Author Archives: Joanna

Meet the Who’s Who at NBB Conference

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There are more than 10 reasons to attend the National Biodiesel Board’s Conference: Momentum, and here is reason number 5: Meet People. This conference marks the 20th Anniversary of the event and is still the place to meet and greet the real players in the biodiesel industry.

The event is being held in Las Vegas (how apropos they would offer a “wheel of savings” for early bird registrants – enter WHEEL100 when you register to receive your discount) beginning February 4, 2013 and ends on February 7, 2013. This gives you plenty of time to work out your elevator, or in this case, 10 second casino pitch.

Momentum offers four tracks: technical, regulatory, marketing, and petroleum so no matter what, your interests will be covered and your question answers.  And if you play your cards right, you may also walk away with a set of great contacts to develop future partnerships.

In anticipation for the event, NBB CEO Joe Jobe filmed some brief remarks.

Now that you’re duly inspired, why don’t you register already?

Support for Plumpy’nut Increases

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It was announced during the Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines in conjunction with the World Food Prize 2012 last week, that the makers of Plumpy’nut, Nutriset, will contribute an additional $5.8 million over the next two years to combat severe acute malnutrition in the developing world. The main ingredients include peanuts, vegetable oil, sugar, vitamins, minerals, cocoa, whey and maltodextrin. Easy to digest, high in protein and high in calories, fats and carbohydrates, the product has helped to save many children’s lives.

The money will go to the members of the PlumpyField network, a network of 11 small, local private manufactures, two international nongovernmental organizations and more than 500 locally based employees. The network helps to produce and distribute Plumpy’nut and other products.

“Nutriset’s pledge to significantly increase our environment in our PlumpyField members will help to create local solutions to devastating food crises,” said Nutriset CEO Adeline Lescanne. “We hope the $5.8 million will provide our partners with the tools they need to combat current famines and help promote the nutritional autonomy of all afflicted regions of the world.”

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco

Total Factor Productivity Key Indicator of Growth

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Productivity is back on the policy agenda with rising food prices, heightened concerns about resource scarcity and increase risk from climate change, according to Dr. Keith Fuglie with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During the release of the 2012 GAP Report published by Global Harvest Initiative during the 2012 World Food Prize, Fuglie said it’s being realized more and more that we will need to rely on total productivity growth to meet the rapid demand that is projected for global agriculture. For this to happen, agriculture will need to focus most heavily on raising yield.

The total factor productivity (TFP) concept really looks at the questions of can we get more output without having to intensity outputs (fertilizer, water, etc.)? Can we get more total output from the current bundle of resources (technology, and improved efficiency)? From this bundle of land, labor, capital and energy, can we grow output without raising this total bundle?

Fuglie says this is Important from a policy perspective because TFP is really being driven by a different set of economic and policy instruments. Primarily TFP over the long-run is conditioned by what our investments are in research and extension- getting the right technologies to the right people at the right time.

The GAP Report concludes that the majority of growth came from productivity growth in developing countries, such as Brazil and China who have increased their TFP growth strategy. One significant factor – investments and research have a critical role to play in determining whether productivity is growing.

In terms of the GAP report, the question was asked, what rate of growth productivity do we need to double output by 2050? Can this be done with just a TFP strategy and what policies would need to be in place? At least for this decade we’re on the path to double in 40 years if the current rate is maintained. However, we’ll need to maintain or accelerate research and investment and it needs to be more equitably distributed worldwide.

Listen to Dr. Keith Fuglie’s presentation here: Total Factor Productivity on Policy Agenda

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco

Global Food Security Index Adds New Feature

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During events at the 2012 World Food Prize taking place in Des Moines, DuPont announced an enhancement to the Global Food Security Index that was commissioned by DuPont and developed by the Economist Intelligience Unit (EIU). The tool was designed to capture the impact of changes in global food prices at the national level. In response to the rising cost of food, the Index recorded a slight decline in global food security.

“This tool increases the chances of creating sustainable, science-based innovations that target specific challenges, collaborating with others on solutions and bringing know-how to the people and places that need it most,” said DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel. “Knowing where the impact is the greatest can help focus our collective efforts where they are needed most.”

