The Water is Rising at John Deere

Laura McNamara

Deere & Company has acquired a new water technologies company. San Diego-based T-Systems International, Inc is now apart of John Deere’s growing Water Technologies operation.

“T-Systems International is a highly regarded global company with premier products,
experienced talent, strong distribution and established operations in key agricultural irrigation
markets,” said Michael McGrady, president of John Deere Water Technologies. “The addition
of T-Systems expands John Deere Water Technologies’ manufacturing footprint to three
countries with marketing in over sixty.”

Established in 1977, T-Systems International manufactures and sells products for
agricultural, nursery, landscape, mining and greenhouse applications, with manufacturing
facilities in Australia, France and the United States.

John Deere Water Technologies, headquartered in San Marcos, California, manufactures plastic micro and drip irrigations products for agriculture, landscape, nursery and greenhouse markets.

Agribusiness, John Deere

Pfizer Animal Genetics Selects Charleston|Orwig

Chuck Zimmerman

Charleston-Orwig LogoThe agency will be their marketing and communications firm.

Charleston|Orwig will assist Pfizer Animal Genetics with introducing and establishing its new brand as the global leader in livestock genomics. Initially, the agency will help develop new public relations and customer advocacy strategies to effectively position Pfizer as a leader in this category.

“Our goal in finding a partner to help us enter into livestock genomics was to identify someone whose business acumen could provide strategic insights and campaign development and then execute them globally,” says Doug Ricke, Director of Marketing for Pfizer Animal Genetics. “We found that experience at Charleston|Orwig.”

In March Pfizer announced the purchase of two genetics companies, Catapult Genetics and Bovigen, and the creation of Pfizer Animal Genetics as a business unit of Pfizer Animal Health. The product offerings include genetic markers for traits leading to greater management efficiencies, and improved meat and carcass quality. More product offerings are currently in development.

Agencies, Agribusiness, Animal Health

Lunching and Learning About Beef

Cindy Zimmerman

Circle A RanchYesterday I had lunch with 5000 head of cattle – and about 60 people.

It was the season kick-off of Missouri’s Lunch and Learn program, a summer series sponsored by all the ag groups in the state where they invite local community leaders to visit agricultural operations. The first event for this summer was held at Circle A Ranch in Huntsville, MO. The main hosts for this event were one of our very best and first clients, the Missouri Beef Industry Council. (Check out their blog here.)

Circle A RanchWhat was especially unique about this event was that it was held in the middle of a covered feedlot – one of only three feedlots in the state of Missouri. You’d think it would be a little, well – smelly – to say the least. But, it was not at all. And there were NO FLIES! It was just as pleasant as having lunch in a park pavilion – just a really huge one with a bunch of cattle in it.

The secret? Sawdust, according to Dave Gust, who owns the operation. “The sawdust acts sort of like kitty litter and it absorbs the ammonia, which is the smell,” he said. “We change it every two weeks and then we compost it and make it into fertilizer – turns into black dirt.”

The guys in the picture are Dave on the left and ranch manager Mark Akin.
Listen to an interview with Dave here: lunch-learn-interview.mp3

Beef, Farming, Food, Livestock

Pioneer Promoting Podcasting

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm FuturesWillie Vogt, ZimmComm NAMA iPod touch winner and Farm Futures Editorial Director, has a guest column that just showed up on the Pioneer GrowingPoint website. It’s all about farm podcasting with a title of “Tap Into Information On-Demand, Time to put that computer to work and pull in the information you need automatically.

You’re busy, yet you’re finding that the longer you farm the more information you need, and not always at the times it’s provided. Radio is a great tool when you’re in the tractor, the computer is great when you’re in the office. What if you could put both tools to work and get more information even easier?

That’s the value of a podcast. These controlled broadcasts of information allow you to subscribe to an information resource and listen when you want to – either on your computer or using an mp3 player in your tractor or pickup.

I know there are some of you reading this and saying “why hassle with it?” The answer is that there is a growing body of information from key information providers in agriculture offering news, in-depth information and more that you can listen to using this technology. So I’ll try to break it down so it’s easier to understand and you can then try it out.

He then proceeds to do just that in a way that shows that Willie gets it and he’s helping farmers get it. I find it interesting that more people with publication backgrounds like Willie are promoting podcasts than I see with farm broadcasting backgrounds. Add to that the fact that this is being promoted by Pioneer. But then, they’re not called Pioneer for nothing.

You may know that we produce a podcast for Pioneer called Forage Forum.

