A Productive InfoAg Conference.

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere Ag Management SolutionsI know I haven’t posted much from the InfoAg Conference but don’t think I’ve been slacking off. I think I’ve conducted 15 audio interviews and one video clip as well as about 79 photos.

There isn’t a convenient room for media to work in here so that’s made it kind of difficult to be on the floor and in the seminar rooms and get time to edit and post. One of the things I would highly recommend to IPNI/FAR would be a media room. I know I’ve seen at least a half dozen farm reporters here who like me were searching for a place to work with a power outlet and internet access.

I’ll be heading back to ZimmComm New Media world headquarters today and you’ll find these pictures and interviews posted over the next week or so. Some will show up here on AgWired. The majority will be posted onto Precision Pays though. That’s why I spent some quality time with these folks in the John Deere Ag Management Solutions booth as well as their Agri Services booth. I’ve also got content to post onto Domestic Fuel and World Dairy Diary. So I think this has been a productive trip.

2007 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, John Deere, Precision Agriculture

Precision Ag Awards

Chuck Zimmerman

Precision Ag Awards of ExcellenceAt this morning’s opening session of the 2007 InfoAg Conference several awards were presented by Paul Schrimpf, group editor, Croplife Media Group.

Receiving the awards were:

Arthur F. Lange, Ph.D., Trimble Navigation Limited
Scott A. Shearer, Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Norm Teegardin, Farm Works Software

Ag Groups, Precision Agriculture

Sunrise on POET Biorefining

Chuck Zimmerman

POET LaddoniaThis was the scene this morning as I made my way to Springfield, IL and the InfoAg Conference.

This is the POET Biorefining in Laddonia, MO.

The sun was just coming up. I’m sure that if I got out of the car I would have heard some roosters crowing nearby.

It was a very peaceful scene and being set amid the corn fields of mid Missouri, it was a very appropriate picture for the conference going on here.

Agribusiness, Ethanol, Precision Agriculture

Harold Reetz Welcomes Us To InfoAg

Chuck Zimmerman

Harold ReetzHarold Reetz kicked off things here at the 2007 InfoAg Conference. Harold is director of external support for IPNI and FAR.

I interviewed Harold after the opening session. I have got to believe he’s happy with attendance. The room was full and everyone was at attention. Harold provides an overview of the conference including the fact that there are 60 speakers here doing 100 sessions. The trade show looks good too with over 60 spaces sold.

I’m hearing a lot of optimism for people in the precision agriculture business and Harold echoes that in our interview. infoag-07-reetz.mp3

I am loading photos to Flickr and you can find them here:

2007 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Precision Agriculture

Ag Leader Technology and Norac Get Together Precisely

Chuck Zimmerman

NoracWhen you’ve got a precision agriculture conference going on that has a trade show you know the announcements will be coming out. Here’s the first one I received today.

This morning, Ag Leader Technology, Inc., a leading manufacturer of precision farming equipment, and NORAC, Inc., a pioneer in ultrasonic boom height control for sprayers, announced the introduction of the InSight™ display interface to the UC5™ Spray Height Controller. This new technology will allow operators to control boom height and use the InSight functionality—all in one display.

The new UC5 Spray Height Controller will be interfaced by the InSight display in the tractor or sprayer cab. The InSight display will support set-up, calibration and run time operation of the UC5. Using a CAN-system design there is only a single cable connection needed between Ag Leader and NORAC products.

With the InSight display interface to the UC5 Spray Height Controller users will be able to monitor and control boom height functions as well as view an on-screen coverage map and data log. When using the UC5 interface with the InSight DirectCommand™ system, operators will be able to use features such as AutoSwath™, Smart Report™ and rate control along with spray height control to maximize productivity and reduce operator fatigue. The InSight DirectCommand system also supports variable rate and multiple product application control.

Agribusiness, Precision Agriculture

2007 InfoAg Getting Started

Chuck Zimmerman

InfoAg 2007The 2007 InfoAg is about to get started here in Springfield, IL. Things start out with an opening session and a welcome from Harold Reetz, Director of External Support and the Foundation for Agronomic Research.

We’re also going to see a presentation of the Precision Ag Award of Excellence.

I’m going to be conducting some interviews after the session and during the trade show today. Expect to learn more about precision agriculture right here on the website that brings you what’s new in the world of agribusiness.

Ag Groups, Precision Agriculture

A Golden Voice on the Plains

Chuck Zimmerman

Rocking M Radio, Inc.According to a release sent to me today there’s going to be a new farm radio network on the plains.

Golden Plains Ag Network a division of Rocking M Radio, owner and operator of the largest number of Kansas radio stations, will officially launch Wednesday, Aug. 1. The network will begin operations with 19 affiliated radio stations that are strategically located in the heart of major agriculture producing states Kansas, Texas/Oklahoma Panhandle, Colorado, and Nebraska.

Golden Plains Ag Network will originate from RMR’s flagship station KXXX AM, in Colby, KS. By being in the very center of some of this nation’s largest farms, feed yards, and ranches, the Golden Plains Ag Network will be a more “hands on” and “reality based” voice for agribusiness. Chad Wolf and John Jenkinson are the primary on air personalities for the network. Wolf and Jenkinson bring to GPAN a vast background and experience not only in production agribusiness, but as members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, and will provide unbiased and professional reporting of markets and news from the very core of this major agribusiness region.

