New Holland Receives FinOvation Award

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland FinOvation AwardDuring the National Farm Machinery Show Farm Industry News presented their 2011 FinOvation Awards at an evening banquet. Our sponsor, New Holland, won in the Tractors, High-horsepower, 4-wd category for their T9 Series Tractors. Seen with their award are Abe Hughes, VP Sales/Marketing, North America (left) and Sean Dorosz, Tractor Marketing Segment Manager.

I spoke with Abe earlier in the day at the New Holland exhibit. He says he has put together a leadership team and plan to rejuvenate the New Holland brand. Abe says there is a lot of buzz at the New Holland booth because of all the new products they’ve introduced recently, many of which are on display here at the show. He says that you should see that New Holland employees are “now speaking with a passion and an energy.” Looking ahead Abe says there is good news but some cautionary notes. On the good news side, commodity prices are up and global food demand is up. On the cautionary side though he says that raw material shortages are showing up. He encourages dealers and farmers to get their orders in as soon as possible

Enjoy his enthusiasm for the brand in our discussion.

You can listen to my interview with Abe here: Abe Hughes Interview

2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by:
New Holland

Agribusiness, Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland

Last Day to Register On-Line for Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Today is the final day to register on-line for Commodity Classic, March 3-5 in Tampa. It’s an event you don’t want to miss!

The 16th Annual Commodity Classic will help growers set sail for a successful 2011 by offering educational sessions on topics such as the new pesticide application permits, crop insurance and sustainability. “There is no better time to improve one’s marketing skills then now with record commodity price levels,” said Commodity Classic Co-chair Charles Cannatella. “Growers can increase their profitability from attending one of the marketing sessions during Commodity Classic.”

In addition to educational opportunities, attendees will enjoy exhibits from over 220 companies in 870 booths at the trade show. Escape the winter blues and embrace the sun while learning from ag industry experts, networking with fellow growers, and attending association banquets and events. The Commodity Classic grand finale will be the Evening of Entertainment on March 5. Described as “the best harmony band in the world,” the Little River Band will delight the crowd with a performance of their unforgettable melodies.

Hope to see you there!

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Touring New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Touring New Holland BoothI got a birds eye view of the New Holland exhibit at the National Farm Machinery Show. Mike Harvey and I did a video overview of what’s on display from the top of a New Holland CR9060 Combine! You can find all the technical specs for these combines here.

The tour includes the new PowerStar tractors, hay and forage equipment, precision ag products as well as the new line of skid steer loaders.

Thanks to Gene Hemphill for taking our photo from the floor.

2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by:
New Holland

Equipment, Farm Machinery, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, Video

National Farm Machinery Show Tweetup

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Journal TweetupTweeters met at the Farm Journal booth at the National Farm Machinery Show. It was a truly international tweetup! Yours truly was behind the camera and we had participants from Canada as well as the USA!

Tweetups are a great way to personally meet people you connect and interact with online. Looking forward to the next one. In the photo are: @jgrieg, @agleadertech, @jeffdmoore, @mymachinery, @farmjournal, @illini73, @rbandits and @agwebeditor.

2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by:
New Holland

National Farm Machinery Show

Novus Cheerleader

Chuck Zimmerman

Giovanni GasperoniThe Novus International Cheerleader is Executive Vice President Giovanni Gasperoni who is also in charge of marketing and sales. In the photo he’s visiting with Dick Butkus at the recent International Poultry Expo. I thought I’d save the best for last!

One of the subjects that he loves to talk about is how Novus is helping producers feed a growing and hungry world population. But he says it’s not just about quantity of food but also affordability of food. I think you’ll hear how passionate Gio is about this subject in my interview with him. He takes a very global perspective. He says they are working with producers on three key areas: education, using Novus products that allow for less overall inputs and maximizing the utilization of inputs.

You can listen to my interview with Giovanni here: Interview With Giovanni Gasperoni

2011 International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo Photo Album

AgWired IPE/IFE coverage sponsored by: Novus

Audio, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort


    Zimfo Bytes

  • Wyffels Hybrids recently rolled out nine new hybrid families for 2012.
  • James Glassford has joined AgriLabs’ executive management team as V.P. of Marketing.
  • Steley, the first 24/7 Online Auction website specifically for livestock, allows consumers to buy and sell cattle genetics worldwide.
  • Pharm Solutions Inc. announced Weed Pharm, a horticultural BIOPESTICIDE, has received EPA approval for use on organic crops for non selective control of herbaceous broadleaf weeds and weed grasses.

