Agricultural Publications Summit InfoExpo Guide.

Agricultural writers and editors attending the Agricultural Publications Summit July 25-28 in Tampa, Fla., will find out what's new with leading agriculture companies and organizations. Following is a list of exhibitors attending the InfoExpo, as well as new products/services they will be discussing. Marketing and communications spokespersons will be on hand to provide information and leads on the hottest products and services of the summer. The list is current as of June 22, 2004.

AGCO CORPORATION

InfoExpo Focus: AGCO Corp. will distribute the 2004 edition of the AGCO Photo Library CD--production of this year's edition is timed to give Summit attendees the most up-to-date images possible.

Spokesperson/Title: Reid Hamre, communications manager

Phone: [phone]; Duluth, Ga.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY/ CERTIFIED CROP ADVISER PROGRAM

InfoExpo Focus: The American Society of Agronomy's (ASA) Certified Crop Adviser Program (CCA), is the largest agriculturally oriented certification program in North America. ASA, together with the Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America publishes six scientific journals, covering research in agronomy, crops, soil science, environmental quality and education. All the journals are searchable online, with free access to abstracts. The Societies are committed to technology transfer, getting the research into the hands of the practicing professional, and have launched the Science In Action program, which delivers brief summaries of the latest research via e-mail to subscribers. For a limited time, members of the media can subscribe at no charge.

Spokespersons/Titles: Tom Kemp, certified crop adviser, Carolina Eastern Pamplico; Sara Uttech, program manager, Communications, American Society of Agronomy 

Phone: [phone]; Madison, Wis.

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 

InfoExpo Focus: Information highlighting AFBF's priority issues.

Spokesperson/Title: Mace Thornton, director of news and media services

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS 

InfoExpo Focus: With nearly 4,300 members, ARC is in its 90th year as the first and largest circulation-auditing organization in the world, maintaining the industry's foremost electronic database of audited-circulation information and a growing array of verified readership, subscriber demographics and online activity data.

ABC offers reports and services in a variety of flexible formats, including print, spreadsheet, CD-ROM and online at www.accessabc.com.

Spokespersons/Titles: Mark Wachowitz, senior vice president, Marketing & Sales; Gladys Seamy, marketing manager, e-Data

Phone: [phone]; Schaumburg, Ill.

BAYER CROPSCIENCE

InfoExpo Focus: Bayer CropScience will focus on its commitment to the agricultural industry and share information about the current depth of its research-based product portfolio. With this commitment to research, Bayer Crop-Science has launched or soon will launch products in nearly every market. Key featured new product introductions will include CALYPSO[TM] insecticide, IGNITE[TM] herbicide, SILVERADO[TM] herbicide and OSPREY[TM] herbicide. The result for our customers is even better solutions with a commitment of strong service and product innovation.

Spokesperson/Title: Stephanie Gable, communications manager

Phone: [phone], Research Triangle Park, N.C.

BOELTE-HALL LITHO

BRANCH SMITH PRINTING

InfoExpo Focus: Branch Smith Printing has been providing expert solutions for publishers since 1910. Specializing in publications, directories, and catalogs, Branch Smith provides art and design, digital prepress, 40" roll fed sheetfed presses, saddle stitching and perfect binding, inkjet mailing and fulfillment.

Spokespersen/Title: John E Miller, national accounts manager

Phone: [phone]; Fort Worth, Texas 

CATTLEMEN'S BEEF BOARD & FEDERATION OF STATE BEEF COUNCILS

InfoExpo Focus: The Cattlemen's Beef Board administers the national Beef Checkoff Program, subject to USDA approval, while Qualified State Beef Councils operate checkoff programs within their respective states. Efforts of the Beef Checkoff Program, including the highly recognized "Beef. It's What's for Dinner" campaign, are aimed at growing consumer demand for beef and beef products and improving beef producers' opportunities for profit. Former Beef Board Chairman Andy Tucker, currently representing the state of Florida on the Beef Board, will be on hand at the checkoff's InfoExpo exhibit to answer questions about the Beef Checkoff Program and to offer examples of checkoff-funded programs, including the 2004 Summer Grilling Campaign launched in April.

Spokespersons/Titles: Andy Tucker, Cattlemen's Beef Board member from Florida and immediate past chairman of the board; Monte Reese, chief operating officer; Diane Henderson, communications manager

Phone: [phone]; Centennial, Colo.

CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER

InfoExpo Focus: Producers looking for better soils and higher yields need continuous no-till (CNT) in their operation. CNT, which has several advantages over rotational tillage, will improve soil quality on cropland and help increase profits for farm families. CTIC is launching a national campaign to promote continuous no-till.

Spokesperson/Title: Karen Scanlon, communications director

Phone: [phone]; West LaFayette, Ind.

