Why GROWMARK Loves NAMA

Cindy Zimmerman

nama13-amyAt the National Agri-Marketing Conference last week I had the chance to catch up with Amy Bradford, GROWMARK manager of corporate communications, to find out why NAMA is important to them.

Amy says the opportunity to network with others in the industry, but even more important is the support of future agri-marketing professionals. “NAMA is very supportive and committed to developing youth leaders,” Amy said, noting that both Illinois State University and the University of Illinois student NAMA chapters took part in this year’s student competition. That is an important component for GROWMARK, which has a very strong internship program that helps them recruit future employees.

GROWMARK is active in NAMA on the chapter level in the Heartland chapter and Amy says they do enjoy being able to receive recognition for good work through the awards program, but it also gives them a chance to get new ideas. “I was involved in judging the NAMA awards this year and you do get to see new ideas, new products, new ways to communicate those products and services,” she said.

Amy adds that she strongly encourages young professionals getting into the agri-marketing field to get involved in NAMA. “Because it does connect them to other people in the industry where they can build friendships and relationships and share ideas and grow themselves personally and professionally,” said Amy.

Listen to my interview with Amy here: Interview with Amy Bradford, GROWMARK

2013 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, GROWMARK, NAMA

Let’s Have a Digilogue

Chuck Zimmerman

Anders Sorman-Nilsson“Digilogue — Where High Tech Meets High Touch” was the title of the opening keynote presentation at the 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference. Our speaker was Anders Sorman-Nilsson, Thinque. Anders spoke to us about three major trends impacting the agricultural economy now and into the future. Those include the idea of digital disruption, that even though everything is being digitized we can’t forget that our hearts are still analog and that consumer demands of farmers are now shifting.

Anders wanted attendees to leave with the idea that “You need to find the balance in your marketing between tradition and technology, between the old school and the new school ways of reaching your farmers.” He also says, “Don’t throw the analog baby away with the digital bath water.”

Listen to my interview with Anders here: Interview with Anders Sorman-Nilsson

2013 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Audio, NAMA

Update on BASF Becker Underwood Integration

Cindy Zimmerman

Becker Underwood and BASF hosted ag media representatives on Friday for a tour of the plant facility in St.Joseph, Missouri with an update on inoculant and polymer technology, as well as progress on the integration of Becker Underwood into the new Functional Crop Care division of BASF.

becker-peterBASF officially closed the deal to acquire Becker Underwood last November and announced some of the integration logistics during the Seed Expo in December. Becker Underwood president and CEO Peter Innes says they have made steady progress to make that happen since that time. “We’ve been dealing with the most important aspect of the business, which is the people,” Peter said. “We’re now focusing on this new Functional Crop Care business and the components of that business which are seed solutions, biological solutions and solutions beyond crop protection, which deal with abiotic stresses and challenges of that nature.”

Innes has headed up Becker Underwood for over a decade and has now accepted the position of global senior advisor to the Crop Protection Division with BASF. “This has been my life’s work, particularly biologicals,” he said, noting some of the difficulty in letting go but that he believes that Becker Underwood is in good hands with BASF.

Listen to my interview with Peter here: Dr. Peter Innes, Becker Underwood chairman & CEO

Get more audio and photos from the Becker Underwood plant tour on AgNewsWire.AgWired.com.

Audio, BASF, Crop Protection

Changes in Agricultural Marketing Agencies

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 392We’re back in the swing of things at ZimmComm World Headquarters. Actually, make that in post-Agri-Marketing Conference recovery mode. Cindy and I have a number of interviews to share with you this week from the conference and I’ll get started in this week’s program.

Best of NAMAI sat down with Lynn Henderson, AgriMarketing Magazine, toward the end of the conference and talked about changes we’ve seen in agricultural marketing agencies. You’ll hear some names you may remember and some you may not depending on how long you’ve been involved the industry. This conversation is part of an on-going series that we plan to do periodically on different subjects. Do you have a topic you’d like to see us cover? If so, please let us know or post in comments.

Besides looking at some of the trends in agricultural marketing agencies over the years we also review some of the winners of the Best of NAMA who let their “plume fill the room” last week. We also go over the list of student marketing competition winners.

Listen in on my conversation with Lynn in this week’s ZimmCast: Changes in Marketing Agencies

Don’t forget to check out our 2013 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, Audio, Media, NAMA, ZimmCast

New Resources Available for Dairy Producers

Talia Goes

UsDairy_LogoThe Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy announced new science-based resources available for dairy producers, processors, industry partners and stakeholders. The resources help the industry act on the unprecedented scientific research commissioned as part of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment — a collective effort of the dairy value chain to measure and improve the sustainability of U.S. dairy from farm to table.

