FuSE Celebrates 10 Years of Training Young Seed Execs

Jamie JohansenAg Group, ASTA, Audio, seed

asta-14-255-editedDuring the 131st American Seed Trade Association’s Annual Convention in Indianapolis, IN. the Future Seed Executives (FuSE) held a joint FuSE/Management Skills committee meeting focused on the Power of Inclusive Leadership. I spoke with FuSE founder and Vice President, Business Development for Gro Alliance, Jim Schweigert, and he shared what lead him to start this group for young professionals in the seed community.

When Jim attended his first ASTA convention he was shocked with how few young people were present. He expressed this observation with then chairman Don Wertman. Don simply said, “Well, why don’t you do something about it.” Jim knew that if he didn’t feel welcomed into this association, then other people probably didn’t as well.

With help from other young people in the industry, Jim put together the basic concept of what is now known as the FuSE. This year FuSE is proudly celebrating their 10 year anniversary and are still focused on educating and supporting future seed industry executives. Their programs are designed as regional opportunities to expand learning, cultivate management skills, promote networking, and improve general understanding of the seed industry.

“I think the real big change is that seed companies are now using the FuSE programming as part of their normal process for new industry executives. In the past the large companies trained within their own organizations, but now they are engaging in the industry as a whole. For smaller companies, it’s really invaluable because they don’t have the same training infrastructure. Now they have an opportunity to network with other industry professionals and see the industry as a whole not just the company they work for.”

Listen to my interview with Jim here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/asta/asta-14-schweigert.mp3″ text=”Interview with Jim Schweigert, FuSE Founder”]

ASTA Annual Meeting Photo Album

Diversified Weed Management Practices

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Monsanto, Weed control

This infographic is the first in a series Monsanto will bring to you throughout the 2014 growing season. The first topic covered in the series is the “Diversified Weed Management Practices” (DWMPs) for increased weed control. The series will help support growers efforts to deliver timely news on weed management to farmers and the industry.

Screen Shot 2014-06-13 at 3.12.26 PM

Top Researchers Share Insights on Food Security

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, ASTA, Food, seed

asta-14-170-editedTwo World Food Prize winners shared their insights and experiences during a general session at the 131st American Seed Trade Association’s Annual Convention. Each shared what the seed trade industry can do to help feed the growing global population while sitting on a panel and taking questions from attendees.

Professor Emeritus of Food Science at Purdue University, Dr. Phillip Nelson, was the World Food Prize Laureate in 2007 for his work with aseptic bulk storage, which simply means ‘bag in a box.’ This has impacted the distribution of fruit concentrates in over 135 countries.

Dr. Nelson believes the seed trade industry can make sure that what is being produced in those developing countries is being preserved and not lost. He says we need to work with them in not only producing more, but producing a higher quality product.

When asked about what keeps him optimistic about the future, Dr. Nelson replied with the amount of young people who are passionate about the industry. He feels education is the key. Grants will provide funding to bring students from developing countries to U.S. labs and get them excited about what can be done and then take it back to there home countries and put it to work.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Nelson and his complete remarks here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/asta/asta-14-nelson.mp3″ text=”Interview with Dr. Phillip Nelson”] [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/asta/asta-14-nelson-remarks.mp3″ text=”Remarks from Dr. Phillip Nelson”]

asta-14-168-editedWorld Food Prize Laureate, Dr. Gebisa Ejeta’s development of drought tolerant and parasitic weed resistant sorghum has made him a celebrity in his home country of Ethiopia. He currently serves as the Director of the Purdue Center for Global Food Security and Professor of Plant Breeding & Genetics at Purdue University.

Dr. Ejeta also believes higher education is imperative. He says of all the things that we can do for those that don’t have much, building the educational opportunities should be on the top of our lists.

Public and private partnerships are another key element Dr. Ejeta believes needs to take place creating a win-win opportunity for both sides of the table. He says the seed industry can do a lot by expanding the market base and sharing knowledge and experiences.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Ejeta and his complete remarks here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/asta/asta-14-ejeta.mp3″ text=”Interview with Dr. Gebisa Ejeta”] [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/asta/asta-14-ejeta-remarks.mp3″ text=”Remarks from Dr. Gebisa Ejeta”]

ASTA Annual Meeting Photo Album

Timely Information for a Data Rich Environment

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Events, InfoAg, MapShots

mapshots-2Agriculture, today, is an extremely data rich environment. Being able to gather all that data can be an increasingly difficult and time consuming job. Making sense of the data after you’ve gathered it and using it to make the right decisions for your business or farm can be an even more difficult task. Over 20 years ago, work began to develop systems and software to manage agricultural data and the result is a simple solution; MapShots and its AgStudio line of agronomic software.

Mapshots has been developing industry leading software for several years and 2014 brings several changes and updates. One of the newest additions is AgStudio Select which allows you to take your date totally mobile. Other updates include completely automating data capture from your machinery, irrigation equipment, soil testing lab, weather sources, imagery providers or any other third-party agronomic service provider.

MapShots will hold its 2014 MapShots AgStudio Expo to demonstrate and answer questions concerning all its software products. This event will be July 28 at the Union Station Hotel, St. Louis Mo. This is the day before the InfoAg Conference held at the same location. Plan now to attend to learn how to make complex crop management simple. To register online or call MapShots at 678-513-6093.

