At the Ag Media Summit I visited with Barry Nelson, John Deere, to find out what’s new. There is definitely going to be something new from John Deere very soon he says. “On August 24th and 25th we are going to have the largest most significant product introduction in our history.” Barry says the new equipment will be unveiled at …
Parting Comments from Ag HR Roundtable
By any measure, the 9th AgCareers.com North American Ag HR Roundtable was a big success and next year will likely be even bigger and better. I talked with Emily Gray with the University of Tennessee College of Ag Sciences and Natural Resources who has attended every one of the nine roundtables. “This is a very valuable event,” she told me. …
The Importance of Soft Skills to Employers
Soft skills are as important in the job market as software is to a computer. Soft skills include areas such as communications, leadership, problem-solving, self-management and professionalism – some of which must be developed over time rather than taught in a classroom – but the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) is taking a look at how their courses …
Agricultural Bio-based Careers are Booming
Novozymes was one of the companies that participated in the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable held this past week at Purdue University. Novozymes is a Danish-based international company which specializes in enzymes for bioag products, biofuels and bio-pharmaceuticals. Novozymes Recruitment and Employer Branding Manager Darlene Godsey says the company’s workforce has increased tremendously just in the last five …
USFRA Prepares for Public Launch of Ag Movement
There was a great panel discussion during the General Session of the Cattle Industry Summer Conference 2011 in Kissimmee, Florida that focused on the movement being developed by the US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). The ultimate goal of the USFRA is to educate people about where their food comes from. During a brief presentation by the National Cattlemen’s Beef …
Agriculture Future of America at Ag HR Roundtable
An organization that helps prepare young people for careers in agriculture was very involved in the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable. I spoke with Nancy Barcus, Director of Leader Development Programs for Agriculture Future of America. “AFA works with college men and women and young professionals just entering the work force to provide academic scholarship support, career and …
CSU Students Win Coveted W.D. Farr Scholarships
Two Colorado State Univeristy (CSU) Ph.D. students have won the coveted W.D. Farr Scholarship. Plainview, Texas native Jessica Igo and Pontette, Wisconsin native Scott Howard received the award during the General Session at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in its second day in Kissimmee, Florida. The $12,000 scholarships are given by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). Both Igo and Howard …
NCBA Committee Researches Cattle Diseases
A lot of discussion in the cattle industry today is about issues relating to widespread drought. Bill Nutt, Chair of the Emerging Cattle Health Research and Issues Working Group that met during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, is a producer from Georgia who has not escaped the consequences of the drought. While drought can cause problems with your herd, there …