Commodity Classic Presidents Speak Out

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity Classic PresidentsA highlight of the general session of Commodity Classic is the visit with the Presidents. Here are our four commodity group presidents. Moderator Mark Mayfield is seated on the left. To the right of him are Terry Swanson, National Sorghum Producers; Erik Younggren, National Association of Wheat Growers; Pam Johnson, National Corn Growers Association and Danny Murphy, American Soybean Association.

Mark invites each of them to the stage and has a little chat. I think you’ll enjoy those remarks:

Listen to Danny Murphy’s comments here: ASA Danny Murphy

Listen to Pam Johnson’s comments here: NCGA Pam Johnson

Listen to Erik Younggren’s comments here: NAWG Eric Younggren

Listen to Terry Swanson’s comments here: NSP Terry Swanson

Following the individual remarks Mark then asked each group president to chime in on the relevance of rural America. I hope you’ll agree with their well said responses.

Listen to those comments here: Commodity Presidents on Rural Relevance

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, ASA, Audio, Commodity Classic, NAWG, NCGA, NSP

Sec. of Ag Vilsack at Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Sec. of Ag Vilsack at Commodity ClassicOur U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack gave a sequester day speech here at Commodity Classic. I have not had time to digest it all but he did start out by saying how happy he is to be visiting Classic because it takes him out of Washington, DC, and especially today. As you can imagine you’ll hear a lot about sequester, budgets, spending, cuts, frustration, etc.

I’ve got both his speech and press conference available for you here to listen, download and share:

Listen to Sec. Vilsack’s speech here: Sec. Vilsack Speech

Listen to Sec. Vilsack’s press conference here: Sec. Vilsack Press Conference

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

BASF Sponsors Corn Yield Contest

Jamie Johansen

classic-13-jamie-134-editedThe National Corn Growers Association and National Corn Yield Contest State Award Winners Breakfast was help this morning during the 2013 Commodity Classic.

The breakfast recognizes corn growers for their outstanding accomplishments during the past year. It also allows state winners to compare notes and pick up some tips of the trade. Check out the National Winners and State Winners.

Neil Bentley, Marketing Director for BASF’s US Crop Business, addressed attendees and shared how excited he was that BASF was a sponsor of the contest. In an interview with me he also explained some challenges growers across the country are facing and what BASF is doing to help hedge those challenges.

“BASF is really proud to be a sponsor fo the NCGA and the state yield contest winners. It’s really about bringing out the best of the best in terms of corn production. The growers face a lot of challenges out in the marketplace and we know that average doesn’t cut it, so BASF is really proud to be here and be a sponsor of this event to really celebrate those growers who are doing more than average each and every day.”

“Growers face volatility and that’s really a key standard issue within the US market, whether it is commodity volatility or weather volatility, these are really things that growers face each and every day and at BASF we are really trying to find the solutions that can help growers overcome these risks especially when it relates to yield in creating more than what the grower would have expected. Our mission at BASF is to help growers get the most from every acre. And each and every day we are spending more than $2 million in research and development to find these solutions to help growers get more and overcome these risks.”

You can find my interview with Neil here: Interview with Neil Bentley


BASF at 2013 Commodity Classic Photos

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA

Intellislope Helps Growers Install Field Drainage Tile

Melissa Sandfort

Insights Weekly

We recently caught up with Russ Mormon, Ag Leader sales representative, at the National Farm Machinery Show who told us a little more about Ag Leader’s Intellislope tile plow control through the Integra display.

Installing field drainage tile improves soil tilth for better root development, lengthening planting windows and providing better nutrient access for crops by removing excess moisture from the soil profile. Intellislope eliminates manual grade calculations, laser tripod setup and repositioning hassles which removes many of the challenges growers have faced in the past, allowing them to tile their fields on their own time, and more economically than hiring contractors.

Watch Mormon in this video as he gives a brief demonstration of Intellislope.

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader, Video

Unconfusing the Confused Consumer

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael UetzRecent information shows that the meat industry in this country has a lot of work to do with the American consumer. At the recent 2013 Annual Meat Conference in Nashville Michael Uetz with Midan Marketing, spoke during one of the sessions titled, “Demystifying the Meat Case for Today’s Confused Consumer.”

“We were shocked when we went in and talked with consumers one-on-one about what some of the challenges were. Bottom line: they were thoroughly confused with our product,” Michael said. He added that the consumers didn’t know the names, and the nomenclatures the meat industry has used for years was confusing to them. They just weren’t cutting it when it came to doing a good job communicating with their customer base. But he thinks they are now on the road to doing better.

