Pioneer & DFS, Inc. Team Up

Chuck Zimmerman

PioneerSpeaking of teaming up deals, here’s another one. Pioneer is working together with DFS, Inc. on a grain testing pilot on animal nutrition.

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and DFS, Inc., have announced a joint research collaboration to measure levels of digestible energy (DE) in corn grain for animal feed. Pioneer, the world’s largest seed company, and DFS, a leading regional feed manufacturer, will use this information to better manage grain quality variation in the feed production process.

This research effort will use proprietary NIR (near infrared) technology developed by Pioneer which measures grain DE for monogastric animals such as hogs and poultry. By measuring the DE levels of corn grain, DFS will be better able to evaluate and manage the inbound nutritional value of grain, which will result in more efficient feed production process control.

Agribusiness

Monsanto & Solae Company Team Up

Chuck Zimmerman

MonsantoMonsanto is out making it happen as they say. This time teaming up with the Solae Company on a soybean project. I can only “imagine” how big this deal will be!

Monsanto and The Solae Company today announced an agreement to develop and market a new line of soy proteins with improved flavor and solubility. This collaboration combines each company’s unique strengths to bring such a technology to market. “Soy-based products are one of the fastest-growing food industry segments,” said Paul Graham, vice president of new business development for The Solae Company. “This agreement will allow us to offer the best tasting, most soluble soy protein on the market, further reinforcing our commitment to drive innovation in food formulation and taste. It is one of several technologies we’re using to best meet our customers’ needs.”

Agribusiness

New Mushroom Council Members

Chuck Zimmerman

The Mushroom CouncilThere’s new leadership on The Mushroom Council. Today Sec. of Ag Johanns announced some appointments.

Reappointed to the council is Carla Blackwell McKinney of West Grove, Pa. Appointed as new members are Greg McLain of Gonzalez, Texas, and Hank VanderPol of Blenheim, Ontario, Canada. Their terms of office begin Jan. 1, 2006, and end Dec. 31, 2008. Lynn Mortensen of Sanford, Colo. was appointed to serve a term of office beginning immediately and ending on Dec. 31, 2006.

Ag Groups, USDA

New MarComms At Select Sires

Chuck Zimmerman

Andrea MyersYou know you’ve got the job when they have you send out your own news release! Besides that Andrea has been busy getting the word out for Select Sires.

Select Sires has hired Andrea Myers as sales and marketing communications specialist. In this role Myers will manage the writing and production of Select Sires’ customer newsletter, Selections; coordinate all press releases; and work closely with the sales and marketing team to promote Select Mating Service.

Leslie BowenSelect Sires has hired Leslie Bowen as sales and marketing communications specialist. In this role her main responsibilities will be creative development, coordination of the photo program and direction of domestic and international visitor programs.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc., is North America’s largest A.I. organization and is comprised of 10 farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective of supplying dairy and beef producers with North America’s best genetics at a reasonable price.

Agribusiness

Bonanza Bill Invites You To NAFB Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill O'NeillLet’s hear from Bonanza Bill who’s the new sheriff in town at NAFB. He has a personal invitation for you to their convention.

You can listen to Bill’s invite here: Download MP3 File

The NAFB Convention
November 9-11, 2005
Kansas City, Missouri
Westin Crown Center

Audio, NAFB

Discover Your Inner Chicken

Chuck Zimmerman

Mid-Atlantic Agricultural Awareness AllianceHow does one know if one has an inner chicken? I guess you have to visit the Mid-Atlantic Agricultural Awareness Alliance website, thankachicken.com, to find out.

This is actually a creative use of Soybean Checkoff funds since the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia soybean boards used money from the checkoff’s Animal Ag Initiative to promote the benefits of the poultry industry to the Delmarva region, including the launch of the website. The project was done to thank the local poultry indutry in the Delmarva peninsula for the tax revenue it generates that’s used for schools, roads and libraries.

Ag Groups

NAWG WILOT Group Announced

Chuck Zimmerman

National Association of Wheat GrowersWhy not have a WILOT? The National Association of Wheat Growers does. It’s the Wheat Industry Leaders of Tomorrow program and they’ve got 10 folks participating. Keep these names in mind since some of them may become state and national leaders in the future!

