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 …
The CNH Communications Strategy
Here’s the New Holland exhibit from a high level view early morning. It’s very different this year. No big blue and white striped tents for example. That’s part of the new New Holland branding strategy according to the head of global communications for CNH, Gualberto Rainieri. He’s one of the corporate executives here at the show that I had a …
Text The Word “corn” To 77007
If you like to go fishing then stop by the Wyffels Hybrids exhibit at the Farm Progress Show. During Wyfelmania you can fish for prizes and it is a great spot to cool off while getting an opportunity for some cool Wyffels gear. One of the owners of Wyffels Hybrids is Bill Wyffels. He manages the company with his brother …
Syngenta Maximizes
Merging the latest in seed technology with resistance management is the key Syngenta wants to give to farmers so they can fully maximize their productivity. I grabbed Craig Abell with Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Brands NK Seeds Steve Pig to talk about how the two sects work together to give farmers the most out each bushel and acre. Listen …
Ag Secretary Visits Jay Leno’s Ecojet at New Holland Tent
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns visited around while he was here at the Farm Progress Show. One of his stops was the New Holland tent to see Jay Leno’s Ecojet, the concept car that runs on 100% biodiesel. Pictured (l-r) are Alan Kemper, VP of the American Soybean Association, Harold Boyanovsky, CEO of CNH, Sec. Johanns and Ricky “Skip” Tyler who …