AAEA Presents Lifetime Achievement Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

The American Agricultural Editors Association presented two Lifetime Achievement Awards during the Ag Media Summit awards banquet.

Receiving one of the awards from the AAEA was John Harvey (pictured on right).

These awards are just some of the many awards that are presented during the Ag Media Summit. I will try to find an electronic copy of them and provide a link as soon as I can.

Fred Myers received one of the awards too (pictured on right). Earlier in the day he received recognition during the luncheon for fifty years of service to AAEA.

I visited with Fred before the awards banquet about his service award. He says he doesn’t know where the 50 years have gone. He’s always considered AAEA “his organization.” He also received a nice letter from our Secretary of Agriculture. Fred also has a book that he’s written. If you’d like to know more about it or order one just send him an email.

You can listen to my conversation with Fred here: Fred Myers Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven
ACN, Ag Media Summit, Audio

AgHaven Continues To Develop

Chuck Zimmerman

Do you have your AgHaven account created yet? If not, what are you waiting for? AgHaven is still seeking feedback as it works to improve and finalize different elements of this new agricultural “community.”

AgHaven is a sponsor of my coverage of this year’s Ag Media Summit and they were giving a lot of tours to journalists here during InfoExpo. I spoke with Srik Soogoor, President, and asked him how AgHaven is developing. He says things are “going great.” Traffic is growing and feedback has been helpful. Based on that feedback they’ve made a number of improvements and more are planned. One of the things they’re working on is – mobile. They’ve got six apps in development for example!

Listen to my conversation with Srik here: Srik Soogoor Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven
Ag Media Summit, Audio

Not Your Typical Tractor Show

Joanna Schroeder

Looking for a tractor show that is a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll? Than look no further than the upcoming 2011 Cambridge Tractor Show and Ag Day that will be held on Saturday, August 6 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in Cambridge, Illinois. There are not only lots of tractors “through the ages” to enjoy, but also a multitude of shows including a pedal tractor show, semi-tractor show, farm truck show, hit and miss motor show, and lawn and garden tractor show.

Still not enough variety for you? Then check out the featured tractor this year, which is a Farmall tractor sporting a Maytag motor that was chosen by Mayor Jim Crouch. It’s a 1952 Farmall Super M White Demonstrator tractor owned and restored by Dave and Angie Charlet of Cambridge.

Other tractors of note that will be on display include the “Pink and Red” 1948 M Marmall tractor specially painted to bring awareness to heart disease and breast cancer. This tractor is also owned by the Charlet’s and was restored by Chad Hutchingon, also of Cambridge, in memory of his mother Sylvia Hutchinson who died of heart disease.

While we have to leave some of the fun as a surprise for attendees, we will tell you that a fun new activity this year is an “pedal” tractor pull. There will also be fun ag-related games for kids of all ages 1 -100+. For more information contact Karen Hutchinson at 309-937-5859.

Events, Tractor

Koch Agronomic Services to Acquire AGROTAIN International

Cindy Zimmerman

agrotain at AMS 11AGROTAIN International had some big news to talk about today at the Ag Media Summit Info Expo – the company has signed an agreement to sell its assets to Koch Agronomic Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Koch Fertilizer, LLC.

AGROTAIN VP of Global Marketing Jeff Whetstine, pictured here with Dr. Harold Reetz of Reetz Agronomics, gave Chuck the lowdown in an interview this morning. “It means that we’re going to continue the growth that we’ve experienced in the past,” Jeff said. “AGROTAIN has experienced a phenomenal level of acceptance in the last few years due to its benefits to farmers which is increased nitrogen efficiency.” In fact, Jeff says they actually sold out of product this season.

“Koch is basic in producing nitrogen and AGROTAIN is basic in protecting nitrogen from loss and so the combination of our two companies will offer new opportunities for our customers and for our growers,” Jeff said.

Find out more in Chuck’s interview with Jeff here: Jeff Whetstine Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven
Ag Media Summit, Audio

Ag Media Summit, Xbox 360 and BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

The Ag Media Summit, Xbox 360 and BASF adds up to something fun for one lucky ag journalist attending this year’s event. BASF, our conference coverage sponsor, has a drawing in their InfoExpo booth. While you’re there you can also take their Innovation Quotient quiz to find out if you’re Techie, Wired or Traditional. If you’re Techie you get a button that says “Fear No Gadget.” I’m wearing one!

This is the BASF team in the picture, (l-r) Dr. Dan Westberg, Nick Fassler, Pat Morrow and Dr. Scott Walker. You’ll be hearing from Dan, Nick and Scott later as we talk about what’s new with BASF. Right now you can hear from Pat talk about the activities planned for the ag media here.