“This new platform we have developed based on our research is one of getting rid of this confusion by tightening up our names, getting rid of industry jargon, coming up with something more memorable, and giving them more information on how to prepare and use.”

Michael credited the Pork and Beef Checkoffs for helping fund this research. He said they’ll still have to work through some of the regulatory agencies, such as USDA, to implement these changes, but he thinks it will help. “We hope it makes a big difference.”

Listen to my interview with Michael here: Interview with Michael Uetz

2013 Annual Meat Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Elanco, Food, Meat

King Richard Talks Smithfield at Meat Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Richard PettyOne of the greatest race car drivers of all time, “King” Richard Petty was at the 2013 Annual Meat Conference in Nashville, talking up one of the sponsors of his NASCAR team, Smithfield Foods.

“This is first time I’ve ever been to a show like this, but it looks pretty interesting,” he said during an interview, jokingly adding that he carries around a little sign that says: Will work for food … and “that’s what we’re doing here.”

Richard was set up in the Smithfield exhibit at the Product Tasting Reception, and he agreed that it’s great to be involved with a major supplier of meat and protein in this country, Smithfield.

“Everybody’s got to eat, and everybody’s got to have protein, so hope they get it from Smithfield.”

Listen to my interview with Richard here: Interview with Richard Petty

2013 Annual Meat Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Food, Meat

New Holland Commodity Classic Boomer Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland Commodity Classic Boomer WinnersThe New Holland drawing drew a typically large crowd to their exhibit during this afternoon’s Commodity Classic trade show. Growers who completed the demographic information on their registration form were automatically entered to win a New Holland Boomer 20 Compact Tractor.

AgriTalks’s host Mike Adams announced the drawing again and the winners are Melvin & Patricia Cripe of Michigan. Actually Melvin’s name was drawn and it was the first one! You’ll hear how excited they are about being drawn in my interview with them.

Listen to my interview with Larry and Patricia Cripe here: New Holland Boomer Winners

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, New Holland, Tractor

BASF Awards 10 Scholarships at Classic

Jamie Johansen

BASF, in partnership with American Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the National Wheat Foundation (NWF) presented scholarships to 10 students during the 2013 Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fl.

classic13-scholars“BASF is committed to the future of agriculture and our students play a huge role in sustaining the livelihood of the industry,” said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection, BASF. “These students are passionate about agriculture, and we look forward to watching them grow into the leaders and advocates of our business.”

Mason Kiehl of Meadville, Missouri was chosen as the 2013-2014 ASA SOY scholarship recipient receiving $5,000. He is a senior at Meadville High School and will pursue a degree in agricultural systems management at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.

You can find Cindy’s interview with Mason and Steve Wellman, Chairman of ASA here: Interview with Mason & Steve

This year, the NCGA scholarship was renamed the William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program, in memory of Ohio corn grower and NCGA colleague Bill Berg, a long-time member of the NCGA Grower Services Action Team and supporter of the scholarship program who passed away unexpectedly last year. The NCGA awarded scholarships of $1,000 each to the following students:

  • Emily Brundick of Argyle, Missouri
  • Kyle Parmley of Perry, Oklahoma
  • Nicholas Peterson of Clearlake, Minnesota
  • Sterling Schnepf of Granville, Iowa
  • Brent Sexton of Rockwell City, Iowa

Cindy interviewed the recipients and Les Imboden, Ohio Corn Growers Treasurer: Interview with NCGA Recipients

BASF and the NWF established a new scholarship fund this year to honor longtime wheat industry friend and BASF employee Jerry Minore by supporting students pursuing careers in agriculture. The four students who received these scholarships this year are:

  • John Rosman of Creston, Washington
  • Morgan Perez of Lind, Washington
  • Joshua C. Duling of Mupin, Oregon
  • Garrett Reiss of El Dorado, Kansas

You can find my interview with recipients and Dusty Tallman, VP of American Wheat Foundation here: Interview with NWF Recipients
BASF at 2013 Commodity Classic Photos
2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, Farming, Soybean, Wheat

Commodity Classic Trade Show Open

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity Classic Trade Show Ribbon CuttingIt’s official. The Commodity Classic trade show is now open. The ribbon has been cut.

There are over 1,000 exhibitors this year for the show. Wish we could stop and visit with all of them. We can’t but we’ll be sharing interviews with as many as we have time to.

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, Commodity Classic