Kay Leiker, Scott City, KS is directory of marketing for the new network. Leiker brings her knowledge and experience as a top marketing expert to provide clientele of the network, optimum customer service that exceeds their expectations in effective “hands on” advertising.

Media

No “Stick” in Drumsticks

Laura McNamara

WheatwareDrummers won’t be pounding out beats with wood if they start using Wheatware products. Nor will they be using plastic. Instead, they’ll be using, you guessed it, wheat. The new biodegradable product line also offers guitar picks, hangars and more.

To help protect the Earth’s virgin forests and reduce global warming, Wheatware.com, exclusive U.S. distributor of Wheatware™ products, has donated biodegradable-compostable drumsticks, guitar picks, clothes hangers and more — all made using wheat. The company has donated 272 pairs of Wheatware™ Compostable drumsticks, 3,240 Wheatware™ Compostable guitar picks, and 4,100 Wheatware™ Compostable clothes hangers to Live Earth musicians across the world, including London, England; Johannesburg, South Africa; Sydney, Australia; Tokyo, Japan — and best of all, New York City, America.

The launch of Wheatware™ products is part of Wheatware’s Great Switch-Out™ from Wood to Wheat, a campaign to entice people to switch from unsustainable tree products like wood to sustainable, crop-based ones like wheat, thus saving the forests critically needed to halt global warming. The passion of the founders of Wheatware™ is to replace the 45 billion pairs of disposable wood chopsticks produced every year which consume over 25 million virgin forest trees annually. For this reason, Wheatware decided to also include over 664 packages of their chopsticks made from the Wheatware™ BioMass-75 in all the gift bags sent to the Live Earth concerts.Read More

Technology, Wheat

Syngenta Acquires Zeraim Gedera

Laura McNamara

SyngentaSyngenta expands into Israel as it acquires Zeraim Gedera, an Israeli seeds company. Syngenta believes Zeraim offers an ideal addition to its vegetable seeds business.

Syngenta announced that it has agreed to acquire Zeraim Gedera Ltd., a high quality Israeli vegetable seeds company focusing on high-value crops, including tomato, pepper and melon. Syngenta will buy all outstanding shares in the company from Markstone Capital Partners, an Israeli private equity group, for a consideration of $95 million, subject to closing adjustments. Sales in 2006 were $33 million.

Israel is well known for high-quality germplasm and seed technologies. Zeraim Gedera has outstanding breeding capabilities as well as longstanding relationships with Israeli research institutes and universities. This acquisition will reinforce the growth and quality of Syngenta’s vegetable seeds business.

Mike Mack, Chief Operating Officer Syngenta Seeds said: “This acquisition further expands Syngenta’s position in high-value growth segments. Zeraim Gedera’s portfolio and its strong presence in Mediterranean markets ideally complement our vegetable seeds business.”

Zeraim Gedera was originally founded in 1952. It focuses on six high-end vegetable products for growers and consumers: tomatoes, sweet peppers, watermelons, melons, squash and cucumbers. The business will continue to trade under the Zeraim brand.

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds breeds, produces and markets superior quality proprietary vegetable seeds. The business operates globally under regional brands including S&G(R), Rogers(R), Dulcinea(R) and Daehnfeldt(R). Its portfolio includes tomato, pepper, sweet corn, watermelon, melon, brassica, lettuce, cucumber, leek, beans and peas.

Agribusiness, Seed, Syngenta, Technology

“Orchard Perfect” Fruit Finding Way to Grocer’s Freezer

Laura McNamara

Stop & shopWe’ve all seen that Florida’s Natural commercial where the juice company promises “to bring the grove to you.” Now, a new company is promising to bring “Orchard Perfect” fruit to your grocer’s freezer.

Warm weather creates the optimum time to grow tasty fruit and vegetables but Stop & Shop is combining a special handling process with fresh fruit growers to introduce Orchard Perfect fruit in all of the company’s 389 stores.

Orchard Perfect is a specialty line of summer fruit that has been carefully ripened under the warm Californian summer sun and hand picked at the peak of perfection. Once the fruit is picked it’s gently layered by hand into single layer cartons to prevent bruising. This process assures that the fruit is immediately ready for consumption once it arrives in the stores. Orchard Perfect fruit is exclusive to Stop & Shop and includes peaches, nectarines, plums, white flesh peaches and white flesh nectarines.

The Orchard Perfect program uses the latest farming practices including packing and shipping systems to provide consumers with the sweetest, juiciest, tastiest fruit available today. Orchard Perfect peaches and nectarines are pre-conditioned with a special “temperature management” process that enhances ripening prior to shipping making these summer fruits taste as if they were just picked.

“This unique ripening process allows us to offer consumers fruit that is juicier, consistent and much more flavorful,” said Andrea Astrachan, Vice President of Consumer Affairs for Stop & Shop. “Pre-ripening also protects the fruit from internal breakdown, such as discoloration, browning and mealiness. This all-natural process gives our consumers the ultimate eating experience.”

About Stop and Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, based in Quincy, Massachusetts, employs more than 59,000 associates and operates 389 stores throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, New York and New Jersey.

Agribusiness, Food