An Alltech Family Affair

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Symposium BuddiesAn Alltech Symposium is almost like a family event. A very big family. Here are a few of the members. (l-r) Damien O’Reilly, David Markey and Christina Lombard, Alltech. Damien is an Irish agricultural journalist and David is past president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. I’m pretty sure they’ll keep the conversation lively over the next several days. I ran into them this afternoon and invite both Damien and David to post some of the stories they told me about their visit so far. I think I can approve most of it. Just use the comment feature guys!

So, the Symposium is underway and it’s my 5th year here. It really does feel like home and I look forward to seeing people from various countries and learning more about what’s new with Alltech!

You will be able to follow a lot of the action on the Alltech Innovations Blog, including photos, interviews and there will be live streaming of certain sessions. I’ll try to keep you pointed that way when I can.

My photos are being included here: 2011 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

GROWMARK Propane

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s the latest installment of our “Getting To Know GROWMARK” series. I talked propane with Randy Miller, Director of Propane Operations. He says that they’ve been marketing propane for years with grain drying being a big part of their business. Home heat is also important. They’ve expanded their territory significantly, including into the northeast.

Randy says that propane is a very important part of their energy business. The last couple of years the growth has been driven by the increased need for grain drying. GROWMARK negotiates their supply of propane on behalf of members with the flexibility to deliver to areas when and where it is most needed. They also help members with forward contracting.

You can listen to my interview with Randy here and learn more about GROWMARK is doing in the propane business: Randy Miller Interview

Agribusiness, Audio, Energy, GROWMARK

Lindsay Hill Memorial Information

Cindy Zimmerman

As the shock of the news that NAFB president Lindsay Hill died in an auto accident Thursday continues to be felt throughout the agriculture industry, information about her funeral service and memorial has now been made available.

According to NAFB, visitation hours will be from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm Eastern time Monday, May 23 and again from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm Eastern time on Tuesday. The celebration of Lindsay’s life is scheduled for 2:00 pm Eastern Tuesday. All of this takes place at Winner’s Harvest Barn, 7317 State Route 47 W, De Graff, Ohio 43318-9744.

Those wishing to make contributions in Lindsay’s memory may do so to: The Lindsay Hill Memorial Fund at The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43221. More information can be found here.

NAFB

AgWired iPhone App Update

Chuck Zimmerman

Hey AgWired and iPhone fans. The AgWired App has a new update. You’ll need to go ahead and get it because now you can share the stories you find on AgWired as well as our other news sites, Domestic Fuel, Precision Pays and World Dairy Diary. And if you don’t have the AgWired App on your iPhone, then now’s the time to get it!

Just go to the iTunes store and search for AgWired if you don’t have it. If you already have it, then open iTunes, click on Apps and then click on search for updates. Download and sync your iPhone and you’re done. You do update your apps frequently don’t you?

Thanks for your support!

Apps

Ready To Change The Game At Alltech Symposium

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s almost time for the 2011 Alltech Symposium. I’m headed that way tomorrow so you’ll see coverage of this fantastic event on AgWired starting Sunday afternoon. Here’s some preview information:

A record 2,100 attendees are on their way to Lexington, Kentucky; traveling from 72 countries and 46 U.S. States.

As usual, the speaker line up for this year is full of interesting and influential experts from ag science and agribusiness. Tom Standage, business editor for The Economist will be speaking about the impact of food and agriculture on history. His book, “An Edible History of Humanity” is an incredibly interesting account of the intertwined evolution of plants, farming and humanity.

Leaders from some of the most prominent companies in the food and agriculture industries will be speaking, including:

Hans Jöhr – Nestle’s
Brian Coan – , Chick-fil-A
J. O’Callaghan – JBS USA
Phillip Smith – Tyson Foods
Luciano Roppa – Provimi
Terry Coffey – Murphy-Brown
John Hardiman – Cobb-Vantress

Several sessions will be streamed live. You’ll be able to find them on the Alltech Symposium website.

