We were shocked to hear this week of the passing of National Agri-Marketing Association friend Denny Eilers, the Iowa Photo Farm photographer. The news came from the NAMA e-Newsletter:
A Cornbelt NAMA member since 1990, Denny has been the photographer for many NAMA Agri-Marketing Conferences and will be greatly missed.
The Iowa Photo Farm was operated by Denny and Gwen Eilers. Denny served as chief photographer and Gwen was the business and production manager. They were located on a working farm in scenic northeast Iowa, raising corn, soybeans and a variety of locally grown vegetable crops.
Denny died Sunday, June 26, 2011, at Central Community Hospital, Elkader.
Services for Denny will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 1, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Monona, IA. Arrangements are being handled by Leonard Funeral Home of Dubuque.
If you do a search for Denny here on AgWired, you will find lots of his photos from the NAMA conventions. We had a great working relationship with him at those events and Chuck took the photo here of Denny at the 2011 NAMA. We will definitely miss him.
Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Cranberry growers have voted to continue their federal marketing order program. Producers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Long Island, N.Y., voted.
During the referendum, 512 eligible producers cast valid ballots. Of these producers, there were 390 (or 76.1 percent) representing more than 3.5 million barrels of cranberries (76.1 percent of total volume), who favored continuance of the order. Producers voting to discontinue the order totaled 122 (or 23.8 percent) and represented slightly more than 1.1 million barrels of cranberries (23.8 percent of total volume).
“Cranberries are an important specialty crop,” said Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Rayne Pegg. “This continuance will provide opportunities to expand cranberry markets and help growers thrive.”
The marketing order requires that a continuance referendum be held every four years during the month of May. USDA would not consider terminating the order if continuance is favored by more than 50 percent of the growers voting in the referendum, provided that these growers represent more than 50 percent of the cranberry volume represented in the referendum.
Thank you America’s cranberry growers for all you do in producing safe, affordable food!
I just got back from the 27th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop. It was a good time visiting with my friends in the renewable fuels industry. The mood is certainly better that it was a couple of years ago. That sentiment was noted by Tom Bryan, VP of BBI International, as well. I spoke with him near the conclusion of the event yesterday.
Tom says the technical sessions were extremely well attended. In fact, chairs had to be added to some of them due to the attendance in them. He says there were over 2,000 in attendance this year. That may not be as high as several years ago but shows that the industry is resilient and upbeat for the future. Tom Bryan Interview
Let’s just say there are 8 pounds of water in 1 gallon. (It’s 8.34 but round numbers are easier.)
Let’s say this #3 butter churn is 3 gallons. That’s 24 pounds of butter, assuming butter and water weigh the same.
Let’s say this #4 butter churn is 4 gallons. That’s 128 sticks of butter. (1 pound of butter = 4 sticks)
Did I just do the math right? Mr. Smith, can you check my answer please?
Now tell me this – who doesn’t love butter? What isn’t better with butter? Take that one step further and where do we get the cream for that butter? Cows. That’s right folks, cows. Those brown-eyed beauties that some folks deem stinky and not for human consumption provide us all the good stuff we need to make butter. Aaahhhh, so now you’re saying a little stink is worth it for butter?
I hope I never hear my son “udder” the question, “where does that milk and cheese and butter come from” while in a grocery store. Although, daddy already taught him how to tell a bull from a cow, so I think I’m safe.
The topic of the hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday was “The State of Livestock in America” but much of the testimony centered around USDA’s controversial Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard’s Administration (GIPSA) proposal.
In a strong statement at the start of the hearing, ranking member Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) said that GIPSA proposal is in direct opposition to the intent of Congress under the 2008 Farm Bill.
“As a result, we are looking at a proposed rule that is undoubtedly significant in its economic impact and which threatens to undo years of livestock marketing arrangements that have benefited both livestock producers and consumers,” said Roberts. “At a time when many talk about how agriculture is going to help lead the rebound for our economic recovery, it makes no sense to me why we would try to hamstring this industry, and take away marketing tools that will have far reaching implications in both the domestic and international marketplace.”
Our latest ZimmPoll asked, “What can G20 ag ministers do to stabilize food prices?” The answer is Nothing, 31%; Increase productivity, 23%; End biofuels production, 18%; Regulate markets, 17%; Improve crop reporting, 8% and Stockpile food, 3%. Can they actually do any of these things? Well, I guess they can do nothing. They met recently and did come up with “a plan.” Interestingly, stockpiling food is part of their plan. Hmm . . .
