This is a reminder that today at 2:00pm Eastern time the Renewable Fuels Association will be hosting another 1 hour online Twitter chat session. It’s FuelChat and you will have the chance to ask questions and interact with others on the subject of ethanol. I’ll be working with RFA as moderator for today’s session.
There are a number of mechanisms you can use to follow along and participate. We recommend TweetChat. Just go to TweetChat.com, log in with your Twitter account login and then enter the search term, #fuelchat. TweetChat will display a live list of Twitter posts that use the #fuelchat “hashtag” and you can read them, reply to them or enter your own. Another useful mechanism is Twitterfall.
If you’ve never used Twitter and don’t have a free account, you can still go to Search.Twitter.com and search for #fuelchat to see the results. You will need to manually refresh the page to see new ones as they are posted. It’s also a good way to go back and review the session afterward.
Post Update: Today’s FuelChat session has concluded and as a reminder you can see the questions/answers/comments by reviewing all the posts using this link.
New Optimize 400 with LCO Promoter Technology delivers new treatability benefits for retailers and extraordinary ROI for growers.
Vermeer Corporation offers a new carted wheel rake, called the VR-Series. It is available in 8 and 10 wheel sizes.
Cibus is now Cibus Global. The shift marks a new age for the company, with an international operating structure and a continued focus on advancement and product growth in markets around the globe.
We were happy to see BASF finally get Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for Kixor® herbicide last week for use on a wide range of crops and effective on more than 70 broadleaf weeds.
Four formulations “powered by Kixor” are now available for growers — Sharpen™ herbicide for various crops, OpTill™ herbicide for soybeans, Integrity™ herbicide for corn and Treevix™ herbicide for citrus, fruit and tree nuts. To get an idea of how effective this new chemistry is on broadleaf weeds, BASF had a plot tour demonstration for growers to check out at the 2009 Farm Progress Show. Take a look here:
The U.S. Potato Board held a “Hot Potato Ideas” contest and culinary students were rewarded for their innovative recipes like this Cheesy Southwestern Potato Crisps one shown in the photo. During my pheasant hunt our cook made us some of the best potato pancakes I’ve ever eaten. Perhaps we should get her to enter next time.
Creative ideas and innovation bring excitement to menus and inspire the restaurant patrons who enjoy them. This was the motivation behind the United States Potato Board’s (USPB’s) “Hot Potato Ideas” contest, which rewarded culinary students for their innovative potato recipes in one of three categories: Ethnic, Healthy and New Classics.
Twenty-two students from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY, campus entered the contest, so deciding upon the top three entries was a challenge. Nonetheless, here is a snapshot of the winning potato recipes:
Cheesy Southwestern Potato Crisps, a Latin-inspired recipe with fresh jalapeño-cilantro pesto and cheese enveloped in crisp shredded potatoes, captured the Ethnic Category and overall Grand Prize in the Potato Innovation Recipe Contest. This fresh and flavorful recipe was created by William “Trey” Smith. The USPB awarded Smith a trip to the Culinary Institute of America’s Worlds of Flavors® conference in St. Helena, CA, (Napa Valley) taking place November 12-14, 2009.(more…)
According to the official announcement, Boehringer Ingelheim has entered into an agreement with Pfizer “to acquire certain assets of Wyeth Pharmaceutical’s Fort Dodge Animal Health business upon the closing of the global Pfizer-Wyeth merger, which is expected to occur early in the fourth quarter. The deal, which is subject to anti-trust clearance, significantly increases the size of Boehringer Ingelheim’s companion animal and cattle portfolios.”
If approved, the deal would clear the way for Boehringer Ingelheim to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge product portfolio in several countries, as well as manufacturing and research facilities located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. In the U.S. and Canada Boehringer Ingelheim will own and market the pet and cattle vaccine lines as well as a wide range of pharmaceuticals for pets, cattle and other species. In Canada, several swine vaccines are also part of the package. In Australia, Boehringer Ingelheim will own and market the Fort Dodge pet vaccines and in some European countries and in South Africa, certain cattle vaccines.
BASF has announced a supply agreement with Monsanto for a new cotton fungicide seed treatment.
The new product contains F500®, the same active ingredient found in Headline® fungicide, BASF’s top-selling Plant Health fungicide, and will be part of Monsanto’s AcceleronTM Seed Treatment combination.
This new seed treatment will provide cotton growers with the opportunity to give seedlings a stronger start and a higher yield potential by controlling diseases, such as those caused by Rhizoctonia solani.
BASF is expanding its portfolio of seed treatment offerings with the launch of F500-containing products like Stamina® fungicide seed treatment, which is marketed for corn, sweet corn, wheat, barley, legumes, and rye. Several additional new seed treatments will be launched this year, and in 2010.