As part of this commitment, the dairy industry initiated a series of scientific life cycle assessments of fluid milk, cheese and whey. With this body of work, the U.S. dairy industry is striving to create the most transparent and documented dairy LCA database available. Due in part to its rigorous science-based approach, it was chosen to be the pilot industry participating in the National Agricultural Library of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide an open-access, prototype LCA database and tools.

The three new resources available include:

Agribusiness, Dairy, Environment, Publication

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  • Agriculture data and marketing solutions company Farm Market iD, announced it has launched a new website in conjunction with new branding.
  • Paulsen Marketing has discovered just how influential online contributions are to purchase decisions for rural lifestylers.
  • This year Ukraine will launch a line of high-performing harvesting combines Tucano-440 jointly with the German company CLAAS.
  • The National FFA Convention & Expo has been named one of the top-growing expo events in the country by Expo Magazine.
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Chicken Media Summit Panelists

Jamie Johansen

13cms-75editedDay three of the Chicken Media Summit gave attendees the opportunity to listen and get their questions answered. The National Chicken Council and US Poultry & Egg Association brought together executives, researchers, vets and other experts to serve on panels to address industry trends, challenges and other hot topics.

Bill Roenigk, Senior Vice President for the National Chicken Council, served as the moderator for the first panel of chicken company executives.

Panelists:
Lampkin Butts, President & COO of Sanderson Farms
Bill Lovette, President & CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
Jim Perdue, Chairman of the Board for Perdue Farms

Each panelist addressed issues and challenges they all face to ensure a wholesome, nutritious product consumers will want. Each also stressed the need for transparency and the desire to be a sustainable company. Other topics discussed were global markets and the need for more protein worldwide.

Listen to Chicken Company Executives panel here: Panel One

13cms-87editedJohn Starkey, President, USPOULTRY, served as the moderator for the second panel on issues in the news.

Panelists & area of interest:
Poultry Welfare
Yvonne Thaxton, PhD., Center for Food Animal Wellbeing, University of Arkansas

Modernization of Poultry Inspection
Kendra Waldbusser, Senior VP, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Chicken Labeling
Doug Smith, PhD., Associate Professor, Poultry Science, North Carolina State University

Role of Vets in Modern Poultry Companies
John Glisson, DVM, MAM, PhD., Director of Research Programs, USPOULTRY

Listen to Issues in the News panel here: Panel Two

Check out photos from the event here: 2013 Chicken Media Summit Photo Album

Audio, Chicken Media Summit, Poultry

Embracing Transparency in the Poultry Industry

Jamie Johansen

13cms-48-editedThe second day of Chicken Media Summit was all about transparency. Members of the press were invited to tour a hatchery, grower barn, processing plant and waste water treatment facility. This allowed for them to see with their own eyes the complete life of a chicken from egg to plate. And most importantly, get all questions answered.

Sanderson Farms was the company that opened it’s doors to attendees of this year’s summit. This experience alone was an eye opener for many. They were able to truly understand the science, technology and safety behind the most popular white meat.

President and CEO of Sanderson Farms, Lampkin Butts, along with many other Sanderson Farms employees spent the entire event with guests and were honored to play host to the Chicken Media Summit tours. I had to opportunity to spend the day with Lampkin and chatted with him as he discussed meeting consumers needs, challenges in the industry and growing price of feed.

Listen to my interview will Lampkin here: Interivew with Lampkin Butts

Check out photos from the event here: 2013 Chicken Media Summit Photo Album

Audio, Chicken Media Summit, Media, Poultry

Brownfield Parties On

Chuck Zimmerman

Brownfield NAMA PartySome people seemed to be moving a little slow this morning at the Agri-Marketing Conference. Could be a little bit of Brownfield Party Syndrome. Happens to the best of us!

Last night Brownfield partied on in style at the Dubliner in the K.C. Power & Light area. Cindy and I were there with cameras in hand to “document” it for you viewing/sharing pleasure. As of this post I’ve got about half our photos uploaded. I’ll get the rest done by tomorrow morning. Outside of these photos we all know that what happens at a Brownfield party stays . . . Right?

Cindy and I have a lot more Agri-Marketing Conference information to share in the coming days. In the meantime you can also view/share almost 400 photos from the conference here.

NAMA

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  • R&D LifeSciences announces its new and improved website with the latest products and advances in technology and research.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed five representatives to serve on the Peanut Standards Board.
  • American Royal volunteers were celebrated at a dinner and awards ceremony hosted at the American Royal Complex Tuesday evening April 16.
  • The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance’s next Food Dialogues is scheduled for Monday, April 22.
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