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What do you think of USDA’s proposed GIPSA rule?” Let us know what you think. Don’t know much about GIPSA? Check out this link to find a series of posts on the subject.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
I am attending the 2011 Fuel Ethanol Workshop which is being held in Indianapolis, IN. It’s the “technical” conference for the industry where lots of the latest in technology and processes are presented in multiple, simultaneous workshops. This morning it was also where the 2011 FEW High Octane Award was presented.
Receiving the award is Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn Growers Association. The award was presented by Tom Bryan, BBI International. Rick made a few comments about working in support of the industry. He says there are three main reasons for why he does it. First, it’s the economy, to take some of the money that’s going overseas and invest it in rural America. Then it’s the environment, trying to bring the reality of a clean, renewable energy source to the U.S. and reduce our GHG emissions. And third it’s national security, to bring home the men and women overseas trying to protect the flow of oil. You can listen to or download his remarks here: Rick Tolman Award Remarks
You will find much more coverage of the 2011 FEW over on our sister website, Domestic Fuel. Feel free to follow the Twitter hashtag, #FEW11 too.
Whoever says that ethanol hurts marine engines has never seen boats running at more than 80 miles an hour on E-10.
Boat racers from coast to coast gathered this past weekend in the ethanol-producing town of Garnett, Kansas for the National Boat Racing Association (NBRA) “Garnett Ethanol Hydroplane Nationals.” The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) partnered with NBRA earlier this year to help dispel concerns about the use of ethanol fuel in boat engines. The partnership includes the use of the RFA “Fueled with Pride” logo on signage around the racing events, as well as on all the racing boats and haulers.
All of the boats that race in NBRA competitions around the country this year have to prove they are using 10 percent ethanol fuel in order to be eligible for additional prize money in the race. “We test all the fuel before the race and then the top three entries in any class are tested when they come in to make sure they are running ethanol,” said NBRA president Dan Crummett – yes, the same Dan Crummett who might be better known to the Agwired audience as Executive Editor for Farm Progress Companies.
The NBRA races include a number of different classes of hydroplanes and runabouts with stock and modified outboards that run as fast as 96 miles per hour. Crummett says most of the issues that boaters experience when using ethanol-blended fuel can be addressed with better maintenance. “Any fuel will degrade over not a long period of time once the oil is mixed in it,” he says, which is why it’s so important for boaters to avoid leaving fuel set n the tank for an extended time.
Would you be surprised to know that many food bloggers aren’t real familiar with where the food they write about comes from? Probably not. Most people today do not understand how food is produced and have no real connection to the farm regardless of what kind of food or farm you’re talking about.
The Iowa Corn Growers have done something about this. Last week they hosted a group of “guest bloggers” to Iowa and I met them during Iowa Corn Indy 250 weekend activities. Pictured in the center is food blogger, Allison Loesch along with her husband on the right and Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chair, Dick Gallagher.
I know that many of you want to know how to reach out to and engage consumers more. How about reaching out to those very involved in social media on the consumer side? In this week’s program you will hear Mindy Willamson, Iowa Corn Growers, talk about the group they hosted and from Allison. I think you’ll find what they have to say interesting.
Hopefully they will join #FoodChat which is the Twitter conversation that takes place the third Tuesday of each month from 8-10pm, ET. All other Tuesday’s it is AgChat!
This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Food” by Deirdre Flint.
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.
Novus International will be expanding its animal nutrition products thanks to a new partnership with enzyme company Verenium.
The focus of the partnership will target the development of products using Verenium enzymes for the global poultry, swine, beef, dairy, aquaculture and companion animals markets. “These new enzyme products will give us the ability to offer new solutions to the performance challenges our customers face,” said Novus International president and CEO Thad Simons.
Verenium is an industrial biotechnology company that develops high-performance enzymes for various industries, including biofuels.
“We are extremely enthusiastic about our partnership with Novus, the potential opportunity it represents for the continued development of our pipeline and for Verenium to become a more active participant in the animal health and nutrition marketplace with our suite of high-performance enzyme products,” said James Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer at Verenium.
Seed World magazine has awarded agronomy scholar Matthew Mattia with the Future Giants of the Seed Industry award.