The CEO of Switzerland-based Syngenta helped to do the honors of opening the new headquarters of Syngenta Seeds in Minnetonka, MN on Monday.
Mike Mack says the new building represents Syngenta planting the seeds of the future. “We’re really proud of this extraordinary building which embodies the forward-looking, sustainable qualities and spirit of innovation that have driven Syngenta and its predecessor companies for more than a century,” Mack said during the grand opening ceremony. Mack highlighted the features of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified building, which include natural light, recycled materials, and other environmentally-friendly features.
Mack also talked about how Syngenta Seeds was built on the acquisitions of several well-known seed brands, leading with Northrup King, which was started in Minnesota 125 years ago.
Listen to Mike Mack’s remarks at the grand opening below.
Sponsored by
The beautiful start to the Syngenta Seeds grand opening celebration gave way to cloudy skies and a rain shower just as Governor Tim Pawlenty was to arrive, which meant a quick change in venue to inside the building. But, the weather change did nothing to dampen the spirits of everyone on hand and the governor was warmly welcomed by Syngenta Seeds President David Morgan and Syngenta CEO Mike Mack.
Governor Pawlenty was pleased to congratulate Syngenta Seeds on the new headquarters building and their continued commitment to agriculture. “They’re not making land anymore, so there’s a finite amount of land,” said Pawlenty. “That’s why it’s imperative that we find a way to continue to feed the world and Syngenta is on the cutting edge of that technology.”
The governor noted that he was very proud of Minnesota agriculture and the fact that one out of every seven jobs in the state is related to agriculture. “We can’t have a successful state without a successful agriculture,” said Pawlenty.
Syngenta Seeds president David Morgan welcomed agricultural leaders, invited guests, media and employees to the official opening of the Syngenta Seeds headquarters on a beautiful Monday morning in Minnetonka. Among those in attendence were Syngenta CEO Mike Mack, Minnesota State Senator Terri Bonoff, state Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Jim Boerboom, Chamber of Commerce president David Olsen and Minnetonka mayor Terry Schneider.
Morgan praised the employees of Syngenta seeds for their hard work and commitment and recognized three exceptional sales reps responsible for $6-10 million in sales for the various Syngenta seed brands, including Garst, Golden Harvest and Northrup King. Morgan called the new building a symbol of the company’s increasing strength in the seeds business. “Our reputation is growing as a leader in agriculture and our new headquarters reflects our accomplishments and underscores our intent as we move confidently into the future.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is expected to arrive shortly to join the celebration.
Welcome to the Grand Opening of the new Syngenta Seeds Headquarters in Minnetonka, MN.
We are gearing up for the festivities now at the site. The new LEED Gold certified building was just completed in July and boasts 116,000 square feet on 14 acres. There are more than 300 employees working here who enjoy such amenities as a wellness room, free health clinic, fitness facility and more.
The dignitaries are arriving now, the Syngenta employees lining up in their bright blue company shirts. Among those expected to take part in the celebration are the governor of Minnesota and several state lawmakers. Stay tuned for more.
This August, BASF Crop Protection partnered with Horizon Ag to donate funds to the Stop Hunger Now organization’s record-breaking University Million Meal Week where students and community volunteers packaged 1,031,776 meals for the less fortunate around the world.
Pioneer Hi-Bred and Asoyia, Inc., have expanded their 2008 agreement to make Pioneer brand 1 percent ultra low linolenic soybean varieties with the Roundup Ready® trait eligible for participation in the Asoyia Identity Preserved soybean program.
Vermeer recently introduced a brand new 4’ x 4’ baler – its first fixed-chamber design – to maximize crop throughput and improve reli¬ability and performance in high moisture forage.
Here’s the happy hunting crew at Mystic Prairie hunting lodge. The early season (preserve permit) weather has been a challenge. Hot and windy. Temps in the 80′s with wind gusting to 36 mph. Not the best weather for hunting pheasant but we got the job done.
By the time I get this posted Cindy should be in Minnesota where she’ll be attending tomorrow’s grand opening of the new Syngenta Seeds headquarters in Minnetonka. I’m sure you’ll see some posts from there tomorrow.
Meanwhile I’ll be traveling back via Des Moines for one more meeting before returning to ZimmComm World Headquarters. See you then.
For 25 years a group of University of Missouri economists has provided commodity price projections and policy analysis to the U.S. Congress, international trade negotiators, farm groups and farmers.
On Friday, the MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) celebrated its silver anniversary with a gathering of friends and supporters, including Missouri Senator Kit Bond and FAPRI founder Abner Womack.
