Opening of AgroNomics

Chuck Zimmerman

It is always inspiring to see our FFA members in their blue coats. Here are Shelby Riley (left) and Brandan Bergdall holding the flags that they presented to start off the 2012 American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Annual Meeting and AgroNomics – Vision 2013.

I asked both FFA’ers how their convention went since both attended and what they were looking forward to in the next year.

Listen to my interview with Shelby and Brandan here: Interview with FFA

Photos from the Agronomics and the ASFMRA Annual Meeting can be found here: 2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, FFA

Time for Some Agronomics

Chuck Zimmerman

I have made it to my first American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Annual Meeting, along with the Agronomics conference.

AgroNomics – Vision 2013 to be held October 29 – November 2, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana offers interaction opportunities for investors and fund managers together with the land management, property valuation, agricultural consulting, and rural land & property sales experts of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers.

I’ve got a full slate of interviews scheduled over the next couple days and will be taking all the photos I can. Follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #AgInvest.

Have a very safe Halloween.

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Uncategorized

Farm Foundation to Hold Policy Forum Post Polls

John Davis

While we might know who is elected after November 6th, knowing what they might do could still be a bit murky, especially when it comes to agriculture, food and rural policies. That’s why Farm Foundation is holding a forum about a week after the polls close to look at what those newly elected and re-elected pols will do. The forum will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington D.C.

And for the first time a free live, webcast of the forum will be offered. You can see the webcast by registering here. Email julie@farmfoundation.org by Nov. 12th if you plan to attend in person.

“By their votes on Nov. 6, citizens will set the stage for the next four years of the nation’s policy development at both the state and federal level,” says Foundation President Neil Conklin. “This Forum is an opportunity to examine how those elections may specifically impact agriculture, food and rural policies in the months ahead.”

Farm Foundation, politics

Being Relevant to Your Customers

Chuck Zimmerman

Is your company still relevant to your customers? Well I hope so. But if you want to delve in to this Ross Shafer can help. Ross was the keynote speaker at the O.H. Kruse Grain & Milling dealer appreciation day. I first met Ross during this year’s Agri-Marketing Conference. He’s a very informative and entertaining speaker. He says the customer will always get what he wants and how he wants it.

Ross told everyone to go mobile or go home. By that he means having a mobile app or a website that is constructed to show and work properly regardless of the device used to look at it. He also talked about relationship factors as in when people like you they give you their money. Ross not only talked about being relevant during his keynote but also conducted a session on “How to Grab Market Share From Your Competitors.”

Listen to my interview with Ross here: Interview with Ross Shafer

O.H. Kruse Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, O.H. Kruse

Some O.H. Kruse Memories

Chuck Zimmerman

When you’ve got a company that is three generations old you can bet there are lots of memories. I captured some of those memories of O.H. Kruse Grain & Milling by talking with Richard Kruse, Kruse Feed & Supply. Richard is pictured on the left with his nephew, Kevin Kruse.

Richard started out working in his father’s business and it is all he’s known his whole life. He says that as a boy he remembers waking up to the sound of a grinder going off at about five in the morning. He says it has been a great ride because of the people they have been associated with and who believed in them. Richard says a key to their success is having a belief in all members of their working “family.” There’s nothing he likes better than seeing his customers grow and prosper because that helps them do the same.

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

O.H. Kruse Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Feed, O.H. Kruse

Do We Need GMO-Labeled Food?

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How important will rural vote be in election?”

