As of September 15, GROWMARK will have a new chief executive officer. Jim Spradlin was named CEO of GROWMARK to replace Jeff Solberg who is retiring. Spradlin has a degree in business administration and economics from Illinois College and has held various positions within the GROWMARK System of cooperatives, including controller of Schuyler-Brown FS, regional administrative director, general manager of …
Learning More about BASF Limus
During the Farm Progress Show last week, BASF Crop Protection Product Manager for Diversified Herbicides and Nutrient Management Nick Fassler was on hand to talk about the company’s new Limus urease inhibitor. “BASF’s been talking about Functional Crop Care for the last several years and nutrient management was one core pillar in that group of new innovations we were going …
Alltech Press Conference
During the Alltech Global Dairy and Beef Conference this afternoon Dr. Pearse Lyons held an informal press conference. Some of the first questions asked dealt with Alltech’s future plans for growth in countries like Ukraine, Russia and Australia. He also talked about his philosophy of investing in an idea, sticking with it and watching it turn into reality and grow. …
Alltech Dares to Dream
Dr. Pearse Lyons says he has never worked a day in his life and he means it. This man loves what he does and it shows every moment you’re in his presence. Here at the Alltech Global Dairy & Beef Conference he welcomed us and challenged us to pursue our dreams. He also talked about his dream, the Alltech dream, …
Opening Reception for Alltech Global
The Alltech Global Dairy & Beef Conference got underway with a very tasty reception at the Centre International Deauville. Dr. Pearse Lyons welcomed us to France and then introduced some world class music. The food here in Deauville is awesome. We had some great hamburgers at the reception. I am sure it was some local Normandy beef! But that was …
Time for Play at #FPS14
The entire ZimmComm Team was present for this year’s Farm Progress Show and as expected it was packed with interviews, press conferences, photography and of course, lots of blogging. But don’t worry it wasn’t all work and no play. Leah and I took advantage of Farm Progress Show, Iowa State Center and Syngenta’s sponsorship of the first of many to …
GROWMARK CEO Retiring Comments
After 38 years with one company, GROWMARK chief executive officer Jeff Solberg, has announced his retirement. Solberg joined GROWMARK in 1976 and has held many leadership positions, including Senior Vice President, Finance, Vice President, Finance, and Treasurer. He was named CEO in November 2010 and assumed the CEO duties in January 2011. “My goal was to always become the Chief Financial …
AgInfomatics Identying the Benefits of Insecticides
I learned a lot this week during the Farm Progress Show but one particular thing I learned about was neonicotinoids. Until I met Pete Nowak with Madison, Wisconsin-based AgInfomatics and an emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison, I had never heard the term nor had any idea what it meant. Now I do. So let’s go to school …
BASF Farm Perspectives Survey
At the Farm Progress Show this week, BASF released a new Farm Perspectives Study, conducted earlier this year, comparing consumer and farmer viewpoints on agriculture-related issues based on opinions from more than 9,000 people in seven different countries. “This is actually the second study, it was first conducted in 2011,” said BASF Technical Crop Production Specialist AJ Woodyard. Conducted in …
Summit Group Announces Corn Ethanol Plant in Brazil
Alden, Iowa-based Summit Group announced a project to build the first modern corn ethanol plant in Brazil during the 2014 Farm Progress Show. The project will consist of a US$140 million ethanol plant near Lucas do Rio Verde in Mato Grosso, a leading agricultural state in west central Brazil and the country’s largest producer of corn and soybeans. The project …