O.H. Kruse Takes Time to Listen

Chuck Zimmerman

Chad PinterThere is no doubt the Great Opportunities event O.H. Kruse held was customers focused. But it was more than simply honoring customers, it was a chance to listen to their opinions on products and strive to help them overcome their farming challenges.

I caught up with Chad Pinter, CFO, O.H. Kruse, and he shared what it mean’t to put on a customer appreciation event and what feedback they have received from such valued customers.

“It’s a way for us to get close to our customers and understand what challenges they are facing, educate them on the trends in the industry that we see and make sure we have a lot of opportunities to interact with them while charting a path forward that works for both of us.”

Customers were able to share their opinion on what products moved faster than others and why. Employees also got to ask questions about what draws customers to specific products. O.H. Kruse takes pride in the chance to listen to their customers and actually act on the response they receive.

“We have gone through a very challenging time over the last number of years because a lot of our customer base hasn’t been profitable. That’s changing. Feed prices have come off and we are seeing people come back to profits and that’s healthy for everybody. It’s going to take a long time to recover the loses that occurred by our customers, but every step in the right direction is positive.”

You can listen to my interview with Chad here: Interview with Chad Pinter

2013 O.H. Kruse Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Feed, O.H. Kruse

Canadian Cranberry Time

Chuck Zimmerman

Shergill Cranberry FarmThat cranberry was this big! At least that’s what it looks like Mike Wallis, BC Cranberry Growers Association Mgr., is saying during a presentation at Shergill Cranberry Farm, the second stop for the “farm bikers” tour group during the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation conference. Also on hand was farm manager Bob Deroche. They talked to us about the farm and answered questions before we walked out onto the bog area that was not yet flooded.

If you’d like to learn more about Canadian cranberry production you’ll enjoy listening to their presentation. I tasted a few in the field. At that time they looked pretty ripe and tasted very tart. First up in the presentation is Mike and Bob chimes in during the Q&A.

You can listen to the presentation here: Shergill Cranberry Farm

2013 Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, International

Dancing Bekina Boots

Chuck Zimmerman

Bekina BootsThese boots were made for dancing! Yep. Bekina ultra light polyurethane boots were dancing at the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation closing banquet.

All attendees received a free pair from Bekina and on hand to talk about them was Canadian distributor Cory Gibson, Alliance Mercantile, Inc. He says the boots are very lightweight because of the synthetic plastic they’re made out of. They also keep you feet warm in winter and cool in summer.

You can listen to my interview with Cory here: Interview with Cory Gibson

2013 Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Photo Album

Audio, International

Mixed Results on Impact of Govt. Shutdown

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “ Is shutdown affecting you?” Well, it’s a moot point now since the shutdown is over (for the time being). Our poll results were pretty well mixed though.

Our poll results:
· Yes, in a minor way –23%
· Not at all – 23%
· Can’t tell a difference – 25%
· Not yet 16%
· Yes, in a major way 10%
· Other 4%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What is most important to you when buying food?” What are those key drivers or influencers that you’re faced with at the grocery store? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

World Food Prize Laureates Meet the Press

Cindy Zimmerman

wfp-13-laureatesThree biotechnology scientists are being honored at the World Food Prize ceremony in Des Moines tonight, but yesterday they met the press and answered some tough questions about the technology they have dedicated their lives to developing.

The 2013 World Food Prize Laureates are Monsanto Chief Technology Officer Dr. Robert Fraley, Marc Van Montagu of the Institute of Plant Biotechnology Outreach at Ghent University in Belgium, and Mary-Dell Chilton of Syngenta Biotechnology. All have achieved breakthrough achievements in founding, developing, and applying modern agricultural biotechnology.

The first question asked by a reporter was basically, why is Monsanto such a target for critics of biotechnology? “Sometimes that’s frustrating,” said Fraley. “I always assume that means we’ve been really successful and people see us as a leader and that’s part of the responsibility that goes with it.”

Chilton with Syngenta said she didn’t really understand why Monsanto is the main target of critics but she believes the industry as a whole needs to “have good communications with the public about the safety” of the technology.

Van Montagu believes that the critics have singled out Monsanto as the “villain” because it works better than talking about the industry as a whole. “If you start gossiping about a person, people always start believing gossip – humanity is like that,” he said.

Some interesting stuff here: World Food Prize Laureates press conference
2013 World Food Prize photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Biotech, World Food Prize

What is the TATT Global Farmer Roundtable?

