Precision | Page 117 | News and reviews from the precision agriculture industry

GROWMARK Cultivating a Positive Workplace

Cindy ZimmermanJanuary 2, 2017Audio, FS System, Growmark

GROWMARK is finding that promoting an inclusive workplace culture can have lots of positive benefits.

“When work teams feel that their opinions are valued and that they can have a voice in the decision making process, they’re more engaged in their work and they’re more productive,” says Heather Thompson, GROWMARK Manager of Young Producer Programs. “They’re more committed and they deliver better customer service.”

The farmer cooperative employs more than 450 people in the home office in Bloomington, Illinois with thousands more throughout the FS GROWMARK system, and Thompson says a growing number of their employees come from non-agricultural backgrounds. “We have to look outside where we typically recruit to fill the positions that we have,” Thompson explains, and that means a workforce getting younger and even more diverse.

Learn more about how and why GROWMARK is working to increase employee engagement in this interview: [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/growmark-heather.mp3″ text=”Interview with Heather Thompson, GROWMARK”]

SoyPAC Social at Classic

Kelly MarshallJanuary 2, 2017Ag Group, ASA, Commodity Classic

The American Soybean Association (ASA) SoyPAC invites members to the Soy Social & Auction on March 2 at Commodity Classic in San Antonio. The dinner and the silent auction begin at 6:30 with the live auction starting at 7:30.

Early registration for the event is available through midnight on Thursday, Feb. 23, the week before Classic, after that onsite registration will open on Wednesday, March 1 at the SoyPAC Registration Desk. The event raises money for the Political Action Committee, so attendees must be members of ASA.

We Say Goodbye to ZimmPoll

Jamie JohansenDecember 30, 2016ZimmPoll

As we say farewell to 2016, we also say goodbye to our ZimmPoll. For the past six years we have brought you a weekly poll on current events and issues impacting agriculture. The first ZimmPoll took place in November 2011 and asked the question, “How do you think agricultural interests will fare in the new Farm Bill?” Since then we have posted 289 ZimmPolls with the most response coming from one posted in June 2011 asking the question, “What do you think of USDA’s proposed GIPSA rule?”

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What 2016 ag news will have most impact on future?”

Reflecting on the top ag news stories in 2016 allows us to take a trip down memory lane. The easy majority winner in this poll didn’t take us back too far in history. The Trump cabinet is still being discussed and that will continue well in to 2017. As we look further into 2017, I am sure we will also continue to discuss upcoming mergers, the autonomous tractor, GMOs, biofuels and the ever-changing farm economy.

Here are the poll results:

New Trump cabinet – 75%
Mergers and acquisitions – 9%
Concept driverless tractors – 0%
GMO labeling – 8%
Higher biofuel levels under RFS – 0%
Farm economy – 8%

Thanks to New Holland for being our ZimmPoll sponsor for six years!

Moving Forward with #ASTACSS Panel

Kelly MarshallDecember 30, 2016Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio

In this week’s mini series we’re bringing you the “Glancing Back and Moving Forward in a Rapidly Changing Industry” session from ASTA CSS, featuring Sonny Beck, founder of Beck’s Hybrids, Paul Schickler of DuPont Pioneer, and Jon Leafstedt from Kincannon and Reed. Today’s segment features the Q&A from the event, covering tough topics like talent strategy, keeping a vision for the longevity of the company,

Making business thrive through the rapidly changing times means looking at talent differently. Will we have more farm kids in 10 years than we have today, Leafstedt challenges. Of course not, so start thinking differently about how you develop relationships with potential employees. Who are new people to approach, what talents are must-haves away from the usual land-grant universities, and how can you broaden that search?

At DuPont Pioneer that means looking to the relatively untapped resource of women and minority cultures. With colleges filled with just as many women than men, agriculture is challenged to fill their workplaces accordingly.

Beck’s Hybrids focus on the future with their intern program. Internships allow some farm kids to find out they really don’t want to work in the industry, and they often prove to those who’ve only just discovered the field of food and farming that they’re passionate about this new love. Beck also encourages new talent to make their boss look good, rather than try to outshine them. Bosses recommend employees for raises and eventually will recommend the person to fill their shoes if they move up the ladder. In return he tells those in management to hire someone better than them so they can be promoted to their next job.

Listen to the panel discussion for many more pearls of wisdom from these giants in the seed industry, and make sure you’re caught up on previous posts with Beck, Schickler, and Leafstedt. [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-qanda-session.mp3″ text=”ASTA CSS Panel Discussion”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by

and

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by BASF Ag Products

Syngenta Announces New Sugarbeet Hybrids

Kelly MarshallDecember 30, 2016Agribusiness, Sugarbeets, Syngenta, Traits

Five new hybrids are being added to Syngenta’s 2017 Hilleshog sugarbeet portfolio. The new varieties offer an excellent sugar content along side improved disease and pest tolerance traits. Syngenta recommends getting these new hybrids off to a great start with critical seed protection like CruiserMaxx Sugarbeets treatment, Vibrance seed treatment fungicide, or Clariva pn seed treatment nematicide for the most successful season.

