New Chairman of American Seed Trade Association

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s the passing of the gavel. This time at the American Seed Trade Association convention. Here is new ASTA Chairman, Blake Curtis, Curtis & Curtis, Inc. (left) with past Chairman Mike Gumina, Pioneer Hi-Bred. I spoke with Blake at the end of the convention to find out things went in his opinion and what the future priorities are for the organization.

Blake says the convention was held at a very opportune time with the discussions and action on the farm bill and that served as a reminder about how important it is to be involved politically. The idea of meeting on a regular basis in Washington, DC has been raised. Looking ahead Blake says one of the most important goals is to continue the things they’ve been working on. One of those is an intellectual property rights bureau which he says provides an opportunity to educate people about the benefits of intellectual property rights. He also points to the ASTA strategic plan and importance of staying in touch with members to make sure they’re providing the benefits members need.

In conclusion, Blake says “ASTA should be seen as a pacesetter organization helping to set the ground rules for not only national but international trade.” He says they have people on staff who work to facilitate the movement of seed around the world and can be seen as a resource for any issues related to it.

Listen to my interview with Blake here: Interview with Blake Curtis

2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Woodruff Sweitzer announces the addition of five team members to the staff roster: Tori Powers, Kristin Witt, Dan Hood, Laura Tyson and Michelle Hanko.
  • Pioneer Hi-Bred will now be known as DuPont Pioneer.
  • Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC launches the Feeding for 30 Facebook page, offering tips on proper sow nutrition and management as well as industry insights for swine producers working towards the industry goal of 30 pigs per sow per year.
  • Wheat Growers grain and agronomy cooperative announces that Dale Gilyard has been hired as Director of Grain Operations.
    Zimfo Bytes

    John Deere Announces MyJohnDeere.com

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Today John Deere announced MyJohnDeere.com and to learn a little about it I spoke with David Everitt, President, Agriculture and Turf Division. Dave has just announced his retirement from John Deere after a long career with the company. The announcements are being made at the John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit.

    David says this is the most exciting time to be in agriculture. He says the company has created a “cloud” with infrastructure in 43 countries for information sharing with over 50,000 pieces of equipment already connected. They’re adding about 3,000 pieces of equipment a month. He says it’s all about productivity and managing information and data.

    Developed as part of the John Deere FarmSightTM strategy, the MyJohnDeere toolbox gives customers a centralized online portal to access, view, archive and manage a wide variety of business information.

    Nathan Greuel, product manager, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, says users can log into MyJohnDeere.com and access key applications such as JDLink which allows them to view real-time information about their farm operations, field locations and important performance data from their equipment. Other applications include AgLogicTM, JDParts, John Deere Financial, Stellar Support and My Equipment.

    You can listen to my interview with Dave here: Interview with David Everitt

    I’m posting photos from the summit online here: John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit Photo Album

    I’ll have a lot more news from the John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit but we’ll be in the field most of tomorrow and then it’s time to head on back to ZimmComm World Headquarters for a break.

    Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

    It Will Be Dupont Pioneer

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Beginning this weekend you’ll see a new name for Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business. As of July 1 it will be known as DuPont Pioneer. According to information I received the change is a part of the company extending DuPont’s efforts in the agricultural and food industries. The change in the name is to reflect a joint mission to find solutions to ensure that the world’s growing population has enough food. The new DuPont Pioneer name reflects this joint commitment, allowing DuPont and Pioneer to work closer together, strengthening their alignment publicly.

    The DuPont Pioneer goal remains the same – to provide the best products, services and information to help growers get the highest return on every acre they farm. Nothing in that commitment will change, and Pioneer remains an important brand as it has been for more than 85 years.

    Agribusiness, Pioneer

    Ready For John Deere Technology Summit

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Hello from the John Deere Technology Summit in Des Moines, IA. This is the welcoming committee for ag media.

    Starting this evening and continuing out on the farm tomorrow we’ll be learning about what’s new from John Deere. I don’t have any of that information to share with you yet but you can be sure I will. For those of you who can’t make it, keep an eye on AgWired for photos and interviews I’ll be sharing and follow along on Twitter with the hashtag – #JDTech. I’m sure we’ll be having lots of tweets from here.

    Agribusiness, John Deere

    ASTA Represents Vegetable and Flower Seed

    Chuck Zimmerman

    During the American Seed Trade Association convention the organization’s divisions conduct business and report on activities. One of those is the Vegetable and Flower Seed Division, chaired by Kent Croon, Monsanto. I visited with Kent after his report was given. Kent works in technology development within Monsanto Vegetable Seeds. Kent says that many people think corn and soybeans when they think of ASTA but that there are a lot of companies in the vegetable and flower seed business represented by the organization. His division makes sure they don’t get lost in the conversation. ASTA works on ways to promote their seed within the industry.