Leah Guffey

Truth About Trade and Technology (TATT) is a non-profit advocacy group led by farmers who support freer trade and a farmers freedom to choose the tools, technologies and strategies they need to maximize productivity and profitability in a sustainable manner. Since 2006, TATT has brought farmers from different countries together during World Food Prize week in Des Moines to attend the event and share their knowledge and experiences with each other. This year there were 16 farmers from 14 countries at the Roundtable, all with different backgrounds and experiences but common challenges and aspirations.

tatt-maryMary Boote, Chief Executive Officer for TATT, is the one who organizes and brings these farmers together and hosts them while they are in Des Moines for the World Food Prize. Mary says since they started the roundtable, they have hosted 98 farmers from 63 different countries and she takes great pride in the fact that alumni want to stay in touch and work together as they go back to their countries. Listen to my interview with Mary here: Interview with Mary Boote

tatt-13-horanTATT chairman and Iowa farmer Bill Horan says the farmers sitting around the table have such similar stories to tell, yet they have so much to learn from one another. “Farmers, large and small, around the world seem to be dealing with some of the same issues – access to technology, credit, trade barriers,” said Horan, adding that the farmers from other countries bring lots of new information back home. “When these folks go back to their own country, they’re treated like rock stars.” Interview with Bill Horan

2013 TATT Global Farmer Roundtable photos

Audio, Biotech, Farming, Technology, World Food Prize

GAP Report Unveiled at World Food Prize

Cindy Zimmerman

wfp-13-gap1The Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) released its 4th annual Global Agricultural Productivity Report® (GAP Report®) at the World Food Prize Symposium Wednesday before a record crowd of global scientists, agricultural industry experts, farmers, and development professionals.

“This particular report focuses on value chains and what that means for farmers and consumers,” said Dr. Margaret Zeigler, GHI executive director. “We wanted to focus on how the issue of productivity really helps farmers of all sizes succeed as business people as well as feed a growing population using less resources.”

The overall findings of the 2013 GAP Report indicate that over the past decade, countries are managing to maintain growth in productivity on global average but stresses that we must maintain an increasing rate of global agricultural productivity year after year for the next 40 years. Interview with Margaret Zeigler, Global Harvest Initiative

wtp-13-claudiaGHI has six corporate partner members who are very involved in the organization. Among them is Elanco, and the company’s Senior Director of Global Market Access Claudia Garcia was on a panel at the GAP report release to discuss the new findings.

One of the report’s findings was that countries such as China will not be able to meet domestic demand for food, particularly for its growing middle class. “Those people will require more animal-source foods,” said Claudia. “The challenge is how can we produce more animal-source foods without impacting the environment.”

Of the nine billion person population projected to be on the planet by 2050, one third are expected to be middle class. Claudia says that’s why Elanco launched the Sensible Table movement, #Feedthe9, to make a commitment. Interview with Claudia Garcia, Elanco
2013 World Food Prize photos

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Elanco, Food, World Food Prize

Howard Buffett Foundation Initiatives Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

wfp-13-buffett-blairFormer UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and philanthropist/farmer Howard G. Buffett were the stars at the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogues today in Des Moines, launching new initiatives to address conservation, hunger and poverty issues in Africa.

For one, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation has formed a partnership with John Deere and DuPont Pioneer to promote conservation agriculture adoption and support smallholders and sustainable farming in Africa. The effort will be piloted in Ghana and include a conservation-based, mechanized product suite developed by John Deere; a system of cover crops and improved inputs from DuPont Pioneer; and support for adoption and training on conservation-based practices by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

Additionally, Blair announced a collaboration between his Africa Governance Initiative (AGI), the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the World Food Prize Foundation to launch the 40 Chances Fellows program.

40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World a new book written by Howard G. Buffett, inspired the program, which will encourage innovation in developing market‐based approaches that address food insecurity. Fellowship funds will support social entrepreneurs who are addressing issues of hunger, conflict, or poverty in Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone, four of the countries where AGI has strong government partnerships.

Blair and Buffett participated in a panel and then met the press at the World Food Prize. You can listen to or download both audio files below.

40 Chances Panel discussion Blair and Buffett Press Conference
2013 World Food Prize photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, Food, John Deere, Pioneer, World Food Prize

R&D LifeSciences Supplementing O.H. Kruse Feeds

Chuck Zimmerman

R&D Life SciencesOne of the companies that exhibited at the O.H. Kruse Grand Opportunities event this week was R&D LifeSciences. I visited with David Zehendner, President/CEO, pictured on right with Michael DuBois.

The mission of R&D LifeSciences is to produce highly specific, proprietary feed ingredients and formulations, while solving producer problems and offering alternatives to increase their bottom line. As a base manufacturer of enzymes and direct fed microbials (DFMs), the ever growing R&D LifeSciences line is manufactured in the United States and offers nutritionists, feed mills and livestock producers a wide variety of feed-enhancement and health products.

David says the company is producing products that O.H. Kruse is now adding to their show feeds. He says that the feed dealers attending the event wanted to know how their product compares to others in the marketplace and how well it performs. He was happy to say that orders were taken!

You can listen to my interview with David here: Interview with David Zehendner

2013 O.H. Kruse Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Feed, O.H. Kruse