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

Drake & Company Adds Staff & Clients

Chuck Zimmerman

Lea Ann FrigaSteve Drake has been busy. Adding staff to handle a growing business and now I know what he was doing up there at World Dairy Expo. Way to go Steve!

Drake & Company, Chesterfield, Mo., an association management company, recently added Lea Ann Friga to its staff. Lea Ann serves as a Program Coordinator for the National Christmas Tree Association, as well as the MidStates Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association. Before joining Drake & Company, Lea Ann worked for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Metro St. Louis as a fundraiser where she coordinated annual campaigns, event sponsorships and fundraising programs. She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Steve DrakeBesides hiring Lea Ann Professional, Drake & Co. announces that the Professional Dairy Heifers Growers Association has selected Drake & Company as their new management company. Dave Drennan will serve as the Executive Director, while continuing his work with the Missouri Dairy Association. So I guess the PDHGA will be the “Steve & Dave Show.”

Uncategorized

Workers Are Blogging Their Lives Away

Chuck Zimmerman

Last post for the day folks and I’ll give my keyboard a rest (not). I’ve seen this story all over the place and was not sure how to handle it until I read about in on Steve Mays blog. Steve usually has a way of putting things in perspective. The story is on Adage.com (requires registration).

About 35 million workers — one in four people in the labor force — visit blogs and on average spend 3.5 hours, or 9%, of the work week engaged with them, according to Advertising Age’s analysis. Time spent in the office on non-work blogs this year will take up the equivalent of 2.3 million jobs. Forget lunch breaks — blog readers essentially take a daily 40-minute blog break.

I wonder how many of them are farmers or people involved in agricultural marketing and communications? I also just saw that Technorati is tracking over 20 million blogs now. As Steve says “And a week doesn’t go by that someone asks me to explain “this blogging thing.” Right on Stevie Wonder. And we’ll be very happy to explain it to them!

Uncategorized

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

Inductees Into Angus Heritage Foundation

Chuck Zimmerman

American AngusThe American Angus Association will be inducting a number of people into the Angus Heritage Foundation in just a few weeks. I will not be able to attend but I can just guess what they’ll be serving for dinner!!

The American Angus Association Board of Directors has selected three couples and one individual for induction to the Angus Heritage Foundation. Each year, a select group of individuals who have made significant contributions by dedicating their time, knowledge and efforts to the improvement and advancement of the Angus breed are inducted into the Heritage Foundation.

The 2005 inductees include Harvey & Nina Lemmon, Woodbury, Ga.; Bill & Barbara Rishel, North Platte, Neb.; and Vance & Connie Uden, Franklin, Neb. Morris Pipkin, formerly of Republic, Mo., will be inducted posthumously.

A special recognition of the inductees will be held during the American Angus Association’s Angus Awards Banquet, November 14 in Louisville, Ky. Each inductee or their family will receive a framed Angus Heritage Foundation certificate, and their names will be engraved on a permanent Heritage Foundation plaque in the Association headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo.

Uncategorized