Hot Potato Ideas

Chuck Zimmerman

Potato RecipeThe U.S. Potato Board held a “Hot Potato Ideas” contest and culinary students were rewarded for their innovative recipes like this Cheesy Southwestern Potato Crisps one shown in the photo. During my pheasant hunt our cook made us some of the best potato pancakes I’ve ever eaten. Perhaps we should get her to enter next time.

Creative ideas and innovation bring excitement to menus and inspire the restaurant patrons who enjoy them. This was the motivation behind the United States Potato Board’s (USPB’s) “Hot Potato Ideas” contest, which rewarded culinary students for their innovative potato recipes in one of three categories: Ethnic, Healthy and New Classics.

Twenty-two students from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY, campus entered the contest, so deciding upon the top three entries was a challenge. Nonetheless, here is a snapshot of the winning potato recipes:

Cheesy Southwestern Potato Crisps, a Latin-inspired recipe with fresh jalapeño-cilantro pesto and cheese enveloped in crisp shredded potatoes, captured the Ethnic Category and overall Grand Prize in the Potato Innovation Recipe Contest. This fresh and flavorful recipe was created by William “Trey” Smith. The USPB awarded Smith a trip to the Culinary Institute of America’s Worlds of Flavors® conference in St. Helena, CA, (Napa Valley) taking place November 12-14, 2009. Read More

Food, Potato

Boehringer Ingelheim to Get Some of Ft. Dodge Animal Health

Cindy Zimmerman

Later this year, Pfizer is merging with Wyeth Pharmaceutical, which owns Fort Dodge Animal Health. After the merger, Boehringer Ingelheim will acquire some of the Ft. Dodge assets from Pfizer. That’s the short version.

BIVIAccording to the official announcement, Boehringer Ingelheim has entered into an agreement with Pfizer “to acquire certain assets of Wyeth Pharmaceutical’s Fort Dodge Animal Health business upon the closing of the global Pfizer-Wyeth merger, which is expected to occur early in the fourth quarter. The deal, which is subject to anti-trust clearance, significantly increases the size of Boehringer Ingelheim’s companion animal and cattle portfolios.”

If approved, the deal would clear the way for Boehringer Ingelheim to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge product portfolio in several countries, as well as manufacturing and research facilities located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. In the U.S. and Canada Boehringer Ingelheim will own and market the pet and cattle vaccine lines as well as a wide range of pharmaceuticals for pets, cattle and other species. In Canada, several swine vaccines are also part of the package. In Australia, Boehringer Ingelheim will own and market the Fort Dodge pet vaccines and in some European countries and in South Africa, certain cattle vaccines.

Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim

BASF and Monsanto Team for Cotton Fungicide Seed Treatment

Cindy Zimmerman

BASFBASF has announced a supply agreement with Monsanto for a new cotton fungicide seed treatment.

monsantoThe new product contains F500®, the same active ingredient found in Headline® fungicide, BASF’s top-selling Plant Health fungicide, and will be part of Monsanto’s AcceleronTM Seed Treatment combination.

This new seed treatment will provide cotton growers with the opportunity to give seedlings a stronger start and a higher yield potential by controlling diseases, such as those caused by Rhizoctonia solani.

BASF is expanding its portfolio of seed treatment offerings with the launch of F500-containing products like Stamina® fungicide seed treatment, which is marketed for corn, sweet corn, wheat, barley, legumes, and rye. Several additional new seed treatments will be launched this year, and in 2010.

BASF, Cotton

Syngenta CEO at New Seeds HQ

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Seeds Headquarters Opening Photo Album

Syngenta Seeds Opening Mike MackThe CEO of Switzerland-based Syngenta helped to do the honors of opening the new headquarters of Syngenta Seeds in Minnetonka, MN on Monday.

Mike Mack says the new building represents Syngenta planting the seeds of the future. “We’re really proud of this extraordinary building which embodies the forward-looking, sustainable qualities and spirit of innovation that have driven Syngenta and its predecessor companies for more than a century,” Mack said during the grand opening ceremony. Mack highlighted the features of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified building, which include natural light, recycled materials, and other environmentally-friendly features.

Mack also talked about how Syngenta Seeds was built on the acquisitions of several well-known seed brands, leading with Northrup King, which was started in Minnesota 125 years ago.

Listen to Mike Mack’s remarks at the grand opening below.
Sponsored by

Audio, Seed, Syngenta, Video

Minnesota Governor Congratulates Syngenta Seeds

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Seeds Opening Governor Pawlenty with David Morgan and Mike MackThe beautiful start to the Syngenta Seeds grand opening celebration gave way to cloudy skies and a rain shower just as Governor Tim Pawlenty was to arrive, which meant a quick change in venue to inside the building. But, the weather change did nothing to dampen the spirits of everyone on hand and the governor was warmly welcomed by Syngenta Seeds President David Morgan and Syngenta CEO Mike Mack.

