BASF Media Summit Concludes on High Note

Cindy Zimmerman

What better way to conclude the world-class BASF Ag Media Summit in Chicago than with a trip to the top of tallest building in the Western hemisphere to look out over the city.

Pictured here are Kristen Adams and Pat Morrow, part of the crack communications team with BASF Ag that put the event together, and Paul Rea, BASF Vice President U.S. Crop Protection, at the top of Willis (formerly Sears) Tower on the Skydeck overlooking the city at night. The tower Skydeck, if you have never been there as I had not, has a series of plexiglass boxes built out over the edge of the building so you feel like you are walking right out into the air at 1,353 feet! It was a great source of entertainment, especially since they had a photographer to take pictures while you were in the box looking down on you as if you were floating over the city. Fun, but not for those who suffer from high anxiety!

I had to leave early this morning to drive from Chicago to Des Moines for World Pork Expo and I have to say that the EconoLodge in Des Moines is no Trump Tower! But, since I can walk to the fairgrounds from here, I can’t complain. It just doesn’t take too long to get spoiled in The Donald’s place!

Since I will be wrapped up in pork for the next day or so, the rest of the great stuff we learned in one short day at the BASF summit will have to wait until later, but since we started the event with a preview from Paul Rea, here is a wrap-up interview with him at the end of the day, just before we headed up to the observation deck.

Listen to my interview with Paul here. BASF's Paul Rea

I did update the photo album, so be sure to check it out here – Photos from BASF Ag Media Summit

Audio, BASF

Farm Broadcasting in the Pork Checkoff Tent

Cindy Zimmerman

Stop by the National Pork Board tent during World Pork Expo and you will be seeing some of the nation’s top farm broadcasters doing markets, interviews and commentary on the stage.

Meghan Grebner of Brownfield Ag News is pictured here interviewing NPB CEO Chris Novak during the noon show segment at the tent. She and colleague Ken Anderson will also be doing the noon show tomorrow. Other famous farm broadcasters like Pam “Fabulous Farm Babe” Jahnke will be stopping by during the day to update producers on the markets.


2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album

Boehringer Ingelheim, World Pork Expo

World Pork Expo Sponsored by BIVI

Cindy Zimmerman

Arrived in time for lunch today on the first day of the 2012 World Pork Expo after driving in from Chicago this morning and everything is already in full swing.

Our coverage this year is being sponsored exclusively by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., (BIVI) so the first thing I did when I got on the fairgrounds was head over to the tent where I found Trudy Luther of BIVI with Leigh Ann Cleaver and Jill Mahoney of BCS Communications all brightly branded in pork pink for the show. This is one of Jill’s first events with BCS but she is no stranger to WPX. If you look back to previous years, you will see lots of photos of Jill in her previous life with Novus International. She just recently moved from St. Louis to Kansas City to join our good friends at BCS and we are very happy to be working with her again. She is working with a fantastic team there!

So – getting a later start than normal here this year but we’ll get up to speed here soon. Got the photo album started with a couple of shots but many more will be coming!

2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album

Boehringer Ingelheim, World Pork Expo

Corn Technology Utilization Conference Concludes

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2012 Corn Utilization Technology Conference has come to a close and attendance was officially higher than in 2010. It has been a tremendous showcase of all kinds of research being done to continue to make new products and improve others made out of corn which is “Rooted in Human History (pdf).”

To close out the conference and give us a wrap-up I spoke with Rick Tolman, CEO, NCGA, seen here delivering his closing remarks a few minutes ago. I would echo his comments about being impressed with the young people attending the conference, many of whom submitted student posters for competition.

Rick says it’s the best of times and worst of times for the corn industry. Best of times because corn growers are on the top of their game, growing the largest crop in the United States which is used worldwide in more products and applications than any other crop. However, Rick says it’s also a tough time for corn growers due to a lot of uncertainties like negative media attention driven by misinformation coming from activist groups who want to change the way we grow corn and grow food. This conference helps get him enthused about the business though when you see how many new ideas are being worked on that will ultimately benefit the industry.

I also asked Rick for his thoughts on the farm bill, partnering with NASCAR and the progress of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance which NCGA is a member of. He’s optimistic about all these programs.

Listen to my interview with Rick here: Interview with Rick Tolman

You can find photos from the 2012 CUTC in my online photo album: 2012 CUTC Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Biofuels, Conservation, CUTC, NCGA

Precision Ag is a Conservation Tool

Chuck Zimmerman

Terry GriffinDuring the 2012 Conservation in Action Tour the word “precision” came up multiple times. As precision ag continues to develop it is being seen as an effective tool for conservation plans and practices. One of our speakers addressed this subject. He’s Terry Griffin, farmer and also VP, Applied Economics for new precision ag company, CrescoAg.

