I probably would have overdosed on a healthy product if I’d attended Potato Expo 2010. It’s hard to say no to chips/dip or a nicely baked potato with the extras. It would be fun to blog. Maybe someday. Anyway, it sounds like the potato business is doing okay.
Nearly 1,200 people attended POTATO EXPO 2010, along with a trade show that was completely sold out. The second annual POTATO EXPO kicked off Monday, January 4, 2010 with an “Opening Luau Reception” on the tradeshow floor at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. The record setting attendance included representatives from all across North America and from all sectors of the potato industry. Attendees from New Zealand, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, Korea, Japan and Ireland were also present.
One of the general session speakers was J.R. Simplot Company President and CEO Bill Whitacre who spoke on “The Future of the Potato.” He said:
“Over the next decade, our industry will continue to change, and that will mean the potato industry will have additional opportunities,” Whitacre said. “Many of these will come from technological advancements. We need to embrace these technologies and recognize the capabilities and possibilities these will bring to the future of food production.”
Looking forward to it.
Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation
It’s okay to talk about Mark Bloom. I think he’s actually in Brazil right now with an Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation group. Mark is one of the staff members of IALF and he was exhibiting at the recent Chicago Farmers Farmland Investment Fair.
Mark says it’s a great time for IALF since they’ve got an overlap in last year’s leadership class with the international seminar group that is touring in Brazil and Argentina. He says it’s the second time they’ve been at the Farmland Investment Fair. He says it’s interesting that he’s found that other exhibitors are really good prospects for the IALF program.
You can listen to my interview with Mark below.
All About the Blue
Green farm equipment apparel has gone pretty mainstream in the past several years, but if you see someone sporting a New Holland blue shirt or cap, you can be fairly certain they are a real farmer.
I talked with Glenn Brumley who was staffing the New Holland toys and merchandise display at the National Farm Machinery Show about some of the popular items at the big show. “Hats are always popular, especially with the cold weather,” he said. Camo hats are always big sellers and the “All about the Blue” hat pictured is especially popular with the FFA crowd.
They always have a new feature item each year at the NFMS and this year it was the CR9080 Combine in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the twin rotor combine for New Holland. Glenn says the dated toys are always big sellers for collectors, but the kids like them, too! You can find some New Holland merchandise here on-line.
Listen to my interview with Glenn here:
Virtual Wrench Speeds Precision Service
Virtual Wrench is a service offered by Leica Geosystems. For growers using precision applications it’s like having a technical support person in the cab with them. This remote service and support system uses built-in cell data modems and even incorporates Google Earth!
To learn more about it I spoke with Darren Herstedt, Leica Geosystems service and support manager for North America. This is him sitting in front his computer utilizing Virtual Wrench. He says the customer can hit a couple of buttons and call their server so they can see the customer’s display remotely and guide them through a situation in real time. It saves time and money for both parties. He says that the system is available to almost all growers in the United States since they employ a service that utilizes most cellular carriers. Here’s what the product brochure says:
With your permission, your local reseller can remotely view and adjust settings, look at your field terrain and base station location, install software upgrades and, ultimately, diagnose and repair 90% of problems.
You can listen to my interview with Darren here:
Public Relations Ducks Unlimited Style
In ZimmCast number 250 learn how Ducks Unlimited does public relations. I can’t believe I’ve done 250 of these. The first posted version of the ZimmCast was January 31, 2005! I wish I could say it seems like only yesterday but it really doesn’t.
Getting on to the topic of this week’s program, I recorded the presentation made by Tony Dolle, Director of Communications for Ducks Unlimited. He’s seen here conducting his presentation during the Agricultural Relations Council meeting in Memphis at their headquarters. Tony’s job was to tell us how they conduct public relations and deal with today’s media. I think you’ll find it very interesting. Ducks Unlimited is a very successful and well run organization with a budget of about $220 million.