Syngenta Seeds Opening Governor PawlentyGovernor Pawlenty was pleased to congratulate Syngenta Seeds on the new headquarters building and their continued commitment to agriculture. “They’re not making land anymore, so there’s a finite amount of land,” said Pawlenty. “That’s why it’s imperative that we find a way to continue to feed the world and Syngenta is on the cutting edge of that technology.”

The governor noted that he was very proud of Minnesota agriculture and the fact that one out of every seven jobs in the state is related to agriculture. “We can’t have a successful state without a successful agriculture,” said Pawlenty.

Syngenta Seeds Headquarters Opening Photo Album

Listen to or download the governor’s remarks below.
Sponsored by

Audio, Syngenta

Syngenta Seeds President Leads Opening Celebration

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Seeds OpeningSyngenta Seeds president David Morgan welcomed agricultural leaders, invited guests, media and employees to the official opening of the Syngenta Seeds headquarters on a beautiful Monday morning in Minnetonka. Among those in attendence were Syngenta CEO Mike Mack, Minnesota State Senator Terri Bonoff, state Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Jim Boerboom, Chamber of Commerce president David Olsen and Minnetonka mayor Terry Schneider.

Syngenta Seeds OpeningMorgan praised the employees of Syngenta seeds for their hard work and commitment and recognized three exceptional sales reps responsible for $6-10 million in sales for the various Syngenta seed brands, including Garst, Golden Harvest and Northrup King. Morgan called the new building a symbol of the company’s increasing strength in the seeds business. “Our reputation is growing as a leader in agriculture and our new headquarters reflects our accomplishments and underscores our intent as we move confidently into the future.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is expected to arrive shortly to join the celebration.

Syngenta Seeds Headquarters Opening Photo Album

Listen to or download an interview with David Morgan below.
Sponsored by

Audio, Seed, Syngenta

Syngenta Seeds Grand Opening

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Seeds OpeningWelcome to the Grand Opening of the new Syngenta Seeds Headquarters in Minnetonka, MN.

We are gearing up for the festivities now at the site. The new LEED Gold certified building was just completed in July and boasts 116,000 square feet on 14 acres. There are more than 300 employees working here who enjoy such amenities as a wellness room, free health clinic, fitness facility and more.

The dignitaries are arriving now, the Syngenta employees lining up in their bright blue company shirts. Among those expected to take part in the celebration are the governor of Minnesota and several state lawmakers. Stay tuned for more.

Sponsored by

Syngenta

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Alltech proudly announced Tuffy’s Pet Foods as an Official Animal Health and Nutrition Partner for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010.
  • This August, BASF Crop Protection partnered with Horizon Ag to donate funds to the Stop Hunger Now organization’s record-breaking University Million Meal Week where students and community volunteers packaged 1,031,776 meals for the less fortunate around the world.
  • Pioneer Hi-Bred and Asoyia, Inc., have expanded their 2008 agreement to make Pioneer brand 1 percent ultra low linolenic soybean varieties with the Roundup Ready® trait eligible for participation in the Asoyia Identity Preserved soybean program.
  • Vermeer recently introduced a brand new 4’ x 4’ baler – its first fixed-chamber design – to maximize crop throughput and improve reli¬ability and performance in high moisture forage.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Happy Hunting Crew

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Mystic Prairie Hunting 2009Here’s the happy hunting crew at Mystic Prairie hunting lodge. The early season (preserve permit) weather has been a challenge. Hot and windy. Temps in the 80’s with wind gusting to 36 mph. Not the best weather for hunting pheasant but we got the job done.

    By the time I get this posted Cindy should be in Minnesota where she’ll be attending tomorrow’s grand opening of the new Syngenta Seeds headquarters in Minnetonka. I’m sure you’ll see some posts from there tomorrow.

    Meanwhile I’ll be traveling back via Des Moines for one more meeting before returning to ZimmComm World Headquarters. See you then.

    Hunting

    Happy FAPRI Anniversary

    Cindy Zimmerman

    For 25 years a group of University of Missouri economists has provided commodity price projections and policy analysis to the U.S. Congress, international trade negotiators, farm groups and farmers.

    FAPRI 25th anniversaryOn Friday, the MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) celebrated its silver anniversary with a gathering of friends and supporters, including Missouri Senator Kit Bond and FAPRI founder Abner Womack.

    Womack has turned over leadership of the unit started in 1984 to professors Pat Westhoff and Willi Meyers, co-directors of MU FAPRI. He continues as FAPRI adviser and professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics.

    “Every acre of crop land in the world and every cow in the world’s herd are represented in our models,” Womack said of the analytical team he founded 25 years ago. “Our main job remains in giving unbiased facts, based on numbers. We don’t make policy recommendations,” Womack said. “We present the facts and let policymakers determine the answers. That is our strength.”

    A silver edition Web site shows a policy timeline, a history of MU FAPRI, videos, letters and quotes from supporters.

    Research, University