The World Bank estimates that global food price spikes in 2008 pushed 44 million people below the poverty line globally, most of them in poor countries. In the United States, almost 15 percent of households experienced food insecurity in 2011, up 11 percent before recent price jumps. Today, the driver of price increases were the U.S. drought and other global weather issues.

“Many factors affect food prices, from rising demand in emerging markets to abrupt changes in the weather,” said EIU Global Forecasting Director Leo Abruzzese. “The new Price Adjustment Factor tool will assess, quarterly, the impact of price changes on a country’s ability to afford food. High and volatile prices can impact food security by limiting consumers’ purchasing power and calorie consumption.”

The Global Food Security Index addresses the underlying factors of food insecurity in 105 countries and points to areas for improvement and reforms. Features include:

  • Ability to capture the impact of changing food prices on each country’s ability to afford food.
  • Analysis of key findings.
  • Definition of 25 global indicators that measure specific aspects of food affordability, accessibility, availability, nutritional value and safety.
  • An interactive heat map of overall scores and detail of category results.
  • Adjustable weightings to allow for scenario planning.
  • Ability to compare multiple countries simultaneously and adjust rankings by indicators.
  • A country details page that allows a food-security drill down into individual economies.

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco

Iowa Hunger Directory Unvield at WFP

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To kick of the 2012 World Food Prize in Des Moines, the 6th annual Iowa Hunger Summit took place. The summit brings attention to issues related to hunger, poverty and malnutrition and is the largest gathering of hunger related organizations based in Iowa. During the luncheon portion of the event, Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad designated October 16 as Dr. Norman E. Borlaug World Food Prize Day.

In addition, a new initiative was announced by Ambassador Kenneth Quin, President of the World Food Prize, called the Iowa Hunger Directory. This program will provide a year-round extension of the Hunger Summit and a vehicle for organizations and individuals to participate in hunger efforts.

“We want to create a comprehensive listing of Iowa organizations combating hunger at home and abroad,”said Quinn during the event. “We know there are dynamic organizations and dedicated people who are working diligently fighting hunger throughout the state and around the world and we want to facilitate their collaboration and connectivity. Also, this will allow us to collect more accurate information on their efforts.”

Between October 2011 and October 2012, over 26 million pounds of food were donated to the fight against hunger in Iowa. The Iowa Hunger Summit is sponsored by Iowa Farm Bureau and FBL Financial Group.

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco

Report on Global Agricultural Productivity

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Today the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) released its 3rd annual Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report) during the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. The GAP Report details efforts to increase global agricultural productivity, and notes that despite gains, it may not be enough especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and other regions to meet demand.

During a presentation to unveil the report, Laura Barringer, who has been on loan to GHI for the past 18 months, gave a brief overview on how regions were doing, opportunities and challenges, and presented strategies that will need to be deployed, to feed the anticipated global population of 9 billion by 2050. Barringer will become the Global Customer Product Support Manager for the Intelligent Solutions Group this November for John Deere.

There were several key areas that Barringer highlighted including the conclusion that we cannot meet future global demand unless agricultural productivity increases are achieved in every region of the world, at par with today’s levels. This was determined, in part, from the GAP Index, that measures global regional agricultural productivity growth against regional growth in food demand.

Barringer highlighted four key strategies that must occur if global food demand is to be met:

  • More investment – the GAP Report estimates that today there is an $80 billion dollar investment gap.
  • Agriculture Research & Development – this is the most important predictor of TFP growth.
  • Need for Science-Based Technologies – these technologies need to rural-based and have a supportive regulatory system to allow the tools to be used.
  • Trade Liberalization – Strong trade strategies will help to further expand market access.

You can listen to Dr. Margaret Zeigler’s, Executive Director of GHI, remarks here: GAP Report Opening Remarks

You can listen to Laura Barringer’s remarks here: GAP Report Overview

Download the full report here.

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco

Bayer and the Bees

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When a honey bee lands on a flower, she is helping to feed the world. Didn’t really think about it like that did you? In fact, honey bees are vital to agriculture and our food supply, and many bee populations have been dwindling at an alarming rate. This is why Bayer CropScience has launched a program to save the bees. The Bee Ambassador Program is an awareness and educational campaign aimed at showcasing the importance of bees. The company has also unveiled several Bee Care Centers.

