Agri Marketing articles from October 2004

Agri Marketing archives from October 2004

Product of the year.(Items of interest ...)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... What a great list of product-of-the-year candidates our judges had to choose from! In this issue, we not only feature the award winner but several of the runners-up. Overall, this year we had 10 entries... the most we've ever had. There were...

Brazil.(Items of interest ...)
October 1, 2004... Speaking of highly read... our November/December issue will cover marketing to the Brazilian producer. Not only will there be case marketing stories but also listings of key Brazilian communications agencies and ag associations, plus key...

Marketing Services Guide--reminder.(Items of interest ...)
October 1, 2004... You should have received them by now... entry listing forms and information about participation in our upcoming 2005 Marketing Services Guide. The Guide is the "who's who" of the ag industry, so if you feel the rest of the industry needs to...

Five years ago.(For Openers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... * Land O'Lakes Inc., Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives and Farmland Industries are forming a joint venture to distribute plant food and crop protection products. * The Brazilian Association of Seed Producers says that even though...

Ten years ago.(For Openers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... * Golden Harvest Seeds elects Lester Thorp as president. His father, Carl Thorp, was the original Golden Harvest president in 1973. * United Soybean Board names John Becherer as CEO. He previously was senior director for development and...

Twenty years ago.(For Openers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... * Pioneer Hi-Bred International selects AndersonHowe to handle PR for three of its divisions. Ron Jenkins and Ken Benkstein will serve as account supervisors, and Brooke Benschoter will serve as account executive. * Vance Livestock...

Nebraska farmer wins Zimmatic Irrigation Giveaway.(FYI News & Notes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Joe Houska, a farmer in Wahoo, Neb., received more than he bargained for when he got a call from his Zimmatic dealer--Houska was the lucky winner of a Kawasaki Mule in a Zimmatic Irrigation Giveaway. "I was shocked when I first heard the great...

Roundtable looks at drawing best and brightest to Ag.(FYI News & Notes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... AgCareers.com, a leading online career site for agriculture, hosted its second annual HR Roundtable at Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa. The event focused on diversity in the workplace, how to attract the best and...

Farm broadcaster makes the cover of Wisconsin Woman.(FYI News & Notes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters can keep an eye out for one of their own on the pages of Wisconsin Woman magazine. Farm broadcaster Pam Jahnke, farm director for Wisconsin Farm Report Network/ WTDY-AM and NAFB director...

Good weather and great exhibits make farm progress show a success.(FYI News & Notes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Good weather and earlier show dates drew thousands of growers and marketers to the 51st annual Farm Progress Show, held this year in Alleman, Iowa. In addition, the three-day show drew a visit from President George W. Bush, stopping on his way...

Bayer CropScience selects the winning wheat grower.(FYI News & Notes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Ellsworth Danielson's loyalty to PUMA[R] herbicide from Bayer CropScience helped make him the lucky winner of the PUMA Ride the Cat Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes postcards were sent to about 33,000 wheat growers, and about 4,000 entry cards were...

Spreading the word about Ethanol, one town at a time.(FYI News & Notes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The "AgriTalk" radio program concluded its third annual Ethanol Pump Tour, a series of promotional events designed to educate consumers about the many benefits of ethanol. "Each year the tour is more successful than it was the year before,"...

Bayer CropScience.(At Closing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, N.C., appoints William Buckner to head its U.S. business operations. In his new role, Buckner will report to Esmail Zirakparvar, head of Bayer CropScience for the Region Americas and president and CEO...

Arvesta Corporation.(At Closing People)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Arvesta Corporation, San Francisco, hires Bill Liles for the position of business manager, Turf and Ornamental. Liles brings to Arvesta strong leadership and management experience. Most recently, he served as president of PROKOZ Inc., a turf...

The Mosaic Company.(At Closing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Lawrence W. Stranghoener has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Mosaic Company, the Minneapolis-based crop nutrition company to be formed by the combination of Cargill Crop Nutrition and IMC Global Inc....

WestFarm Foods.(At Closing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... John Underwood has been named president and CEO of WestFarm Foods, a $1.3 billion dairy products manufacturer. WestFarm Foods is the manufacturing and marketing arm of Northwest Dairy Association (NDA), the fourth largest dairy coop in the...

Tyson Foods Inc.(At Closing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Tyson Foods Inc., Springdale, Ark., appoints Craig J. Hart as a senior vice president and chief accounting officer and controller. Hart will be responsible for financial and operational accounting. Hart previously served as chief accounting...

Lindsay Manufacturing Co.(At Closing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Lindsay Manufacturing Co. expands its management team with the appointment of David B. Downing to the position of vice president and chief financial officer, responsible for accounting and finance, human resources and information technologies....

