Monsanto Acquires Select Assets of Agradis, Inc.

Talia Goes

logoMonsanto Company announced it has purchased select assets of Agradis, Inc. Monsanto’s purchase includes the Agradis name and its collection of microbes that can improve crop productivity. Monsanto has also acquired the company’s R&D site in La Jolla, Calif.

Agradis was formed in 2011 by Synthetic Genomics Inc and Plenus. The assets of Agradis not purchased by Monsanto include castor and sweet sorghum breeding and genetic optimization technologies, as well as a novel product used to prevent fungal growth on fruits and vegetables. These assets will continue to be advanced by SGI and Plenus in a new company, AgraCast.

The announcement also includes an agricultural research agreement between Monsanto and SGI. The multi-year research collaboration will focus on the analysis of microbe-plant communities and screening for beneficial microorganisms that could be used to develop additional biological products to improve agricultural productivity. Monsanto has also made an equity investment in SGI. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Agribusiness

Using Corn to Support Biofuel Production

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ”How many machines (tractors, etc.) does your farm own?”

Our poll results: The majority of you at thirty-five percent own 10+ machines and equipment. Twenty-five percent own 3-5, close behind was 6-9 at twenty-one percent, thirteen percent own 1-2, and six percent said other. As we suspected, every farm and farmer has a different way of doing things which means some need more machinery and some need less.

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Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Do you support biofuel production and the use of corn to do this?” Biofuel production of corn produces several types of biofuels such as biodiesel, biogas and different bioalcohols. This high octane mixture can be used in most of today’s modern traditional types of vehicles. Is this the way of the future? Let us know what you think.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

Biofuels, New Holland, ZimmPoll

More Power to You at Iowa Power Show

Cindy Zimmerman

iapower-13-jungeWith more than a century of history, the Iowa Power Farming Show has become the third largest farm show in the United States, according to show director Tom Junge.

“We have over 300,000 square foot of exhibit space and about 750 exhibitors,” Junge said. “One thing we take pride in is we have all ag displays. We have three different floors of big equipment and three floors more of smaller equipment.”

ia-power-13Last year the show attracted some 22,000 farmers from Iowa and several other surrounding states and Junge says it takes quite a bit of snow to keep them away. “Over half our attendance now is coming from at least two hours out,” he said.

Junge says Ag Leader Technology is a major sponsor of the show. “We wanted to work with a company that is progressive and precision is very crucial to farming,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Tom here: Interview with Tom Junge

Sponsored by Ag Leader Technology

2013 Iowa Power Farming Show Photo Album

See more coverage of the Iowa Power Farming Show on PrecisionPays.com.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, Events, Iowa Power Show, Precision Agriculture, Technology, Tractor

AG CONNECT Expo Keynote by James C. Borel

Chuck Zimmerman

James C. Borel AG CONNECT ExpoThe keynote address at the welcome session of the 2013 AG CONNECT Expo was provided by James C. Borel, Executive Vice President, Dupont.

The focus of his remarks was on the need to feed a growing population. He says that at Dupont their approach to global food security rests on four key principals. They include “Science is universal but solutions have to be local; collaboration is what really unlocks the answers that science can provide; science has to become local wisdom, know how has to be brought to the people and the places that need it most and solutions to feed a growing population have to be sustainable in the truest sense of the word, not only environmentally but also economically and socially.”

You can listen to or download keynote address from James here: Welcome Session Keynote from James C. Borel

2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Food

Claas Celebrating 100 Years at AG CONNECT Expo

Chuck Zimmerman

Rob Kolb AG CONNECT ExpoThe welcoming session and Celebration of Agriculture Reception of the 2013 AG CONNECT Expo has taken place and it was a packed house. Giving welcoming comments and emceeing the session was Rob Kolb, Vice President, Global Business Development, GEA Farm Technologies.

Rob’s first task was to introduce our first speaker, Dr. Theo Frye, Marketing and Strategy, Spokesman of the Executive Board; Forage Harvest, Claas.

Dr. Theo Frye AG CONNECT ExpoDr. Frye says of AG CONNECT Expo, “It’s the right format, the right time of the year, the right location and the right people.” Claas is celebrating 100 years owned by the third generation of the same family that started it.