Since we were in Memphis and it’s the home of some of the best blues music you’ll ever find I ended the program with some music from Music Alley. It’s a song called, “Memphis Blues” by Ocean Street.
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.
You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.
HSUS Feeling Heat in N.Y. Times
The Center For Consumer Freedom is dialing up the heat on the Humane Society of the United States. This is their full page ad that’s appearing in today’s New York Times. It highlight’s “the failure of the Humane Society of the United States to devote a significant amount of money to supporting America’s underfunded pet shelters. The ad explains that HSUS shares only 1 dollar out of every 200 dollars it collects with local, hands-on pet shelters.”
You can find out a lot more by going to the organization’s just-launched website, HumaneWatch.org. You can download a pdf of the ad with this link.
The ad reads:
Shouldn’t the “Humane Society” do better?
The Humane Society of the United States is NOT your local animal shelter. In fact, it gives less than one-half of one percent of its $100 million budget to hands-on pet shelters.
Meanwhile, this wealthy animal rights group socked away over $2.5 million of Americans’ donations in its own pension plans.
Surprised? So were we. The dog-watchers need a watchdog. Join the discussion at HumaneWatch.org.
NAMA Regionals
I know that a lot of regional Best of NAMA has been going on. Unfortunately I was not able to attend any of the activities. So congratulations to all winners.
I just saw via NAMA Twitter that the MidSouth NAMA finally had their awards dinner.
You can see more photos from the event and other regional events in the NAMA Flickr Account.
AdFarm Opens St. Louis Office
When you’re doing agricultural work, “growing” is good. Sounds like some new members for Gateway NAMA to me.
AdFarm continues to grow alongside their agricultural clientele with the recent opening of their new office in St. Louis in early January.
A number of AdFarm employees already operating remotely in the St. Louis metro area, as well as planned hires, will now work out of the new office located at 353 Marshall Avenue, Suite I in St. Louis.
“This new location is proof of AdFarm’s continued growth and desire to place ourselves close to agricultural centers,” says Bob Wilhelm, Vice President with AdFarm. “We’re working with important clients in the St. Louis region, and we know we have wonderful opportunities for expansion.”
This brings AdFarm’s total number of official locations in North America to five, with other offices in Kansas City, Mo.; Fargo, N.D.; Calgary, Alberta; and Guelph, Ontario.
2009 FinOvation Awards
Once again this year I had the pleasure of attending the Farm Industry News (FIN) FinOvation Awards banquet at the National Farm Machinery Show. FinOvation awards go to the most innovative products coming to the market, based on Farm Industry News readers’ interest
Among the award winners this year was New Holland’s BB9000 Series large square balers. New Holland’s Bob Hatz picked up the baler category award on behalf of the company, presented to him by FIN senior editor Jodie Wehrspann. “Thank you very much – and hay tools rock!” Bob said.
Also picking up a crystal Finny (I just made that up) this year were our friends at BASF for Kixor in the crop/herbicide category. On hand to accept the award were Dr. Dan Westberg, Sandi Wilson and Mike Hofer. Great to see them get this award for an exciting new product for weed control.
We also saw John Deere get two awards – for the DB120 planter and AutoTrac RowSense. Syngenta was honored with two awards for the Viptera corn seed trait and Avicta seed treatment. Other winners included Agco, Case, Vermeer, Bayer and Trimble. Check out all 20 of the winners here on the FIN website.
Jill Loehr Joins Wyffels Hybrids
Jill Loehr has joined Wyffels Hybrids as a new communications manager.
Loehr will be responsible for developing a strategic communications plan, as well as working closely with the director of marketing to develop materials and programs that reinforce Wyffels’ brand promise of being the best way to bring seed technology to the farm.
Loehr has extensive communications experience serving most recently as an account supervisor at Rhea + Kaiser Marketing Communications on the Bayer CropScience account. She holds a dual degree from Iowa State University in public service and administration in agriculture and journalism and mass communications.