BASF Agricultural Products division president Michael Heinz is in a good mood because prices for farm products are higher and farmers are spending more money on their input costs to increase production. “It makes us very excited because when the farmer is in a good mood, in general, we are in a good mood,” Heinz says. This optimism was the …
Global Press Conference
I have been an ag journalist for 25 years and never participated in an event quite like the global press conference for BASF here in Germany. Michael Heinz, President of BASF’s Agricultural Products Division, and Dr. Klaus Welsch, head of the European Crop Protection business, were the headliners at the event and the main news was how BASF sees the …
Propane Heat Sanitizes
Raj Hulasare with Temp-Air introduced the application of propane heat remediation at the 2007 Propane Technology Forum and Scientist Terry Smith with Mississippi State University has applied that concept to his research in dairy sanitation. Terry and I discussed how propane heat sanitation offers dairy producers a chemical-free option when maintaining the health of their dairy cows. You can listen …
NAMA’s New CEO
I talked the new CEO of the National AgriMarketing Association, Jenny Pickett, into taking a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk to me for this week’s program. If you don’t know Jenny then listen in and hear about her plans for NAMA. For one thing Jenny says that NAMA is going to focus on more chapter leader …
Maple Leaf Meats in Brandon gearing for twin shifts….
With the addition of a second shift at its Brandon, Man processing plant, Maple Leaf Foods will ramp up in slaughter capacity over the next six to eight weeks. According to Maple Leaf spokesperson Jeanette Jones, the current hog slaughter capacity of 45,000 to 50,000 hogs per week will climb to at least 75,000 per week by the end of …
Off to Deutschland
While Laura is heading back from Chicagoland, I am heading off to Deutschland – Germany, that is. Just getting in the mood. I mean, who calls it Deutschland anyway, except the people who live there? The trip is a ag media tour of BASF with about six other American ag journalists. We will be flying in to Frankfort and visiting …
Off to Chicagoland
Those of you who’ve been keeping up to speed with the Indy Racing League know that the league is rounding out its 2007 season at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL this weekend. I’m here at the track covering the close of a landmark year for Team Ethanol and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. All IndyCars have been running …
Missouri Beef Industry Council Video PSA
The Missouri Beef Industry Council has been a client of ours since we started ZimmComm New Media going on four years ago. They called last week needing a video psa to use in the upcoming stage 4 event of the Tour of Missouri, a professional bicycle race across the state. So with a little help from iMovie and iDVD it …
Get To Know Laura Mayfield
I had an opportunity this morning to talk with the new President of McCormick Company, Laura Mayfield. Our conversation will help you get to know her. Laura says she’s worked with some of the staff at McCormick on projects over a period of several years so she’s not a complete stranger. She says that clients can expect the same great …
Farm Progress Show Wrapup
It’s time for me to pack up and head on home from the Farm Progress Show. I hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage and I want to thank New Holland for their sponsorship. As always it has been a pleasure to work with Gene Hemphill, New Holland and Holly Fritz, H.B. Fritz & Associates, Inc. Right before heading out I spoke …