    I asked him if vegetable and flower seeds have the same issues as crops like corn. He says the answer is yes, especially for issues like intellectual property and phytosanitary in the export markets. Another similarity is yield but there are other unique issues as well.

    Kent says that his division holds an annual meeting, the ASTA Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference. It will be held January 26-29 in Scottsdale, AZ. It will be a business focus with a large number of exhibitors showcasing products for this segment of the seed industry. Kent encourages anyone involved in the vegetable and flower seed business to consider joining ASTA.

    Listen to my interview with Kent here: Interview with Kent Croon

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed

    USDA Teams Up with GE for Renewable Energy

    John Davis

    General Electric Aviation plans to buy $5 million worth of biofuels for its jets beginning in 2015, thanks to a partnership with the USDA. The two are collaborating with the Ohio Aerospace Institute, air carriers and producer groups to develop a Midwest-regional strategy to provide renewable-jet fuel at GE Aviation’s Cincinnati-area facilities. This USDA press release features Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussing how this will help provide new jobs to farming areas:

    “We have an incredible opportunity to create thousands of new jobs and drive economic development in rural communities across America by developing innovative ways to use agricultural products to help reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” said Vilsack. “USDA’s collaboration with General Electric Aviation will bring together multiple sectors of Ohio’s economy, including agricultural producers, to foster new innovations in the field of renewable fuels while bolstering new economic opportunities in the Midwest. USDA is proud to work alongside private and public institutions to support the research, creation and distribution of next generation energy solutions.”

    This comes on the heels of the USDA giving a Value Added Producer Grant to the Ohio Soybean Council for a pilot project at Ohio State University’s Bioproducts Innovation Center to refine bio-jet fuel from soybean oil. In addition, the Farm Service Agency is working in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania to turn some non-food crops into biofuels through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).

    Biofuels, USDA

    Not Even a Cackle

    Melissa Sandfort

    With 100-degree weather in Nebraska this week, it seems odd to draw a comparison to a Christmas song, but the title of this post reminded me of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. But this story has nothing to do with a mouse.

    Just like any good farmer, my grandmother’s family had a little bit of everything in the late 1930s, from crops to garden to hogs and chickens. During the dry years, my great-grandmother would raise chicks for extra money. This particular year, she started in the early spring taking care of a gaggle of chickens and was anxiously looking toward August when she would sell them.

    I’ve written briefly about my grandmother in previous posts because of her influence on my gardening, and this week she decided to get in on the fun and tell one of her own stories.

    So take a listen as grandma takes us on her first “AgWalk” about her mother’s chickens. Listen to Grandma explain

    You ask how many chickens went missing? About 350.

    Until we walk again …

    Uncategorized

    Alltech Symposium iBook

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Have you wondered what to do with all those photos from your event? Not ready to print a book? Then take Alltech’s lead and publish an iBook.

    The Alltech 28th Annual International Symposium, held May 20 – 23, 2012, in Lexington, Ky., was a venue for close to 3,000 delegates from around the world to discuss the future of agriculture and the challenge of feeding 9 billion people by 2050, as well as to explore the wide range of possible solutions to meet that challenge. While the 2012 Symposium is already “in the books,” the experience lives on in the Alltech 28th International Symposium iBook, which is now publicly available through Apple’s iBookstore and iTunes.

    The Alltech Symposium iBook offers an inside look at the annual international event through a collection of photos, videos and articles. It is available as free download for the iPad through the iBookstore or through iTunes for computers.

    “The Alltech Symposium is an exhilarating event filled with contagious energy and exciting new ideas — you really have to see it to believe it,” said Catherine Keogh, Alltech’s chief marketing officer. “This iBook is a great way for the delegates who attended to relive the experiences they had this year; and for anyone who couldn’t attend, this is an opportunity to get a glimpse at what this international event was all about. The great thing about this format is that through the photos and video, the story of the event can really come alive.”

    The 29th Annual Alltech International Symposium is scheduled for May 19-22, 2013 in Lexington, Ky.

    Agribusiness, Alltech

    Most Favor Choice at the Pump

    Melissa Sandfort

    Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Will you buy E15 for your MY2001 or later car if it’s offered?”

    Our poll results: Nearly half, forty-nine percent, said Yes; twenty-nine percent said No; and twenty-two percent said it depends on price. Looks like consumers are in favor of having a choice at the pump, and are fans of ethanol!

    Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, ” When do you think Congress will complete a Farm Bill?” On June 20, the Senate voted 64 to 35 to pass the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012. When do you think — given that it’s an election year and amidst all other “big” news items — we will have a new “Farm Bill?”

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

    ZimmPoll