MOSES is Organic

Chuck Zimmerman

Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education ServiceMOSES is the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service. At the Farm Progress Show, their outreach coordinator, Harriet Behar, visited the media tent.

One of the first things I asked her was just what “organic” means. She says it’s a sustainable method of farming that uses on-farm produced inputs. “Only products that have met the organic regulations are allowed to carry the organic label in the market place.”

She was at the show to help educate people about what they’re doing and to promote organic farming. She says their mission is to not only to promote but also to provide farmers with the tools to be successful organic farmers.

Apparently there is a growing market for organic products. Harriet says that the market is growing 20%/year. She says that organic products get a premium price. For example, she says that organic corn has been selling for $11/bushel and soybeans at $16 – 18/bushel.

Listen to my interview with Harriet here: fp-08-behar.mp3

Ag Groups, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Farming

John Deere Announces New Marketing/Sales Center

Chuck Zimmerman

Deere at AgNiteJohn Deere was a sponsor of this week’s AgNite event in Minneapolis and there was green equipment on display. It’s a busy week for the company. Not only were they involved in a big event that was held in conjunction with the RNC but today they announced plans to build a new marketing and sales center in Olathe, KS. We had reporter Mike Rogers on hand to conduct interviews for us. He interviewed John Lagemann, Vice President of Sales and Tim Merrett, John Deere’s Vice President of Marketing together and also Barry Nelson, John Deere Manager, Public Relations.

Listen to Mike’s interview with John and Tim here: deere-sales-center-1.mp3

You can download the interview using this link: John Lagemann/Tim Merrett Interview (mp3)

Listen to Mike’s interview with Barry here: deere-sales-center-2.mp3

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

John Deere Announcement With MayorJohn Deere and the city of Olathe, KS announced today that John Deere will build a new marketing and sales center in northwest Olathe, in the Corporate Ridge Office Park, near K 10 and Ridgeview Road. This 126,150 square-foot facility will house more than 400 marketing professionals who provide support and service to John Deere sales branches and agricultural dealerships in the U.S. and Canada.

“This state-of-the-art facility will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Certification, Gold Level,” said John Lagemann, vice president of agricultural equipment, sales for U.S. and Canada. “It will provide an exceptional working environment for our employees who work in our industry-leading marketing organization. We’re proud of our commitment to the greater Kansas City area – a geographic, cultural center for agriculture.”

This picture includes: John Lagemann; Tim Merrett and the Mayor of Olathe.

Full Release

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere

AgNite Wrap-up

Chuck Zimmerman

Goodbye AgNiteI’m not sure how I got in touch with Daryn McBeth, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council today but I’m glad I did. I think he and his staff have earned some time off this week after putting on one incredible event Tuesday evening – AgNite.

I got some wrap-up comments from him starting with attendance. Daryn says that they counted over 5,000 people who attended the event! That exceeded all expectations. He walked around a lot and met with all types of people (agriculture stakeholders, convention delegates, elected leaders and even foreign dignitaries). He says that’s exactly what they wanted.

One of the things that impressed Cindy and me most about the event is how well it showed a unified agriculture. There were people there from all aspects of agribusiness who don’t always see eye to eye. Daryn says that he’s seen this mentioned in a number of stories that have been published about the event already. He says they purposefully showcased the diversity of agriculture and even celebrated it.

One of the things that stood out for him was, “A journalist who was at the event pointed out to me that as she walked through the room, she thought that folks from the food and ag sector who were there . . . seemed to be (have) a sense of pride.” He says, “That hits the nail right on the head.”

Daryn says they’re going to chalk it up as a success and that time will tell if they made a positive impact. He says that it has been hard for his staff to let it go now and that it’s fun monitoring the coverage by Googling around. I also found it hard to believe that they got the whole event torn down in 6 hours since their contract with the Depot required them to be out by 8am!

Listen to my interview with Daryn here: agnite-08-mcbeth-wrap.mp3

Be sure to check out the AgNite Photo Album for 200 pictures from the event.

AgWired coverage of AgNite is sponsored by: and

Audio

iCORN.com Video Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

iCorn.comAn “almost anything goes” video contest for a seed corn company sounds very cutting edge doesn’t it? That’s what iCORN.com is doing.

iCORN.com has launched a new $30,000 video contest as a way to help students pay for college and to show appreciation to its customers. The new video contest gives students an opportunity to win a share of $30,000 by posting videos online for public voting. The videos receiving the most votes win.

Three main steps comprise the contest:

1. A new, current or former iCORN.com customer nominates a student.

2. The nominated student makes an original video (up to 90 seconds) and submits it to the contest website, www.iCORN.com/Contest.

3. Online public voting determines which 3 students win a share of $30,000 ($20,000 for first, $7,500 for second and $2,500 for third). Read More

Agribusiness, Corn, Seed

New Holland Says Size Matters

Chuck Zimmerman

Jim MoellenberndtAt last week’s Farm Progress Show (yes, I know, but I’m getting caught up) I met Jim Moellenberndt, New Holland Business Manager, Cash Crops. He was proudly displaying the “largest combine in North America” because “Size Matters.”

He’s standing next to a 9080 CR Combine. He says, “It’s the largest combine in North America, 523 Max HP. It’s just a real awesome machine.” He says they’ve had one running on a wheat harvest job and that it has done a fantastic job. A lot of people have been approaching him and commenting on the horse power, saying they remember using one with 90 HP.

I asked him if they gave quantity discounts for these monsters. He says they’ll gladly “work with you” all the way up to a half dozen! They were taking orders at the show for a July 2009 delivery. Get your name on the list today!

You can listen to my interview with Jim here: fp-08-moellenberndt.mp3

You can also download the audio file with this link.