You can listen to or download welcome remarks and comments from Dr. Theo Frye here: Welcome Session Comments from Dr. Theo Frye

2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment

The Global Perspective at Novus

Jamie Johansen

ippe-13-68-editedThe trade show is currently in full swing at the International Production & Processing Expo here in Atlanta.

Right as you walk in you can’t help but notice Novus International. I stopped by and had the opportunity to talk with Jim Gerardot, Executive Director of Global Marketing, about how they bring local solutions into their global marketplace.

“It’s a great point especially in the nutritional business. Local solutions are just critical. Local ingredients that are going into the feed, the way the animal is raised in India vs. the U.S., is really a local approach that you have to use when managing customer needs. And we try and do that by actually taking those learnings and aggregating them globally so we can really take the products forward in other markets by learning from those local activities. We try to identify the things a global producer may have in common so we can leverage that in our research into new products.”

Jim also shared how Novus has utilized their 3 Pillars of Solutions, Service and Sustainability into their global presence. They recently launched regional specific products to meet global market needs like SPORULIN in North America and AVIMATRIX in Europe.

Check out my complete interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Gerardot

International Production & Processing Expo Photo Album

Sponsored by Novus International Inc

Audio, Events, IPPE, Novus International, Poultry

Koch Agronomic Services Has Scientific Integrity

Chuck Zimmerman

Greb Schwab AG CONNECT ExpoKoch Agronomic Services is on display here at AG CONNECT Expo. I visited with Greg Schwab, Director of Agronomy (seen on AgriTalk), to learn what he’s talking to farmer attendees about.

Greg says the company has grown tremendously in the last two years with multiple acquisitions to add to their product lineup. One of the key issues he’s talking to attendees about is nitrogen management. He’s also talking about the company commitment to “scientific integrity.” He says that they’ve been working with university researchers around the country to make sure the products they develop bring real value to producers that will help their bottom line.

You can listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Schwab

2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Fertilizer

AG CONNECT Expo is Bigger and Better

Chuck Zimmerman

Sara Mooney AG CONNECT ExpoAG CONNECT Expo is off to the races in Kansas City, MO. Show Director Sara Truesdale Mooney was on the show floor early as a guest on AgriTalk, seen here with host Mike Adams. AgriTalk was broadcasting live from the Koch Agronomic Services exhibit this morning.

Sara says there are over 30 co-located events taking place here this week. That’s a lot of extra activity that id drawing people to the convention center. There are almost 400 exhibitors this year with over 30% more exhibit space. There is also a record number of educational sessions taking place here as well.

You can listen to my interview with Sara here: Interview with Sara Truesdale Mooney

Please feel free to download and share my interviews and photos. You can find my photos in the 2013 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album.

Sponsored by JohnDeere

Agribusiness, Equipment

New Hire & Promotion for Harvest PR & Marketing

Talia Goes

Harvest PR & Marketing, Inc., is pleased to announce the recent addition of industry veteran Eric Davis as account director, and the promotion of Adriane Marten to digital and social media manager.

harvest prAs account director for Harvest, Davis will be instrumental in managing key food and agriculture accounts, guiding strategy and developing new business for the agency. His food category experience includes product launch, education, policy and advocacy campaigns for organizations, such as National Cooperative Grocers Association, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Food and Society Fellows, Organic Valley and Organic Trade Association.

harvest pr 2Harvest also promoted Adriane Marten from account coordinator to digital and social media manager. Since joining the agency in February 2012, Marten has spearheaded numerous digital and social campaigns for food and farm clientele, including U.S. Apple Association, National Watermelon Promotion Board, Farm Journal Foundation and Willamette Egg Farms.

In her new role, Marten will continue to focus on enhancing and integrating strategic content across multi channels to support key communications objectives.

Agencies, Agribusiness, Public Relations

Becker in New Position with GROWMARK

Chuck Zimmerman

Cassie BeckerCongratulations to Cassie Becker who is moving into the Publications and Media Relations Specialist position at GROWMARK effective February 1, 2013.

In her role, Cassie will serve as the primary journalist/photographer/videographer and managing editor of the GROWMARK Spirit and Growing Forward. Additionally, she will be responsible for creating and producing various publications, multi-media, and institutional materials and developing and implementing public, member, and media relations activities.

Cassie joined GROWMARK in 2011 as a Public Relations Associate. Prior to that, she served as an Intern for the Corporate Communications department. Cassie has her Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Communications from the University of Illinois.

Agribusiness, GROWMARK