Dow AgroSciences to Acquire Dairyland Seed

Cindy Zimmerman

Dow AgroSciencesDow AgroSciences announced today it is acquiring Dairyland Seed Company and affiliate Bio-Plant Research.

Dairyland SeedAccording to a company release, the addition of Dairyland Seed will build upon Dow AgroSciences’ current seeds business and will expand its broad range of product offerings.

The agreement includes all crop genetics, brands, plant breeding programs in hybrid corn, soybeans and alfalfa as well as Dairyland’s research, processing and production locations. Dow AgroSciences will continue to independently market Dairyland Seeds under the Dairyland brand. Dairyland Seed will continue to be headquartered in West Bend, Wis.

Agribusiness, Seed

August ZimmNews

Chuck Zimmerman

August ZimmNewsThe latest edition of ZimmNews has now been pumped out into the world wide web.

In case you didn’t get it or just want to look at it online then you can find it here: August ZimmNews

Some highlights include:

I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading.

ZimmNews

Fred Myers is For Ag Journalists

Chuck Zimmerman

Fred MyersIf you’re an AAEA member you probably know Fred Myers. If you’re not, then you can get to know him online via his new website, For Ag Journalists.

This website is the latest of many contributions I have made to agricultural journalism, much of it through the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA). Take a few minutes every month to look at what I have prepared. I hope you will enjoy the reading as much as I enjoy the writing.

But this isn’t only about me. It’s about all of us and about our profession and our lives. So I encourage you to share with me your thoughts, comments and any news you believe others should know. I will then post them. You can either be identified with them or contribute in anonymity. I will honor your choice.

ACN, Education, Internet

Farm Broadcast Fashion

Cindy Zimmerman

Janet AdkinsonJanet Adkinson of KMZU radio in Carrollton, Missouri models the latest haute couture accessory accent for the trendy farm broadcaster.

Note that the style is both fashionable and functional, not to mention adaptable for both male and female farm broadcasters. I expect to see this accessory trend showing up all over the farm broadcast world. Janet is a trend setter!

Janet was attending the Kip Cullers Record Breaking Field Day this week in southwest Missouri.

Kip Culler’s Record Breaking Field Day photo album

BASF, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Dairy enthusiasts will now have easier access to the most up-to-date industry information with the Center for Dairy Excellence’s newly improved Web site. Producers, industry representatives, policy leaders, educators, consumers and the media will find the resources they need to help understand and make better decisions about Pennsylvania’s dairy industry. Other components of the new site are still being developed and will be rolled out during the next 12 months. To stay informed of new features and resources, subscribe to the center’s bi-weekly newsletter here, or e-mail info@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
  • Penton Media’s Farm Industry News was named as the winner of five regional awards at the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ regional awards banquet held in Chicago. The magazine received four editorial and one design award at the ceremony. Farm Industry News also won silver at the national awards.
  • The California Tree Fruit Agreement (CTFA) is pleased to announce the hire of Jeff Smutny as the new vice president of marketing. Smutny will join the CTFA team on Aug. 19, and will lead the marketing team in the strategic development and execution of marketing programs designed to expand the opportunities for our growers´ success.
  • Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced the appointment of Tim Niedecken as TSCRA’s executive director of association services. Niedecken comes to TSCRA from serving most recently as marketing manager for Micro Beef Technologies.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Complete List of AAEA Awards

    Chuck Zimmerman

    AAEAI’ve received several releases from companies that won AAEA Awards but there’s just too many to post easily. That’s why I was happy to receive a complete list yesterday.

    So if you’re wondering about all the awards presented at the Ag Media Summit for AAEA, you can see them for yourself: AAEA Awards (pdf).

    ACN

    Out Flying In His Field

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Corn SunriseIt was a beautiful day in central Iowa yesterday when I attended the Monsanto Technology Showcase. There are 13 tour stops this summer. I hope they all have weather like we had yesterday. Cool, with light cloud cover.

    The field day events are intended to help farmers “experience the future” and learn about Monsanto’s advanced technology and research.

    I’ll be posting a number of interviews here after I find some time to get some editing done today. It was a long drive up and back yesterday.

    Yellow Crop DusterMost of the interviews I did were out in the field and this crop duster came over top of us every time I got the golden ZimmComm microphone out.

    I took a lot of pictures though, including a whole series of this guy flying over top of me. You can find them in the Monsanto Technology Showcase photo album.

    Agribusiness

    New Numbers From John Deere

    Chuck Zimmerman

    New John Deere Numbering SystemThere’s lots of news out today from John Deere (5 news releases). The first one is interesting since it’s such a visual thing.

    What’s in a name? Quite a bit actually – especially when it comes to tractors. John Deere announces it’s currently transitioning to a new name and number system for its full line of tractors with the introduction of the new 5D, 5E, 5M, and 6D Series Tractors.

    “The updated name and numbering system is unique to John Deere and allows for a more consistent approach to naming our equipment around the world,” says Steve Robisky, John Deere marketing administration manager. “This new system allows customers to more quickly and easily identify the engine horsepower of a tractor, its capability, and its size by looking at the hood decal,” Robisky adds.

    Other news includes:

    Agribusiness, John Deere, Tractor

    California Strawberries in China

    Chuck Zimmerman

    California strawberries heading to ChinaThanks to Liza Teixeira, California Strawberry Commission, I just found out that Olympic athletes and visitors will enjoy some juicy red goodness in China.

    In a historic step for the California strawberry industry, America’s favorite fruit will arrive on Chinese soil for the first time in history today (Aug. 5). After receiving approval from Chinese authorities, the California strawberry industry has been readying for the first shipment.

    The strawberries were specially harvested on Saturday in preparation for their arrival in China today. This initial test shipment will be inspected by the China General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) to ensure the fruit meets China’s food safety and quality standards.

    California Strawberry Commission President, Mark Murai said, “After initial review and quality checks in Beijing, California strawberries will continue to enter the country and will be available throughout the entire Olympic Games.”

    The fruit will be prepared by the official caterers who will incorporate this favorite fruit into their menus and served at the Beijing Olympic Village eateries, the U.S.A. House and the U.S. High Performance Center.

    California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “I commend China for providing the world’s greatest athletes with healthy diet options and I look forward to a continued dialogue on gaining permanent market access for California grown strawberries. As Governor of this great state, I am committed to promoting and will continue to campaign for our world-renowned products and services.”

    Ag Groups, Food, International

    Cow Tunes

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ear-A-RoundCows wearing headsets. Uh. Right. I want to know if they can subscribe to farm podcasts.

    The same Global Positioning System (GPS) technology used to track vehicles is now being used to track cows.

    But Agricultural Research Service (ARS) animal scientist Dean M. Anderson has taken tracking several steps further with a Walkman-like headset that enables him to “whisper” wireless commands to cows to control their movements across a landscape—and even remotely gather them into a corral.

    He and his colleagues realize this is a highly futuristic technology, but they can envision a time when these technologies will be affordable and useful for a range of applications, from intensive animal operations to monitoring and controlling the movements of some wildlife species and even household pets.

    The commands vary from familiar “gathering songs” sung by cowboys during manual round-ups, to irritating sounds such as sirens and even mild electric stimulation if necessary to get cows to move or avoid penetrating forbidden boundaries.

    Via Engadget.

    Animal Health, Research, USDA