The National FFA Organization has selected seven collegiate FFA members to participate in the FFA Global Outreach: Africa program.
AgriLabs announced that the company has signed an exclusive sales and marketing agreement with SmartVet, makers of the VetCap Delivery System and AIMC insecticide GelCaps.
The crops in the fields around our small town are growing, green has replaced the dreary brown of winter and oh the humidity makes my skin feel good. This photo was taken a few weeks ago when the field rows were more visible, revealing the straight, symmetrical lines of corn and soybeans. I know many farmers use GPS to set their lines, but the pattern accuracy always amazes me.
When I was in high school, a bus full of band and chorus students took a trip to Washington, D.C. which included Arlington National Cemetery. Now I’m not sure if the headstones are placed using chalk lines, GPS or just by eye-balling it, but they’re straight as an arrow from all angles.
And I’m not sure if the 300,000annual visitors to Arlington experience the same awe when they see corn fields, but I know I appreciate it. It demonstrates farmers’ dedication to accuracy, attention to detail and efficiency.
And we all know how I like things to be “just so.”
In an American corn ethanol fueled race at Iowa Speedway, Marco Andretti wins the 2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250. Here he is in Victory Lane with 2nd place finisher Tony Kanaan and 3rd place Scott Dixon.
Following Victory Lane Marco and his Dad, Michael, held the winners press conference. I asked him his thoughts on racing in front of 2,500 corn growers and using fuel they grew. I had just interviewed him two days ago at a local ethanol promotion. He says, “I think it’s great we can be green and still have performance. We’re thankful to have their support. I love this place. Iowa’s great.” Marco Andretti Ethanol Remark
I don’t know if these are future Iowa corn growers, Pioneer sales reps or IndyCar drivers. Whatever it is they’re having fun out here at Iowa Speedway. We’re getting ready for a great Indy race under the lights. The weather looks like it’s going to be okay and we’ve got a sold out crowd.
I’ve been adding some green photos to the photo album so please feel free to visit. I’ll be back on with the winner after the race later this evening before returning home to ZimmComm World Headquarters tomorrow. See you in a while.
Here’s what the hood of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 official pace car looks like. It’s proudly displaying the Pioneer logo as the presenting sponsor.
Todd says the relationship with the Iowa Corn Growers in sponsoring the Iowa Corn Indy 250 has been very beneficial. As he puts it, “It’s a great event for the state of Iowa. It’s great for agriculture.” All of the cars racing this evening will be running on 100% corn ethanol showing how well the fuel performs in an engine. Pioneer brings in a lot of their customers for the event. In fact, I’ve heard that there will be approximately 2,500 farmers at the race track today. I’ll be out on location this afternoon in advance of tonight’s race. Let’s hope the weather improves. Todd Frazier Interview
Congratulations to Courtney Yuskis, pictured on the left. These beautiful professional agrimarketers attended this year’s NAMA conference. Courtney is a new Sales Executive for Successful Farming Magazine. I just spoke with her and she’s really looking forward to a move to Des Moines.
Previously Yuskis managed digital projects for The Hondo Group, from website development and deployment to the advancement of mobile applications.
“Courtney understands the importance of digital strategy in today’s marketing world,” said Curt Blades, National Sales Manager at Successful Farming. “With her experience and background she brings both an understanding of our industry and a new level of interactive innovation to customers. ”
Prior to her role at The Hondo Group, Yuskis served as Executive Director for associations at Drake & Company, as a fundraising specialist for Make-A-Wish Foundation and as a program manager for Beeline Managed Services and Discover Financial Services. She was also a volunteer in Samoa with the United States Peace Corps where she encouraged rural youth groups to generate income via agriculture.
Yeah. We’re all about ethanol this weekend. Cindy’s boat racing and I’m Indy racing!
Well, the Iowa Corn Growers are going green this weekend at the Iowa Corn Indy 250. In fact, there will be lots of green shirts out here at Iowa Speedway. Here are some of the leadership team that was on hand this morning to talk with the media.