Womack has turned over leadership of the unit started in 1984 to professors Pat Westhoff and Willi Meyers, co-directors of MU FAPRI. He continues as FAPRI adviser and professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics.
“Every acre of crop land in the world and every cow in the world’s herd are represented in our models,” Womack said of the analytical team he founded 25 years ago. “Our main job remains in giving unbiased facts, based on numbers. We don’t make policy recommendations,” Womack said. “We present the facts and let policymakers determine the answers. That is our strength.”
A silver edition Web site shows a policy timeline, a history of MU FAPRI, videos, letters and quotes from supporters.
A high-level symposium held by the Global Harvest Initiative in Washington, D.C., will be Webcast live on Tuesday, September 22. The symposium, featuring U.S. leaders in food and agriculture, is focusing on ways to sustainably double agricultural output to meet rapidly growing global demand anticipated by the United Nations.
Global Harvest Initiative’s Symposium, Agriculture at a Crossroads will include a keynote address by U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and a roundtable on agriculture innovation and productivity challenges by the CEOs of the companies that founded the Global Harvest Initiative – Archer Daniels Midland, DuPont, John Deere, and Monsanto. Other speakers represent the World Food Prize, World Wildlife Fund and Farm Foundation, among many others.
For a decade now, DockDogs have been entertaining audiences around the world with their high flying canines. To support their efforts, STEADFAST® CANINE, a joint health supplement from Arenus, will sponsor the 2009 DockDogs National Championship.
Scheduled for October 16-18 at King’s Island Resort in Mason, OH, the national championship will be the single largest event that the association has ever hosted. It is estimated that 400 teams and 800 entries will participate. Four pools will be on hand to accommodate the record number of competitors.
“STEADFAST® CANINE is pleased to partner with DockDogs to promote the high demand sport of canine dock jumping. It was a rewarding experience to see these canine athletes perform at the DockDogs World Championship in Minnesota,” said Celeste Mohatt, Marketing Manager for Arenus. “We are proud to be back at DockDogs Nationals as the preferred joint health supplement.”
Arenus, a division of Novus Nutrition Brands, LLC, creates products like STEADFAST® CANINE that draw upon over 15 years of proven research, field studies and expertise in animal health and nutrition from Novus Nutrition Brands’ parent company, Novus International, Inc.
Most of the country’s original colonies are urging the federal government to preserve and protect our nation’s farmland.
“Protecting farmland for future agricultural use is of utmost importance to every citizen of the United States… so critical to maintaining the future viability of our agricultural sectors and rural communities,” said agriculture commissioners and officials from
13 states in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Of those 13 states, 11 were among the original colonies, which actually became 18 of our present day states. They include Connecticut, Deleware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. The others that signed the letter are Ohio and Michigan.
American Farmland Trust (AFT) coordinated the letter commenting on the federal Interim Final Rule regarding the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), and AFT Senior Director of Farmland Protection Programs Bob Wagner says the states signing the letter represent over 70 percent of all the acreage protected under state farmland protection programs. “These states recognize that the federal government has been a key partner in helping protect farmland since 1995, and they are offering improvements to the FRPP program so that it can be most effective and efficient,” said Wagner.
While there are differences in agricultural practices by the states in the region, the letter identified common issues of concern, and asked that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) allow the states maximum discretion to implement FRPP as Congress directed in the 2008 Farm Bill.
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is hosting a second open on-line Twitter #FuelChat to answer questions and offer information about all things ethanol on September 23 at 2:00 pm Eastern time.
The first #FuelChat was held in July during the evening hours but after some consultation and research, it was decided that a daytime chat might be better for those who want to engage in the conversation. Topics for the conversation are in development and suggestions should be sent to #FuelChat.
Participants can use the application TweetChat, using #FuelChat to see live comments and questions being posted and join in the chat. For those not currently using Twitter, the first step is would be to set up an account with Twitter. Those who have never taken part in a live on-line chat are welcome to just tune in to see how it works.
The young and beginning farmers behind the Farmers for the Future project at Successful Farming magazine and Agriculture.com netted the media company two awards at the recent Media Industry News (MIN) Integrated Marketing Awards held in New York. Pictured accepting the awards on behalf of Successful Farming magazine are John Walter, Executive Editor and Jeff Caldwell, Multimedia Editor.
The Farmers for the Future program took home two honorable mention awards. The first came in the Total Integrated Program category that honors projects comprising multimedia editorial content, events and programs.
The Farmers for the Future program includes feature stories in Successful Farming magazine, a microsite and multimedia content on Agriculture.com, a young and beginning farmer conference and a social network site.