Listen to my conversation with Pat here: Pat Morrow Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven
Ag Media Summit, Audio, BASF

Retail and Acquisitions Put the GROW in GROWMARK

Cindy Zimmerman

Retail businesses and acquisitions really put the “Grow” in the GROWMARK system.

growmark shelly kruseShelly Kruse is GROWMARK vice president of retail and acquisitions and I spoke with her earlier this year about her job.

“I work a lot with our retail divisions, which are member cooperatives that have actually merged into GROWMARK,” Shelly said. Three of those retail divisions are located in Iowa, one in Illinois, two in Wisconsin and one in Ontario, Canada.

The acquisitions part of her job really keeps Shelly busy. “Some of the most recent ones have been very focused on agronomy, adding fertilizer storage,” she said, adding around 250,000 tons of storage for fertilizers with the purchase of several CF terminals. Other acquisitions have been in the areas of seed and energy.

Shelly has been with the GROWMARK system for 28 years and she has seen lots of changes in that time. Listen to my interview with Shelly here: Shelly Kruse Interview

Audio, GROWMARK

MPK Teaches Peanut Industry Some New Moves

Cindy Zimmerman

I had the opportunity to see the lovely and talented advocate for agriculture Michele Payn-Knoper in action last week at the 2011 Southern Peanut Growers Conference where she was the keynote luncheon speaker.

“We have to engage with the 98 and a half percent of the population who are not farmers,” she said, encouraging the peanut growers to use the social media tools available like Facebook and Twitter and YouTube. “Just use your smart phone and shoot a little video the next time you’re out in the field and throw it up on YouTube,” she told them.

To illustrate how the agriculture industry needs to fight for itself, Michele brought some peanut industry representatives up on the stage and taught them some kickboxing moves. It was pretty darn funny and, yep – now it’s on YouTube!

Peanuts, SPGC, Video

Ag Media Summit Friends

Chuck Zimmerman

It is lunch time at the Ag Media Summit. I’ve been collecting interviews at the InfoExpo and will start posting them after lunch. This is a busy conference. We’ve got so many friends and clients here that it’s like old home week. Speaking of InfoExpo, there is a record number of exhibitors this year. I’m trying to visit them all but there’s so little time . . .

Here’s me with my good friend Gene Hemphill, New Holland. We’ve been talking about some exciting projects that you’ll learn more about in the future.

In the meantime, I’ve updated the photo album for you. Are you in there?

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven
Ag Media Summit, New Holland

Country Living Association Says Farewell

Cindy Zimmerman

The Country Living Association (CLA) has decided to discontinue operations effective today.

Country Living AssociationIn an email to readers, members, stakeholders and friends, CLA director Courtney Yuskis wrote that economic conditions forced them to make this difficult decision.

It’s with some sadness that I am writing to you this week. The Country Living Association has decided to discontinue operations effective today.

The rural lifestyle segment took a major blow following the financial fallout in 2008 and 2009. Through the generosity of our partners and our management company (Drake & Company), CLA was able to continue on and solider through the economic downturn. Unfortunately, an anticipated upturn in rural real estate and equipment purchasing has not materialized.

Given this reality, we currently do not feel CLA can be a self-sustaining organization that provides a positive value for its members.

The content posted on the www.countrylivingassociation.org will remain live until December 2011. We will monitor any comments or discussion; however, effective today, there will be no new CLA Tips, events or other information posted.

Sad news for rural lifestyle fans. Thanks for the memories, CLA!

Uncategorized

Ag Media Summit Update From USFRA

Chuck Zimmerman

One of our sessions at the Ag Media Summit is titled, “Of course our food is safe,” says modern ag – But is anybody listening? The presentation was made by leadership members of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. The Chairman is Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation, seen at the podium. I visited with him before the session started.

He says the presentation here is all about the kickoff of the USFRA communications program. He says there will be six phases the campaign will be running through. Phase one is in process which has two components. The first is to encourage farmer and rancher support and participation. The second is to lay out what the effort will do. He says farmers and ranchers need to change their way of thinking and “be willing to engage in a conversation with consumers, not just tell them what we think they need to hear but listen to what their questions are and what they want to hear and that’s going to be the crux of the initial phase.”

Bob says the “pace” has picked up and there are now 49 farmer led organizations that have joined USFRA as affiliates.

Listen to my conversation with Bob here: Bob Stallman Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by BASF and AgHaven
Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, Audio, USFRA