I spoke first with Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chair, Dick Gallagher. Dick is also a corn grower. He says that this weekend is special because it’s all about going green. That shows that this renewable fuel is a green fuel. To the naysayers he says, “Ethanol is renewable, good for the Iowa economy and more environmentally friendly.” Dick Gallagher Interview
Next up was Iowa Corn Growers CEO, Craig Floss. Craig agrees with me that the weather is perfect for racing and we hope it stays that way. He says he visited with Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti last night and he was reminded about how much the drivers like ethanol as a fuel for a variety of reasons. Craig Floss Interview
And I also spoke with incoming President for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Kevin Ross. Kevin is from southwest Iowa and says he’s near the flooding area but hasn’t been affected. However, he notes how much that situation is affecting farm families right now and our prayers and thoughts go out to them. From his perspective as a grower the Iowa Corn Indy 250 “it’s been a huge event.” He’s just thrilled with the showcase to promote their product. Kevin Ross Interview
Ethanol will be in the spotlight this weekend as boat racing teams from more than twenty states will gather to compete at the National Boat Racing Association (NBRA) “Garnett Ethanol Hydroplane Nationals” this weekend, June 23-26 in Garnett, Kansas for a chance to break national straight away speed records using E10.
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) partnered with NBRA earlier this year to help dispel concerns about the use of ethanol-blended fuel in boat engines. “World-class events like this provide the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the efficacy of ethanol-blended fuels, both on the road and on the water,” said Robert White, RFA Director of Market Development. “The performance of these boats and the speeds at which they race should squash any misconception that ethanol and marine engines don’t mix.”
This weekend’s races will be the first time national speed record trials have been done in over a decade. The speed to beat in the beginner class, C-Stock, is 66 mph and in the fastest class, Super E, the top speed is 96 mph in a quarter-mile. RFA is sponsoring all of the 2011 NBRA series event races taking place this summer and will be at the races in Garnett all weekend to hand out fan bags featuring “Fueled with Pride” logo swag and answer questions on ethanol.
I’ll be there too, while Chuck is at the Indy race in Iowa. Never been to a boat race before so it should be fun! If you want to join me and the good folks from RFA, the races will be held on Saturday, June 25th and Sunday, June 26th from noon – 5 pm and the $5.00 admission fee includes a hot pit pass. Having just been to my first NASCAR race with a hot pit pass, I will be curious to find out what a pit stop for a boat entails.
Alison Williams and Robert Rainey have joined DuPont to take on new positions in key account management, while Som Somasundaram, a DuPont veteran, has accepted a new position within DuPont Crop Protection.
Planalytics will be hosting an AgriBusiness Weather Intelligence Symposium on Tuesday, July 19th in Kansas City. Featured speakers include producers, retailers, marketers and other experts sharing first-hand success stories of how they improved performance by incorporating Planalytics weather insights and intelligence into their daily/monthly business operations.
Philip Donahoo has joined Vance Publishing Corp. as Business Development Manager for The Greenbook Group.
The Farm Progress Library is designed to quickly give producers-or anyone-quick access to a wide range of fresh and authoritative crop and livestock production information.
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.
We were shocked to hear this week of the passing of National Agri-Marketing Association friend Denny Eilers, the Iowa Photo Farm photographer. The news came from the NAMA e-Newsletter:
In a strong statement at the start of the hearing, ranking member Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) said that GIPSA proposal is in direct opposition to the intent of Congress under the 2008 Farm Bill.
Whoever says that ethanol hurts marine engines has never seen boats running at more than 80 miles an hour on E-10.
All of the boats that race in NBRA competitions around the country this year have to prove they are using 10 percent ethanol fuel in order to be eligible for additional prize money in the race. “We test all the fuel before the race and then the top three entries in any class are tested when they come in to make sure they are running ethanol,” said NBRA president Dan Crummett – yes, the same Dan Crummett who might be better known to the Agwired audience as Executive Editor for Farm Progress Companies.
Would you be surprised to know that many food bloggers aren’t real familiar with where the food they write about comes from? Probably not. Most people today do not understand how food is produced and have no real connection to the farm regardless of what kind of food or farm you’re talking about. 
The focus of the partnership will target the development of products using Verenium enzymes for the global poultry, swine, beef, dairy, aquaculture and companion animals markets. “These new enzyme products will give us the ability to offer new solutions to the performance challenges our customers face,” said Novus International president and CEO Thad Simons.
“We are extremely enthusiastic about our partnership with Novus, the potential opportunity it represents for the continued development of our pipeline and for Verenium to become a more active participant in the animal health and nutrition marketplace with our suite of high-performance enzyme products,” said James Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer at Verenium. 
The 
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