CROPLIFE AMBASSADOR NETWORK

InfoExpo Focus: A network of agribusiness professionals across the Midwest who are committed to generating public awareness and appreciation for American agriculture, CAN links schools with agribusiness professionals who can educate students on U.S. agriculture and the methods and technology employed by today's farmer. Public understanding of agricultural technology leads to public acceptance. CAN provides the professional with guides such as PowerPoint slide shows with scripts but also encourages them to add from their base of knowledge on agriculture. Visit www.ambassador.maca.org to join our network of ambassadors.

Spokesperson/Title: Janet Braun, program coordinator

Phone: [phone]; St. Louis

CROPLIFE AMERICA

DAIRYLAND SEED COMPANY

InfoExpo Focus: Dairyland Seed Company is a recognized leader in its seed plant breeding programs, spending 15 percent of its annual revenues on research, about twice the industry average. Dairyland is the only U.S. family-owned seed company with plant breeding programs in corn, soybeans and alfalfa. The company introduced the world's first hybrid alfalfa, HybriForce[R]-400, and was the first seed company to introduce herbicide-tolerant soybeans and the first to top the 70-, then 80- and then 90-bushel yield for Roundup Ready soybeans in university trials.

Spokespersons/Titles: Tom Strachota, CEO; Hunt Wiley, director of research

Phone: [phone]; West Bend, Wis.

DELTA AND PINE LAND COMPANY

InfoExpo Focus: Delta and Pine Land Company is the leading cotton breeder, seed producer and marketer. The company has 10 breeding programs globally that continue to advance cotton genetics. Those advancements are paying off as D&PL varieties offer farmers increased yield potential as well as high fiber quality potential. The genetic breakthroughs are combined with biotechnology traits from numerous technology providers as a number of new variety and trait combinations are in development at D&PL for commercial introduction. Delta and Pine Land invites ag editors to get in touch with the company, during InfoExpo and any other time questions arise.

Spokesperson/Title: Janice Person, corporate public relations manager

Phone: [phone]; Scott, Miss.

DIGITAL GRAPHICS

InfoExpo Focus: Digital Graphics is a medium-sized, progressive printing problem-solving company. Horse and cattle sale catalogs are some of our specialties, along with magazines, books, brochures, posters, stallion sheets, stall cards, etc. Computer-to-plate and the latest prepress technologies bolster our capabilities to help solve our customers' printing challenges. Three 40" perfector presses: 6-color, 4-color, and 2-color give us the capacity to meet even the toughest delivery dates. Perfect binding and saddle stitch binding round out our services and further strengthen us in offering our greatest advantage--turnaround.

Spokesperaons/Titles: Butch Leonard, printing specialist; Cheryl Sanders, customer service representative; Mark Nichols, owner; Rob Noller, president

Phone: [phone]; Oklahoma City, Okla.

DOW AGROSCIENCES

InfoExpo Focus: Dow AgroSciences will be represented by three business units. Mycogen Seeds is the leader in Silage-Specific[TM] corn, the largest sunflower seed producer and a leading producer of seed corn, alfalfa, soybeans and sorghum. With one of the largest portfolios of U.S. agricultural biotechnology patents, Dow AgroSciences and its Traits Licensing business is now widely licensing Herculex[TM] I Insect Protection--the broadest-spectrum insect-protection trait available for corn--for the 2005 growing season; and Dow AgroSciences also has one of the most complete, highly effective portfolios of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides available today, including new WideMatch[R] herbicide for wheat, Keystone[[TM]] herbicide for corn and Quintec[R] fungicide for grapes.

Spokespersons/Titles: Wally Thingelstad, information manager, Traits Licensing; Robert Stewart, product communications manager, U.S. Agriculture

Phone: [phone]; Indianapolis

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

FARMS.COM

InfoExpo Focus: Farms.com Ltd. is a leading marketing and information company that provides products and services to agriculture and the food industry. Its companies include PigCHAMP, M&F Trading and Hedge Services, AgCareers.com and eHARVEST, with offices in Iowa, North Carolina and Ontario. Exclusive relationships within the agricultural community provide Farms.com Ltd. the opportunity to work directly with producers, packers and processors. Farms.com Ltd. delivers knowledge in the form of knowledge software, marketing, human resources and media services for the agriculture industry.

Spokesperson/Title: JoAnn Alumbaugh, director of communications 

Phone: [phone]; Linden, Iowa

GUSTAFSON

InfoExpo Focus: Gustafson staff will be available to discuss the company's seed-applied crop protection products, including first-year performance of Poncho 250 and Poncho 1250 seed-applied insecticides for corn, and producer-oriented programs, including our Right Start program for cotton growers and Plan to Succeed program for sorghum producers.

