Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture
The Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture was created in memory of the founders of Hertz Farm Management Inc. to inspire generations of industry leaders, research scientists, and young professionals to reach their full potential. Carl and Marjory Hertz Biography
Presenters:
- April 9, 2024 – Hertz Farm Management leadership, “An Evening with Hertz Farm Management – Emerging Issues in Agriculture.” Chad Hertz, COO, Randy Hertz, CEO, Jeff Troendle, president of Hertz Farm Management, and Doug Hensley, president of Hertz Real Estate Services, will discuss emerging issues in agriculture, preserving agricultural legacies, developments in agriculture, and take questions posed by audience members.
April 11, 2023 – Tim Glenn, executive vice president of the seed business unit at Corteva Agriscience, “Industry Perspectives and Emerging Trends in the Global Agriculture.” Glenn is an Iowa State graduate, having earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1988. He is a highly experienced global leader across all facets of the agriculture industry, including seeds, crop protection, sales, marketing, integrated operations and commercial effectiveness. His personal journey in the agricultural industry has taken him across several continents and multinational companies, ultimately leading him to his current position with Corteva. Watch lecture recording
April 12, 2022 – Craig Hill, a farmer from Ackworth, Iowa and former president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, “The Future of Agriculture: A Reflection and Discussion on Emerging Trends and Issues.” Hill was elected president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in December 2011, a position he held for a decade before retiring in December 2021. Hill’s many years of service to agriculture were recognized by his receiving of the Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in 2022. Video
April 12, 2021 – Dhamu Thamodaran, retired executive vice president, chief strategy officer and chief commodity hedging officer for Smithfield Foods, “Emerging Issues in Global Markets and Trade.” Thamodaran received a PhD in agricultural economics from Iowa State University. With more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural industry, Thamodaran led strategy development for Smithfield Food’s vertically integrated business and managed the company’s commodity hedging activities and global economics commodities research and analysis groups prior to retirement in December 2020. Video
- Spring 2020 – Postponed due to COVID-19.
April 9, 2019 – Ken Isley, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, “The Role of the U.S. in the Global Food and Agriculture Marketplace.” Isley is an Iowa State University alumnus with a degree in agriculture and life sciences education. He earned his juris doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law. As administrator for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, he leads offices around the world in expanding trade and export opportunities for American agriculture. He previously held various senior leadership roles for Dow AgroSciences. Video
April 4, 2018 – Amy Asmus, vice president of the chemical supply company Asmus Farm Supply, “What Is Possible: Advancing Agriculture Through AGvocacy, Partnerships and Collaboration.” Asmus, a native of Walcott and an Iowa State alumna with a degree in graphic design, took an unlikely path to agriculture. She joined her husband, Harlan, in running the Asmus family business based in Rake, Iowa, which they purchased from his father in 2004. Asmus Farm Supply was honored with the National Retailer of the Year award in November 2017. Video
April 11, 2017 – Alan Barkema, retired senior vice president for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, “Pursuing Questions: Prospects for the Economy and Agriculture.” During his career in economic research and policy, Barkema served as senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, as professor and head of the agricultural economics department at Oklahoma State University and as a graduate research associate in the extension farm management office at Iowa State. Video
April 7, 2016 – Roger Underwood, entrepreneur and co-founder of crop-technology company Becker Underwood Inc. “Your future is short. Why waste it working for someone else?” Underwood founded Becker Underwood in 1982 with high school classmate Jeff Becker. Together they developed a specialty colorant to mix with Roundup herbicide. Becker Underwood diversified into a global company producing specialty seed colorants and coatings and biological crop protection products. The company grew to $265 million in sales by 2013 and was sold to BASF. Video
April 1, 2015 – Ted Crosbie, Ph.D., Retired Vice President, Monsanto “Applying an Iowa State Education to Life: A Tribute to My Teachers.” Prior to his retirement, Crosbie held senior leadership positions at Monsanto since 1996 – most recently as vice president and executive leader of integrated farming systems. He also served terms as vice president of global plant breeding and director of global wheat breeding. Video
April 3, 2014 – Jim Blome, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience. Blome is the head of crop protection for the company’s North American region. Under his leadership, Bayer CropScience North America launched several initiatives to support the future of agriculture, including the Young Farmer Sustainability Award and the newly-constructed North American Bee Care Center. Podcast (MP3)
March 28, 2013 – Jim Tobin, vice president of industry affairs at Monsanto Company “Agricultural Technology: Reflections on the Journey Perspectives on the Future” During Tobin’s career with Monsanto he served in various agricultural marketing and commercial development positions, working with Monsanto’s seed, biotech and crop chemical customers and products. Podcast (MP3)
March 5, 2012 – Joe Taets, senior vice president and president of the Agricultural Services business unit at Archer Daniels Midland Company, “Setting the Global Table: Strategies for Feeding and Fueling a Growing World.” Taets leads ADM’s Agricultural Services business unit, where he oversees a vast global network of grain elevators, transportation assets, and processing facilities in addition to commercial activities. Previously, Taets was president of ADM’s grain group, overseeing the company’s domestic and export grain businesses and grain merchandising operations.
April 6, 2011 – James Borel, executive vice president of DuPont, “How Agricultural Innovation and Collaboration Will Shape the Future of the World.” Borel joined DuPont as a sales representative in 1978 after earning his degree in agricultural business from Iowa State. His career with the company has included numerous sales and management positions in agricultural products, DuPont Crop Protection and human resources, including posts in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan. He was group vice president, responsible for agricultural businesses, before being named to his current position. Podcast (MP3)