A Central Illinois corn field has helped GROWMARK to shared excitement about the FS InVISION brand in a unique way during the 2018 growing season. The field features two FS InVISION corn hybrids, planted with a multi-hybrid planter. The difference between the shorter-stature 61S variety and the taller 62Z plants, which also have a slightly different tassel color, brought out …
ZimmCast 594 – Ag Media Summit Recap
The 20th annual Ag Media Summit was held Aug 5-8, 2018 in Scottsdale, AZ. This year the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences joined the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, Livestock Publications Council and the Connectiv Agri-Media Committee. In this ZimmCast, we hear from outgoing AAEA president Julie Deering about how the industry …
Zimfo Bytes 8/10
Eleven cotton producers from the Southeast will observe cotton and other agricultural operations in California’s San Joaquin Valley the week of August 13 as part of the National Cotton Council’s 2018 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program. Sponsored by Crop Science, a division of Bayer, through a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the P.I.E. is now in its 30th year and …
Solar Project New to GROWMARK Distribution Facility
GROWMARK has been looking at alternative sources of energy for its Alpha, Ill. distribution center since 2010. After previous opportunities to use solar or wind power did not add up for the company, they found the right fit with a solar project completed in the summer of 2018. GROWMARK is working with Straight Up Solar and investment partner Shine Development …
GROWMARK Changes Support Supply Chain Operations
GROWMARK has appointed Rod Wells to the new position of Executive Director, Enterprise Supply Chain Optimization effective August 1. In this role, Wells will lead the overall GROWMARK supply chain organization from the various wholesale divisions through corporately-owned retail divisions and FS member cooperatives to the farm gate. Wells has 31 years of experience with GROWMARK. He most recently served …
GROWMARK Wants More Interns to Stay
GROWMARK would like to see more of their interns to choose a full-time career at the cooperative after completing the internship experience. The Exploring Agriculture program is geared towards community college students and those with an interest in the operational side of GROWMARK’s business. This year a total of 32 interns joined that program, being placed throughout the cooperative’s core …
GROWMARK Promotes Sustainability with Endure Initiative
GROWMARK‘s Endure 4R Advocate Awards program and Enduring Farms program are working together to recognize individuals for using best management practices and to tell that story to those outside of agriculture who want to know how farmers are practicing stewardship on their land. GROWMARK Director of Agronomy Marketing and Agronomy Services Ryan White says they continue to grow the programs, …
GROWMARK Welcomes Student Interns
Forty-one college students are exploring agricultural career opportunities this summer as GROWMARK interns, and another 19 students are taking part in GROWMARK’s summer Exploring Agriculture Internship program. The interns are exposed to accounting, marketing, communications, and product and service-related activities. The group kicked off the program at the GROWMARK corporate office on Monday, May 21 and will reconvene in June …
GROWMARK Foundation Announces Scholarship Recipients
Fifteen agriculture students have been selected as the second class of recipients of the GROWMARK Foundation scholarship. More than 170 students from across the United States and Ontario, Canada, applied for the award. Applications were evaluated by a panel of agribusiness professionals, and the funds are available for the fall 2019 semester. “Each scholarship is worth 1500 dollars,” says Karen …
GROWMARK: Agriculture Background Not Required
Although GROWMARK and its FS Member companies are clearly rooted in agriculture, a farming or agribusiness background is not required to thrive as an employee there. GROWMARK’s Director of Talent Management Tom Swearingen is a prime example of that. Originally a commercial airline pilot, Swearingen left that industry after the events of 9/11/2001 changed it forever, and came back to …