The 10 participants are: James White from Colfax, Washington; Kevin Porter from Pendleton, Oregon; Ian Anderson from Birds Landing, California; Tim Bartram from Enid, Oklahoma; Shawn Sullivan from Wallace, Nebraska; Jay Elkin from Taylor, North Dakota; Aron Torgerson from Ethridge, Montana; Dan Engler from Downs, Kansas; Michael Martin from Forbes, North Dakota; and John Thaemert representing the NAWG Officers. The next WILOT program will be held November 1-6, 2005 in St. Louis and March 4-7, 2006 in Washington, DC.

WILOT is designed for wheat growers who are interested in becoming involved at the state level on committees and boards, but who have not yet been elected to statewide office or served on the NAWG Board of Directors. The program is a project of the NAWG Foundation and sponsored by Monsanto.

Ag Groups

Today’s Missouri Farmer Reads Today’s Farmer

Chuck Zimmerman

Today's Farmer MagazineThe people at Today’s Farmer magazine have just completed a new readership study which provides some comparative data to other publications targeting Missouri farmers. The publication is owned by MFA Incorporated. The sample for the survey was compiled by Farm Market ID and the survey was conducted by Ag Media Research.

Over 70 percent of Missouri’s farmers recall receiving Today’s Farmer, published by MFA Incorporated, according to the 2005 Ag Media Research Readership Study. That’s more than Successful Farming, Farm Journal or Missouri Ruralist, according to the study. Ron Claussen, Ag Media Research, says, “The high response number of producers indicates a very high actual readership level for Today’s Farmer magazine.”

Today’s Farmer is an award-winning magazine with over 37,000 subscribers – the largest circulation of any farm magazine in Missouri. What makes Today’s Farmer so attractive to farmers is that it’s written in Missouri about farming in this region. According to magazine editor, Chuck Lay, “It’s very important that our advertisers know that Today’s Farmer magazine subscribers are hand picked by our cooperative managers and they represent the largest and most active producers in our region.”

“76% of those surveyed rate Today’s Farmer parent company, MFA Incorporated, as a progressive company working to meet the needs of our state’s farmers,” according to Nip Neidert, Neidert Associates. “The partnership between MFA and Today’s Farmer takes our sponsors’ products direct from the pages of the magazine to the counter tops of co-ops throughout the region.”

Nip Neidert says to contact him if you want the “rest of the story.”

Agribusiness, Publication

MFA Health Track Has QSA Status

Chuck Zimmerman

MFA HealthTrackMFA Incorporated just got some very important news for cattlemen who want to be able to take quick advantage of the pending opening of new foreign trade markets. To announce it they sent out a Talking News Release. The state of Missouri is ahead of the game in obtaining USDA Quality Systems Assessment and MFA’s Health Track program is now able to offer that status to its customers!

Now that Missouri’s Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) program has been accepted by the USDA, MFA Health Track calves can comply with the new federal designation, which means they will have the go-ahead for the toughest export markets. Specifically, post-BSE negotiations with trading partners like Japan have made QSA a necessary bargaining tool.

MFA Health Track manager Mike John says the pending opening of the Japanese market has already created a demand for QSA certified cattle because it takes about 180 days to finish those animals. “The feed yards are willing to start filling the pipeline so they’ll have product when the market does open. So it will bring more buyers to Missouri because of the large number of feeder cattle that we have.” Full Release

Agribusiness, Audio, Beef

Farm Bill & World Trade On CornTalk

Chuck Zimmerman

CornTalk podcastCornTalk, a weekly program for the Missouri Corn Growers Association, features an interview with CEO, Gary Marshall. Gary talks about two big issues that have a direct impact on Missouri corn growers, the new farm bill and pending world trade talks. Gary discusses the status of both of these topics and explains how MCGA is working to protect its members as these issues move forward.

You can listen to this week’s CornTalk here: Download MP3 File

CornTalk is a weekly AgWired podcast which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar.

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Podcasts