    Zimfo Bytes

    Championship Tractor Pull

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Championship Tractor PullIt’s “like candy for pullers.” That’s the Championship Tractor Pull taking place after the National Farm Machinery Show closes for the day.

    I had to spend a little time seeing the big indoor show and have some photos uploaded for you.

    This invitation-only event stars the nation’s best drivers and their ground-pounding machines – Pro Stocks, Super Stocks, Modified, and Alcohol Tractors as well as Two-Wheel and Four-Wheel Drive Trucks. The drivers compete in four exciting evening performances and an additional pull on Saturday afternoon. Drivers are not only gearing up for the unequaled thrill of winning at this nationally recognized pull, but also for the chance to bring home a share of more than $200,000 in prize money.

    2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

    AgWired coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    National Farm Machinery Show, Tractor, Video

    Advanced Seed Monitoring From Ag Leader Technology

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ag Leader TechnologyIt has been a busy day at the National Farm Machinery Show. I’ve been doing interviews all day and adding to the photo collection. So, lots of stories will be forthcoming in the next few days.

    This morning I learned some of what’s new with Ag Leader Technology from Russ Morman. Russ gave me an overview of new products on display that includes their SMS Mobile Mesa Rugged Notepad hand held display, their new GPS 2500 system and advanced seed monitoring for the INTEGRA display. He says they’ve been receiving the most questions on advanced seed monitoring.

    You can listen to my interview with Russ here: Russ Morman Interview

    2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

    AgWired coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by:
    New Holland

    Ag Leader, Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, Precision Agriculture

    NCFC Honors GROWMARK Employees

    Cindy Zimmerman

    ncfcAgwired congratulations go out to GROWMARK System employees who were recognized at the recent 2011 National Council of Farmer Cooperatives’ (NCFC) Information Fair, a communications contest that recognizes excellence in the publications, member relations, and marketing products of farmer cooperatives.

    Earning first place honors were: Amy Bradford, corporate communications manager, and Ann Kafer, director, Corporate Communications & Marketing Services, in the Multimedia Presentation category; Dorothy Ahlenius, Corporate Communications & Marketing Services administrative coordinator, and Bradford in the Annual Meeting Promotional Materials category; and Jenny Haycraft, marketing communications manager, Karen Higgins, graphic designer, and Marty Dunton, GROWMARK FS seed business manager, in the Advertising Catalog/Product Guide category.

    Second place honors were given to: Bradford in the Internal Identity/Awareness Campaign; and Haycraft, Dr. Jeff Bunting, crop protection marketing manager, and Kevin Black, insect and plant disease technical manager, in the Advertising Catalog/Product Guide category.

    Third place honors were earned by: Haycraft, Bunting, and Black in the Advertising Catalog/Product Guide category.

    Honorable mention went to: Haycraft, Dunton, Higgins, and Lance Ruppert, FS Seed sales and marketing manager, in the Advertising Catalog/Product Guide category; and Haycraft, Dr. Howard Brown, manager, agronomy services, and Mike Scheer, manager, agronomy marketing and communications, in the Direct Mail category.

    NCFC is a national association representing America’s farmer cooperatives. There are nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives across the U.S. whose members include a majority of our nation’s more than 2 million farmers, ranchers and growers.

    GROWMARK

    I’ve Given Up…

    Melissa Sandfort

    On rolling out and cutting and frosting Christmas cookies. When I start making cookies the first of December and don’t finish until about a week before Christmas, and when my freezer is overflowing with about 30 dozen cookies, 6 different kinds, I just really don’t feel like going to all that hassle. Is that a Christmas cookie crime?

    I’m a professed “love to cook and bake” kind of girl. But I think that love only goes as far as what kitchen ettiquette has imposed on me in 2011. This cookie cutter and donut cutter (L to R respectively) belonged to my grandmother’s grandmother. That would be … my great, great grandmother. I think. Either way, she was born in 1860 and married at the age of 31. I’m guessing she was using these cutters about that time; my great-grandmother and my grandmother both used them, too.

    That was back when everything was homemade and homegrown. And on days when I just don’t feel like “taking care of my man” (and by that I mean the old-fashioned version of welcoming him home to a kitchen full of homemade biscuits, gravy, corn, green beans, turkey and stuffing), I have been known to open a bag of rice and make it on the stove. Yes, I said a bag of rice. The kind that’s pre-packaged and processed and only costs $1.39.

    No one ever said I was Betty Crocker.

    But I do own some cookie cutters of my own. Maybe someday I’ll once again decide that frosted shapely sugar cookies are worth the time. I doubt, however, they’ll get as much use as these.

    Until we walk again …

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