A Very Good Year For Bader Rutter

Chuck Zimmerman

The ZimmCast series of interviews with agricultural marketing agency leadership continues with my conversation with Greg Nickerson, President, Bader Rutter. He says it is an exciting time for the agency with 2010 being a “very good year.” By a very good year he means that they’re on track for double digit growth. The agency has 170 employees and has diversified …

Agencies, Audio, ZimmCast

Vilsack Visits Georgia Peanut and Ethanol Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in the Peach State earlier this week talking with peanut growers and visiting an ethanol plant. Ethanol plants in the southeast are pretty rare – in fact, First United Ethanol, LLC (FUEL) is really the only one to speak of that is operating at any capacity. FUEL is a 100 million gallon per year corn-based …

Audio, Ethanol, Peanuts, USDA

AdFarm Has a Passion For Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

In this edition of the ZimmCast we’ll meet Roger Reierson, President, AdFarm . Cindy spoke with Roger to learn what’s new at the agency. We’re continuing this series of interviews with leadership at agricultural marketing agencies which seems to have drawn a lot of attention and many more to come. With a name like AdFarm you would think the company …

Agencies, Audio, ZimmCast

Alltech Improves Crops

Chuck Zimmerman

Most people think of animal health when they think of Alltech. But did you know that they are also involved in plant and crop health? I learned this at the recent Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games when VP, Aidan Connolly (pictured right), introduced me to Molly Dugan. Molly told me all about Improcrop, a subsidiary of Alltech. She says that …

Alltech, Audio

Quarry Integrated Communications Has A Sharpened Focus

Chuck Zimmerman

Continuing my series of conversations with agrimarketing agency leaders this program features Bob Wilbur, Senior Vice President, Quarry Integrated Communications. Quarry was the sponsor of my coverage of the recent NAMA Trends In Ag conference for which I thank them very much. Bob says they “see the world changing.” Those changes are changing what they do and how they do …

Agencies, Audio, ZimmCast

Time For An International AgChat Foundation?

Chuck Zimmerman

The emcee for the Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable conducted by Truth About Trade & Technology was Bob Thomson once again. He says the participating farmers were looking at what it’s going to take to thrive in the next several years. High on their list is modern technology. He says they realize that to feed the projected population equivalent of …

Ag Groups, Audio, Biotech, International, Sustainability, Technology

Testing and Conditioning Seeds

Chuck Zimmerman

I was fascinated to see the Iowa State University Seed Science Center which was a tour stop for the TATT Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable. One of our hosts was Michael Stahr, Seed Laboratory Manager. The first thing that really got my attention was their herbarium which contains over 6,000 vials of seeds that date back to when George Washington …

Audio, Education, Seed, Technology, University

The Pulse of Agri-Pulse

Chuck Zimmerman

In this week’s ZimmCast we’re going to take the pulse of Agri-Pulse Communications with President, Sara Wyant. Sara says that her company will be celebrating seven years very soon. So will ZimmComm so perhaps we should celebrate together! Agri-Pulse publishes a weekly news report and also has a blog, “Ag Policy From The Inside Out.” Sara was a speaker at …

Audio, Media, ZimmCast

USFRA – A Unified Voice For U.S. Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

How many times have we heard of the need for a “unified voice for U.S. agriculture?” I lost count a long time ago. Now there is an effort underway to accomplish this much needed goal. Two days ago the legal papers were completed to form the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). To learn the who/what/why I spoke with Rick …

Ag Groups, Audio

Novus Support World Food Prize

Chuck Zimmerman

Being in Des Moines this week was a great opportunity to see a lot of friends and clients. AgWired sponsor, Novus International, was on display for the World Food Prize activities. In fact, Novus is a big supporter. Pictured are Thad Simons (left), President/CEO and Jill Mahoney, Public Relations. Thad says the Novus vision to feed the world ties right …

Agribusiness, Audio, Novus International, World Food Prize