Symbol III Is The Ideal Market Hog

Chuck Zimmerman

Pork CheckoffThe World Pork Expo is in full swing and news is slowly trickling out. One of the announcements today focused on a new standard of excellence.

Pork Checkoff Unveils Symbol III at World Pork Expo.

Symbol III, the U.S. pork industry’s “Standard of Excellence” for the modern market hog, was unveiled at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 10.

“The Symbol tradition started in the early 1980s,” said David Meisinger, assistant vice president of education for the Pork Checkoff. “As part of what was then the Pork Value Program, we asked ourselves what the ideal pig would look like. We called it the ‘symbol of perfection’.”Symbol III

Symbol III represents our vision of the ideal market hog in the United States, said Meisinger. It continues the Pork Checkoff’s tradition of creating an icon for U.S. pork. The illustration symbolizes profitability for every segment of the industry. Specialty and niche markets may require additional characteristics. Symbol III has correctness of structure, production, performance, function, attitude, health and optimum lean yield. It also produces the best quality, safest pork that provides the optimum nutrients for human nutrition.

For more information contact Cindy Cunningham.

Ag Groups

Drink Your Fill Of Blog Kool-Aid

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck & Steve MaysThis morning I was interviewed for Brownfield Network’s “Innovations” by Steve Mays. We talked about blogging, agricultural marketing and of course, AgWired! The interview runs a little over a half hour.

If you’ve never been to the Learfield Communications (owner of the Brownfield Network) headquarters wait a few weeks until the renovations/upgrades/construction is finished and visit. This is going to be a state of the art showplace! We broke in one of the new mini conference rooms.

You can listen to our recorded conversation here Download MP3 File 10MB MP3 file

Audio, Internet, Media, Podcasts

New Look For XS, Inc. Website

Chuck Zimmerman

XS Inc.The new corporate website for XS, Inc. is now up and running. Fulton Breen has been a pioneer in the use of e-commerce in agribusiness. I’m going to see if I can interview him for an upcoming ZimmCast and see what he thinks about some of the new communications technologies that we’re introducing the ag world to.

Here’s what the site says about the company.

Since its formation in 1998, XS has been committed to creating efficiency in the agriculture and specialty markets. Although our roots are in e-commerce, the data management service we provide our clients is often the key to increased client efficiency and productivity. We believe that timely, accurate and integrated data is the foundation for good decision making. We’ve developed a suite of tools that runs on your data giving you visibility to your problem areas and helping you capitalize on opportunities. Your data will be available to whomever you want – whenever you want – in the form you want.

For more information contact the company at info@xsinc.com or media@xsinc.com.

Agribusiness

Skype Me

Chuck Zimmerman

SkypeNo, I’m not making some sort of angry retort. I’m just alerting you to an internet-based phone service that uses your computer. All you need is a microphone/headset and you’re ready to Skype. You can download and set up a free account for use with other Skype account holders. If you want to call people from your computer outside the internet (regular phone line) you have to pay, but it’s not expensive.

I got started on this since it’s the preferred way Robert French (InfOpinions & PR Quest) makes phone calls to conduct interviews for his podcasts. I’m being interviewed by him tomorrow afternoon.

So I’ve got a Skype account now and you can Skype me at “agwired.” As I get more familiar with the service I’ll let you know how well it works.

Internet

Father’s Day On The MBIC Report

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Beef Industry CouncilIn this week’s Missouri Beef Industry Council Report I interview Dawn Thurnau, MBIC director of marketing who provides numerous tips for Daddy Day and a great idea to top off a grilled steak on his day. I’m going to make sure this is done in the Zimmerman household!

You can learn a little more about Father’s Day here. Like, did you know that the first Father’s Day was celebrated June 19, 1910. There’s more interesting information about the day on this site.

You can listen to the MBIC Report here Download MP3 File Here

You can also always subscribe to the MBIC Report podcast using the link in our sidebar.

Ag Groups, Audio, Podcasts

CME Trading ETF Futures

Chuck Zimmerman

Chicago Mercantile ExchangeOkay. Somebody please explain what this means. I’ve been to the CME and I’ve reported on commodity futures prices for years. I still think it’s all about buying and selling something that only exists as a figment of someone’s imagination. Usually people with a lot more money they can risk than I can!

CME Commences Trading of ETF Futures

CHICAGO, June 7, 2005 – CME, the largest U.S. futures exchange, today announced that trading of futures contracts on two of the largest and most actively traded Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in the U.S, the NASDAQ-100® Index Tracking Stock (ticker: QQQQ) and the S&P 500® Depositary Receipts (ticker: SPY) began yesterday. A third futures contracts the iShares Russell 2000® (ticker: IWM) will begin trading on Monday, June 20th. All three ETF futures contacts trade on the exchange’s CME® Globex® electronic trading platform. The futures on the S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100 trade exclusively at CME.

The release describes ETF’s as “baskets of securities designed to track an index.” That really cleared the whole thing up for me. I wish them well.

For more information contact Anita S. Liskey, 312/466.4613 or Pamela Plehn, 312/930.3446.

Agribusiness

New IS Director For ABS

Chuck Zimmerman

ABS GlobalFENTON JOINS ABS AS GLOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIRECTOR

DEFOREST, WISCONSIN – June 7, 2005 – ABS is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Fenton as Global Information Systems (IS) Director.

“Andy has many years of experience managing Information Systems. His work within our UK operations, Genus Breeding, coupled with his background and knowledge of Information Systems make him a natural fit for the Global Information Systems Director position,” stated Mark Kuna, ABS Global Chief Financial Officer.

For more information contact Amy Ryan.

Agribusiness

Interim Help For Holstein

Chuck Zimmerman

Emilie BloughInterim Youth Programs Assistant Joins Holstein Association and Holstein Foundation.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt., June 7, 2005- Holstein Association USA, Inc. and the Holstein Foundation, Inc. welcomes Emilie Blough of Goshen, Ind. to their Brattleboro, Vt. headquarters.

Blough will serve as the Interim Youth Programs Assistant for the Holstein Association and Holstein while Program Specialist, Kelli Dunklee is on leave. Blough will assist with the National Junior Holstein Convention, the National Dairy Bowl and National Jeopardy programs. She will also coordinate the Distinguished Junior Member Program and oversee the National Junior Advisory Committee.

Ag Groups

Summer Intern Time

Chuck Zimmerman

Summer intern announcements are popping up everywhere.

Crystal McNettMcNett Named Communications Intern at Select Sires Inc.

PLAIN CITY, Ohio, June 7, 2005 – Crystal McNett, Belmont, Wis., has been selected as the summer communications intern for Select Sires, Plain City, Ohio. Her responsibilities include developing the 2006 breeding calendar for customers, assisting with media-relations activities and working on other communications projects. From May through August she will be based in the Select federation’s headquarters office in Plain City.

And

Tracy WebbSummer Intern, Interim Youth Programs Assistant Join Holstein Association and Holstein Foundation

BRATTLEBORO, Vt., June 7, 2005- Holstein Association USA, Inc. and the Holstein Foundation, Inc. welcomes Tracy Webb of Street, Md. to their Brattleboro, Vt. headquarters.

Webb is the 2005 Youth Programs/Education Intern for the Holstein Foundation and Holstein Association. She will assist with the preparation and coordination of youth activities held during the National Junior Holstein Convention in Portland, Maine. She will also prepare post-convention press releases, as well as assist in the development of educational materials for Junior Holstein members.

Ag Groups

40 Tractors & 5 Million Boxes of Melons

Chuck Zimmerman

Del Monte & McCormick When I buy a melon at the store I’m going to wonder if it was harvested by a McCormick Tractor!

DEL MONTE FRESH PRODUCE ADDS 40 McCORMICK TRACTORS TO FARMING OPERATION

McCormick Tractors Add Value to Produce Market

Pella, Iowa — McCormick International USA, Inc. announces that Del Monte Fresh Produce Southwest recently added 40 McCormick MC105 tractors to its fleet. In May, the fleet of McCormick MC105 tractors was delivered to the Del Monte Fresh Produce Southwest farming operation west of Phoenix, Arizona.

“This is the tractor our drivers wanted. They liked the extra weight of the tractor for pulling equipment through the field and the convenient transmission,” said Frank “Chico” Mejia, general manager for the southwest division. “The drivers were familiar with McCormick tractors and immediately recognized the heritage of the MC105 and its reputation for durability and reliability.”

Mejia expects that the McCormick tractor fleet will be a valuable addition to the Del Monte farming operation throughout the six-year lease. They will be used to help harvest more than five million boxes of cantaloupe and honeydew melons each year.

The company release also says that the McCormick tractors are equipped with four-wheel drive, rollover protective structures, and a standard 16-speed transmission with creep. For more information contact Greg Ehm.

Agribusiness