Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) is new to Congress this year, winning the seat from Rep. Steve King in Iowa’s 4th congressional district. That district includes includes Sioux City, Ames, Mason City, Fort Dodge, Boone and Carroll so agriculture and biofuels are a big deal for Feenstra. In this interview with Tony St. James of Texas, Rep. Feenstra talks about biofuels …
GROWMARK/FS System Responding to Propane Issues
The past six weeks have brought rolling outages of propane supply at pipeline terminals across the Midwest. Carol Kitchen, Vice President of Energy and Logistics at GROWMARK, says there are a number of factors are contributing to propane shortages this year during a critical time for farmers. In this interview, she discusses what GROWMARK is doing to address the issues …
GROWMARK Urges Congress to Ratify USMCA
Because GROWMARK is a farmer-owned cooperative, its priorities reflect the interests of its farmer members, and right now that number one priority is trade in general and the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) in particular. In this interview, Chuck Spencer, GROWMARK/FS Executive Director of Government Relations, talks about USMCA other key issues for agriculture in Congress, including rural broadband internet …
GROWMARK FS at 2019 Farm Progress Show
GROWMARK and the FS System are the official agronomy and fuel suppliers for the Farm Progress Show and showcase the cooperative’s products and services at the event. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. Photos GROWMARK FS at 2019 Farm Progress Show photo album Audio/Interviews …
GROWMARK Launches AgValidity Platform
GROWMARK is partnering with startup technology companies with its AgValidity testing platform to bring new research and developments to its member companies and farmer customers. Lance Ruppert, director of agronomy marketing technology for GROWMARK, hopes the partnership will be a “win-win-win” as GROWMARK will help to identify cutting edge companies and help them to gain credibility with farmers and agricultural …
GROWMARK Recognized by HIRE Vets Medallion Program
GROWMARK is a 2018 recipient of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award from the Department of Labor. The award goes to employers that have done a successful job of recruiting and supporting the veterans on their workforce. GROWMARK’s application included ways the company attracts and supports veterans, like having an internal military support group and military friendly leave policies. …
GROWMARK Energy Offering Pre-Blended E15
The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased that farmer-owned cooperative GROWMARK Energy has started offering pre-blended E15 at its company-owned terminals in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. RFA has been working with GROWMARK on a number of issues related to offering E15 at the terminals, including regulatory compliance, participation in the EPA’s required fuel survey, and adoption of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan …
Manito Transit acquires Baucom Truck Service
Manito Transit is continuing its expansion effort with the acquisition of Baucom Truck Service, a trucking company based in Camp Point, Illinois. Baucom has 27 drivers (a combination of company drivers and owner/operators) that haul propane and anhydrous ammonia, adding to the current Manito Transit fleet of nearly 150 trucks serving customers in 13 states. The company distributes fuel oil, …
GROWMARK Youth Programs Support 4-H and FFA
It’s National Cooperative Month, it’s also National 4-H Week, and it is the month that National FFA holds its huge annual meeting. In celebration of all that, we talked with Karen Jones, GROWMARK Youth and Young Producer Specialist, about how this agricultural cooperative supports the young people involved in 4H and FFA. One program that GROWMARK has had in place …
A ZimmCast on GROWMARK
This week the ZimmCast, sponsored by GROWMARK, will feature interviews from the GROWMARK Annual Meeting. Carrie Muehling interviewed GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin about the company’s new strategy, based on the acronym ‘GROW’ which is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better. She also interviewed Illinois farmer Rick Nelson who has served on the GROWMARK board for 28 years …
2018 GROWMARK Annual Meeting
GROWMARK held its 2018 annual business meeting August 29-30 in Chicago, IL. The meeting included the business of the cooperative organization and an Agribusiness Symposium featuring motivational and educational speakers. This virtual newsroom includes links to audio from the conference. All content posted here is available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. Credit may be given …
GROWMARK Collaborates with NRCS on Sustainability
A Memorandum of Understanding between GROWMARK and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is yet another way the agricultural cooperative is showing a commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. “Our goal, or our vision, is to help to enhance the relationship and the knowledge of NRCS and our local FS team members at the local level,” said Liz Hobart, GROWMARK …
Unique Field Showcases FS InVISION Hybrids
A Central Illinois corn field has helped GROWMARK to shared excitement about the FS InVISION brand in a unique way during the 2018 growing season. The field features two FS InVISION corn hybrids, planted with a multi-hybrid planter. The difference between the shorter-stature 61S variety and the taller 62Z plants, which also have a slightly different tassel color, brought out …
ZimmCast 594 – Ag Media Summit Recap
The 20th annual Ag Media Summit was held Aug 5-8, 2018 in Scottsdale, AZ. This year the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences joined the American Agricultural Editors’ Association, Livestock Publications Council and the Connectiv Agri-Media Committee. In this ZimmCast, we hear from outgoing AAEA president Julie Deering about how the industry …
Solar Project New to GROWMARK Distribution Facility
GROWMARK has been looking at alternative sources of energy for its Alpha, Ill. distribution center since 2010. After previous opportunities to use solar or wind power did not add up for the company, they found the right fit with a solar project completed in the summer of 2018. GROWMARK is working with Straight Up Solar and investment partner Shine Development …