Growers With Maxx-imum Market Skills

Melissa Sandfort

Penton Media’s Corn & Soybean Digest announced the winners of its 2007 MarketMaxx competition, an online grain-marketing contest designed to help growers sharpen their marketing skills. MarketMaxx is a free, Web-based marketing simulation that allows corn and soybean growers to gain experience using marketing tools in a game environment. The 2007 MarketMaxx contest was sponsored by AGCO Gleaner, AGCO Tractors, Syngenta Crop Protection and Cargill Certified SolutionPro.

chriswaymire_cornwinner07.jpgThis year’s first place winner in the corn division was Chris Waymire (left) of Yellow Springs, Ohio. He will receive one year’s use of a new Gleaner R5 or A5 series combine, a prize valued at $12,000. First place winner ronfalk_soybeanwinner07.jpgin the soybean division was Ron Falk (right) of Monticello, Ill. His winning prize is one year’s use of a new AGCO RT or DT series tractor, also valued at $12,000.

Second place winners were Chip Shriver of Ursa, Ill. (corn division) and Kevin Johnson of Tyler, Minn. (soybean division). Both will receive a new computer system from Syngenta Crop Protection.

MarketMaxx players submitted simulated trades online using cash, futures and options markets. More detailed information and online registration is found here.

Farmers can now register to play MarketMaxx 2008, but actual trades cannot occur until after Jan. 2, 2008. Trades can be made throughout 2008 until Oct. 31, when the 2008 contest ends. The sponsors of MarketMaxx 2008 are AGCO Gleaner, AGCO Tractors, Syngenta Crop Protection and Leica Geosystems.

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Not Your Typical Monday

Chuck Zimmerman

Posting has been a little light here today as we deal with the icy mess that is Missouri. I’ve made sure we got some client sites updated earlier before starting to focus on our own. Actually we’ve been pretty lucky to have continuous power. However, this afternoon our main business line went out and with it our DSL internet connection. So I headed into Jefferson City and Panera Bread but just as I got there the power went out.

So, now I’m at McAlister’s Deli and the internet connection is working fine. Of course now Cindy says we got our internet connection back at the office. I’m loading some new photos to my Missouri Ice Storm photo album. We’re supposed to get a whole new round of ice starting later tonight and lasting through Wed. morning.

So if you don’t see much here tomorrow you’ll know why. I was planning to attend the Gateway NAMA meeting in St. Louis tomorrow but I’ve canceled that idea. However, on Thursday I’ll be speaking at the North Central Weed Science Society annual meeting. I’ll be one of the presenters at a session titled, “Communication Development: Message Delivery to Weed Science Colleagues and Clientele
Symposium.” You can find the program here (pdf).

Ag Groups

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • DuPont announced it has sold its terbacil herbicide assets to Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. (TKI). Terbacil is marketed globally through the Sinbar® trademark. In Japan, terbacil also is sold in a mixture with diuron through the Zobar® trademark. TKI will acquire the rights to the Sinbar® and Zobar® trade names, a license to the technology required to make terbacil, and the worldwide registrations and data packages for the products. Sinbar® and Zobar® herbicides are used primarily in niche mint, fruit, alfalfa and non-crop markets, predominantly in North America and Japan.
  • Jeff Murphy, commercial director for Kemin AgriFoods North America, announced the appointment of Travis Lucas as the Key Account Manager responsible for Kemin sales development in the area east of the Mississippi River and south of I-70. Prior to joining Kemin, Lucas worked in advertising sales for Watt Poultry USA magazine. Murphy also announced the appointment of Mike O¹Neill, PAS, as the Key Account Manager responsible for sales development in the area encompassing Pennsylvania, New York and New England. Prior to joining Kemin, O’Neill worked for Monsanto Dairy Business on Posilac® and other products primarily in Pennsylvania and New York.
  • Bunge North America announced that it has promoted Rodney Perry to vice president and general manager of Bunge Oils and Todd Bastean to vice president and general manager of Bunge Milling. As general manager of Bunge Oils, Rodney Perry will be responsible for leading the Oils team working to manage Bunge’s assets and organization to provide customers with innovative, functional and competitive products.
Zimfo Bytes

Ice Storm Photos

Chuck Zimmerman

MO ice stormWell the conditions here in Missouri have only become worse all day. The trees and branches falling sound like explosions. There’s going to be a lot of cleaning up to do like in this yard of a local home.

The roads aren’t too bad except for the fallen branches and power lines. I went out for a while just to take a look see. I’ve created a little photo album of what it looks like within just a mile or so of ZimmComm world headquarters here in Holts Summit, MO.

2007 Missouri Ice Storm

The power has flickered but so far so good. The forecast just calls for more though. I’ve got a feeling I’ll be adding to the photo album this week.

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Missouri Ice Storm

Chuck Zimmerman

Ice TreeHere’s the beautiful scene I woke up to this morning after a loud middle of the night thunder and lightning storm.

It would be pretty until you hear the loud snapping and popping as branches and trees start breaking under the weight of the ice. That’s a sound I’ve heard quite a few times already this morning. We’ve got freezing rain now and more predicted throughout the day and then again tonight. Lovely.

Maybe I’ll get caught up on some office stuff since it’s no day to be out traveling.

