We heard a fascinating branding story yesterday here at the Alltech Symposium. Joaquin Pelaez is the Senior Vice President for Product Excellence at Yum! Brands, Inc. which owns KFC. He told us how the brand is now the most recognizable one in China. He told us that Chinese consumers love the brand and in general prefer western brands because they …
Alltech Fun Run
At Alltech’s 26th International Animal Health and Nutrition Industry Symposium we got a break from the weather for an early morning Fun Run. This is a very healthy component of the annual event and we had what looked like a near record number of participants this year. I don’t know who won. I think we’re all winners! I was just …
Dairy Price Stabilization Act
You’ve got to love YouTube. I think it’s getting to where you can find just about anything on YouTube. Wonder about dairy legislation? Then let California Congressman Jim Costa tell you direct from the floor. Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) today introduced legislation to protect American jobs and strengthen our nation’s dairy industry. The Dairy Price Stabilization Act promotes market stability …
Record Crop Progress
Record planting progress continued around the country last week, despite the rain, and corn planting is breaking records. USDA reports that 68 percent of the corn crop was planted by Sunday. That’s 28 percent more than the five year average and five percent more than the previous record for this time of year in 2004. Emergence is at 19 percent, …
Lots of Food
The Population Research Institute is seeking to debunk the myth of overpopulation with a series of simple but clever YouTube videos. Our daughter Chelsea alerted us to the latest one – “Food: There’s Lots of it.” Some very good points in here about modern agricultural production and the real causes of hunger.
Meet the John Deere Signature Award Winners
Last week during the National Agricultural Marketing Association’s (NAMA) annual conference the students arrived in mass to compete in the Student Marketing Competition. But that is not all they engaged in while they were in Kansas City. They were also honored with dozens of awards and scholarships including five chapters who were honored with the John Deere Signature Awards that …
Watch President Obama Remarks in Macon, MO
If you weren’t one of the select few invited to see President Obama speak at the POET Biorefining plant in Macon, MO yesterday then don’t despair (you probably weren’t anyway). I’ve got you covered. Here’s his full remarks in video for you. Cindy has written a good editorial on his remarks on Domestic Fuel you might want to read. I …
We Hate Sheep
Sullivan Higdon & Sink hates sheep. Why? Because they are followers – not leaders. Well, you may love them or hate them but during NAMA you can abuse them as part of the interactive We Hate Sheep game. The game was created by t2, an interactive company based right here in Kansas City, the host town for this year’s NAMA. …
Plow Boys Make Planting Progress
The planters were tearing it up around the country last week in the glorious weather. What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time, just five percent of the corn was planted. As of Sunday, a whopping 19 percent was in the ground – more than twice the five year average! Illinois has 34 percent planted, compared to …
Growth Energy Launches National Ethanol TV Ad Campaign
This is interesting. Growth Energy (a ZimmComm client) has just announced via live web stream that they’re also launching a national ethanol tv ad campaign. “For too long, we have allowed our opponents to define who we are. That ends today,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. America’s ethanol supporters launched the industry’s first national TV ad campaign today …