GROWMARK Picks AgIntegrated for Info Platform

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK has teamed up with AgIntegrated (AGI) for the development of FS Advanced Information Services (FS AIS), a suite of tools to “connect data, analysis, insight, and application into one complete user experience for advanced field optimization.” AgIntegrated is an independent provider of ag information management consulting and technologies based in Pennsylvania and President Duane Reese says they are excited …

Audio, data, GROWMARK, Technology

Legislative Issues for Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

Congress back in session this week after the 4th of July holiday, but with all the recesses and holidays coming up before the November elections, there is little time left for them to actually do any work. Board members for GROWMARK recently visited Capitol Hill to talk with their congressional representatives about issues important to them. Our guest on the …

Audio, GROWMARK, ZimmCast

Grain Cooperatives Earn Ceres Award

Jamie Johansen

Four grain cooperatives were recognized by GROWMARK, Inc. with the Ceres award during the 2014 Grain Leadership Conference. The award, named for the Roman goddess of grain, is awarded to grain cooperatives that achieve excellence by meeting at least three out of the four following criteria: EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization)/per storage capacity, return on invested capital, …

Ag Groups, Grains, GROWMARK

GROWMARK Board on Capitol Hill

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK board members recently attended the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) annual Washington Conference to learn about important issues affecting the agriculture industry and to meet with Congressional representatives. “Probably one of the high points is the Hill visits,” said Matt Heitz, a GROWMARK board member from Iowa, in an interview with Cassie Becker, publications and media relations specialist. …

Audio, GROWMARK

GROWMARK Names New CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK, Inc. has named Jim Spradlin of Morton, Illinois as new chief executive officer effective September 16, 2014, replacing Jeff Solberg who will retire in September. “Jim has the skills, knowledge, experience, and support to successfully lead GROWMARK into the future,” said GROWMARK Chairman of the Board and President, John Reifsteck. “The Board has great confidence in him and his …

Agribusiness, Cooperatives, GROWMARK

GROWMARK Report Studies Stocks-to-Use

Cindy Zimmerman

A new report from GROWMARK Research challenges the commonly accepted notion that ending stocks are a primary determinant of agricultural commodity prices. In the report, GROWMARK economic and market research manager Kel Kelly shows that stocks are inversely correlated with prices, but that the correlation occurs within a limited price range, meaning that stocks do not dictate the extent of …

Audio, Grains, GROWMARK, Markets

FS Sales Lens Offers New Views

Cindy Zimmerman

A great benefit of new communications technology is how it provides farmers the opportunity to access information nearly anyplace or time right in the palm of their hand. GROWMARK is utilizing the immediacy of tablets and smartphones for crop specialists to provide farmers with visual information on the spot with FS Sales Lens. “It’s really designed for them to understand …

Audio, Farming, FS System, GROWMARK, Technology

GROWMARK Part of ResponsibleAg

Leah Guffey

The first ResponsibleAg board of directors members were recently named and Rod Wells, manager of the plant food division of GROWMARK is one of nine. Rod says it’s important for GROWMARK to be involved in this non-profit organization designed to work with retailers ensuring best practices are in place providing a safe product to the consumer. “This is an industry …

Agribusiness, Audio, Fertilizer, GROWMARK

Launch of Open Ag Data Alliance

Cindy Zimmerman

The Climate Corporation and several agricultural stakeholders have officially launched the Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA), an open standards software project to ensure farmers have full data access, security and privacy. “OADA will work to ensure farmers can move their data seamlessly and securely between their equipment, software and services by speeding the development of technical standards for data formatting …

Agribusiness, Audio, GROWMARK, Precision Agriculture