Monsanto continues to grow its seed business. This time with De Ruiter Seeds. Monsanto Company announced today that it has completed its proposed acquisition of De Ruiter Seeds Group B.V., a Dutch-holding company that owns and operates De Ruiter Seeds, for EUR546 million in cash, or approximately $850 million at current exchange rates, less net debt. Monsanto will start to …
Citrus Robots from Energid
Citrus growers will soon have a new employment option: robots. Energid Technologies is developing a robotic citrus harvester for bulk fruit removal. Energid Technologies Corporation has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Small Business Innovation Research Program to develop a new robotic citrus harvesting system. This system will combine the intelligence of robotics with the efficiency …
Ag Leader Technology Precision Scholarships
Precision agriculture training at Iowa State University just got a boost. Today, Ag Leader Technology announced their commitment to support students interested in precision agriculture by establishing the Ag Leader Technology Precision Agriculture Scholarship within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) at Iowa State University. Five Ag Leader scholarships will be awarded annually starting in the 2008/2009 school …
FMC Supports “Be a Hero, Support a Hero”
Crop producers in a variety of markets will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of U.S. servicemen and women stationed overseas, with the “Be A Hero, Support A Hero” program from FMC Corporation. Throughout 2008, FMC will continue its support of the United Service Organization’s (USO) Operation Care Package initiative as part of the company’s ongoing …
Organic Beef Supply Beefs Up
Two U.S. organic beef producers are teaming up to expand the nation’s organic beef supply. CROPP Cooperative, North America’s largest farmer owned co-op, and Dakota Beef, the largest vertically integrated organic beef producer in the U.S., have partnered in a mutli-year agreement. Consumer demand for high quality organic beef has been exceptional and this partnership will ensure supply to an …
Knowing Novus Now
The week Cindy will be attending the World Pork Expo in Des Moines with our coverage sponsored by Novus International. I was in their office last week to meet with Jeremy Lutgen and Scott Fleetwood. I did an interview with Scott, who is their Executive Director of Marketing and Products. In it you’ll learn a lot more about the company. …
The Water is Rising at John Deere
Deere & Company has acquired a new water technologies company. San Diego-based T-Systems International, Inc is now apart of John Deere’s growing Water Technologies operation. “T-Systems International is a highly regarded global company with premier products, experienced talent, strong distribution and established operations in key agricultural irrigation markets,” said Michael McGrady, president of John Deere Water Technologies. “The addition of …
Pfizer Animal Genetics Selects Charleston|Orwig
The agency will be their marketing and communications firm. Charleston|Orwig will assist Pfizer Animal Genetics with introducing and establishing its new brand as the global leader in livestock genomics. Initially, the agency will help develop new public relations and customer advocacy strategies to effectively position Pfizer as a leader in this category. “Our goal in finding a partner to help …
Pioneer Promoting Podcasting
Willie Vogt, ZimmComm NAMA iPod touch winner and Farm Futures Editorial Director, has a guest column that just showed up on the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. It’s all about farm podcasting with a title of “Tap Into Information On-Demand, Time to put that computer to work and pull in the information you need automatically. You’re busy, yet you’re finding that the …
Michael Peterson Reaching Youth in Ag
Hello from Lincoln, NE where the Michael Peterson, My Real Life Tour, continues. The photo album is updated and I’ve been working on some video clips and audio. Now I know you may be asking, “What does this have to do with agriculture?” Well, to start with, my coverage is sponsored by New Holland, a company that is also sponsoring …