Bayer’s Bee Ambassador Program will integrate key topics related to honey bee management and health with issues facing agriculture. Ambassadors will engage at the local level with beekeepers, farmers, researchers, government officials, educators, non-government organizations (NGOs) and the general public about the value of honey bees and the challenges they face.

During the 2012 Farm Progress Show, Cindy Zimmerman had an opportunity to learn more about Bayer’s Bees from Robyn Kneen. She explained that bees pollinate more than one-third of our crops so they play a very, very important role in agriculture. Without bees 90 percent of the world’s food would not exist.

We’re looking at the various factors that affect bee health so we’re doing research to the different factors, particularly the Varroa mite. That is a big problem for beekeepers today,” said Kneen. “We’re also promoting best practices in terms of stewardship of use of best products to ensure crop protection and agriculture and bees all live in harmony together.”

Bayer strongly believes supporting bee health requires ongoing collaboration and engagement to build new relationships with stakeholders and the Ambassador Program will become an integral component of Bayer’s outreach efforts.

Bayer's Bees

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

NCGA’s Request for RFA Waiver Comment Period Extension Granted

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In response to a request by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a 15 day extension of the comment period on the requests for a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). NCGA filed for an extension on August 30, 2012 and applauded EPA’s decision. The waiver was requested so corn growers and other energy crop farmers had a chance to participate more fully in the process. This will also enable the EPA to have a more accurate picture of the year’s final corn supply.

“We are pleased to see the EPA take this important action to help ensure that the process outlined in the Renewable Fuel Standard moves forward in a thoughtful, analytical fashion,” said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. “This extension will allow our farmers, who are currently harvesting the crop, to participate more fully and for a more accurate assessment of the final corn supply to emerge.”

In its weekly crop progress report issued yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that 15 percent of the nation’s corn has been harvested – triple the five-year average at this point in time. The reason is the impact of this year’s devastating drought and the recognition that farmers won’t gain much by delaying their corn harvest. Tomorrow the USDA will be releasing its monthly production and supply-and-demand reports.

The comment period was originally scheduled to close at the end of September, but will now remain open until October 11, 2012. During a previous comment period in 2008 for a partial waiver of the RFS, EPA received more than 15,000 submissions from throughout the country.

AFBF and NFU Heads to MC Farm Bill Now Rally

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Two agricultural organizations that are often on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to policy will be the leaders of this week’s Farm Bill Now rally in the nation’s capitol. The presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union will join together as masters of ceremony for the rally on Wednesday, September 12, at 11:00 am at Union Square by the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

The presidents of those two organizations on the state level joined together during a Farm Bill Now press conference at the 2012 Farm Progress Show to show a united front for all of American agriculture. “Let me say it’s just not just a Farm Bill its a package deal. It’s a farm, food, energy, and jobs bill. It’s important to every, and each American,” Iowa Farmer’s Union president Chris Peterson (left) said.

Craig Hill, president of Iowa Farm Bureau and board member of AFBF, says Congress may only have a few days to work this month, but with a Senate-passed bill and one out of the House Agriculture Committee, there’s not much left to be done. “It doesn’t take a heavy lift to finish this off now,” he said. “Really they are very, very similar.”

Listen to an interview with Craig Hill here: Craig Hill interview

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is also part of the Farm Bill Now coalition and president Dennis Slater took part in the Farm Progress Show event as well, noting that the Farm Bill is broad and the ag equipment industry has assisted the farm agriculture community providing the safest, most abundant, most affordable food supply in the world.

“This has allowed farmers and ranchers to continue to invest in modern equipment that they need to stay competitive and stay successful throughout the world,” he said. “The drought this summer throughout the country really dramatically underscores the need to maintain a strong safety net for the farmers so they have the confidence for their business going forward.”

Listen to an interview with Dennis here: Dennis Slater interview

A number of organization representatives and lawmakers are scheduled to speak at the rally on Wednesday. On the lawmaker side, those confirmed include Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson and South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem.

Join the Farm Bill Now Coalition Rally in DC

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As Congress gets back to work this week, the Farm Bill Now Coalition is ramping up for a rally the morning of September 12, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. With 46 groups and growing, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Pam Johnson of Floyd, Iowa said the rally is building on the momentum of the past few weeks.

