Jon Scholl New President of American Farmland Trust

Chuck Zimmerman

Jon SchollAmerican Farmland Trust has a new President to replace Ralph Grossi who is stepping down after 23 years.

Scholl, an Illinois farmer, has most recently served as the Counselor to the Administrator for Agricultural Policy at US EPA where he led the development of the first EPA National Agriculture Strategy, agricultural advisory committee, and agency-wide cross media agriculture team. In addition, he helped direct Agency regulations on animal feeding operations, spill prevention, clean air rules and emission reporting requirements; and provided input and counsel to the USDA farm bill team on the conservation provisions of the Administration’s 2007 farm bill proposal.

Prior to that position, Scholl served for 25 years with the Illinois Farm Bureau as Executive Assistant to the President, and in a variety of other positions including director of public policy, director of national legislation, and director of natural resources. In these roles, Scholl gained extensive public policy and legislative experience at all levels of government. Read More

Ag Groups

BASF Turning Science into Innovation

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Peter EckesDr. Peter Eckes spoke at the BASF Media Summit about how the company is turning science into innovation in the Crop Protection division.

Dr. Peter Eckes, Senior Vice President Global Research and Development for Crop Protection at BASF, stressed that new active ingredients are key to future success and points to Kixor herbicide as a good example. “Such breakthroughs are providing our customers with the tools they need to improve productivity.” According to Eckes, BASF Crop Protection research and development is fueled by the company’s extensive corporate research platform. As an example, he highlights new product innovations based on BASF’s best-in-class polymer research. “With new polymer technology we can give existing active ingredients, such as Prowl H2O® herbicide, for example, better performance. The new encapsulated formulation provides targeted release and better efficacy. We are also translating these advances in formulation technologies into new product concepts that will provide new benefits to our customers.”

You can listen to and download his remarks here: Listen To RemarksDr. Peter Eckes Remarks (30 min MP3)

Or listen to them here now:basf-media-summit-7.mp3

BASF Media Event Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

Audio, BASF

BASF Crop Protection Update

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike HeinzOne of our speakers at the BASF Media Summit was Michael Heinz, President of BASF’s Crop Protection Division. He focused on the business aspects of how well his division is performing and what the future holds.

“Today, growers seek to maximize productivity on limited land and to minimize their risk in light of rising input costs,” said Michael Heinz, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division. “For both, they need innovative solutions. As the division’s business results last year and in the first-quarter of 2008 have shown, our long-term strategy of investing in innovative solutions is paying off,” he added. Heinz pointed out that innovation at BASF comes from all facets of the business – from research and development, to new business approaches and value-adding services.

You can listen to and download Mike’s remarks here: Listen To InterviewMike Heinz Remarks (15 min MP3)

Or listen to them here now:basf-media-summit-6.mp3

BASF Media Event Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

Audio, BASF

Alltech is iCasting About Swine Nutrition

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech NuPro iCastSwine producers are invited to an Alltech iCast on nutrition. It’s “an online video discussion about trial data that was recently conducted by Cape Fear Consulting.” We’re seeing more and more use of video online.

You are invited to the swine nutrition iCast featuring Dr. Tommy Shipp and Dr. Walter Tibbetts from Cape Fear Consulting. Beginning May 28, 2008 at 1pm CDT, Dr. Shipp and Dr. Tibbetts will share the latest trial data and answer the question does a pig ever get over a good or a bad start.

After the iCast, stop at the Alltech booth, #217, during World Pork Expo June 6th at 10:00 a.m. to meet Dr. Shipp and Dr. Tibbetts and ask questions about the trial.

This online iCast is by invitation only. Register now!

Alltech, Pork

Getting Real With Michael Peterson

Chuck Zimmerman

Michael Peterson's My Real Life TourBefore I had even left Washington, DC I was being asked, “Chuck, where are you going next?” Well, I’m going on a Real Life Tour. In fact, it’s Michael Peterson’s My Real Life Tour.

Next week I’ll join the tour in Lincoln, NE and follow along to document what the Tour is all about. So, there’s the answer to the question.

I think you’ll be able to start seeing posts from the road by Wednesday morning. I’m sure you’re going to be inspired and maybe even a little amazed by what Michael is doing with young people around our country.

Uncategorized

Make Your Website AgWired

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello AgWired fans. How would you like to have AgWired news on your website or blog?

Now you can and it’s free. It’s also very easy. We’ve created a widget that allows you to display the latest headlines from the stories and posts on AgWired. All you have to do is paste some code onto your web page. The widget also allows you to choose some display options. Not sure what a widget is? Learn here.

