50 years of agri-marketing: the past 50 years have revolutionized the production, processing and consumption of the food, feed, fiber, and, now, fuel from North American fields and livestock operations. Following is just a sampling of some of the highlights from over the years.

1957

Avg. Nat'l Prices/Yields: Corn $1.16--48 bu/A Soybeans $2.19--23 bu/A Wheat $1.97--22 bu/A Cotton $0.31--388 lbs/A; Cattle $0.17--958 lbs/head Hogs $0.16--233 lbs/head Avg farm size is 272 acres

Chicago Area Agricultural Advertising Association (CAAAA), NAMA's predecessor, holds first meeting

Cotton Farming launched

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) formed in Boone, IA

Golden West Broadcasting launched Helena Chemical Co. is established

KRVN Rural Radio Network launched

1958

Center pivot irrigation gains traction in the marketplace

Combines (machines that "combine" harvesting and threshing into one piece of equipment) gain traction in the marketplace, revolutionizing the way that grain is harvested, stored and transported

Hybridized grain sorghum is commercially introduced. Because of its lower water demands, it is planted throughout the High Plains, creating a food source for cattle creating today's commercial feedlots in that region

NC+ Hybrids is established

1959

CAAAA hosts first "FarMarketing Seminar" held at the Sheraton-Chicago. Registration fee of $15 person. Theme is "New Age of Agriculture"

First hog confinement systems begin installation

1960

CAAAA hosts inaugural "10 Best Ads of the Year"

1961

Spudman launched

1962

First issue of AgriMarketing magazine is published

Charolais, the first of a wave of new modern cattle breeds, is introduced to the U.S.

U.S. Grains Council founded

1963

Largest advertisers (in thousands):

Int'l Harvester                  $2.252
Ford                              1.405
Deere                             1.238
GM                                1.053
Allis-Chalmers                    1.021

Other Notables:
Purina                            $599
Pfizer                             535
DeKalb                             374
DuPont                             350
Northup King                       306
Pioneer                            192

American Society of Agricultural Consultants founded

FS Services introduces the first baseball-style cap to be used as promotional item

John Deere passes Int'l Harvester as the world's largest producer and seller of farm and industrial tractors and equipment. Also ventures into the consumer market with a new line of lawn and garden tractors.

Lely USA is established

RFD Illinois Radio Network launched

Southeast Peanut Farmer launched

Sukup Mfg is established

1964

DeKalb introduces the first commercial single cross variety

Beef and National Hog Farmer magazines are launched

The Deere & Co. Administrative Center opens in Moline, IL

Terra Industries is established

Voice of Southwest Agriculture launched

Wil-Rich is established

1965

CAAAA renamed National Agricultural Advertising and Marketing Association (NAAMA)

NCGA launches first National Corn Yield Contest

Georgia Farm Radio Network launched

Kinze Mfg is established

1966

20-inch corn rows appear for the first time

AgriNet News launched

Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA) is formed holding its first meeting in Toronto, ON

DICKEY-john is established Pioneer creates "Scales On Wheels" to help its customers measure yields.

Livestock feeding confinement facilities become popular

First known winner of the now-named Best of NAMA awards program is Deere & Co. and its agency Gardner Advertising, St. Louis, MO

Southern Farm Network launched

1967

Arkansas Radio Network launched

Farm Industry News magazine launched

Management of the annual NAAMA convention switches from local host chapter to national organization

Mid America Croplife Association founded

NAFB sponsors the first farm radio listenership study, conducted by Audits & Surveys, Inc.

National Agricultural Aviation Association founded

Rice Farming launched

Rural Builder launched

1968

Midwest Messenger launched

No-till and conservation tillage begin to gain traction

Ontario Farmer launched

Southern Farm Network launched

Soybean checkoffs are launched on a state-by-state basis

1969

NAAMA names R.C. "Fergie" Ferguson its first Executive Sec'y.

First student chapter is formed at Cal Poly-SLO

Intervet is established

1970

DVM News Magazine launched

Farmers Hybrid (boars) is established

Land O' Lakes and Felco merge

Race T Blight was identified in the Gulf states in July, moving swiftly into the south east and eventually the eastern Corn Belt. Yields on all hybrids produced with Texas male-cytoplasm were greatly reduced. Hybrids produced from detasseled fields (normal cytoplasm) were not affected

Yancey Ag Network launched

1971

The slogan, "Nothing Runs Like a Deere" is used for the first time in an ad campaign

Fletcher/Mayo/Associates established

Gibbs & Soell, Inc. established

Michigan Farm Radio Network launched

Monsanto's Roundup receives EPA approval

Price of an 80K kernel count unit of single cross seed corn is $65

The seed industry sells only normal cytoplasm seed, blends containing a high percentage of normal seed, and imports flint corn to relieve the pressure created by a shortage of normal cytoplasm seed. The industry removes Texas male sterility from seed production while returning to the higher costs of detasseling all seed acres.