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Bid In The Christmas Spirit

Chuck Zimmerman

Polar Express BoomerHere’s another blue tractor in the news. This one’s a Polar Express special that’s up for auction to benefit the Christmas Spirit Foundation.

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is committed to keeping the spirit of Christmas alive and growing memories for the next generation of children and families. To achieve our mission, we focus programs for children, families and the environment … all designed to enhance the Christmas spirit.

The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is the charitable branch of the National Christmas Tree Association. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is incorporated in the State of Missouri and has received IRS 501(c)3 charitable organization status.

Besides the Polar Express Boomer there are other items in the auction too.

Ag Groups, Tractor

Landini Wins Tractor Award

Chuck Zimmerman

LandiniI am not familiar with a Landini tractor but they must be doing something right.

Landini USA is proud to announce that the Landini Rex 85 S received the 2008 Tractor of the Year Award in the “Best of Specialized” category. The award was presented to Landini during a special ceremony at the Agritechnica Trade Fair in Hanover, Germany.

Judged by a panel of machinery specialists from 17 European countries, the “Tractor of the Year” award is regarded as one of the most prestigious honors within the agricultural engineering industry. Tractor designs are assessed on design features, benefits, and practical driving appraisals.

The 82 hp Rex 85 S, designed to operate in the narrow rows of the orchard industry, was chosen for its engine performance, innovative four-wheel hydrostatic brakes, electro-hydraulically engaged four-wheel drive, and easy-to-use transmissions. The judges also praised the tractor’s maneuverability within the narrow rows of an orchard.

Landini USA, based in Norcross, GA, was founded in 1884 by Giovanni Landini in Fabbrico, Italy. The aim of Landini was to design and manufacture machinery capable of towing agricultural equipment, in particular the plow. Today Landini offers a full range of tractors for the row crop, livestock and specialty crop market.

Agribusiness, Tractor

New ISU Precision Ag Lab

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag Leader ISU LabIowa State University has a new precision ag lab thanks to Ag Leader Technology. Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Thomas Brumm, Associate Professor, ISU, Dr. U. Sunday Tim, Associate Professor, ISU, Dr. Ramesh Kanwar, ABE Department Chair, ISU Al Myers, President, Ag Leader Technology, Michael Vos, Software Sales Manager, Ag Leader Technology.

Ag Leader Technology, Inc. has donated the latest precision ag equipment to the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University for use in educating students on precision farming systems. The donation starts a new lab at ISU, complete with hardware and software.

“In today’s fast-paced precision ag industry, there is a constant need for highly-educated graduates and we hope to provide students first-hand experience with precision farming systems,” says Al Myers, President of Ag Leader Technology. “Iowa State continues to provide the industry with motivated, young professionals. By giving to the university we hope to strengthen our partnership and continue to take part in the education of students in precision agriculture.”

Students taking classes on precision farming will now be able to use the lab to gain knowledge and understanding of the equipment in a real-world situation. By using the hardware and software together, students will be able to simulate a working farm and collection of valuable information using geospatial technology.

Agribusiness, Precision Agriculture, University

USDA/Ad Council PSA To Prevent Obese Kids

Chuck Zimmerman

In this public service announcement produced by USDA and the Ad Council eating an apple keeps the ceiling from falling on you and turns it into a world map. Well, that’s not really the message.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services and the Ad Council announce today the launch of a multi-media public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to inspire children and families to adopt healthier lifestyles.

As we all know, today’s obesity and overweight statistics are staggering. Approximately 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese while 17 percent of American children themselves are categorized as overweight. Research indicates that there is a direct correlation between being overweight during childhood and adolescence and carrying that through into adulthood.

If it were only so easy as running a psa and the crisis of obesity in kids would be solved. Maybe it will help. I don’t know.

Advertising, Food, USDA, Video

Speaking of Beef Kicks Off

Chuck Zimmerman

Speaking of BeefThe Missouri Beef Industry Council has just kicked off a new program as I mentioned late last night called, “Speaking of Beef.” This program includes preparing volunteer producers for public speaking on key issues important to their industry and then helping schedule them to speak to local civic groups statewide. It’s just another way for beef producers to connect with people who are far removed from the farm.

As we talked about in our first training session yesterday, there are so many people today who have never been on a farm, touched an animal like a cow, or seen how they’re cared for that it’s not surprising they have so many misconceptions and ideas about rural life. There’s a big need for public education and a personal approach from someone who’s part of their community is one of the best ways to foster understanding.

Speaking of Beef Training SessionTo help the program participants we worked with the MBIC staff to develop a resource notebook which includes: pre-written speeches on 6 key issues (printed and saved electronically on CD), notecards for each speech, basic information about public speaking and media interviewing, a list of potential questions they will be asked and suggested answers. The volunteers will personalize each talk with anecdotes about their life and farm. They will also receive a supply of handout materials for their presentation as well as items to be used for a drawing after their talk. We’re contacting Rotary, Optimist and Kiwanis clubs as well as local Chambers of Commerce to see if they’d like to schedule in one of our speakers.

It’s a great program and we’ve already got more volunteers on a list for the next training session after we get this first group going. I’ll tell you what. These are some of my favorite people and I know they’ll be a big hit with whatever crowd they get to speak in front of!

Ag Groups, Beef