The Farmers for the Future social network was awarded in MIN’s Social Media Program category. The network that began in September 2008 has more than 2,100 members and offers members myriad ways to connect with one another, including blogs, forums, chat and video chat. The Farmers for the Future project is sponsored by DEKALB and the Farm Credit Foundation.
The National FFA Organization announced that Dr. W. Dwight Armstrong of Dayton, OH, will become chief operating officer effective Oct. 5, 2009.
Fastline is pleased to announce the new Auctions.Fastline.com. This new online auction is designed to offer Fastline customers an easy and effective tool to sell their farm and construction equipment to their audience.
Thirty-eight college students from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will be able to continue their education with help from GROWMARK. Click here for the list of recipients.
Recognized with the Ed Bible Distinguished Service Award for her dedication and service to LPC is Becky Terry, Winchester, Kan.
Here’s another reason to be a member of the National Corn Growers Association. Now you can get your markets on your mobile phone as a new member benefit. Our friends at Commodity Update who also make AgWired Mobile possible are powering the new service. You can find out more on the NCGA website.
The National Corn Growers Association announced the launch of a new membership benefit that provides access to market updates through mobile phone messages. The program, called NCGA Markets NOW!, will keep subscribing members informed of the information that growers need when deciding when to sell their crop.
“When we came across this opportunity, we felt that it was a perfect fit. NCGA Markets NOW! provides members with the information that they need to make the best possible choices for their operation,” said Tim Dolan, Chairman of NCGA’s Grower Services Action Team. “In doing so, it furthers the association’s mission of promoting the best interests of the American corn producer.”
The NCGA Markets NOW! service is fully customizable and provides both scheduled updates and on demand services. The service works with the members existing cell phone and is available through virtually every cell phone carrier. Easy to use, other groups utilizing similar services have reported nearly universal satisfaction.
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
David conducted a presentation on delivering expert opinion via social media to an audience at the start of International Poultry Expo week. He's got some great information about who consumers trust and how you can use today's consumer behavior to help communicate your message.
This is a reminder that today at 2:00pm Eastern time the Renewable Fuels Association will be hosting another 1 hour online Twitter chat session. It’s FuelChat and you will have the chance to ask questions and interact with others on the subject of ethanol. I’ll be working with RFA as moderator for today’s session.
We were happy to see BASF finally get Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for 
The 
According to 
BASF has announced a supply agreement with Monsanto for a new cotton fungicide seed treatment. 
The new product contains F500®, the same active ingredient found in Headline® fungicide, BASF’s top-selling Plant Health fungicide, and will be part of Monsanto’s AcceleronTM Seed Treatment combination. 
The CEO of Switzerland-based 
The beautiful start to the 
Governor Pawlenty was pleased to congratulate Syngenta Seeds on the new headquarters building and their continued commitment to agriculture. “They’re not making land anymore, so there’s a finite amount of land,” said Pawlenty. “That’s why it’s imperative that we find a way to continue to feed the world and Syngenta is on the cutting edge of that technology.”
Morgan praised the employees of Syngenta seeds for their hard work and commitment and recognized three exceptional sales reps responsible for $6-10 million in sales for the various Syngenta seed brands, including Garst, Golden Harvest and Northrup King. Morgan called the new building a symbol of the company’s increasing strength in the seeds business. “Our reputation is growing as a leader in agriculture and our new headquarters reflects our accomplishments and underscores our intent as we move confidently into the future.”
Welcome to the Grand Opening of the new Syngenta Seeds Headquarters in Minnetonka, MN.
Here’s the happy hunting crew at 
On Friday, the MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) celebrated its silver anniversary with a gathering of friends and supporters, including Missouri Senator Kit Bond and FAPRI founder Abner Womack.
Global Harvest Initiative’s Symposium, Agriculture at a Crossroads will include a keynote address by U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and a roundtable on agriculture innovation and productivity challenges by the CEOs of the companies that founded the Global Harvest Initiative – Archer Daniels Midland, DuPont, John Deere, and Monsanto. Other speakers represent the World Food Prize, World Wildlife Fund and Farm Foundation, among many others.
For a decade now, 
“STEADFAST® CANINE is pleased to partner with DockDogs to promote the high demand sport of canine dock jumping. It was a rewarding experience to see these canine athletes perform at the DockDogs World Championship in Minnesota,” said Celeste Mohatt, Marketing Manager for Arenus. “We are proud to be back at DockDogs Nationals as the preferred joint health supplement.” 
The 
The Farmers for the Future program took home two honorable mention awards. The first came in the Total Integrated Program category that honors projects comprising multimedia editorial content, events and programs. 
Here’s another reason to be a member of the National Corn Growers Association. Now you can get your markets on your mobile phone as a new member benefit. Our friends at 
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
