Classic Commodity Group Unity

Chuck Zimmerman

We’re talking commodity group unity here at Commodity Classic. Here’s the leaders of each of the participating groups, Bart Schott, NCGA, Alan Kemper, ASA, Gerald Simonsen, NAWG and Jerry McReynolds, NSP. Emceeing this morning’s general session once again was Mark Mayfield. He asked them each to answer the question, “What are you doing to enhance public trust and what efforts …

Ag Groups, ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, NCGA

Ag Secretary Vilsack at Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack gave the keynote address today to an audience of more than 4,500 farmers and commodity group representatives during the General Session of the 16th Annual Commodity Classic in Tampa, Florida. In his remarks, Vilsack commended American farmers, ranchers and producers for helping to lead the United States’ economic recovery by shattering agricultural trade records, creating jobs …

Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

BASF Announces NCGA and ASA Scholarships

Cindy Zimmerman

Along with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)and the American Soybean Association (ASA), BASF Crop Protection announced the winners of six scholarships during the 2011 Commodity Classic on Thursday in Tampa. This is the fourth year for both scholarship programs. “BASF is dedicated to providing the next generation of agricultural industry leaders with resources to further their education and advance …

ASA, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, Soybean

Trade Top Issue for Corn and Soybean Leaders

Cindy Zimmerman

The issue at the top of the list for the farmer leaders of the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is trade. “In the last marketing year, over 60% of the soybeans in the U.S. were exported, compared to 55% just a year ago,” said ASA president Alan Kemper of Indiana during a press conference …

ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, Soybean

AgHaven An Ag Destination

Chuck Zimmerman

New AgWired sponsor AgHaven is now ready for anyone in the agricultural industry to sign up. You can create a free account and use their one of a kind search engine or get social with their built in social networking tools. This morning I spoke with Srik Soogoor, President (pictured left), who gave me some background on how the idea …

Audio, Commodity Classic

BASF Xemium Fungicide Difference

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Crop Protection is well known for the super effective and ever popular Headline fungicide, but company officials say the newly developed Xemium is a totally different animal that will serve to complement Headline. BASF is developing uniquely-designed formulations that provide complete coverage of the leaf surface and systemic distribution to ensure the product not only moves within the leaf …

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic

Learning the Science Behind Xemium Fungicide

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Crop Protection presented educational information and research results on a new active ingredient, Xemium® fungicide, during the fifth annual “Science Behind” media symposium Wednesday in Tampa, just prior to the kickoff of the 2011 Commodity Classic. This new chemistry demonstrates strong field test results in disease control in a variety of crops being researched. BASF hopes to introduce products …

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic

The Ag Industry Now Has An AgHaven

Chuck Zimmerman

Let me introduce you to AgHaven, an ag-specific community website and search engine. I have been an AgHaven Beta tester and am also happy to announce that AgHaven will be one of the sponsors of AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic where the official announcement of the new online location is being made. I got a preview of what members of …

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Internet

Catching up with a Former Ag Secretary

Cindy Zimmerman

Prior to the start of the 2011 Commodity Classic in Tampa, Bayer CropScience held its annual Ag Issues Forum featuring a number of prominent experts in the areas of trade, policy, finance and environmental issues. One of those experts was an old friend, former Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter, who is pictured here with Bayer CropScience …

Audio, Commodity Classic, Trade

Measuring the Unmeasurable

Cindy Zimmerman

Measuring the effectiveness of social media really is possible – if know what you want to measure and what tools to use. At the Agricultural Relations Council annual meeting in Ft. Myers last week, we had a presentation from The Center for Public Issues Education – or simply the PIE Center – which is located at the University of Florida’s …

ARC, Audio, ZimmCast