groups, International

Bunge North America CEO Wants Us To Think Global

Chuck Zimmerman

The President and CEO of Bunge North America is Carl Hausmann. He was part of a panel today at the World Agricultural Forum that addressed the needs of food, fuel, fiber and water. I interviewed Carl after the session and asked what he thought one of the main concerns was that people expressed here. He says that when it comes …

Ag Groups, Audio, International

WAF President Sees Ag As Economic Engine For Growth

Chuck Zimmerman

The president of the World Agricultural Forum is Raymond Cesca, pictured here to the left of Leonard Guarraia. I interviewed Ray in between sessions earlier today about what he hopes to see accomplished. He says the theme of investing in agriculture is meant to be about more than just food and fuel but about successful business models and food production. …

Ag Groups, Audio, International

Press Conference With Dr. Rajashekara Reddy

Chuck Zimmerman

Another key figure on the program today at the World Agricultural Forum was the Hon. Dr. Rajashekara Reddy, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh, India. He participated in the opening session then held a press conference this afternoon. I recorded his press conference for you. In it he was first asked about the price of seed in India and what he thought …

Ag Groups, Audio, International

Deere CEO Addresses World Agricultural Forum

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the first speakers on the program here at the World Agricultural Forum was Robert Lane, Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company. I’ve got his full comments here for you to listen to if you’d like. It’s about 22 minutes. In it he speaks to the topic of investing in agriculture to create prosperity, the theme of the …

Ag Groups, Audio, International, John Deere, Tractor