Spokespersons/Titles: Charlie Hale, communications manager; Paul Holliday, product manager; Mike McFatrich, product manager

Phone: [phone]; Piano, Texas

IMC GLOBAL

InfoExpo Focus: Together with the Potash & Phosphate institute, IMC Global promotes its Back-to-Basics program designed to educate growers, dealers and others on the importance of maintaining proper soil fertility levels. Through the Back-to-Basics program, IMC is committed to providing resources such as marketing tools, educational literature, and the www.back-to-basics.net Web site. All materials promote the benefits of making smart agronomic decisions by maintaining sound soil fertility practices.

Spokesperson/Title: Randy Groff, global manager, Marketing and Advertising

Phone: [phone]; Lake Forest, Ill.

JOHN DEERE

InfoExpo Focus: John Deere will be presenting information on these new products: 1770NT 12Row30 Front-Fold Planter; DB Planters with CCS; XP Row Units for Planters; Auto Feed Rate on Combines; Auto Trac on Combines and Self-Propelled Sprayers; Starfire RTK; 4720 Self-Propelled Sprayers; 500 Series Mower Conditioners; and Cabs for the 6003 Series Tractors.

Spokesperson/Title: Barry Nelson, manager of ag public relations

Phone: [phone]; Lenexa, Kan.

MCCORMICK INTERNATIONAL USA

InfoExpo Focus: McCormick USA will provide information on its full-line of tractors ranging from 37 hp to 280 hp. The exhibit will also highlight product introductions for the tall of 2004.

Spokesperson/Title: Chad Huyser, marketing manager

Phone: [phone]; Pella, Iowa

MERIAL

MILLER ELECTRIC

MODERN LITHO PRINTING CO.

InfoExpo Focus: Modern Litho Printing is a full-service printing and mailing company, specializing in serving associations; printing of magazines, newsletters, journals, conference programs and directories. We offer 100 percent digital prepress department including INSITE Program for uploading and online proofing of jobs; direct-to-plate technology; digital color proofs; in-house binding and mailing, including polybagging; daily production meetings to provide assured delivery and mail dates; competitive Midwest pricing; and Customer Reference List available on request.

Spokesperson/Title: Ed Zagorac, sales manager

Phone: [phone]; Jefferson City, Mo.

MONSANTO COMPANY

NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S REEF ASSOCIATION

InfoExpo Focus: Information on NCBA member-directed actions on such issues as taxes, international trade, the environment, property rights, marketing and others. NCBA is the nation's largest organization representing America's cattle industry. It was initiated in 1898 and is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry's heritage and future.

Spokespersens/Titles: Kendal Frazier, vice president of communications; Walt Barnhart, director of trade media

Phone: [phone]; Centennial, Colo.

NATIONAL CROP INSURANCE SERVICES

InfoExpo Focus: 2005 will be the 25th anniversary of the legislation that established the modern crop insurance delivery system. Learn what this public/private partnership has accomplished. The partners--Congress, the Risk Management Agency, and the private crop insurance industry--have taken crop insurance from an afterthought to the most significant part of the agricultural safety net ... from a rarely used discretionary expense to a widely used necessity ... from managing only downside risk to a marketing tool that maximizes upside profitability.

Spokespersons/Titles: Jan Eliassen; Laurie Langstraat, director of PR

Phone: [phone]; Overland Park, Kan.

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

NATIONAL PORK BOARD

InfoExpo Focus: Today's Pork Checkoff is at work for pork producers to promote pork, increase demand, expand markets, and provide on-farm information. Through the Pork Checkoff, a series of distance-learning courses have been designed to allow producers easy access to the latest production information. The Checkoff offers programs via CD-ROM or Internet on farrowing management, grower/finisher management, effective handling of pigs and on-farm euthanasia of swine.

Spokespersons/Titles: Mike Wegner, vice president of communications; Cindy Cunningham, assistant vice president of communications

Phone: [phone]; Des Moines, Iowa 

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

InfoExpo Focus: The Natural Resources Conservation Service will display two 2002 Farm Bill displays along with fact sheets explaining the various programs relative to the Farm Bill.

Spokesperson/Title: Bob Stobaugh, public affairs director, NRCS-Florida

Phone: [phone]; Gainesville, Fla.

PFIZER

PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL INC.

InfoExpo Focus: Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. is proud to be a major sponsor of professional development sessions at the 2004 Ag Publications Summit. As your partner in providing useful production and management information to producers and growers, we invite you to stop by for an update on new products and services from Pioneer. We'll also have a little something you can take home.

