New Holland Marketing True Blue

Chuck Zimmerman

Steve GorsuchThe New Holland director of marketing and brand development is Steve Gorsuch. He’s here at Commodity Classic and I caught up to him in the trade show this morning.

He says that the theme of their dealer meeting last month was “True Blue.” It was meant as a statement of who they are and their commitment to their customers and the industry. He also talks about their new decals and logo and says it’s meant to show their long legacy, strength and history of the company.

Listen to my interview with Steve here: cccast-18-gorsuch.mp3

This interview is part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

John Phipps and the Presidents

Chuck Zimmerman

Opening General SessionThe opening general session is taking place right now and the emcee is John Phipps, U. S. Farm Report. They said he’s back by popular demand. You must be doing good John.

John started out with a great monologue before introducing the presidents of each Commodity Classic participating organization. I know I already posted interviews with them but I thought you might enjoy their round table discussion. They talk about what’s happening in the industry and I think you’ll learn something. Pictured are (l-r), Rick Ostlie, ASA, Ken McCauley, NCGA, Dale Schuler, NAWG and John Phipps.

Listen to the presidents here (21 min): cccast-17-presidents.mp3

This interview is part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Opening Market Report

Chuck Zimmerman

Pam FretwellIt’s a tradition to have the current president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting give an opening general session market report here at Commodity Classic.

That duty was performed by Pam Fretwell, WTAD/WKAN. She was just hoping that the crowd wouldn’t kill the messenger as she gave yesterday’s dismal market prices.

She did point out that it was sunny warm here.

Listen to Pam’s report here: cccast-16-fretwell.mp3

This interview is part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Commodity Update Blogging the Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity UpdateProving that he’s an innovator once again, Joel Jaeger at Commodity Update is blogging from the Commodity Classic.

You can find Joel’s blog here. Commodity Update is an AgWired advertiser and if you don’t subscribe then I recommend you do. Business is good since he’s expanding the company.

Commodity Update today announced plans to join forces with Bryan Berry, Fowler, IN. Berry, who also farms 2,700 acres in northwest Indiana, has been providing commodity market information to farmers via delivery to pagers since 1994. “This strategic alignment is a natural fit,” says Commodity Update CEO Joel Jaeger, “Bryan has been a leader in the industry since the mid ’90s and contacted us with interest in making our technology available to his pager clients. We have a common interest in bringing timely information to producers and are excited about what lies ahead.” In addition to migrating current customers to Commodity Update’s cell phone based platform, Berry will become a licensed Commodity Update representative in Indiana and surrounding areas.

Other than two Monsanto-sponsored interns, Joel and myself, I don’t know of any other blogger covering the event. Do you? If so, let me know.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

New Holland Mower Winner

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland GiveawayA tradition at Commodity Classic is the New Holland mower drawing.

Each year registered growers are entered into a drawing. This year it’s for a New Holland zero turn radius mower. The drawing is held near the end of the trade show session. Hundreds of people gather around to hear Al Pell announce the winner.

You have to be present to win.

Michelle SwensonAfter he calls the winner’s name it’s also announced over the intercom system and the winner has about 60 seconds to show up to claim their prize.

The winner this year is Michelle Swenson from Elbow Lake, MN.

She was about the 7th name called and she was there so she got the prize.

She was a very happy and excited winner.

I’m not sure how she’s going to get it on the plane back home though.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Simulated Indy Car Driving

Chuck Zimmerman

EPIC SimulatorThe trade show at Commodity Classic featured all kinds of things you can do.

Once again this year the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council brought their Indy simulator car. It was a busy booth from the looks of it when I stopped by.

You’ve probably never driven an Indy car and you probably never will. But you can pretend if you stop by.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Kip and Kip

Chuck Zimmerman

Kip and KipKip Cullers might have one of the most recognizable faces here at Commodity Classic.

He’s a corn and soybean yield record holder. I caught this shot of him enjoying some Dippin’ Dots ice cream at the BASF booth.

They’ve got a much larger than life size picture of him on their display which is behind him.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

The Berry Best From New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Ed BerryEd Berry is giving you some perspective here next to a New Holland combine on display at Commodity Classic. Ed is the brand marketing manager for cash crop equipment.

I talked with Mike about the different types of equipment they have for growers to check out like the new T7000 series. He give an overview of what’s new about the product. He also talks about their Harvest Support program that travels across the country providing growers with information at a critical time of the year.

Listen to my interview with Ed here: cccast-13-berry.mp3

This interview is part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Intelligent Monitoring From New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike HarveyMike Harvey is a field marketing specialist for New Holland. He’s part of the team here at Commodity Classic that is helping growers with their questions.

I talked to him about their new IntelliView Plus II monitor which they are showing here. He says that one of the features of the unit is that it can be transferred between tractors and combines.

Listen to my interview with Mike here: cccast-12-harvey.mp3

This interview is part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Meet The Commodity Presidents

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn-Soybeans-WheatDuring the course of the day I got to talk with the Presidents of all three commodity groups that make up Commodity Classic.

I asked them each how they thought things were going and what the hot topics were that are being discussed and worked on here. Of course the farm bill is right up on the top of the list as well as biofuels and biotechnology.

Listen to my interview with Rick Ostlie, President of the American Soybean Association here: cccast-9-ostlie.mp3

Listen to my interview with Dale Schuler, President of the National Association of Wheat Growers here: cccast-10-schuler.mp3

Listen to my interview with Ken McCauley, President of the National Association of Corn Growers here: cccast-14-mccauley.mp3

These interviews are also part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series.

AgWired coverage of Commodity Classic
is made possible by: BASF and New Holland

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland