It’s not ALL about showing off at the world’s largest farm machinery show. At least, not for John Deere. Sure, the event is a forum meant to showcase products from competitors throughout Europe. But for one of two presidents of the John Deere worldwide agricultural operations, Mark von Pentz, Agritechnica also gives companies like John Deere the chance to hear …
Heidelberg’s Rooftop Landscape
The gray sky couldn’t fully mute the reds, yellows, greens and oranges of fall that were sprinkled throughout the rolling hills surrounding Heidelberg today. The colors popped through a lacy mist draped over the valley. The fall hues weren’t the only colors stubborn enough to stand out from the gray haze. “Heidelberg is known for it’s colorful rooftop landscape,” said …
World Leaders to Speak on Food and Sustainability in New Orleans
The Presidents of Iceland and Bangladesh, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Norman Borlaug and soil and crop experts are all slated to speak at the 2007 International Annual Meetings in New Orleans Next month. The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) are hosting the international forum on food and …
UN Whacko Mouths Off About Biofuels
I was going to try to ignore Jean Ziegler the ignoramus from the United Nations when he came out and said that making biofuels from food crops is a “crime against humanity” but . . . it does make me mad and I think it should piss off all American farmers at least. Of course there’s not much about the …
ls Food a Right?
October 16 is World Food Day as coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This year’s theme is “The Right to Food.” I’m all for bringing attention to the fact that there are people starving and we should do all we can to feed them with our excess. However, if you listen to the following statement …
Budding Agribloggers in Canada
You might recall that I recently conducted a new media class for a day at the University of Guelph. The grad students in that class all had their own blog started by the end of the day. I finally got a list of their websites and thought I’d share with you. Check them out and let them know what you …
My Second Chance
On Day Three of my recovery from my quadruple by-pass surgery, my partner in the next bed, who was going home that day, received a visitor who had the same surgery several years back. He looked at both us, and said, “Guys, listen up! Appreciate the fact you have just received a ‘Second Chance’. Wow what a statement and what …
IFAJ Congress Wrapup Interviews
In this week’s ZimmCast you get to hear from Masaru Yamada, the main coordinator of the IFAJ Congress that just concluded and a number of the American delegates. Masaru is happy with how the event went and I don’t think he’s ready to do it again anytime soon. I can only imagine what it was like to conduct one of …
Agritechnica Excitement Mounts
Chuck and Cindy have been providing international ag coverage for the past several weeks, and in November, it will be my turn. I’m planning to join John Deere at the preview days for the 2007 Agritechnica exhibition in Hanover, Germany. Agritechnica leadership is getting excited about the event and about the record setting number of exhibitors. Dr. Reinhard Grandke, Chief …
IFAJ Arts and Crafts
Here is our group from the United States at the IFAJ Congress in the lobby of the Sendai Excel Hotel doing some arts and crafts. We were preparing our bottle opener presents to be given out to the group in preparation for our hosting of the 2009 Congress in Fort Worth, Texas. They are very nice boot-shaped openers with tags …