Deere Exec to Host AgExecutive Forum

Cindy Zimmerman

AEM Doug DeVries The host for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers AgExecutive Forum in St. Louis this week is Doug DeVries, Senior Vice President of Ag Equipment Marketing for Deere & Company – shown here doing a little pre-event prep work on Wednesday night. Doug heads up AEM’s Ag Executive Council which represents the farm machinery segment of the equipment manufacturers organization. He passed up being in Sarasota this week for the big Deere event that Chuck is covering to be at this event because of it’s importance to the industry.

“We’re going to have a broad range of discussions about a number of issues around what’s happening in the industry today,” Doug told me. That includes economic issues, renewable energy, commodity prices and more.

Doug says he is really looking forward to introducing plans for the new AG CONNECT 2010 expo. “We’re really excited about AG CONNECT as the first AEM-sponsored, agricultural equipment show that is brought to our customers by the industry and for the industry,” he said. “We believe it will be a different type of experience for people.” He is most excited about the global focus of the expo and the educational opportunities they plan to offer.

Listen to an interview with Doug here – and tune in for AgWired Live TV from the AgExecutive Forum Thursday starting at 8:00 am central with Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer followed by a discussion about AG CONNECT with Doug and several of his industry colleagues who are helping to plan and support the new show.

aem-forum-08-devries.mp3

You can also download the 4:00 interview with this link: Doug DeVries Interview (mp3)

AEM, Audio, Equipment, John Deere

New Mower Attachment From John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere TractorAt today’s John Deere product launch we went to classes on utility tractors. I think we had about 6 different stations where we could listen to presentations and then get to ride and drive on our own.

One item that got a lot of attention today was the new easily detachable underbelly mowers for these utility tractors. After you drop them on the ground there are just 2 latches to undo and then you can back off over top of the mower. There’s no need to pull the heavy mower out from under the tractor. Then you just drive back on top of the mower and it automatically latches itself back on to the tractor.

I shot a short video clip at the demonstration station where this new product was being showcased.

I’ll have a lot more content from today’s event but it’s late and Cindy will be on live blogging the AEM AgExecutive Forum in the morning while we’re in presentations from John Deere representatives here at the hotel.

John Deere Drive Green Photo Album

Equipment, John Deere, Tractor, Video

AgExecutive Forum Ready to Roll

Cindy Zimmerman

Association of Equipment Manufacturers Ag Executive ForumTomorrow this room will be filled with executives from agricultural equipment companies and associated industries, here in St. Louis for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers AgExecutive Forum. And AgWired is set up to webcast some of the proceedings live starting at 8 am central time with an address by Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer.

AEM Charlie O'BrienAEM Vice President of Ag Services Charlie O’Brien says the purpose of the forum is to bring leaders in the industry together and provide them with the latest information about factors that are impacting the business.

AEM hold the forum every year but one of the main differences about this year is the focus on plans for AG CONNECT 2010, a new ag trade show that has been developed by many leaders in the farm equipment industry who are members of AEM. “It’s a concept that has been talked about for awhile and now it’s actually coming to be,” Charlie told me. Some of those who have helped in the development of AG CONNECT are among the largest ag equipment manufacturers in the world.

Listen to an interview with Charlie here – and tune in for AgWired Live TV from the AgExecutive Forum starting at 8:00 am central.

aem-forum-08-obrien.mp3

You can also download the 3:00 interview with this link: Charlie O’Brien Interview (mp3)

AEM, Audio, Equipment

Media Driving Green With John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere kicked off their Drive Green product launch today in Sarasota, FL. Here’s the happy crew of media who attended to see the latest in this “Year of the Utility Tractor” lineup.

John Deere Drive Green

We’re getting ready to go to dinner but you can count on seeing and hearing a lot more from the field. I’ve got lots of good interviews and of course a photo album: John Deere Driving Green Photo Album

John Deere

John Deere Kicks Off Drive Green Event

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere Drive Green RegistrationWe’re getting ready to “Drive Green” here in Sarasota, FL. Dozens of media representatives are gathered here to ride and drive some new John Deere tractors. The company announced their new line of utility tractors in the 5 and 6 Series. I’ll have pictures and video after we go out there later today.

This morning at the registration table I spoke with Barry Nelson, Public Relations Manager, about what’s new from John Deere. He said, “We introduced a new series of utility tractor. In fact, this is so significant for us this year, we’re calling it the “Year of the Utility Tractor.” The new tractors will display the new John Deere numbering system and come in sizes from 40 to 140HP. Barry says they bring their dealers here every year for training and thought that with all the equipment on hand, it provided a good opportunity for the media to get on them as well.

Barry says this event kicks off their “Drive Green” project which includes having these tractors driven by truck to various locations around the southeast and set up for their customers to test drive.

