Agri-Pulse Open Mic with DuPont Executive

Cindy Zimmerman

New on Agri-Pulse this week:

open-micRecognized as one of the most influential people in bioenergy, James C. Collins, Jr. is senior vice president for DuPont, in charge of Industrial Biosciences, Performance Polymers and Packaging & Industrial Polymers businesses. He is leading the effort to bring advanced biofuels to market, especially through a new generation cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa. Collins will testify this week before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the Renewable Fuel Standard and its applicability to advanced biofuel development. He also comments on DuPont-Pioneer efforts to assist corn growers to get the maximum utilization of biomass by a sustainable rotational system of removing a portion of the stover for use in making cellulosic ethanol.

Listen to the Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview with James C. Collins, Jr. here.

Agri-Pulse

Monsanto Agrees to Acquire The Climate Corporation

Chuck Zimmerman

MonsantoThis morning Monsanto made a big announcement. You can listen to the press call-in below which includes Monsanto’s executive vice president of global strategy, Kerry Preete, and David Friedberg, chief executive officer of The Climate Corporation.

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Climate Corporation for a cash purchase price of approximately $930 million. The acquisition will combine The Climate Corporation’s expertise in agriculture analytics and risk-management with Monsanto’s R&D capabilities, and will provide farmers access to more information about the many factors that affect the success of their crops. The companies’ combined capabilities will support greater productivity while utilizing the planet’s finite resources more precisely.

The acquisition is expected to expand on The Climate Corporation’s leadership in the area of data science, which represents the agriculture sector’s next major breakthrough, and will immediately expand both the near- and long-term growth opportunities for Monsanto’s business and Integrated Farming Systems platform.

The Climate Corporation“The Climate Corporation is focused on unlocking new value for the farm through data science,” said Hugh Grant, chairman and chief executive officer for Monsanto. “Everyone benefits when farmers are able to produce more with fewer resources. The Climate Corporation team brings leading expertise that will continue to greatly benefit farmers and their bottom-line, and we want to expand upon this tremendous work and broaden their reach to more crops and more world areas. We look forward to working closely with our distribution partners and others in the agricultural industry to bring this suite of information resources to the farm.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of Monsanto’s 2014 fiscal year. Following the acquisition, The Climate Corporation will operate its business to retain its distinct brand identity and customer experience. The company will continue to maintain headquarters in Silicon Valley and all of its employees will be offered continued employment.

Listen to the Monsanto press call here: Listen to or Download Monsanto Call

Agribusiness, Weather

Animal Rights or Animal Welfare?

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is your favorite rodeo event?” It looks like the majority of you are most entertained by the bull riding. Maybe it has just that extra thrill to see a cowboy ride such a huge animal!

Our poll results:
• Bull Riding 48%
• Barrel Racing 19%
• Bareback Riding 10%
• Tie-Down Roping 10%
• Team Roping 5%
• Steer Wrestling 5%
• Other 5%
“Wild Horse Race”
• Saddle Bronc 0%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is there a difference between animal welfare and animal rights?” Which term is the best to use do you think? Or do they mean the same thing? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

New Wyffels Hybrids TV Campaign

Chuck Zimmerman

Wyffels HybridsWyffels Hybrids is running a new television campaign. The campaign was created by Musta/Melzer Advertising, Minneapolis; produced by O&H Brand Design, Dallas; directed by Liberal Media Films, Dallas; with edit and post by Charlie Uniform Tango, Dallas. There are four spots in the campaign which runs in midwestern corn belt markets.

Jeff Hartz, Marketing Director, Wyffels Hybrids, says, “Wyffels doesn’t have the market share and sheer distribution dominance to market the same way as our larger competitors. We start by talking to the customer differently. Everyone flatters the customer. Instead, we talk about what we believe in. And we try to do it in a very personal, clever and idealistic way. The personality is real and it provides a different experience than our customers can find with many of our competitors.”

Tim Musta, Art Director, Musta/Melzer, says, “These spots come right from the brand voice of our client. They needed to look and sound different. Because our client always says things that other people in the category can’t say, won’t say or both. And we wanted the spots to look like they were economically produced. Because they were.”

Here’s one of the ads in the campaign:

Agribusiness, Seed

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Ram Truck brand declared 2013 “The Year of the Farmer” and on September 28 they will work with the Chrysler Group LLC Southeast Business Center to bring that support to the grid iron.
  • iPad edition of CropLife magazine is now available.
  • The 20th anniversary of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show surpassed show organizers’ expectations earlier this month in Woodstock, ON.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission and the Georgia Bankers Association join forces Oct. 14-18, 2013, in an effort to promote Georgia’s peanut industry during its 37th annual Georgia Peanut Bank Week.
Zimfo Bytes

BASF Raises Sales Target for Crop Protection

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-germany-13-5At a global press conference in Limburgerhof, Germany Wednesday, BASF announced an increase in the long-term sales target for its Crop Protection division.