Farmers Telling Their Stories to Consumers

Talia GoesZimmPoll

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think about the new AgWired look?” It seems as though the transformation of the site draws a strong line between love and like, which we’re glad to hear! Sometimes change is a hard thing to swallow, but it seems like AgWired readers and pleased with the direction the site has gone.

Our poll results:

  • Love it – 33%
  • Like it – 33%
  • Hate it – 11%
  • Meh – it’s ok – 11%
  • Don’t care – 11%

    • Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How would you rate the job farmers are doing telling consumers where their food comes from?” We’ve seen a lot more engagement from producers whether it be by participating in panel discussions, being active on social media, or just telling their story out in the country. What do you think – have you been hearing more positive stories from farmers or do they still need to speak up?

Hick Chick Chat with Rick Tolman of NCGA

Leah GuffeyAudio, Corn, NCGA

11326519286_c9a07ae0bf_o This week I had a chance while at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop to chat with Rick Tolman, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). He’s been the CEO since my farm broadcasting infancy and I’ve done several interviews with him over the years. Shortly after speaking with him at Commodity Classic this past spring he announced his upcoming retirement at the of September.

He may not be a big star, but this will be the last time he addresses many different groups from the podium, so I’m calling it the “Rick Tolman Farewell Tour!”

[wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/podcast/hickchickchat-14-ncga-tolman.mp3″ text=”Hick Chick Chat with Rick Tolman, NCGA CEO”]

Join in the conversation on Twitter and on Facebook

ASTA Gets Green Flag at Indy

Cindy ZimmermanASTA, Audio, seed

asta14-craigAmerican Seed Trade Association (ASTA) chairman Craig Newman of AgReliant Genetics is pleased with the turnout and the mood of at the 131st ASTA annual convention this week in his home town of Indianapolis.

“First time it’s ever been in Indianapolis and this is kind of the crossroads of America, plus it’s the crossroads of American Seed Trade Association because a number of our members are within driving distance,” said Newman. That drove the idea of having an educational program leading up to the convention this week.

“So we partnered with Purdue and came up with the ASTA-Purdue Seed Leadership program and we had about 85 participants from all the seed industry to help enhance the educational opportunity for future and current seed people,” he said.

That was Monday through Wednesday and the official convention program actually kicked off on Thursday morning. Newman says the main issues being discussed are protecting intellectual property, phyto-sanitary trade barriers, and GMO labeling.

Listen to my interview with Craig here: [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/asta/asta14-craig-newman.mp3″ text=”Interview with Craig Newman, ASTA Chairman”]

ASTA Annual Meeting Photo Album

BASF Ag Solutions Through Innovation

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, BASF, Crop Protection

basf-media14-kreimeyerBASF – The Chemical Company – will be celebrating a pretty significant milestone next year. The company was established in 1865, which means it will be 150 years old in 2015.

Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the board and Research Executive Director for BASF, says innovation is the reason they have survived so long. “Innovation is our life blood,” he said at the BASF Ag Media Summit this week. “We create chemistry for a sustainable future.”

Listen to Kreimeyer’s brief presentation here on how the company’s mission relates to innovations that yield results for farmers. [wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/basf/basf-media14-kreimeyer.mp3″ text=”Andreas Kreimeyer, BASF”]

2014 BASF Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Academy – New Summer Courses!

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights Weekly With planting season in full swing, growers and dealers alike are working around the clock to get the crop planted. At the Ag Leader training center, folks are staying plenty busy as well, as they prepare for the summer training season. In the midst of planting most do not think of harvest. However, Ag Leader is excited to announce that they will be offering Harvest 100 — an online course to their dealer network. Online courses allows dealers the advantage of completing training from anywhere at any time.

Taylor Jensen, Ag Leader Training Specialist, says to help dealers’ new employees get up-to-speed on Ag Leader products more quickly, the team has been hard at work developing a “New Employee” course bundle.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/Jensen1.mp3″ text=”Listen to Jensen explain”]

And as equipment and technology progress and become more complex, the understanding of electrical and hydraulic systems becomes increasingly important. Jensen says Ag Leader’s training center has acknowledged the need for a more in-depth study of these systems.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/Jensen2.mp3″ text=”Listen to Jensen explain”]

Jensen says for growers, their first stop for technical issues and trouble-shooting is always their local dealer.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/06/Jensen3.mp3″ text=”Listen to Jensen explain”]

We hope to see you at the Ag Leader Academy this summer!

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Hick Chick Chat on Precision Animal Agriculture

Leah GuffeyAnimal Science, Audio, Hick Chick Chat

11326519286_c9a07ae0bf_oIn this edition of the Hick Chick Chat I’m looking at precision agriculture from a different perspective; the animal.

Dr. Karl DawsonWhile Chuck was at the 30th Annual Alltech Symposium in Louisville, KY a couple of weeks ago he did an interesting interview with Dr. Karl Dawson, Chief Scientific Officer at Alltech on precision animal agriculture. Something I’ve heard about recently is “you are what your food eats” as opposed to just being “you are what you eat”. Chuck does a great interview with Dr. Dawson in regards to the research being done and how Alltech is looking at this from the “What If?” and you’ll hear that precision goes far beyond the tractor and combine cabs.

[wpaudio url=”http://www.zimmcomm.biz/podcast/hickchickchat-14-alltech.mp3″ text=”Hick Chick Chat Precision Animal Ag”]

Join in the conversation on Twitter and on Facebook