Commodity Crab Races

Chuck Zimmerman

Crab RacesThe opening reception at Commodity Classic was sponsored by Syngenta and had all your usual things like food, beverages, music and fellowship.

This year it also featured something I’ve never seen before. Crab races. This is definitely out of the ordinary.

Basically, you have people betting on who’s crab is going to win. They’re put under a little net in the middle of a table. The race master lifts up the net and the winner makes it to the outside circle first.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

The Classic Blogger

Chuck Zimmerman

Your Classic BloggerThe Classic blogger got his picture taken doing his thing.

I’ve got lots of pictures and audio for you but it’s time to head to the trade show opening for a while so bear with me as I’ll have a lot posted overnight.

In the meantime most of my pictures have been uploaded to the 2007 Commodity Classic Photo Album.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

New Holland iPod Blue

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland is giving corn/soybean/wheat growers a chance to win a blue iPod this year at Commodity Classic.

Like last year all my interviews and pictures will be loaded onto the iPod before it gets shipped to the winner.

All growers have to do is go by the New Holland booth which I believe is number 333.

There’s really no stopping the iPod movement!

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Student Commodity Bloggers

Chuck Zimmerman

Alyssa BaneLast year I had a couple of students helping me blog Commodity Classic. They were sponsored by Monsanto. This year they’re not working with me but Monsanto still has some student bloggers here.

One of them is Alyssa Bane. You can find her blog here. It says that you can follow the “Adventure in Agriculture through Alyssa’s Eyes.”

I am a freshman at the University of Illinois majoring in Agricultural Communications. I was selected to be one of the Ag Journalism Fellowship Program Interns, and I have the incredible opportunity to accompany the Monsanto public relations representatives to the 2007 Commodity Classic.

Tyne MorganThe other student blogger is Tyne Morgan. Tyne website is called Tyne’s Take.

I’m currently a junior at the University of Missouri-Columbia majoring in Agricultural Journalism. I started my career in radio at the age of 16 for an agricultural radio station in Northern Missouri. One thing led to another and I am now a Farm Broadcast Intern for Brownfield ag radio network. So, as you can tell I have a strong passion for agriculture and enjoy communicating agriculture’s story everyday.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

World Record Yields

Chuck Zimmerman

Kip CullersKip Cullers is the world record yield holder for corn and soybeans.

He was honored this morning at the ASA/BASF SOY breakfast when BASF announced a new scholarship in his name.

BASF announced the Secure Optimal Yield Scholarship program. This annual $5,000 scholarship will be sponsored by BASF and managed by ASA. The first award will be for the fall 2008 semester and will be announced in honor of Kip Cullers to recognize his excellence and outstanding yield results. “It is great that BASF and ASA announced the 2008 scholarship in my honor,” said Cullers. “I hope this scholarship will encourage others to get involved in agriculture and be more proactive to meet the world’s increasing demand for soybeans.”

I interviewed Kip to learn what some of his secrets to success are.

Listen to my interview with Kip here: cccast-8-cullers.mp3

The interview is also part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series.

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

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Shuttle Bus Video

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF Shuttle VideoAll of the shuttle buses that are carrying people around from hotel to Convention Center are sponsored by BASF. I think they’ve done this before but it’s a great idea.

The buses have video monitors and to keep people entertained they can watch a video that was put together by BASF. I’m getting a copy of it so you can watch even if you’re not here. I’ll post it here later today.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland, Video

Ethanol Opportunities and Pitfalls

Chuck Zimmerman

Arlan SudermanArlan Suderman is a market analyst for Farm Futures magazine. He was on the program at the BASF “Science Behind Plant Health” symposium.

Arlan’s spoke about the ethanol wave and addressed the opportunities and the pitfalls that he sees coming. He shares a lot of information about how people are investing in the industry and how the boom is affecting grower decisions.

Listen to Arlan’s presentation here (12 min): cccast-7-suderman.mp3

The interview is 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

BASF Research Leader

Chuck Zimmerman

Dirk VoesteDirk Voeste is the head of Plant Health and Seed Treatment Research for BASF. He came here to Commodity Classic from the company’s headquarters in Germany.

Dirk’s topic at the “Science Behind Plant Health” symposium was on the research that the company is doing and to show how growers are using it to their advantage. He says that BASF continues to be an innovator. I interviewed him right after the program was over.

Listen to my interview with Dirk here: cccast-6-voeste.mp3

The interview is 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

BASF Headline a No-Brainer

Chuck Zimmerman

Andy LeeAndy Lee is the BASF Director of Business Operations, U. S. Crop Protection Products. He spoke at their “Science Behind Plant Health” symposium on the subject of just what BASF is doing to continue to be a leader is this area.

Like several other presenters he says that BASF is finding new and interesting applications and results for its Headline fungicide. He says that the journalists attending the symposium were asking why more growers aren’t using the product since based on the results it seems like such a “no-brainer.”

Listen to my interview with Andy: cccast-5-lee.mp3

The interview is 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

A Nice Session With BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF SymposiumThe BASF “Science Behind Plant Health” symposium is winding up with a question and answer session that’s taking place right now.

I’ve recorded it and will have some more audio for you by tomorrow morning.

Right now it’s time to pack up here and head on over to the opening reception and other social activities that are taking place here at Commodity Classic.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland