AgWired

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.

Okay. 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.

FENTON JOINS ABS AS GLOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS 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.

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

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.