Agribusiness, Alltech

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • DuPont and Biotique Systems, Inc., have entered into a research alliance to accelerate genetic discovery in agricultural crops globally, bringing better products to farmers faster.
  • Fluidigm Corporation introduced its 192.24 Dynamic Array IFC, designed to genotype 192 samples against 24 SNP assays in a single run, providing 4,608 data points in just one hour.
  • AGCO is pleased to open the doors to the all-new Global Learning Center, Duluth, a state-of-the-art agricultural equipment and technology learning center.
  • Twelve new members of the Meat Industry Hall of Fame have been selected and, once again, it’s an impressive list of people who have devoted their lives to the industry and to their communities.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NAFB President Killed in Crash

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It is with a great deal of sadness that I am sharing with you the news that Lindsay Hill, Farm Journal Media, was killed in a traffic accident this morning. I just received the news from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Lindsay was currently serving as the association president. Here is the message from NAFB.

    It is with a great deal of sadness that we report the tragic death of NAFB President Lindsay Hill in an auto accident early this morning. According to officials at Farm Journal Media, Lindsay was traveling in Ohio at the time of the accident. Additional details or arrangements are not available at this time. We will do our best to provide those details as soon as they are available.

    Please keep Lindsay’s family in your thoughts and prayers on this very sad day.

    Tom Steever, NAFB President-Elect
    Mark Oppold, NAFB V.P.

    That’s all the information I have at this time. I will update this post when I get more. Here is a link to the story about the accident from the Dayton, Ohio newspaper.

    On a personal note, I have to say that it is really sad to hear of this happening to anyone but maybe even more so when it’s someone so young and full of energy. I was shocked and still am. Already in her career Lindsay had accomplished things that others never do. She will be sorely missed and Cindy’s and my prayers are with her, her family and friends and everyone in the industry impacted by this tragedy.

    Post Update:

    Services for Lindsay Hill will be Monday from 2-8 p.m., and Tuesday from 12-2 p.m. at Winner’s Harvest Barn in De Graff, Ohio. A celebration of Lindsay’s life will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Winner’s. (Thank you to Andy Vance for the details.)

    Media, NAFB

    Livestock Publications Council Design Workshop

    Chuck Zimmerman

    lpc-logo-smallIf you would like to improve your design skills then plan on attending the Livestock Publications Council June 16, Design Workshop (pdf). It will be held at the Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley campus just south of downtown Kansas City from 8:30am to 4pm.

    This workshop will be held in a computer lab and concentrate only on design so you will get true hands-on training. We are sure you will like the focus and the format! Sessions include:

    The Newest on Adobe Creative Suite 5
    Preparing files for output and proofing
    Philosophy of design

    Registration Fees: $70/members • $90/non-members • $125/on site • $40/students

    Registration Deadline: June 3, 2011 After June 3, add $35 late fee to each registration.

    Contact Diane Johnson for more information: dianej@flash.net

    LPC

    Do you trust me with a straight-edge?

    Melissa Sandfort

    It’s in my blood, and it must be in my husband’s blood as well. Home haircuts, I mean. My husband’s grandfather had a barber’s chair in his basement and gave the kids haircuts. My great-grandfather used a kitchen chair, but did the same for his four boys. And now, I carry on the tradition and sit my dad, husband and son down for monthly haircuts at home. (Well, dad NEEDS a monthly haircut but usually only makes it once every three months.)

    My repertoire of hair-cutting instruments consists of a spray bottle, comb, scissors and clippers, and a smaller battery-operated trimmer for the hairline and around the ears. My husband tells me stories of how he and his brother played with his grandfather’s straight-edge when they were kids. It’s amazing they survived. I once asked if he’d ever trust me with one and he just chuckled and handed me the disposable razor.

    The leather strap here was used to sharpen the straight-edge. And the clipper, well, it was manually operated instead of electric. The tools look pretty much the same, it’s just that today’s haircut takes about 10 minutes; a quick shave takes 5 minutes. Back then, a trip to the barbershop was an all-afternoon, male bonding experience.

    I guess our home haircuts are lacking in the overall experience. But it makes up for it in money-savings.

    Until we walk again …

    Uncategorized

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Freshmen congressmen will play a key role in crafting what is expected to be one of the most challenging farm bills in decades. To help us understand what these new lawmakers bring to the debate, the Agri-Pulse Web site will feature one-on-one video interviews with new members from both sides of the aisle and from both the House and Senate.
    • BASF Plant Science L.P. announced Megan Lybrand has joined the company as a media relations manager.
    • Farm Aid announced that it will bring its annual benefit concert to Kansas City.
    • DuPont Lannate SP and Lannate LV insecticides can now be used to control brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) infestations in the mainland United States (except in Texas, South Carolina and New Hampshire) on selected fruit, vegetable and grain crops.
      Zimfo Bytes