Dr. Gary Fellows on New Plant Health Research

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Gary FellowsOne of our presenters here at the BASF “Science Behind Plant Health” symposium is Dr. Gary Fellows, BASF Technical Market Manager. In fact he’s conducting his presentation right now as I’m posting this.

Before we got started I spoke with Dr. Fellows about New Plant Health Research which includes the finding that applying Headline fungicide to corn that is stressed by drought or dry weather conditions helps the plants make it through that period and recover faster. He says they observed this in a number of fields around the country this past season and decided to bring those findings into the research facilities to test it for themselves.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Fellows: cccast-3-fellows.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

Ray Gilmer Moderates BASF Symposium

Chuck Zimmerman

Ray GilmerOur moderator for the BASF “Science Behind Plant Health” symposium is Ray Gilmer, BASF Group Communications Manager, Agricultural Products Division.

I had a chance to talk to Ray just prior to the start of the program to get an overview of what we’re going to see and hear today. Ray says that BASF is really committed to innovation and investing into new science. He says they’ll be talking about how growers are finding real yield benefits when making sure their plants stay healthy throughout the season.

Listen to my interview with Ray: cccast-4-gilmer.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

Checking in the Media at BASF Symposium

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF Plant Health SymposiumAs I’ve already mentioned, the BASF “Science Behind Plant Health” symposium is very well attended. I’m not sure how many times BASF has conducted this symposium but I remember attending more than one at Commodity Classic over the years.

Today’s program includes information on:

The latest BASF research into the plant physiology behind Plant Health
Results of new Plant Health research
A look ahead to the Plant Health pipeline
Introduction to specialized equipment to better understand the inner workings of plants

I’ll have more information, including interviews soon.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

BASF Plant Health Symposium Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Willie on Plant HealthThe BASF “Science of Plant Health” symposium is just getting underway here in Tampa at the Hyatt.

We’ve got a nice crowd of agricultural journalists here like Willie Vogt, Farm Progress Companies on the right. I think he’s telling world record corn and soybean yield growers like Kip Cullers how to get even more yield out of their crop (Not). All in all I think there’s about 24 journalists here. I’m recording the presentations and will be posting some of them later on.

Here’s an interesting note. We have a mult-box which allows multiple people to connect to an audio feed to record it. Willie is one of several publication editors using it and he joked that the “print guys are fighting over the mult-box.” This new media world is changing how we all do our jobs!

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

ASA Sandcastle

Chuck Zimmerman

ASA SandcastleBefore leaving the Convention Center this morning I stopped in to see the progress on the trade show.

In the main entrance this lady was working on a very nice looking sand sculpture. I guess they want to let us think of the beach even though we’re inside during some beautiful winter weather.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Meeting The Media at Commodity Classic

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity Classic Media RoomAs is often the case, yours truly is one of the first into the media room. One of my sponsors for AgWired coverage here is New Holland.

They also sponsor the media room each year as you may have heard in my interview with Gene Hemphill yesterday in this week’s ZimmCast. I’m looking forward to his reception for the media tomorrow evening too.

Commodity Classic Media RoomOnce you arrive at the media room the first persons to greet you are these smiling faces. I interviewed Bob Callanan, ASA (right) and Mimi Ricketts, NCGA (second from right) about how they work together to prepare for Commodity Classic and the media. I think they’ve now got almost 100 registered media for the event which is an increase from normal. Hot topics for the media will probably be the farm bill and renewable fuels according to these two communications directors.

Listen to my interview with Bob & Mimi: cccast-2-media.mp3

The interview is also part of the CommodityClassicCast podcast series started just for this year’s Commodity Classic.

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

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Commodity Classic Photo Album

Chuck Zimmerman

Commodity Classic RegistrationInside the Tampa Convention Center there are some early arrivals getting checked in but it’ll probably be this afternoon before things get into full swing.

I’m going to be uploading all my pictures to an online photo album as usual. Feel free to browse it and if you want to use any of them just give us credit if you can. If you need hi-res versions just let me know. You can find the photos two different ways.

One way is with the Zimmages you see in the top right side of the AgWired homepage. Just click on any of them and that’ll take you to a page that displays them for you. The other way is to use a direct link to my Flickr photo set using the following link:

2007 Commodity Classic Photo Album

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Tampa Convention Center

Chuck Zimmerman

Convention CenterIt’s a beautiful day here in Tampa at the Convention Center.

Things are kind of relaxed and quiet but there are already meetings taking place as companies and the sponsoring organizations get ready for all the farmers who will check in starting today.

If you’re trying to reach me, be patient, since Sprint mobile service isn’t great inside the media room.

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

BASF, Commodity Classic, New Holland

Meyocks Group Agency for Valent BioSciences

Chuck Zimmerman

Valent BioSciencesThe Meyocks Group is named as agency of record for marcomm work for Valent BioSciences Corporation.

The agency will continue to handle corporate communications responsibilities for the company. Valent BioSciences is a worldwide leader in the research, development and commercialization of low risk, environmentally compatible technologies and products for the agricultural, public health, forestry and household insecticide markets.

“As a global leader in the commercialization of biorational products, Valent BioSciences is working to build this overall category and differentiate our product line around the world,” said Mike Donaldson, president of Valent BioSciences. “The Meyocks Group is well-suited to help us achieve these objectives.”

Agencies, Agribusiness

Charlene Finck VP of Editorial for Farm Journal Media

Chuck Zimmerman

Charlene FinckI want to congratulate Charlene Finck for her new position as Vice President, Editorial for Farm Journal Media. She succeeds Sonja Hillgren, who passed away in December.

In her new role, Finck will oversee editorial for all Farm Journal Media magazines and work closely with the editors of Farm Journal Media’s other outlets such as AgWeb, Pro Farmer, AgDay and U.S. Farm Report to provide the best integrated coverage of agriculture. Finck, who continues as editor of FARM JOURNAL magazine, will report to President/CEO Andy Weber and serve on the company’s senior management team.

“I can’t think of anyone better than Charlene to succeed Sonja, though we both wish it had been several years from now,” said Weber. “Charlene has been a continuous innovator with unique editorial cornerstones like our Test Plots, Tractor Tests and Corn Navigator Series. She has always demonstrated a true, hands-on appreciation for what producers need and as a magazine editor has championed the need to deliver that content to producers in all of our multi-media formats.”

Media, Publication