Terry says one example of how farmers are using precision ag to enhance conservation is applying nutrients where the truth is often the opposite of what some non-farmers may think. With precision equipment and applications farmers are applying appropriate rates to the appropriate place at the appropriate time. He says farmer are trying to maximize profits and that can’t happen by over applying inputs like fertilizer.

Listen to my interview with Terry here: Interview with Terry Griffin

2012 Conservation in Action Tour Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN
Ag Groups, Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Precision Agriculture

Conservation Benefits Wildlife

Chuck Zimmerman

Kay WhittingtonDuring the afternoon of the 2012 Conservation in Action Tour our speakers talked a lot about how soil and water conservation systems benefit wildlife. One of our presenters was Kay Whittington, Chief of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s Management Branch, Surface Water Division. Kay says that the same conservation practices that help farmers manage soil and water quality also benefit wildlife. I think this is pretty good common sense. Kay says that she got involved in the tour because of the involvement of Delta F.A.R.M. and says they are her go-to agency for projects on the ground because they have the connections with the local land owners.

Listen to my interview with Kay here: Interview with Kay Whittington

2012 Conservation in Action Tour Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN
Ag Groups, Audio, Conservation, CTIC

Most Think Atrazine Settlement Good For Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is Atrazine lawsuit settlement good for farmers?” We posed this question after a lawsuit against Syngenta related to the herbicide was settled with an offer of over $100 million by the company, even thought there has been no evidence of harm in drinking water caused by the product and the plaintiffs in the lawsuit acknowledged they had not commissioned any research on the subject or seen any new research to the contrary either.

Our poll results: Sixty percent said Yes, time to move on; twenty eight percent said No, still other challenges and twelve percent chose Other.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Do you prefer corn sugar to high fructose corn syrup?” Recently the FDA denied a request from the Corn Refiners Association to allow food labels to use the term corn sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Nutritionally, there is no difference in regular table sugar and HFCS so I don’t see why FDA ruled like they did. There reasoning had to do with their definition of sugar as a crystalline solid. This is basically a public relations war over words since the “problem” with both substances is how much someone consumes. Nothing wrong with cane sugar or corn sugar in my opinion. I like them both. Apparently consumers like HFCS better according to this story. What do you think?

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

Food, ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Genex Cooperative, Inc. and DeLaval Inc. have signed a joint marketing agreement under which Genex representatives will assist in marketing DeLaval Activity Systems, which monitor cows’ activity helping dairy producers know when cows are ready to be inseminated.
  • Farm Journal Television announced the launch of a new nationally distributed program called Raising America…Real Kids – Big Ideas.
  • Karen Sample has launched 31st Line Strategic Communications, a full-service marketing, communications firm in Canada.
  • The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board announced plans to conduct a referendum on July 10, 2012, to increase the corn checkoff by 1/4 cent per bushel.
    Zimfo Bytes

    The CTIC Cheerleader

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ron OlsonI think he’s the head cheerleader for the Conservation Technology Information Center. He’s board member Ron Olson, Mosaic Company, Eastern Region, Senior Agronomist. Ron is seen announcing door prize winners during our lunch at the 2012 Conservation in Action Tour.

    Ron told me that the actions and work that CTIC has exhibited over many years is what has kept them interested. He says it’s all about building partnerships with farmers, conservation groups and government agencies. He says “The Mosaic Company understands that if we’re going to make a difference in this world and improve conservation it doesn’t happen by one company doing it. It takes a great cooperative partnership effort.” Like many on the tour he says this was the best tour ever. Ron says that sustainability is a value that companies have to form and the work that CTIC is doing in building partnerships across the ag industry is helping farmers remain profitable which is a key component of sustainability.

    Listen to my interview with Ron here: Interview with Ron Olson

    2012 Conservation in Action Tour Photo Album

    AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN
    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Conservation, CTIC

    Ag Solutions is “Powerhouse of Innovation” for BASF

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, was the opening act for the BASF Ag Media Summit on Tuesday, outlining the take home theme of the conference.

    “Innovation and sustainability powered by BASF chemistry,” he said, noting the need to feed 9 billion people by 2050. “The products and solutions to solve these challenges must be easy, simple to use and affordable because the 3 billion people that will be added during the next 40 years will be in poor countries.”

    Andreas says BASF is working hard to meet the challenges of the future. “At BASF we pursue a long-term strategy,” he said. “In order to continue offering our customers a broad portfolio of integrated solutions we must continue to invest in innovation.”

    Andreas says one out of every three euros BASF spends on R&D is in the ag solutions segment “so this is the powerhouse of innovation for BASF.”

    Listen to Andreas’ comments here. BASF's Andreas Kreimeyer

    Photos from BASF Ag Media Summit

    Audio, BASF