Check out our Farm Progress Show 2008 Photo Album.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, New Holland

AgNite Got Cheesy

Chuck Zimmerman

AgNite CheeseAgNite at the RNC was all about showcasing American food and agriculture.

One of the most interesting displays included 3 large blocks of cheese. These were donated by Associated Milk Producers Incorporated. They’re not something you’d have room in your refrigerator for since each block weighs 690 pounds!

The people working the display got a serious workout slicing off the blocks all evening long. I tried a little of each and it was delicious.

Be sure to check out the AgNite Photo Album for 200 pictures from the event.

AgWired coverage of AgNite is sponsored by: and

Ag Groups, Dairy

Almost Time For IFAJ Congress 2008

Chuck Zimmerman

Franz FischlerCindy and I got to know Franz Fischler, former EU Commissioner of Agriculture, at last year’s IFAJ Congress in Japan. Prior to his work with the EU he was Austria’s Minster of Agriculture and Forestry. This year he’s President of the IFAJ Congress in Austria/Slovenia.

I would like to invite you to the 52nd IFAJ Congress “From the mountains to the sea” to Austria and Slovenia from 10 – 14 September 2008.

These two neighbouring countries will present to you forms of farming in the Heart of Europe which have orientated themselves less by global markets than by quality and sustainment and by partnership with the consumers in the regions. The country and its inhabitants will be the central points of presentation – and we would like to demonstrate this with concrete examples.

I am looking forward to welcome you in Austria and Slovenia in September 2008.

Yours sincerely,
Franz Fischler

Cindy and I leave Monday for this exciting adventure. We’ll be sharing our journey with a number of other American ag journalists, some of whom are heading out today or this weekend. Internet and schedule permitting, you’re going to once again find out all about what’s going on right here thanks to the generous support of our sponsors.

Pioneer Hi-Bred is sponsoring our coverage of the IFAJ Congress for the 4th consecutive year and we welcome 1st time sponsor for this event, Novus International. Without their support we wouldn’t be able to bring you all the latest news and information from one of the most unique agricultural communications events in the world. Next year it will be our turn here in the United States to host the event.

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2008 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred and Novus International

IFAJ, International

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Exports of U.S. agricultural-related equipment to nations around the world topped $5.8 billion dollars for the first half of 2008 compared to mid-year 2007 numbers, for an increase of 30.5 percent, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Asia and Central America recorded modest gains while all other major world regions reported substantial growth, led by Australia/Oceania and South America.
  • Monsanto Company and Evogene Ltd. have entered into a five-year research and development collaboration focused on identifying key plant genes related to yield, environmental stress and fertilizer utilization. The agreement is intended to enhance research efforts to discover and deliver novel, yield-enhancing technologies at a time of increasing demand for grain globally.
  • IRON Solutions announced at the Farm Progress Show that it has been acquired by a new group of investors. Spearheading the acquisition is the leading “Software-as-a-Service” (or SaaS) venture capital firm StarVest Partners. StarVest is joined in a limited partnership with Dublin Capital Partners and Spring Mountain Capital and strategic investor GVIC Communications Corporation. Current investors in IRON Solutions will retain a 10 percent ownership stake in the new company, IRON Solutions.
  • Mr. Modibo Tiémoko Traoré, a former Minister for Rural Development with the Government of Mali, has taken over as FAO Assistant Director-General charged with the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Ethanol at AgNite

    Cindy Zimmerman

    RFA at AgNiteOne of the very cool things about the AgNite event in Minnesota this week was the way it united all aspects of the agriculture industry. The 50 sponsors included agribusinesses, corn growers, food processors, livestock, dairy and poultry producers, and the ethanol industry. Some of these groups have been at odds with each other in recent months over the impact of ethanol production on grain and feed prices, but for one glorious night they all got together and put aside their differences to showcase our nation’s unparalleled ability to produce food, feed, fuel and fiber.

    The Renewable Fuels Association was a gold level sponsor of the event, thanks to the involvement in the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council of members like Randy Doyle of Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Claremont. “We are producing fuel as well as food here in Minnesota and that’s a great story to tell,” Randy says. “We’re creating a domestic source of energy. All we’re doing is harvesting solar energy. Those corn plants out there are the best solar collectors we’ve found and our job is just to turn it into liquid fuel that we can use in our cars.”

    Unfortunately, I never got a photo of Randy at AgNite, but I did get an interview, which you can listen to here: agnite-alcorn.mp3

    Be sure to check out the AgNite Photo Album for 200 pictures from the event.

    AgWired coverage of AgNite is sponsored by: and

    Audio, Ethanol

    Feeding America

    Chuck Zimmerman

    George BraleyYou may be familiar with an organization called Second Harvest. Now you need to know it by the name, Feeding America. The new name was announced September 1. George Braley (front left) is their Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy. He was one of the people on hand Tuesday at their regional network member, Second Harvest Heartland, to bring attention to the needs of hungry Americans. He says the name was changed to better reflect their mission and to better relate with Americans.

    George says AgNite provided a great opportunity to bring attention to the name change and also to Hunger Action Month. He says this month is being celebrated by food banks and other anti-hunger organizations.

    Besides the food packing event held in conjunction with the RNC, he says they also conducted one in Denver at the DNC. He says hunger is an issue from which you can draw support from both parties.

    According to George, Feeding America distributes over 2 billion pounds of food a year with a goal of 3 billion. Much of it comes from private donations but a lot comes from state and national government programs too. He says they have a team on the ground in Louisiana to see how to best provide food aid to needy people. If you’re interested in helping their efforts, here’s where you can learn more.

    Listen to my interview with George here: agnite-08-braley.mp3

    Be sure to check out the AgNite Photo Album for 200 pictures from the event.

    AgWired coverage of AgNite is sponsored by: and

    Audio, Food