Soviet Union's imports of grain skyrockets. Commodity prices soar.

Zinpro is established

1972

Pres Nixon implements ban on soybean exports to halt price escalation and concerns about shortages for the U.S. Sets maximum price for fed cattle for a three-month period;

ABN-Agri Broadcast Network launched

Brownfield Radio Network launched

John Deere's sales of farm equipment surpasses $1 billion for the first time

Kubota Tractor enters the North American market

Le Cooperateur Agricole launched

No-Till Farmer launched

Evan Slack forms his own radio network

1973

Golden Harvest Seeds Inc. is established

NAAMA is renamed National AgriMarketing Association (NAMA)

Pioneer introduces 3780 and 3732 hybrids that propel the company into market leadership position

Quarry Integrated Communications established

1974

Ag Alert launched

Bader Rutter & Associates Inc. established

Country Folks launched

Livestock Publications Council founded

Louisiana Agri-News Network launched

NAMA creates national office in Kansas City, MO. Ernie Marshall named Exec VP

Southeast Farm Press launched

Southwest Farm Press launched

1975

Agri-View launched

Grainnews launched

Illinois' Herman Warsaw cracks the 300-bushel corn yield barrier with Funk's G-4444

Northern Ag Network launched

1976

Ag Radio Network Inc. launched

Buoyant ag economy pushes machinery sales to all time highs

Great Plains Mfg established Linder Farm Network launched Mid America Ag Network launched National 4-H Council founded

Swiss company Sandoz acquires Northrup King

1977

Illinois AgriNews launched

Kansas Ag Network launched

1978

Ethanol tax credit for blenders passed by Congress in response to the '70s oil crises

Fastline Publications launched

First NAMA student marketing competition is held in conjunction with annual convention in Atlanta, GA

National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants founded

Oklahoma Agrinet launched

Rex Parsons named NAMA Exec VP

Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications established

Trimble Navigation is established

United Agri Products is established

1979

Indiana AgriNews launched

Western Farm Press launched

1980

American Agricultural Law Association founded

Farm & Ranch Guide launched

Le Producteur de Lait Quebecois launched

President Carter announces an embargo on grain exports to the Soviet Union in response to the Soviet's invasion of Afghanistan

U.S. Wheat Associates Inc. founded

Western Agri Radio Networks, Inc., launched

1981

National Sunflower Association founded

Nicholson Kovac established

Rabobank enters the North American market

1982

Becker Underwood is established

Conservation Technology Information Center founded

Minnesota Farm Network launched

AgDay TV is launched

Morgan&Myers established

1983

Carolina-Virginia Farmer launched Because of oversupply and collapsing grain markets, USDA announces PIK (Payment In Kind) program in February. The program idles 40% of the U.S. cropland

Northwest AG Information Network launched

Tri-State Neighbor launched

1984

AdFarm established

Agri-Times NW launched AG WEEK launched American Ag Network launched

Iowa Farmer Today launched

Major drought hits Midwest and steadies falling commodity prices Southeast AgNet Radio Network launched

Tenneco acquires nearly bankrupt International Harvester

Top Producer launched

1985

Beef Today launched

Dairy Today launched

Farm economy bottoms out. Land values dropped by nearly two-thirds.

Mississippi AG Network launched

Potato Country launched

Southern Farmer launched

1986

British Petroleum acquires Purina Mills

Farm Chemicals International launched

Independent Professional Seedsmen Association founded

1987

Bovins Du Quebec launched

ICI acquires Stauffer ... renamed Zeneca

American Cyanamid announces

AgriCenter distribution system

Monsanto launches BST

Ford acquires New Holland

Ontario Dairy Farmer launched

1988

Dow and Elanco merge crop protection units to become DowElanco

Osborn & Barr Communications established

Future Farmers of America changes its name to National FFA Organization

Ontario Hog farmer launched

1989

Agricultural Retailers Association founded

American Sheep Industry Association founded

Pioneer and American Cyanamid partner to deliver Imidazolinone resistant hybrids

The Peanut Grower launched

Top Crop Manager launched

1990

Agriliance is established

AGCO is formed

Brighton Agency Inc. established

DuPont introduces Hi-Oil corn to the specialty grain market

The Meyocks Group established

National soybean checkoff established as part of the Farm Bill

Porc Quebec launched

United Soybean Board founded

1991

AgLeader Technology is established, launching new yield monitoring equipment

Alberta Beef launched Eldon White named NAMA's Exec VP

Sumitomo acquires Chevron's crop protection business, renames the unit Valent

1992

California Dairy launched

Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) founded

Charleston | Orwig Inc. established

DayWeather Radio Network launched

1993

Agrium is established Biotechnology Industry Organization founded

Carrot Country launched

Mid-South Farmer launched

Midwest Marketer launched

Ontario Ag Radio Network launched

Ontario Beef Farmer launched

Widespread flooding in the Midwest results in abandoned acres and reduces the nation's overall crop production by 40%

