For the past nine years, Leroy Startz with ING Capital has chaired the committee that plans the Agricultural Retailers Association annual conference. Startz said this year’s conference had strong attendance and even stronger enthusiasm from participants, even though low commodity prices continue to challenge the industry. “Prices are not where they need to be. Everybody’s trying to figure out how …
New Ag Retailers Chair Has Game Plan
The new chairman of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) says 2017 was a championship year for the organization and he hopes to sustain that excellence moving forward. John Oster with Morral Companies in Ohio says one area where ARA will be very active in the coming year is in development of the new farm bill. “Although we are a small …
Agriculture Secretary Addresses Ag Retailers
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue topped off the ARA Conference and Expo on Thursday in Phoenix, covering a broad range of topics in his comments including tax reform, de-regulation, trade, food security, infrastructure, school lunches and the farm bill. Perdue, who noted his past experience in the fertilizer business and with ARA’s predecessor organization, the National Fertilizer Solutions Association, talked …
ZimmCast from #ARA2017
This ZimmCast comes to you from the 25th annual Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) conference and expo in Phoenix. Chuck interviews ARA communications director Brian Reuwee, provides comments from BASF and Monsanto representatives about dicamba in 2018, and shares the comments of ARA’s retailer of the year award winners. Brian was actually the subject of the ZimmCast at this time in …
ARA Presents Distinguished Service and Lifetime Awards
The Agricultural Retailers Association recognized the 40-year career of William “Tip” O’Neill with the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award, and presented the Distinguished Service Award to long-time board member Steve Nielsen during the ARA Conference and Expo in Phoenix this week. Nielsen, most recently general counsel and corporate secretary for United Suppliers, joined the ARA board of directors in 2011. …
Asmus Farm Supply Named ARA Retailer of the Year
The Agricultural Retailers Association this week presented Asmus Farm Supply of Rake, Iowa with the 2017 Retailer of the Year at the ARA conference and expo in Phoenix. The operation is lead by second-generation owners Harlan and Amy Asmus, who accepted the award along with their sons Garrett and Holden and daughter-in-law, Billie. Mark Helt, National Sales Manager for Monsanto, …
“Change not a Choice” for Agribusiness
The recent merger of Dow and DuPont is just one of the high profile deals in the agribusiness world that mean significant changes for the industry going forward. DowDuPont Agriculture Division Leader Jim Collins addressed the current consolidation atmosphere in the industry as opening keynote speaker at the 2017 ARA Conference & Expo in Phoenix this week. “I know this …
Arizona FFA Leaders Welcome ARA Conference
This morning the opening general session of the 2017 ARA Conference & Expo got underway. ARA President/CEO, Daren Coppock, introduced us to Anisa Hermosillo, Arizona State FFA President and Sarah Toth, State Secretary. Our keynote speaker after Anisa and Sarah spoke said he hates having to follow FFA leaders on the stage. I think you will hear why since I …
ARA Explores Lessons Learned From Dicamba
Two respected weed scientists presented their views on the lessons learned from this year’s introduction of new dicamba formulations for control of resistant weeds at a pre-conference workshop for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) this week. Dr. Ford Baldwin, Practical Weed Consultants, was extension weed scientist at the University of Arkansas for 28 years. Dr. Stanley Culpepper is a professor …
Ag Retailers Celebrating Silver Anniversary
The Agricultural Retailers Association is celebrating 25 years of service to support sellers of seeds, nutrients, crop protection products, farm equipment, precision technology and agronomic services. The organization is holding its annual conference and expo this week in Phoenix to look back on the accomplishments of the past 25 years and ahead to the future of the industry. Tim McArdle …