August 31st marked the end to GROWMARK’s fiscal year. To mark the year end members from across the Midwest attended the 85th GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago. The meeting didn’t just consist of business reports and elections, laughter seemed to be a key element throughout the event. Comedian Jeanne Robertson was the highlight of the banquet Thursday evening and keynote …
USFRA a Part of Agvocacy 2.0
One of the sponsors of the AgChat Foundation is the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. During the recent Agvocacy 2.0 Conference in Kansas City we got to hear from Hugh Whaley, General Manager. He gave our participants an overview of the organization which includes shared values with the AgChat Foundation. Hugh says there are three main goals: “We’re going to …
Learning about DeLaval
How much do you know about DeLaval? Want to learn more? Then sit in on this press interview with President/CEO, Joakim Rosengren. For you ag journalists out there, this is another example of they type of opportunity that comes from participating in an annual IFAJ Congress. We conducted this interview during this year’s Congress while visiting the DeLaval Hamra Farm. …
A Happy Farm Progress Show
I am worn out and not ashamed to admit it. The Farm Progress Show was not only busy as usual but upper 90 degree temperatures and a media tent that hovered around 100 degrees inside half the time contributed. Cindy and I have a lot of interviews to share in the coming week. So let’s get started. Before leaving the …
Ag Sec. Vilsack Announces Beginning Farmers Grants
New USDA grants to support beginning farmers were announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on the final day of the Farm Progress Show. Sec. Vilsack held a a press conference in the New Holland media tent. “In the past few decades, U.S. agriculture has become the second most productive sector of the American economy thanks to farmers adopting …
FS InVISION Sightings at FPS
A photo contest has been running to get the word out about new FS InVISION™ seed corn and today is the last day to vote for your favorite. “This year, we’ve re-branded our FS seed corn and it’s now FS InVISION seed corn,” said Justin White with FS who explains that the FS InVISION Sightings Contest was designed to let …
New Holland Aggressively Focused on the Brand
The New Holland lot at the Farm Progress Show is packed with all the latest equipment from this original sponsor of our coverage of the show. I visited with Abe Hughes, VP, New Holland North America, seen here with the top leadership of the company who came out to the show to visit with customers and the New Holland team. …
Former Ag Secretary and USTR at FPS
A former Secretary of Agriculture and US Trade Ambassador believes Mitt Romney would be a better president for agriculture, doubts Congress will get a farm bill done next month, and would advise against waiving the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). That’s a few of the topics Dr. Clayton Yeutter touched on during a brief press appearance at the 2012 Farm Progress …
Livestock 101 at NAMA Boot Camp
Animal agriculture seems to be under a constant fire from those who don’t understand it. During the recent NAMA Boot Camp, Dr. Dan Thomson, Assistant Dean of Outreach and Professor at Kansas State University Vet School, addressed the basics of the industry along with issues and challenges so agri-marketers could help educate the growing population of non-ag consumers. “I think …
Monsanto Announces FieldScripts
Prior to the start of the Farm Progress Show, Monsanto held a media briefing to announce the first product in their Integrated Farming System (IFS) – FieldScripts. On the program were Dr. Robb Fraley, Dr. Ted Crosbie, Gregg Sauder, Precision Planting and farmer Kip Tom. I’ve captured their comments for you below. This coming planting season, farmers in four Midwestern …