Our poll results: Sixty-five percent say very important and thirty-five percent said not important. It appears as though the majority of folks believe farmers and ranchers need to cast their vote. So remember, Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Less than a week away!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Should foods containing GMO crops be labeled?” A great example of this is Prop 37 in California. It is estimated that 70 percent of our food contains GMOs. And with already rising food costs, will this added labeling requirement just increase what consumers pay for food? What do you think? Would it make a difference in the food you purchase?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Daryl Oldvader, FCS Financial Chief Executive Officer, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, 2012.
  • Advanta US is pleased to announce Brannon Byers has been named global crop supply chain manager for sorghum for parent company Advanta.
  • USDA, AMS, Cotton & Tobacco Programs is seeking nominations for 24 vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards.
  • Syngenta announced a major expansion at its Woodland, Calif., research and development and seed production facility.
Zimfo Bytes

Social Media Use in Czech Republic

Chuck Zimmerman

I thought this information from ACDC (Agricultural Communications Documentation Center) was interesting and wanted to share. Social media usage in the Czech Republic (pdf). Would you have thought this to be the case? Looks like companies are slow to adopt but their customers are not. This is from two years ago so I would assume there has been more of a move toward using social media now.

During 2010, researchers at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague carried out the first survey of social networks in the agrarian sector (companies, cooperatives, and farmers) of the Republic. A research paper we have added to the ACDC collection revealed findings such as these:

About 95 percent had internet connections at their disposal.
Respondents were active on social networks, with Facebook by far the most used.
Company presentation is only used to a relatively small extent. Social media were especially used for personal communications, gathering information, and for company communications.

Another interesting nugget from the study:

Advertisement, newspapers and leaflets are not so trustworthy or in other words so popular with the new generation and modern users.

International, Media, Social Networking, University

Chevy or Ford Man?

Melissa Sandfort

Our son “politely” tells all owners of red combines or tractors that they’re going to break down and that he likes green ones. He also has to ask every pickup owner if it has 4-wheel drive because “daddy’s does”. To a 4-year-old, life is one big competition.

He’s also a Chevy man.

This past weekend, my husband went to a farm sale with our son. I knew he’d come home with something – I assumed an old tractor – but I just didn’t know what. He bought an old cream can (for me), a rickety old hay wagon (for himself) and a 1927 Ford Model T (for the family).

Can’t you just imagine a little brown haired, blue-eyed boy with a top hat opening the door to this on prom night?

We went for an afternoon drive and I must say, other than the musty smell, it rides quite nice and there’s ample leg room in the back seat. This one might be a keeper, even though it IS a Ford. Especially considering in May 1927, production of the Model T ceased, as preparations were being made for the first really “new” Ford in nearly two decades: the Model A.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Commodity Classic Caps Off with Classic Rock

Melissa Sandfort

What’s a better way to conclude Commodity Classic than with some classic rock? The Monsanto Evening of Entertainment at the 2013 Commodity Classic will feature World Classic Rockers, a group of standout performers from legendary rock bands. Commodity Classic is the nation’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused conference and trade show, presented annually by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and National Sorghum Producers.

World Classic Rockers bring together some great names in Rock music from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Nick St. Nicholas started on the road to rock and roll history when he drove his band The Sparrow from Toronto to the Sunset Strip in search of a record deal. Once in Hollywood, the Sparrow changed their name to Steppenwolf and recorded the biker anthem “Born To Be Wild” for the film Easy Rider. Decades later, Nick set out to form the ultimate classic rock band. The result is the World Classic Rockers.

Former Steppenwolf lead guitarist Michael Monarch brings WCR the same driving guitar licks that he performed for Steppenwolf hits such as “Magic Carpet Ride.” Randall Hall toured seven years with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s comeback band and now furnishes the band with guitar and vocals. Drums are manned by Aynsley Dunbar, whose beats were recorded on mega-hits “Wheel in the Sky” by Journey, “Jane” by Jefferson Starship and “Is This Love” by Whitesnake. Songwriter and vocalist Greg Walker provides a soulful sound that he perfected with the band Santana and is heard on their recordings of “She’s Not There” and “Stormy.” WCR’s vocals are rounded out by Boston’s former lead singer Fran Cosmo who recorded band hits “I Need Your Love” and “Higher Power.” Rounding out the band’s roster of musicians is lead guitarist David Coyle and Mark Hoyt on keyboards.

Agribusiness, ASA, Commodity Classic, NAWG, NCGA