The Chemical Company’s important agricultural division is now forecast to achieve sales of more than $8 billion by 2015 and $10.8 billion by 2020 – that’s up about $2 billion from previous estimates. Markus Heldt, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division, made the announcement during the opening session of the global press conference that includes agricultural journalists from 10 countries.

“We have demonstrated sustainable growth in our sales and earnings and are confident we will continue with this development,” said Heldt. “ We continue to expand our portfolio, for and beyond crop protection products, to deliver integrated technologies that can help growers run their business more efficiently.” BASF Crop Protection president Markus Heldt comments

2013 BASF Germany Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, Farming

BASF and John Deere are German Neighbors

Cindy Zimmerman

basf-germany-13-4Global agribusiness giants John Deere and BASF are friendly neighbors in Germany, located just over a mile away from each other on opposite sides of the Rhine River.

John Deere’s Christoph Wigger, pictured here on the right with BASF’s Markus Heldt, crossed the river to speak at the opening dinner of BASF’s global media event, a literal “United Nations” of agricultural journalists from ten countries. “You as ag media play a very key role in communications,” Christoph said. “It’s extremely important that we get your support to explain to all the stakeholders what’s going on.”

As always, the key message is producing enough food to feed a rapidly growing population and Christoph says there are three key pillars to succeeding in that goal. “How do you increase yields?,” he asked. “One third comes from pesticides, one third comes from seeds and one third will be driven by machinery.” Very true!

Listen to Christoph’s remarks here: Christoph Wigger, John Deere

2013 BASF Germany Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, BASF, International, John Deere

Monsanto Increases Corn Rootworm Research Dollars

Leah Guffey

monsanto-postMonsanto Company is ponying up an additional $3 million in corn rootworm academic research which will extend the program, started earlier in the year, to 2016.  

Research projects that are rootworm-based will be able to receive up to $250,000 per year for three years. Areas of research include; economics of corn rootworm management, the development of predictive models, the characterization of resistance, and the development of broad survey methods.

USDA estimates that damage and the cost associated with controlling corn rootworm is $1 billion annually.  They further breakdown the estimate to $800 million in yield loss and $200 million in prevention.  Dr. Dusty Post, Monsanto’s Global Insect Management Lead is co-chair of the CRW Knowledge Research Project Advisory Committee.  I had a chance to catch up with Dr. Post and discuss how important the research is to managing this pest.Interview with Dr. Dusty Post

Anyone interested in applying for funding or have any other interests in the study should go to  www.monsanto.com/crwknowledge for key dates and instructions on how to apply.

Audio, Corn, Research

2013 LPC Royal Gala

Chuck Zimmerman

LPC Royal GalaIt’s Royal Gala time once again for the Livestock Publications Council.

Please join us for the 10th annual LPC Royal Gala which has been appropriately named “A Diamond Event”. This year’s is extra special as a new event will debut in 2015 replacing the Gala as we know it. The new event will have many of the features of the Gala so this year’s will be the final with this format. Make plans to join us for this year’s historical event and be sure to stay tuned for the new exciting chapter!

This year’s Gala will feature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 7 p.m. followed by the unveiling of the plaques for our 2013 Hall of Honor inductees including Headliner award winner Tom Burke, Smithville, Missouri, and Sherman Berg, Blair, Nebraska, our Hall of Fame Honoree. We’ll announce the 2014 Hall of Honor Inductees and enjoy a wonder- ful evening of fun, camaraderie and dancing! A silent auction will offer you the chance to support LPC by bidding on unique items. Limited seating is available and while invitations are in the mail you certainly don’t have to receive one to come! To get your ticket ($50/person) please contact Kaitlyn Lewis, LPC Royal Gala, Charolais Journal, 11700 NW Plaza Circle, Kansas City, MO 64153 klewis@charolaisusa.com.

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 • 7-11 p.m. American Royal Headquarters
1701 American Royal Court, Kansas City, Missouri Second Floor above the American Royal Adminstration Offices at the main entrance

LPC, Media

Answers About Ground Beef

Chuck Zimmerman

Ground Beef AnswersGot questions about ground beef? Cargill has answers. You’ll find all the information you need on their new website, Ground Beef Answers. If you don’t see what you’re looking for just let them know.

It seems like the consuming public has gotten over the misinformation campaign about finely textured beef which is 100% beef. But some may still have questions. That’s why Cargill has put together a resource website for the public to learn more. FTB helps make food more affordable, is completely safe and improves food sustainability. Read all about it!

Agribusiness, Beef, Food