The following cooperatives will offer the specific hybrids noted:

American Crystal Sugar Cooperative: HIL9707, HIL9708
Michigan Sugar: HIL9732NT, NT9607RR
Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative: HIL9739

“Hilleshög offers high-performing sugarbeet hybrids with key disease traits to meet the challenges of each unique growing area,” said Tyler Ring, sugarbeet portfolio head, Syngenta. “Our hybrid portfolio is the result of innovative R&D practices, which include localized disease screening, breeding, hybrid selection and technology evaluation at specially designed facilities throughout the beet growing regions of the U.S. This leads to a more consistent on-farm experience year after year.”

Farm Progress Show Donates $10,000 to VFW

Kelly MarshallDecember 29, 2016Farm Progress Show

The 2016 Farm Progress Show raised $10,000 for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Iowa’s State Relief Fund during this year’s campaign and registration drive held during the show this past August. “Farm Progress is Veteran’s Progress” simultaneously raised funds and awareness for veterans when attendees registered at the event.

“We worked with the VFW of Iowa to register as many show visitors as possible and we wanted to team up with a group that would inspire show attendees to participate,” said Don Tourte, Penton Ag vice president and market leader. “We are grateful to all the workers at the show who help make it a success. For the state VFW, we hope this contribution serves as a useful resource for veterans in the state.”

Funds will help provide former members of the military with medical expenses, housing costs, food and other necessary expenses.

Talent in the Workplace from #ASTACSS

Kelly MarshallDecember 29, 2016ASTA, Audio

Kincannon & Reed is an executive search firm specializing in finding employees for the food and agriculture industry, making Managing Partner Jon Leafstedt a great choice for the ASTA CSS “Glancing Back and Moving Forward in a Rapidly Changing Industry” panel. If you missed the first two posts in this mini series, make sure and listen to Sonny Beck, Beck’s Hybrids, and Paul Schickler from DuPont Pioneer as well!

People don’t leave companies, says Leafstedt, they leave bosses. So what can a company do to ensure talented employees? Make sure talent is a priority.

“If you measure it and reward it, it will happen,” Leafstedt told the audience. Unfortunately, studies show nearly two thirds of COE view their employees as a cost, not a value generator like products or technology. That stems largely from the ease of measuring profitability with things, but a top performer is able to deliver value these company leaders aren’t taking into account. Tolerating poor performers, inversely, makes it difficult to keep good talent.

Leaders are in a position to set the tone for their business, but if it’s not the CEO, management at any level can work within their area to affect attitude. Maybe it starts with you.

Listen to Leafstedt’s opening remarks and join us again tomorrow for more. [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-leafstedt-opening.mp3″ text=”Jon Leafstedt, Kincannon & Reed”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by

and

Ninety Years of DuPont Pioneer at #ASTACSS

Kelly MarshallDecember 28, 2016Ag Group, ASTA, Audio, Dupont Pioneer

Part two of the “Glancing Back and Moving Forward in a Rapidly Changing Industry” session from ASTA CSS brings us to Paul Schickler, President of DuPont Pioneer, but if you missed yesterday’s post with Sonny Beck, make sure and check that out too!

DuPont Pioneer has a strong 90 year history, says Schickler, and that’s due in large part to the philosophy of Stepping Up, Offering Solutions, and Looking Beyond. Schickler has found this to be true in his own career – finding innovative ways to get his Master’s, taking a management course, and meeting challenges laid out by his company, but it’s critical to the industry as well.

“Be part of the transformation. You look at agriculture and it’s hard to think of another industry that goes through more change, more dynamic transformation, than agriculture,” he says. We can reflect back on the changes during DuPont Pioneer’s 90 years in areas like yield, cross breeding, and biotechnology. Now we have the opportunity to learn from the past as we move forward with new technology, like CRISPR-Cas gene editing.

The next 90 years will look vastly different from the past. We have more government regulation, more consumer scrutiny than ever before. But we can be prepared for it, Schickler believes; we can be involved and transparent.

Listen to Schickler’s opening remarks, and stop by tomorrow to hear from Jon Leafstedt at Kincannon and Reed. [wpaudio url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/zimmcomm/astacss-16-schickler-opening.mp3″ text=”Paul Schickler, President of DuPont Pioneer”]

ASTA CSS 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of ASTA CSS and Seed Expo brought to you by

and

UF’s Kevin Folta Honored for Advocacy

Kelly MarshallDecember 28, 2016Award

Kevin Folta of the University of Florida has been named 2016 Pro Farmer Ag Person of the Year. Folta is a professor at UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and chair of the horticulture sciences department.

“Dr. Folta has been a leader in the fight against the anti-GMO movement for years,” said Chip Flory, Pro Farmer editor. “He was a natural choice for his leadership and many years of education on biotechnology, and for being committed to sharing that knowledge with the general public.”

Folta publishes a website and podcast titled “Talking Biotech” (www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com). Its purpose is to “help connect the public to current science and technology and let scientists tell the stories of how science can help our farmers, industrialized world consumers, the environment and the developing world,” Folta said. “The hope is this resource can explain how new tools can improve food security, reduce poverty and improve agricultural and medical practices.”

Page 117 of 675
←
1
...
116
117
118
...
675
→