Swanson Russell announces the hire of Amy Bugg and Heidi Grunkemeyer as account supervisors in the Omaha office. Bugg focuses on the agency’s agribusiness accounts. A graduate of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, she holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications with an emphasis on advertising. Bugg previously worked as both a group account lead and team lead for …
Harvest is Plenty, Ag Laborers are Few
It was over 2,000 years ago that Jesus said “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” and that is apparently very true today in the agribusiness world. “Here in the United States, just in the next five years based on surveys that we’ve done, we know we’re going to have about 60,000 jobs available in the agribusiness enterprise …
Agribusiness Ties to Harvard
When you think of agricultural education, Harvard is probably one of the last institutes of higher learning that comes to mind, but think again. Mary Shelman is director of the agribusiness program at Harvard Business School and has been president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA). “The very term agribusiness was created by a colleague of mine …
Novus CEO is New IFAMA President
Novus International President and CEO Thad Simons will be the new president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) Board of Directors for the next two years. IFAMA made the announcement at its 23rd Annual World Forum and Symposium. IFAMA is a leading agribusiness nonprofit that brings together the best minds from all sectors of food production and …
Monsanto Chairman Keynotes IFAMA World Forum
Monsanto chairman and CEO Hugh Grant was the keynote speaker for the 23rd annual International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum, being held this year in Atlanta, Georgia. “IFAMA – a very cool organization,” Grant began his address to some 450 attendees from 28 countries following an introductory video on the forum theme – The Road to 2050: …
ASTA State of Agribusiness Panel Discussion
Challenges facing the seed industry were the topic of discussion at Tuesday morning’s general session at the 130th ASTA annual meeting. The state of agribusiness panel was composed of Ross Harvey from AdFarm, Blake Sieker managing partner at The Context Network and Kevin Ferguson farm management extension area specialist with the University of Tennessee. The panel was moderated by Lowell …
From ASTA to IFAMA
As this busy week on the agriblogging highway continues, I am leaving the last day of the American Seed Trade Association convention in the young but capable hands of our summer intern Maggie Seiler while I head to the 23rd World Forum of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) in Atlanta. This is an event we have never …
ASTA President and CEO Welcomes Attendees
Andy LaVigne, ASTA President and CEO, opened the ASTA 130th annual meeting by welcoming everyone to Nashville and taking a look at what attendees would hear about and discuss over the next two days. His opening remarks surrounded the evolution of the seed industry. LaVigne said the seed industry has a great opportunity to bring its message to the world, …
ASTA Honorary Lifetime Member
Kelly Keithly was awarded the Honorary Lifetime Member award at the ASTA 130th annual meeting. Keithly is the president of Keithly-Williams Seeds (KWS). He has been involved in the seed business since he graduated from college. Keithly began the company in 1981 with his partner, Walt Williams, and two employees, and it has since expanded to 150 employees and in …
Shoot It Straight Video Contest
Lights, Camera, Action! The Illinois Corn Growers Association is calling on all students to channel their “inner Spielberg” and create a video highlighting agriculture. All high school and college students are eligible to submit a short video (2 minutes or less) into the Shoot it Straight Video Contest. Sponsors will be looking for a fresh, original and convincing approach that …