Bayer CropScience LP, Research Triangle Park, N.C., is establishing a Seed Treatment Business Unit within its U.S. business operations.(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Bayer CropScience LP, Research Triangle Park, N.C., is establishing a Seed Treatment Business Unit within its U.S. business operations. With its purchase of Crompton Corporation's 50 percent share of Gustafson LLC, Bayer CropScience gained full...

Syngenta and the investment company Fox Paine have completed the acquisition of Advanta BV with the final transfer of ownership, following all regulatory approvals.(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Syngenta and the investment company Fox Paine have completed the acquisition of Advanta BV with the final transfer of ownership, following all regulatory approvals. Syngenta has acquired the North American corn and soybean business of Advanta,...

Monsanto Company and Divergence Inc. announce a collaborative relationship to develop nematode-resistant soybeans.(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Monsanto Company and Divergence Inc. announce a collaborative relationship to develop nematode-resistant soybeans. As part of the collaboration, Monsanto will gain exclusive rights to Divergence's existing technology in this area and will...

Successful Farming magazine and RFD-TV announce a new alliance to produce and distribute the first ever "Living the Country Life" television program.(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Successful Farming magazine and RFD-TV announce a new alliance to produce and distribute the first ever "Living the Country Life" television program. This three-minute program will begin airing on the RFD-TV network in mid-October and can be...

Becker Underwood, Ames, Iowa, announces its recent affiliation with Norwest Equity Partners (NEP).(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Becker Underwood, Ames, Iowa, announces its recent affiliation with Norwest Equity Partners (NEP). NEP is a Private Equity firm located in Minneapolis. This affiliation is a strategic partnership based on long-term Becker Underwood growth...

Cargill Inc. announced it would buy control of Brazil's third-largest meat company, Seara Alimentos SA, in a deal that would open Brazilian meat markets to Cargill and could boost Brazil's meat exports.(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Cargill Inc. announced it would buy control of Brazil's third-largest meat company, Seara Alimentos SA, in a deal that would open Brazilian meat markets to Cargill and could boost Brazil's meat exports. In a $130 million deal, Cargill would...

Market Directions Inc.(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Market Directions Inc., Kansas City, Mo., will conduct a comprehensive study on the Lifestyle Farmer market in fall 2004. This research examines the characteristics of the Lifestyle Farmer as well as their needs and wants relative to a number...

Velcera Pharmaceuticals Inc.(At Closing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Velcera Pharmaceuticals Inc., Langhorne, Penn., announces its formation as a new animal health company focused on improving pet medications using proprietary drug delivery technologies. "Velcera has combined recognized animal health expertise...

Stock price at close of market.(Ag Stock Index)(Illustration)
October 1, 2004... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] STOCK PRICE AT CLOSE OF MARKET Month Ago Exchange:Ticker 7/30/04 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, FARM MACHINERY AGCO...

NAMA chapters tee it up.(National NAMA news: news and information for members and friends of NAMA)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Over the course of the summer, several NAMA chapters held successful golf outings. Outside Ringers Win in Iowa Perfect weather, a great golf course and 53 enthusiastic golfers combined to make the Iowa NAMA golf outing at The Harvester...

NAMA announces award winners.(Member News)
October 1, 2004... NAMA has announced the winners of the Professional Development Awards of Excellence. Four members will receive these awards that honor outstanding achievement in the areas of Marketing Communications, Product/Species Management, Public...

Leader focuses on improvement.(Leader Profile)
October 1, 2004... Sharon Larson, associate with Morgan&Myers and chair of the national Best of NAMA committee, is married with two children and in her spare time you can find her doing some kind of home improvement remodeling project she saw on HGTV. She looks...

Blaze any horizons lately?(National NAMA news: news and information for members and friends of NAMA)
October 1, 2004... Although most of us would be tempted to say "No" in response to this question, in reality, we "blaze horizons" every, day. As today's agricultural marketers, we face mergers and acquisitions, global influences and consumer pressures forcing us...

Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL), Scott, Miss., and Syngenta, Wilmington, Del., announce that D&PL has acquired licenses from Syngenta to deliver novel biotechnology products to cotton growers worldwide.(Marketing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL), Scott, Miss., and Syngenta, Wilmington, Del., announce that D&PL has acquired licenses from Syngenta to deliver novel biotechnology products to cotton growers worldwide. Under the agreements with Syngenta,...

Mycogen Seeds.(Marketing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Mycogen Seeds, Indianapolis, promotes Terry Gardner to senior marketing specialist for Grain Corn. Gardner will be responsible for the grain corn product line and coordinating the annual marketing plan and programs. He most recently served as a...

PIC North America, a division of Sygen International plc, signs the world's largest single swine genetic supply contract of this type with Triumph Foods LLC.(Marketing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... PIC North America, a division of Sygen International plc, signs the world's largest single swine genetic supply contract of this type with Triumph Foods LLC. Under the long-term agreement, Triumph genetics (using PIC-based genetic platforms)...