Agribusiness, Pioneer, Podcasts, Publication

Do a Carbon Belch on June 12

Chuck Zimmerman

Carbon Belch DayThis is just too good to pass on letting you in on it. Carbon Belch Day. I love it. I know you may think it’s a little over the top but then how would you describe what the whacko climate change alarmists, who’s real goal is to control society, are doing? Let’s have a little bit of balance. One of the things I like best on their site is that you can buy “Carbon Debits.” I’m sure they’ll do as much good as carbon credits.

Why Carbon Belch?

In this world of carbon credits and endless “Green” propaganda, why would we encourage tens of thousands of people to increase their CO2 output on Carbon Belch Day?

Because Al Gore’s “planetary emergency” is a bunch of hot air…

Because shrinking your “carbon footprint” is not going to save the world from doom…

Because CO2 isn’t even a pollutant — life needs CO2…

Because energy is the fuel of human progress and man is not the “bad guy”…

Because the real “planetary emergency” is the coming $1.2 trillion Carbon Tax…

And because it’s fun and your Carbon Belch might actually do some good!

Being fueled by GrassFire.org. Thanks to Laura for bringing it to my attention. I’m definitely going to grill some beef that day and schedule my neighbor kid to mow my lawn.

Energy, Environment

Getting Happy With Gateway

Chuck Zimmerman

Lance and ServerA very good time was had by all who attended yesterday’s Gateway NAMA Happy Hour, including our President, Lance Burditt, Osborn & Barr.

Before things got too happy I interviewed a variety of those in attendance. Lance starts out by explaining that our chapter has been a little lax lately and this event was a way to try and get things moving again.

You can listen to all the participants here: gateway-nama-happy-hour.mp3

Audio, NAMA

Another Beautiful Sunset

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri SunsetI never cease to be amazed by the sunsets we get here in the midwest.

I often find myself driving that direction at that time of day. I was a little too tired to post it last night.

If you get tired of seeing them, let me know. I just love taking pictures of them though. Not sure what I’m going to do with all of them.

Uncategorized

Get ‘Saucy’ for Father’s Day

Laura McNamara

Many dad’s love to grill up juicy, tender meat. Saucehead.com suggests kids of all ages should give their dads a must-have for grilling for Father’s Day: zesty barbecue sauces and flavor-packed marinades. Saucehead.com claims to have the broadest online collection of sauces and marinades.

Brent Bolding, Head Head at Saucehead, says that the new lines of sauces add to the website’s growing reputation for pulling together tastes from the little slices of “heaven within smoke stained walls” found across the country.

The special Jardine’s sauces featured on Saucehead.com are great for grilling, smoking or roasting in the kitchen. The new sauces featured on the website are Jardine’s famous Buckin’ Berry Raspberry Chipotle Sauce, Fajita Meat Marinade, and five spectacular barbecue sauces, including 5-Star, Chik’n-Lik’n Mustard, Killer Hot, Mesquite Flavor and Texas Pecan. Saucehead.com is also featuring Jardine’s Texas Grilling Kit, which consists of Fajita Marinade, 5-Star BBQ Sauce, Chik’n-Lik’n BBQ Sauce and Buckin’ Berry Raspberry Chipotle Sauce.

In addition to Jardine’s, Saucehead also carries sauces from Sonny Bryan’s Barbecue in Dallas, the Rendevous in Memphis, Stubb’s, Ironworks, and The Salt Lick — all from Austin.

Saucehead.com describes itself as “The Greatest Place in The World to Buy BBQ Sauce.” It celebrated its first year in business on April 19, 2008.

Food

Corwin’s For Gateway NAMA Social

Chuck Zimmerman

CorwinsThis is the site of this evening’s Gateway NAMA social hour. I’m in a little early after getting reunited to my Mac. I missed this keyboard the last 2 days but he’s all cleaned up and ready to rock and roll on the agriblogging highway.

Like other NAMA chapters, Gateway, is trying to develop some new momentum and what better way than a party at a sports bar? Unfortunately, some of us have a 2 hour drive later. But that’s okay.

So I’m the first to arrive. That’s not new. But I’m not going to be the last to leave.

NAMA

Turn to Turkey for Grilling Season

Laura McNamara

The National Turkey Federation wants the 85 million American households that are equipped with an outdoor grill to choose turkey this summer. The organization says turkey is a healthier source of protein.

The National Barbecue Association says 31 percent of American grill owners are barbecuing more than they were a year ago, because they are “trying to eat healthier.” Many are turning to turkey as a protein option. A three-ounce serving of boneless, skinless turkey breast contains 26 grams of protein, one gram of fat and no saturated fat.

Visit eatturkey.com for grilling tips and recipes.

Ag Groups, Food, Poultry