You can listen to my interview with Barry here: drive-green-08-nelson-1.mp3

You can also download the interview with this link: Barry Nelson Interview (mp3)

Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere, Tractor

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac) announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Michael A. Gerber as acting President and Chief Executive Officer of Farmer Mac, succeeding Henry D. Edelman, effective immediately. Gerber will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Farm Credit of Western New York, an Association in the Farm Credit System.
  • The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is pleased to announce its officers for 2008–2009. The new officers began their terms at the conclusion of the Society’s 2008 Centennial Meeting. James W. Moyer has been named President; Raymond D. Martyn, Jr., immediate past president; Barbara J. Christ, president-elect; John L. Sherwood, vice president; Danise T. Beadle, secretary; and Randall C. Rowe, treasurer. A listing of the 2008-2009 APS council can be found here.
  • Syngenta is pleased to announce the 2009 AgriEdge Corn and Soybean Programs that offer growers even more rewards when they invest in agronomic solutions that can maximize yield performance. Early-season weed control is a major focus of the program, with an incentive of $8.40 (based on a planting rate of 2.8 acres/unit) per unit available to growers who use Lumax, Lexar, Halex GT, Camix, Bicep II Magnum or Bicep Lite II Magnum residual herbicides on at least 36 units of corn hybrids that contain an Agrisure trait and Cruiser Extreme 250 or Cruiser Extreme 1250 seed treatment.
  • The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers announced their new President is Jerry Warner, AFM, of Omaha, Neb.
    Zimfo Bytes

    AEM AgExecutive Forum

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Ed SchaferU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer will be keynoting the AgExecutive Forum this Thursday in St. Louis, sponsored by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Douglas DeVries of Deere & Company is the forum host.

    Association of Equipment ManufacturersSchafer will be addressing concerns related to the future of agriculture in our global economy and how agribusiness and renewable energies may impact agribusiness. Other highlights of the forum include Going Global in the Ag Industry: Trade Barriers, Obstacles and Partnerships, presented by economist and futurist Dr. Jay Lehr, science director with The Heartland Institute; an AEM Public Policy Update from Nick Yaksich, Vice President, Global Public Policy of AEM; Renewable Energy: What are the Real Costs and Benefits? by Terry Francl of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and much more.

    A major feature of the event will be a look ahead to “The Next Generation of Ag Show” – AG CONNECT 2010. AEM members from Krause Corporation, Deere & Company, Krone NA, AGCO, Case IH and MacDon Industries will all be discussing what is ahead for this major new show scheduled for January 12-15, 2010, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

    A panel discussion on commodity trends will feature Fred Stemme, vice president of marketing, National Corn Growers Association, Steve Censky, chief executive officer, American Soybean Association, and Alan Tracy, president, U.S. Wheat Associates.

    AgWired will be covering the forum from start to finish this week, so stay tuned for live updates – including streaming video of the Secretary’s address at 8:15 am central time on Thursday, assuming the internet allows. Both audio interviews and photos will be available for media to download here on the site.

    AEM, Equipment

    New Agriblogging Software Coming Soon

    Chuck Zimmerman

    I know that some of you agribloggers are using WordPress, our software of choice. If you’d like to see how to use it then you might want to head on over to YouTube to see some tutorials (or you can have the ZimmComm consultants training session).

    A new version of the best blogging software is due out next month and thanks to Podcasting News giving me a heads up you can watch the developer of the software, Matt Mullenweg, show off what we can look forward to.

    Uncategorized

    Lallemand Appoints New GM

    Melissa Sandfort

    Pascal Raoul, a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine with over 20 years experience of the animal health sector, is taking up his post today as General Manager for Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Before joining Lallemand, Pascal Raoul spent twenty years with Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, holding various responsibilities both in Europe and in the USA.

    Raoul graduated from the Veterinary School in Paris in 1984, and completed these studies with an MBA both in France and in Spain. He started his career as a trade advisor to the Agriculture Attaché of the French Embassy in Spain. After this, he joined Elanco in France, starting as a sales representative, and from there occupying different positions in Europe, including Country Director. He then moved to the company HQ in Indianapolis, Ind., where he spent three years as Global New Product Planning Manager, developing a strategic pipeline for large and companion animal veterinary products, before returning to Europe as EU Director R&D and Regulatory Affairs. In his last assignment with Lilly, Pascal Raoul was in charge of Transformation projects for the Human Pharma activities of Lilly France.

    Animal Health

    CFWF Farm Tour

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Oysters on a RopeHere’s some more information courtesy of Dan Danford, AdFarm, from the Canadian Farm Writer’s Federation conference.

    These are some pictures from Friday’s farm tour at the Canadian Farm Writer’s Federation Conference. Our first stop was Fanny Bay Oysters. They grow, process, market and distribute their own farmed shellfish. It was very interesting to learn how they actually seed the bay with the microscopic eggs and later string the baby oysters on ropes for easier processing of adults. It was much more like “farming” than I would have expected. After an overview of the operation, they offered the group some very fresh product. I’ve also included a shot of the bay behind the facility where you can see mounds of oyster shells being aged as part of the production process.

    Grassi Point Farm MarketOur next two stops on the CFWF tour were Grassi Point Farm Market and Beaufort Winery.

    Grassi Point Farm Market was started in 1889 here on Vancouver Island. It’s an excellent example of how market gardening, agri-tourism, fish and wildlife can co-exist. A fourth generation operation, Grassi Point Farm raises beef, taps big maples, operates a roadside farm market and features a fish channel trail and camping.

    Wine is ServedBeaufort Winery is owned by Susan and Jeff Vandermolen, who purchased the land in July 2006 and produced their first wines in 2007, winning three medals at the Northwest Wine Summit. Since opening to the public, they have had more than 2,600 visitors to the winery’s tasting room. The farm is 85 acres, eight of which are currently in grapes (watched over by their Easter Island head custom carved from one of their trees). Currently 20 acres are in hay and on acre in Christmas trees. They also have several acres in blackberries which are used in their award-winning dessert wine. As you can see from the pictures, it was raining heavily during our visit. Luckily, the tasting room was dry and cozy.

    You can see more of his photos in this online album and yes, I want to go next year! Thanks Dan.

    Agencies, International