1994

Ag Equipment Intelligencer launched

AgriTalk launched

Ciba Seeds becomes the first company to file formal request package with U.S. EPA for registration of Bt corn

LG Seeds is established

Mahindra USA tractors enter the North American market

1995

APRN-Ag Producers Radio Network launched

Dairy Management Inc. founded

DowElanco enters seed business by acquiring United AgriSeeds, renamed Mycogen

Because of reduced stocks, corn prices top $5 for the first time ever

Red River Farm Network launched

Successful Farming launches Agriculture Online--the first Web site devoted to the ag industry

1996

Over two dozen agricultural-oriented Web sites launched

Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz merge ... renamed Novartis

Midwest Dairybusiness launched

Monsanto's YieldGard and Roundup Ready traits approved by EPA

Successful Farming Radio Magazine established

World Ag Forum founded

1997

Asgrow acquired by Monsanto

Garst Seed releases first IMI and Liberty resistant hybrids

LFB Radio Network launched

Merck and Rhone-Poulenc merge their animal health units to form Merial

Roundup Ready soybeans introduced

Rural Press acquires Farm Progress Cos.

1998

AgriNet of The High Plains launched

Alberta Express launched

Canola Digest launched

CHS is established following the merger of Cenex and Harvest States co-ops

DeKalb acquired by Monsanto

FFA moves its headquarters from Alexandria, VA, to Indianapolis, IN

1999

Better Farming launched

Better Pork launched

CNH formed from the merger of Case IH and New Holland

Dairy Star launched

Northeast Dairybusiness launched

Pioneer acquired by DuPont

StarLink trait is found in the human food chain

Westfalia acquires Surge, renames the unit WestafaliaSurge

2000

BASF acquires American Cyanamid

Novartis and Zeneca merge their crop protection units to form Syngenta

2001

Grapes launched

Hobby Farms launched

Iowa Ag Radio Network launched

National Peanut Board founded

Purina Mills acquired by Land O'Lakes

RFD-TV is launched

Saskatchewan Beef launched

2002

Farmland Industries files bankruptcy

Living The Country Life launched

McCormick Int'l established

MTBE banned in CA ... spurs ethanol production

Rhone-Poulenc-AgrEvo merge crop protection units to become Aventis

Texas Farm Bureau Network launched

2003

Absorbant Technologies is establised

Cromwell Ag Radio Network launched

RFD-TV The Magazine launched

2004

Farm Futures launched

Man Market Watch launched

Monsanto forms American Seeds Inc. which has acquired 21 seed companies. Brand names remain the same

The Mosaic Co. is established

Prairie Radio Comms Ag Network launched

Syngenta acquires Garst and Golden Harvest seed companies

2005

Bayer acquires Aventis ... renamed Bayer CropScience

Despite severe drought in the Central Corn Belt, corn yields remain unexpectedly good because insect-fighting traits limit root loss, resulting in increased moisture take-up

Buckeye Ag Radio Network launched

Rabobank attempts to acquire Farm Credit Services of America, Omaha

Radio Oklahoma Network launched

Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is passed

2006

Country Living Association founded

Hoosier Ag Today Radio Network launched

Missouri Farmer Today launched

Rural Life launched

As the amount of corn used to manufacture ethanol increases dramatically, the price of all grains and oil seeds rise by over 50%

2007

Planted corn acres jump to 93.1 million acres, a 17% increase over the previous year

Avg Nat'l Prices/Yields: Corn $3.50--150/A Soybeans $9.45--53/A Wheat $9.22--45/A Cotton $0.63--814/A Cattle $0.97--1,261 lbs/head Hogs $0.59--268 lbs/head Average farm size is 446 acres

Ag Watch Network launched

Jenny Pickett named NAMA's Exec VP/CEO

Quadstack corn hybrids sell for $225 per 80K kernel count unit.

The Federal Reserve Reports: Because of rising prices, yields and land prices, nearly $650 billion in net worth has been added to the farm sector balance sheet in just the past five years.