Think that’s cool? There’s more. If you’d like a custom feed to display on your website then just contact me and we’ll work it out. For example, let’s say you’d like a feed of a certain category of our content, we can create that for you and provide you with the code for it. We can also design a custom theme for your AgWired widget if you’d like.

So, if you’re an advertising or public relations agency, media company, farm group, freelancer or farmer you can have fresh daily content of interest to your audience displayed on your homepage (or any page) very easily with the AgWired Widget.

Uncategorized

Local Beef At Your Neighborhood Supermarket

Laura McNamara

Weis Markets says it’s a first. It’s the first time a supermarket chain has offered locally raised beef. But, consumers in Pennsylvania can now find Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef at 23 neighborhood Weis Markets stores.

“Buying local is one of the hottest trends in food today but it’s been a hot trend for us since 1912,” said Norman S. Rich, Company CEO. “Last year alone, we purchased more than 19 million pounds of produce from local Pennsylvania producers. Our Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef is the logical extension of our commitment to buying and selling Pennsylvania’s best products. We are proud to be the first supermarket company in the country to offer a local beef program.”

Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef is grain fed, hand-carved and aged a minimum of 20 days. The program features a full line of roasts, steaks, tenderloins and ground beef. The PA Angus cattle are supplied from farms in Lancaster, Schuykill and Chester Counties.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Beef

Crystal Egg Award Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

U. S. Poultry and Egg AssociationThe Crystal Egg Award winner have been announced by the U. S. Poultry & Egg Association. They’re designed to “recognize excellence in the production and distribution of marketing materials designed to promote an exhibitor’s participation in the 2008 International Poultry Expo / International Feed Expo.”

The entries were judged by marketing specialists outside the association. “The quality of entries we received this year truly raised the bar for future Crystal Egg competitions,” said Percy Brown, USPOULTRY communications specialist and competition coordinator. “All of the entries were incredibly polished, and made the judging process very difficult.”

The award is based on overall effectiveness, which includes design, communications content, and achievement of predetermined sales or marketing goals. Crystal Egg statues will be presented to the winners; honorable mentions will receive a plaque presented at the 2009 International Poultry Expo / International Feed Expo. Recipients will also be recognized in Expo Flash, promotional materials produced by the association, and on the International Poultry Expo Web site, www.ipe09.org. The 2008 winners are:

Print Advertising Winner: Safe Foods
Honorable Mention: Alltech

Brochure/Flyer/Invitation/Postcard Winner: Hartmann
Honorable Mention: Wirebelt Company of America

Poster Winner: Intralox
Honorable Mention: Alltech

Advertising Specialty Winner: Hartmann
Honorable Mention: Pfizer Animal Health

Press Kit Winner: Char Crust
Honorable Mention: Meyn

Special Event Winner: Poultry Magazine / Plate Magazine / Griffith Laboratories / Solae / Kikkoman / Wynnstarr
Honorable Mention: Alltech

Overall Booth Winner: Hired Hand
Honorable Mentions: Baader-Johnson and Cobb-Vantress

Promotional Campaign Winner: Hired Hand
Honorable Mention: Marel

Ag Groups, Poultry

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., (BIVI) announced that Tim Bettington has been named the senior associate director of swine marketing. Bettington has served the global animal health industry for over a decade.
  • Asoyia has finalized an agreement with two key venture capital firms, securing $4 million to expand marketing, research and development of its ULTRA low linolenic soybean products. St. Louis-based Prolog Ventures led the round and was joined by LSP (Life Science Partners) of Boston.
  • Bill Stovell has joined Farm Journal Media as a National Accounts Manager for Farm Journal Database Strategies. In his new position, Stovell will be responsible for the company’s database (products and services) sales efforts with a focus on the livestock industry.
  • Soyatech announced that it will host Soya & Oilseed Summit 2008 in St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 17-19 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel. The conference will explore practical strategies to address the challenges and opportunities that arise as global competition for competing resources continues to escalate. For more information, click here, email soyasummit@soyatech.com, or call 800.424.SOYA (7692), ext. 114. Discounts for early registration apply before July 1, 2008.
Zimfo Bytes

Charlie Cook Talks Presidential Politics With BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

Charlie CookAt this evening’s BASF Media Summit dinner our speaker was political analyst Charlie Cook. Here he is getting interviewed before our meal.

Charlie thinks we’re going to have a very close Presidential race and that there’s an event yet to happen that will have an important effect on the outcome. He says that Hillary is done and coming in for a soft landing.

I started the interview you see still going on in the picture and you can download and listen to it here: Listen To InterviewCharlie Cook Interview (5 min MP3)

Or listen to it here now:basf-media-summit-5.mp3

BASF Media Event Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

Audio, BASF