There’s even more news from Monsanto this morning and Landec as well. Actually two stories in one.
Monsanto Company and Landec Corporation announced two separate agreements today, both of which are expected to broaden their reach and product offerings to U.S. farmers. The two agreements are potentially valued at more than $70 million.
In the first transaction, Monsanto’s American Seeds, Inc. (ASI) subsidiary announced that it has acquired Landec’s direct marketing and seed sales company, Fielder’s Choice Direct (FCD), based in Monticello, Ind. The sales price for FCD was $50 million in cash paid at the close on December 1, 2006 with a potential additional earn-out amount of up to $5 million based on FCD results for the twelve months ended May 31, 2007.
In the second transaction, the parties announced that they have entered into a five-year global technology license agreement for Landec’s Intellicoat(R) polymer seed coating technology. Under the five-year agreement, Monsanto will become the exclusive sales and marketing agent for Landec’s Intellicoat seed coating technology in corn, oilseeds and cotton. Monsanto also receives an option to buyout the Intellicoat seed coating technology.
According to a new report from the 
This picture is of 
One of the first people I spoke with after we started ZimmComm was Robert French who is an instructor of Public Relations, Marcom, CMS, Blogs, Education and New PR at the University of Auburn. Robert had some advice about our Talking News Release idea and the blogging and podcasting. He’s a guy who knows his new media. In fact I hope you’re a regular reader of
Well we’ll be fully clear once the country truck/plow gets done since he just showed up. At least we’ve got power. I just spoke to Mike Wilson in Illinois and they have no power. That can get old real fast.
Here’s an interesting concept. A company to do online market research of farmers that’s owned by farmers. I’ve got an appointment to speak with Steve Hawkins tomorrow and will bring you that interview in next week’s ZimmCast.
I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Evan Slack is advertising 
There’s a new trio of public relations staff on board at 
Brooks, who joins Rhea & Kaiser as an account supervisor, has more than 20 years of agribusiness communications experience. Prior to joining Rhea & Kaiser, Brooks was a contract freelancer working with clients, including BASF, DuPont, Pfizer Animal Health and The Iams Company. Her work has been published in Farm Industry News and Progressive Farmer magazines. Brooks holds a degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
Goebel joins the Bayer CropScience corn and soybean team as senior account executive. She’ll manage the development of public relations programs and oversee the development and execution of integrated communication plans. Most recently, Goebel led the Pfizer Animal Health swine team at Rhea & Kaiser. Goebel is a graduate of the University of Missouri–Columbia.
McEvoy, a five-year veteran of Rhea & Kaiser, returns to the agency as public relations account supervisor, on the Underwriters Laboratories account. McEvoy first joined Rhea & Kaiser in 2001 working on the Bayer CropScience corn and soybean team. Prior to joining Rhea & Kaiser, she was with agencies in Kansas City, Mo. and Des Moines, Iowa. McEvoy is a graduate of Iowa State University.
Everything seems to take longer when you’ve got 16 inches of snow on top of about an inch of ice.