Search - The Scoop

Daily laughter brought to you by the AgWeb Editorial Team.

Leon and Jennifer Knirk farm approximately 2,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in south-central Michigan, near Coldwater. In addition, they own and manage a 500-head, Holstein feeder-to-finish operation. The Knirks like to evaluate marketing, technology and production practices that can take their farming operation to higher levels of success. This year, Leon is assessing the value of vertical tillage and devoting a 75-acre corn plot to that purpose. He also is evaluating variable rate seeding and used it to plant 1,200 acres of corn this past spring and also last year. The Knirks are the proud parents of two sons, Lincoln and Logan.

Kristina grew up in a small farming community in southwest Iowa. Today, she lives on five acres in the country while running her own consulting business in the city. Her website, www.kristinashouse.com, features homemaking, gardening, travel, entertainment, business and technology tips. In the kitchen, Kristina bridges the recipes of her past to the new flavors and fashionable foods of today. In business, she combines a Midwest work ethic with trendy tech tools. Join her each week for flashbacks and fast-forwards. To contact her, e-mail: Kristina@kristinashouse.com.

Andy is a seasoned grain market analyst and the senior account executive at Walsh Hedging. His main focus is assisting producers and end users to better hedge their investments through his various market strategies over his years of experience working on the grain floor.

Seedsmanship is about getting to know you and your farm first. From walking your fields to recommending the best product placement, they’re all signs of our commitment to you. And that commitment allows us to provide you with expert advice, customized service and elite seed products all year long.

Brian Teal was raised in California’s central valley. In the early 90′s, Brian relocated to Northern California (Chico) for school and ended up becoming integrated in the community through various organizations throughout the next two decades. Brian’s first job within the area was baling alfalfa which provided him his first experience into the farming lifestyle. After completing his Masters degree at CSU, Chico, Brian entered into the field of finance starting out at a small local bank. He then moved to an international bank to “better serve his business relationships” and found out that working with his clients within a community bank was best for him, his clients, and the community. During the past decade, Brian has specialized in developing Ag lending segments within the region. Because of his strong relationships with his clients, Brian has developed into an Agriculture/Agribusiness specialized lender with Five-Star Bank and is dedicated to working with all business within that segment. One of the most important aspects of this region, according to Brian, is the usefulness of its community for developing deep relationships between businesses and people. Because of this, Brian has begun to blog about finance directly related to Agriculture/Agribusiness and also covers major issues relating to his clientele; namely the Farm Bill, water issues, breaking research for better growth, and to better update the communities in which he serves.

For more than 15 years, Jamey Kohake has advised grain and livestock producers on price trends, cash grain analysis and marketing strategies. His technical and fundamental analysis is highly regarded and can be heard on several national radio programs and seen in multiple print publications. To visit with Jamey, please e-mail Jamey.Kohake@myparagonmail.com or call 785-338-4111.

Doug Austin is passionate finding solutions that will allow us to nutritiously, responsibly and profitably produce the food in our future. His experience in consumer insights and shopper marketing bring interesting and helpful insights to the table about the customer’s perspective of our food production and how the industry can work together for a brighter more nutritious future.

Greg Stephens is on the faculty at K-State in Salina where he teaches business, supervision and history of technology. He considers himself a generalist. Greg is also on the state board for Kansas NFO and has an interest with siblings in a western Kansas family farm. In the past 30 years he has worked with non-profit and rural organizations, assisted in leadership training, grant writing, and provided management training and consulting for regional agribusiness. This blog represents Greg’s thoughts on positive agriculture, rural and organizational development, entrepreneurship, technology, and group marketing.

CNH Case New Holland is a world leader in the agricultural and construction equipment businesses. Supported by about 11,500 dealers in 160 countries, CNH brings together the knowledge and heritage of its Case and New Holland brand families with the strength and resources of its worldwide commercial, industrial, product support and finance organizations. CNH Global N.V., whose stock is listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:CNH), is a majority-owned subsidiary of Fiat S.p.A. (FIA.MI), More information about CNH and its Case and New Holland products can be found online at www.cnh.com .