The first-ever California Crop Center pavilion will be featured at the 2005 World Ag Expo, Feb. 8-10, in Tulare, Calif.(Marketing News)
October 1, 2004... The first-ever California Crop Center pavilion will be featured at the 2005 World Ag Expo, Feb. 8-10, in Tulare, Calif. The California Crop Center pavilion will house croprelated exhibitors and services and is planned to be within close...

AgVenture Inc.(Marketing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Jim Groepper is named vice president sales and marketing for AgVenture Inc., Kentland, Ind. Groepper has more than 25 years of experience in the seed industry with 19 years of sales management leadership. He also has an additional seven years...

MachineryLink Inc.(Marketing People)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... MachineryLink Inc., Kansas City, Mo., announces that Andrew Smaltz has joined the company as customer service director. Smaltz has nearly 20 years of experience in agricultural equipment sales and service. Most recently, he was responsible for...

Paradigm Genetics Inc. changes its corporate identity to Icoria Inc.(Marketing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Paradigm Genetics Inc. changes its corporate identity to Icoria Inc. "This change in our identity communicates two transforming developments in the life of our company," said Heinrich Gugger, Ph.D., president and CEO of Icoria.

Ag-Bag International Limited enters into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell substantially all of the company's operating assets to Miller St. Nazianz Inc., a Wisconsin corporation.(Marketing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Ag-Bag International Limited enters into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell substantially all of the company's operating assets to Miller St. Nazianz Inc., a Wisconsin corporation. The company estimates this transaction to be valued around $8...

Merial, Duluth, Ga., announces an agreement to acquire certain tests and services from Frontier Beef Systems, Louisville, Colo.(Marketing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Merial, Duluth, Ga., announces an agreement to acquire certain tests and services from Frontier Beef Systems, Louisville, Colo. This acquisition significantly adds to the portfolio of tests and services marketed under Merial's IGENITY brand, a...

Monsanto, St. Louis, is cutting the list price of its Roundup Original MAX herbicide for the 2005 season.(Marketing News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Monsanto, St. Louis, is cutting the list price of its Roundup Original MAX herbicide for the 2005 season. The company also is enhancing the Roundup Rewards program for growers that utilize Roundup WeatherMAX[R] or Roundup Original MAX as part...

Progressive Agriculture Foundation.(Association News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Progressive Agriculture Foundation, which is responsible for the Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp[R] program, elected its 2004--2005 board members. They include: Claudia Garber of Case IH, Jim Howard with Farm Plan/John Deere Credit,...

Livestock Marketing Association.(Association News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Kurt Hamilton, a 19-year veteran of the Livestock Marketing Association, is named vice president of the Livestock Marketing Insurance Agency. He will focus on new business development and work with LMIA President Ivan Harder on the day-to-day...

The American Farm Bureau Federation.(Association News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) names Tracy Taylor Grondine as director of media relations. Since August 2003, Grondine has served as a director of news services for AFBF. Previously, she managed communications and press relations...

The Meyocks Group.(Agency News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Meyocks Group, Wes Des Moines, Iowa, announces that Tony Dugan has rejoined the agency as senior account manager. Dugan worked for the agency just after graduating from Iowa State University and prior to stints with The Principal Financial...

NKH&W Inc., Kansas City, Mo., changes its name to Nicholson Kovac Inc. and announces a new employee ownership program.(Agency News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... NKH&W Inc., Kansas City, Mo., changes its name to Nicholson Kovac Inc. and announces a new employee ownership program. "Our new Nicholson Kovac brand reflects who we are today as our employees become owners of the company through a...

Woodruff Communications.(Agency News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Woodruff Communications, Columbia, Mo., announces that Steve Sweitzer, former creative partner with premier advertising agencies including TBWA ChiatDay, Hal Riney & Partners and DDB, has joined Woodruff as a principal partner in the firm and...

Learfield Communications Inc.(Media News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Learfield Communications Inc., Jefferson City, Mo., announces that Anita Vanderwert has been promoted as the Brownfield Network's director of ag sales. Vanderwert started at Learfield as an account executive in 1995. Lance Burditt joins the...

Primedia Business Magazines & Media, Minneapolis, Minn., announces an eight-month partnership with Mycogen Seeds, Indianapolis, to provide farmers with a multimedia Trendspotting informational series.(Media News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Primedia Business Magazines & Media, Minneapolis, Minn., announces an eight-month partnership with Mycogen Seeds, Indianapolis, to provide farmers with a multimedia Trendspotting informational series. The series will identify emerging trends in...

