BASF Honors Corn Yield Contest Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF congratulated the country’s leading corn growers and their families for their leadership in embracing innovation at the National Corn Growers Association’s National Corn Yield Contest banquet at the 2008 Commodity Classic. Markus Heldt, head of the BASF North American crop protection division, joined NCGA president Ron Litterer to honor the winners.

Markus told the audience of almost 2,000 corn growers that BASF is working to help fill the information and innovation gap to help corn yields continue to break the yield barrier.

“How can it be possible for some growers to double the U.S. corn yield average?” he asked rhetorically, pointing to the national yield champions as examples of success. “At BASF, we believe that the gap is information and innovation, and we’re taking action to fill both those gaps by supporting education through scholarship programs and by building on our 143-year history of R&D investment, now totaling $450 million per year in crop protection.”

BASF has been a sponsor of NCGA’s National Corn Yield Contest for more than 20 years.

Listen to my interview with Markus here:
markus.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Thanks to Ron Bolte of Stealth Productions for the banquet photos!

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, New Holland

Whitney’s Classic Comments

Chuck Zimmerman

Whitney WallaceI didn’t get to spend any time with Whitney Wallace at Commodity Classic but I got to follow her via her Monsanto Student Blogger blog – Whitney’s Classic Comments. I’m happy to see Monsanto continuing the Future Ag Journalists Fellowship program we got started a couple years ago now. I know the experience that students like Whitney are getting will serve them well in their careers and provide them with skills that many companies today need, including the media. Here’s an excerpt from Whitney’s blog to give you an example of her writing.

After a short flight, we landed safely in Missouri. During our take-off, I saw some bright red, picturesque barns dotting the Tennessee countryside. It made me think about hard-working farmers across our nation. From seeing the opportunities this weekend, I know that Commodity Classic provides growers with excellent resources. Several of the producers I met said they come to the event to expand their knowledge of new technology, techniques, and products. With the outstanding programs, press conferences and trade show displays, I’d say…mission accomplished!

I’m glad she’s safely at home and I hope everyone has a safe journey. Cindy and I are part way at this point. She’s driving, I’m blogging.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Media Room

Chuck Zimmerman

Ned ArthurI think I’m the last one in the media room now. In fact, it closes in 20 minutes and they’re already tearing it down around me. Here’s Ned Arthur, Truffle Media Networks, hard at work earlier.

In case you’ve never seen these professionals in action Cindy shot a short video clip when things were very active. We had a record 145 media representatives here at Classic this year including some sort of “mainstream” media we don’t normally see.

Cindy took off to do some shopping a while ago and I’m ready for a break so I’m going to quit for now. However, you can expect to see and hear more from this year’s show right here on AgWired.

Thank you once again to Gene Hemphill, New Holland, for not only sponsoring AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic but the media room as well.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

BASF, Commodity Classic, Media, New Holland, Video

Manufacturers Support of Biodiesel

Chuck Zimmerman

Ed HeglandEd Hegland is a farmer from Minnesota and currently serving as Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board. He stopped by the New Holland booth here at the Commodity Classic trade show where I got to talk to him about how equipment manufacturers are supporting biodiesel.

Ed says that as a farmer he’s excited to see companies like New Holland and others following their lead to step up and help promote the use of biodiesel, a farm product.

I asked him what other things these companies can do besides providing warranty support for 100% biodiesel. He says that education would be one thing. He thinks the manufacturers need to make sure that dealers and distributors get the right information on usage and handling of biodiesel so customers will learn it and to make sure that they stress quality.

Listen to my interview with Ed Hegland here: cc-08-hegland.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Biodiesel, Commodity Classic, New Holland, Soybean

Commodity Classic Posts Record Numbers

Chuck Zimmerman

Soybean ManRegistration is now officially closed here at Commodity Classic and the final numbers have been posted.

4,534 Total Registration (record)
145 Total Media (record)
847 Booths (record)
1,479 Total Growers

The highest registered attendance of growers was 1,517 at the Las Vegas Classic in 2004. Still a pretty impressive showing here in Nashville.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

If You Believe, Belong

Chuck Zimmerman

Sand SculptureFor the last couple days we’ve been watching the American Soybean Association sand sculpture take shape.

I’m not sure when it was finished but here it is.

The theme message is “If you believe, belong.”

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland, Soybean

Evan Slack iPhone Training

Chuck Zimmerman

Anita and EvanIt took 3 or 4 days but we’re pretty sure that Evan Slack, Evan Slack Network, showed everyone attending Commodity Classic how to use the iPhone. I’m hoping Apple is paying Evan a commission.

Here he’s showing Anita Vanderwert, Brownfield, how to check her stock quotes via the built in web browser. She doesn’t seem to be paying attention.

If you’re thinking of getting one then please give Evan a call.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

The 3 Amigos on Stage

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity PresidentsEach year at the Commodity Classic general session we get to hear from the Presidents of the participating associations. Here they are on stage involved in an interactive discussion with moderator John Phipps. Pictured left to right are John Hoffman, ASA, Ron Litterer, NCGA and John Thaemert, NAWG.

John starts out wondering how in the world these three guys got so lucky as to be President this year when we’ve got such fantastic market prices. It’s a lively discussion which I hope you’ll enjoy.

Listen to the 3 Amigos here: cc-08-3-presidents.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, New Holland, Soybean, Wheat

Rick Tolman is NAMA Agribusiness Leader of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Rick TolmanEarlier this week the National Agri-Marketing Association announced that NCGA CEO Rick Tolman is their Agribusiness Leader of the Year. Here he’s standing next to their booth at the Commodity Classic trade show.

The award honors outstanding leaders in agribusiness, education, government service or other agribusiness related areas who exemplify excellence in agribusiness by their significant contributions to the industry.

“We congratulate Rick on this prestigious award,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “His commitment and dedication is apparent in the many accomplishments that benefit agriculture, especially in the areas of ethanol, trade, transportation, biotechnology, and farm policy.”

Tolman will receive the award April 17 at the 2008 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Ag Groups, BASF, Corn, NAMA, New Holland

Classic Scholarships

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF, the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association are supporting the future of agriculture by awarding scholarships to young people working towards careers in the industry.

The first scholarship winners were announced today at a Commodity Classic news conference. I did interviews with all the winners who were here, which I will post later, but here is a group photo with the four students with (left to right) Adam Burnhams of BASF, ASA president John Hoffman, champion soybean grower Kip Cullers and NCGA chairman Ken McCauley.

The students pictured are – from left to right:
Lauren Schlosser of Missouri, James Seitzer of Minnesota and Catherine (Catie) Simpson of Colorado – all NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarship winners – and Laura Stevens, a high school senior from Nebraska who won the first ever “Kip Cullers” Secure Optimal Yield (SOY) Scholarship.

(I assume you can figure out the difference between the students and the presenters!)

The other NCGA scholarship winners were Jason Buss of Illinois and Josh Yoder of Ohio. Congrats to all the winners. BASF will continue their sponsorship of this program next year and applications will be available from NCGA and ASA in the fall.

Listen to the scholarship awards press conference here:
cc-08-basf-scholarships.mp3

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, New Holland, Soybean