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

Blogging 101 Tag Team Presentation

Chuck Zimmerman

Cyndi YoungIt was a tag team match today at the Missouri Ag Leaders Luncheon. Cyndi Young, farm director for the Brownfield Network and I did a presentation on Blogging 101 (including RSS, Podcasting and webinars) for about 30 people.

As I’ve found over and over now, people have a growing level of awareness and curiosity about blogging and all the features that have been associated with it. We had good questions like “how much memory do you need on your server?” and “Is it real hardware intensive?” and “where can I find blogs about farming?” The answers to those are “very little unless you post lots of graphics, audio and video” “not hardware intensive since all you need is the online computer you already have” “Google for farm blogs”

Ag Groups

Missouri Ag Leaders Meet

Chuck Zimmerman

MO Ag Leaders LunchBlogging live from the Missouri Ag Leaders Luncheon. This is for my demonstation.

Actually this post was started during today’s lunch presentation of the Missouri Ag Leaders Luncheon group. I just thought I’d come back and add in this photo. I’ll have more later today too.

Ag Groups

MO Governor Blunt and Congressman Hulsof In This Week’s CornTalk

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Corn Growers AssociationThe grand opening of Mid-Missouri Energy (MME) last Friday was a major milestone for the renewable fuels industry in Missouri. State and federal officials, as well as farmers, business leaders and curious onlookers, packed a massive tent to talk about the importance of the ethanol and the impact plants such as MME have on communities. In this week’s CornTalk, I’ve got interviews with Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and U. S. Congressman Kenny Hulshof. Both individuals ask the question, “Why are we continuing to look to the Mideast for our energy needs when we can look right here to the Midwest?”

You can listen to CornTalk here Download MP3 File Here

You can also subscribe to CornTalk using the podcast file found in our sidebar.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Podcasts

Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation For Ag Golf

Chuck Zimmerman

Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation For AgricultureSometimes you just have to take a little time off for a good cause. Yesterday that was the Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture golf tournament at Sycamore Creek.

I played with Nip Neidert and Steve Taylor in the afternoon session. It rained there all morning but they still got the first round in. Here’s what Missouri Farm Bureau Federation president, Charlie Kruse has to say about the Foundation on their website:

Building a Foundation for Agriculture

The Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture was established in 1996 to provide a dedicated funding source for a variety of agricultural education and leadership programs. The Foundation has grown each year since its inception and today has assets that exceed $350,000.

I want to extend my appreciation to everyone who has supported the MFB Foundation for Agriculture. With help from individuals and many business partners, the Foundation has contributed more than $140,000 to agricultural education and leadership programs.

I thank all those who have been so generous and encourage anyone interested in maintaining a strong and viable agriculture to consider a tax-deductible gift to the Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

By the way, Nip, Steve and I got second place!!

Ag Groups

CropLife America Featured In This Week’s ZimmCast

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastIn this week’s program I interview Allan Noe, director of communications for Croplife America. Allan talks about soybean rust and other issues his organization is working on. The interview was conducted at the recent NAFB Washington Watch program.

You can listen to the ZimmCast here Download MP3 File

You can also subscribe to the ZimmCast using the link in our sidebar.

Agribusiness, Audio, Podcasts, ZimmCast