DairyBusiness Communications.(Media News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DairyBusiness Communications, East Syracuse, N.Y., names Jacquie Machado as the advertising national accounts manager for clients in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Machado is also the advertising director for The World Ag Official Magazine and The...

Farm Journal Media.(Media News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Farm Journal Media, Philadelphia, Penn., names Catherine Merlo as the Western editor for DAIRY TODAY. Merlo has been editor of Rural Cooperatives, and has written for Dairy Farmers of America, Progressive Farmer, Western Agricultural Publishing...

The tangible presence of virtual agribusiness: intangible as they may seem, "virtual businesses" are increasing in agribusiness. Their rise as a business model is a trend, experts say, that portends benefits for clients and employees alike.(New Media Marketing)
October 1, 2004... Terms such as virtual businesses and virtual teams were first mentioned in the business press in the early 1990s. During the past decade, agribusiness is only one industry where those models have developed and evolved at the speed of, well,...

Information you want, when you need it.(New Media Marketing)
October 1, 2004... Pretend it's September and you are a homeowner or gardener in Florida who receives a mass e-mail from a lawn and garden product manufacturer discussing how to prepare plants for snow conditions. Or imagine yourself as a busy Midwest row crop...

Help wanted: Cenex introduces "Helpful" campaign at local convenience stores.(Thinking Outside The Box)(Cenex Ltd.)
October 1, 2004... There are five convenience stores (gas, groceries and other stuff) within one mile of my office here in beautiful downtown New Prague, Minn. So, to say the competition is fierce between these retail establishments here and everywhere across...

John Deere delivers the new superpowers of harvesting.(Agri Marketing's Product Of The Year)(Deere & Co.)
October 1, 2004... John Deere's 1999 introduction of its 50 Series Combines--featuring the Single Tine Separator (STS)--represented a bold step forward in harvesting technology for the company. If there was a temptation to rest on those laurels, the nap was short...

Customers play key role in shaping new harvest systems.(Agri Marketing's Product Of The Year)
October 1, 2004... When the challenge is developing new harvest technologies, finding the proper balance of customer input on potential features and design is critical to market success. Incorporating too many diverse ideas might result in a machine very few...

Early evaluation critical to enhanced product quality.(Agri Marketing's Product of The Year)
October 1, 2004... The product performance, quality and reliability that customers have come to expect from John Deere don't happen by accident. Rather, these characteristics and values are the results of meticulous engineering, design and manufacturing. Equally...

John Deere pumps up the volume on new-product rollout.(Agri Marketing's Product Of The Year)(Deere & Co.)
October 1, 2004... Within John Deere, many viewed the introduction of the new 60 Series Combines and 600 Series Grain Platforms as a watershed moment. So the decision to try to make a major splash with the product rollout and marketing campaign was an easy one...

Customers share golden experiences with gold key program.(Agri Marketing's Product Of The Year)
October 1, 2004... For some farmers, the only thing better than owning a John Deere 60 Series Combine is visiting the world-class facility where these machines are built and literally driving their brand-new harvester right off the assembly line. John Deere...

Product of the Year judges.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Agri Marketing Product of the Year Award program enlisted the help of a distinguished group of judges. Those who judged this year's program were: Harold Lambert, president, Lambert Agricultural Consulting Inc., Innis, La. Eldon...

Product of the Year runners-up.
October 1, 2004... Agri Marketing magazine has reinstated its prestigious Product of the Year award, which recognizes products or services that are making news today and will undoubtedly stand the test of time as major contributors to the ag industry. This year...

Defining the rural lifestyle group: research study sheds light on a promising market segment.(Market Research)
October 1, 2004... The rural lifestyle market segment conjures up images of families who have moved from the city to a more relaxed, country lifestyle, and have a nice home with some acreage for the cat, dog and horse to run freely upon. It paints a nice picture,...

Market research, one sale at a time: price tracking product gives companies a complete picture of the market.(Market Research)
October 1, 2004... Company alliances and joint projects can be a tricky beast--they require a careful balance of skill sets, shared goals and novel ideas. But when those pieces fall into place, success can come easily. In late July, Doane Marketing Research...

Rubes[R].
October 1, 2004... $1.79?! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING... MY CLIENT IS WORTH AT LEAST $3.50 A POUND! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Upcoming meetings for Agri marketers.(Calendar)
October 1, 2004... NOVEMBER NOV. 3-5: American Egg Board Meeting, Rancho Mirage, Calif. Contact 847/296-7043 or visit www.aeb.org. NOV. 4-6: American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers' Annual Convention, Sacramento, Calif. Contact Debra West...

Seeing is believing with Stoller technology.(View From The Top)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... Editor's Note: Neff Stapensea is director of business development for the Stoller Group, Houston. He joined Stoller in late 2003 after working in the distribution trade and 20 years with BASF in various capacities in Canada and the United...