Spokesperson/Title: Jerry Harrington, sales and marketing public relations manager

Phone: [phone]; Johnston, Iowa

PROPANE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH COUNCIL

InfoExpo Focus: PERC was established through an industry-wide referendum to promote the safe and efficient use of propane as a preferred energy source. In the "Propane Agricultural Roadmap," the propane industry maps out its efforts to increase agricultural propane utilization and its commitment to farmers and the agriculture industry to reduce costs, increase productivity, and meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations. PERC's vision is "the agricultural industry will recognize propane as a preferred energy source by 2010, because it offers exceptional value."

Spokespersons/Titles: Paul Culver, PERC Agriculture Advisory Committee chair and vice president of propane, CHS Inc., St. Paul, Minn.; Bernie Sieracki, PERC Agriculture Advisory Committee member and Illinois Propane Education & Research Council; Springfield, Ill.

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C. LA

QUEBECOR WORLD

SMITHFIELD FOODS

InfoExpo Focus: Smithfield Foods is a diversified food company that produces and sells food products under about 50 brand names. The company has grown from a regional meat packer to one that has operations throughout the United States and in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Smithfield Foods has developed environmental and animal welfare programs that have built the foundation for its leadership position in the industry. These programs include an environmental management system (EMS) that identifies and successfully manages those parts of a swine operation that could affect the environment, and an animal welfare management system (AWMS) that has been hailed by internationally recognized experts as an industry model for ensuring the well being of animals.

Spokesperson/Title: Dennis H. Treacy, vice president, Environmental, Community and Government Affairs

Phone: [phone]; Smithfield, Va.

STOLLER GROUP

InfoExpo Focus: The Stoller Group is the world leader in development and sales of Crop Health products with the objective to enhance the genetic expression of all plants. Company research indicates that currently a plant's genetic expression is approximately 30 percent of its potential. The company is dedicated to helping growers find ways to naturally enhance a plant's potential, and conducts and funds research in the area of Crop Health products and technologies.

Spokespersons/Titles: Nell Stapensea, director of business development, Plant Health Technologies; Jeff Morgan, marketing director

Phone: [phone]; Houston

SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION/ SYNGENTA SEEDS

U.S. PREMIUM BEEF

InfoExpo Focus: U.S. Premium Beef is a vertically integrated, producer-owned, consumer-driven, beef marketing company. USPB members own their cattle through value-added processing by marketing them through their processing company, National Beef Packing Co. LLC (NBP), the nation's fourth largest beef processor. NBP markets both commodity and value-added branded beef products.

Spokesperson/Title: Bill Miller, director of communications

Phone: [phone]; Kansas City, Mo.

UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD

USDA ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

InfoExpo Focus: Get the real, scientific explanation of USDA's BSE Testing Program. Have all your questions answered by representatives from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Meet contacts you can call on for your BSE stories.

Spokesperson/Title: Andrea McNally, APHIS public affairs specialist

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

USRA RATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

InfoExpo Focus: Results of the newly released 2002 Census of Agriculture provide detailed insight into agricultural production, economics, environmental topics and operator demographics at the national, state and county levels. Spokespersons will discuss first-time data from the census, trends and new methods to more accurately account for all of the nation's agricultural operations.

Spokespersons/Titles: John Witzig, director, USDA-NASS Florida Agricultural Statistics; Janet Allen, section head, USDA-NASS Marketing and Information Services Office

Phone: [phone]; Washington, D.C.

U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION

VALENT U.S.A. CORP.

InfoExpo Focus: Come by Valent U.S.A. Corporation's booth and find the pathway to profitability with new technology for Midwest and Southern growers. Valent representatives will be on hand to share new research data on Valor[R] Herbicide. This new-to-the-world data shows some exciting benefits for a fall application of Valor. Stop by and get some great leads on how growers can save money and increase profitability.

Spokespersons/Titles: Jamie Nielson, Midwest market segment manager; Gary Gaar, Southern market segment manager

Phone: 808/6-VALENT; Walnut Creek, Calif.

VALMONT IRRIGATION 

InfoExpo Focus: Valley founded the pivot business 50 years ago. We look back at our achievements. We also look forward with new products that save time and water--the two resources in highest demand. Water Scout--a soil moisture sensor that displays soil moisture data in the pivot panel Pocket Pro--a PDA/cell phone to help monitor and control multiple pivots, from anywhere.

Spokesperson/Title: Kim Lang, communications manager

Phone: [phone]; Valley, Neb.

VILLAGE PRESS

AGRICULTURAL PUBLICATIONS SUMMIT SPONSORS

AGCO

Ag Container Recycling Council

Altria

BASF 

Bayer

Boelte-Hall Litho

Case IH

Farm Credit Council

Gustafson

John Deere

Makhteshim-Agan of North America

Monsanto

National Beef Checkoff Program

National Pork Board

New Holland

Pioneer

Quebecor World

Select Sires

Syngenta

The Audit Bureau of Circulations

United Soybean Board

Village Press

W.K. Kellogg