During the rally, the groups will be telling legislators why this bill is so important, not just to agriculture, but to consumers. “Consumers have been hurting for quite a while with the general economy. And a Farm Bill provides certainty for farmers but it also makes sure we have certainty in our food system in food security,” said Johnson in an interview during the 2012 Farm Progress Show with Cindy Zimmerman.

Johnson believes that the industry is only going to see 60 percent of the crop they usually have. That is why, she said, there is no better year to write a Farm Bill with the devastating drought.

In the spring things were moving along and then a brick wall was hit. “We’re so close. Let’s rally around. Let’s start talking again. Let’s reconcile. Let’s compromise. And let’s get this Farm Bill done by September 30,” said Johnson.

Johnson added that there are choices out there, and this is why they advocated for a Farm Bill and reform in the Farm Bill. “Because this was to be only when farmers really needed help. And farmers really need help this year.”

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Pam Johnson here: Pam Johnson interview

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland and Monsanto Roundup Ready Plus

Syngenta Promotes Safety Benefits of Atrazine

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Have you visited the Oasis yet? Syngenta recently launched the website “Saving the Oasis” to promote the safety of using atrazine. During the Farm Progress Show, Cindy Zimmerman caught up with Ann Bryan of Syngenta to learn more about the campaign.

The website features several documentaries: “Atrazine and Water,” “Atrazine and Safety,” and “Atrazine and Food Safety”. The goal of the campaign is for people to watch, learn and decide for themselves if they believe atrazine is safe. As an added incentive, if people go and watch the videos this month, Syngenta will donate $5 to the Iowa Food Bank Association through the end of September.

Ann said they wanted to correct some misinformation that’s out there with the public about atrazine. So the company engaged some academic experts over the last couple of years and released their benefits studies last November. With this information in their arsenal, they decided to turn them into mini documentaries with a focus of some of the benefits of atrazine that many don’t know about.

For example, atrazine helps minimize soil erosion and helps to keep the soil from collapsing into waterways. Ann said it also protects the environment and helps to foster habitat development. It also helps to increase the yield of many crops including corn, sorghum and sugarcane. Lastly, Ann highlighted that with the increase in yields, growers can help to feed a growing population.

Now it is time for you to decide. You can learn more about atrazine by watching the mini-documentaries (and helping those hungry get fed) and by listening to Cindy’s interview with Ann: Saving the Oasis

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Key Tips for 2013 Growing Season

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There was a lot of talk during the Farm Progress Show this year about the epic drought and how it was impacting growers across the country. Brent Wilson, DuPont Pioneer technical services manager, was out interacting with growers and when talking with them heard quite often that they just want to put the epic drought of 2012 behind them.

That leads to the question, what should growers be doing to get prepared for 2013? Wilson responded by putting together a list of key things DuPont Pioneer agronomists are doing to help growers prepare for next season. One question that was asked and answered during the press conference was, What impact will the drought have on product positioning for 2013?

A product getting a lot of buzz during the show was Pioneer® brand Optimum® AQUAmax™ products. Wilson said while they were originally developed for the Western corn belt where you see lower yields, the product lineup can also offer top-end yield potential in optimal growing conditions.

Some other issues Wilson brought to the field to think about included understanding maturity issues, knowing what trait packages as far as insect and disease and herbicide resistance are available and learning about the newest genetics that can be incorporated into a growers lineup that will help to increase overall yield potential.

While I have simply posed the questions Wilson suggests asking, he also answered them. To hear more details about the key things growers should consider when planning for the 2013 growing season, listen to the full press conference. Key Tips for 2013 Growing Season

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland and Monsanto Roundup Ready Plus

Become a Carbon Farmer

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Do you ever sit around your kitchen table and contemplate other crops you might like to grow? Here is a novel idea – grow carbon. What you ask? Growers across the country are becoming carbon farmers as highlighted in the documentary film Carbon Nation. The film touts itself as a “climate change solutions movie that doesn’t even care if you believe in climate change.” Yet this movie does care about climate change. The narrator says, “We thought we had time to figure things out. Trouble is there is no more time. Climate change is happening now.”

While the film covers the custom gamut of climate change solutions from renewable energy to energy efficiency, it enters new territory by featuring “carbon farmers”. How might you become one of these? By adding wind turbines to your land, or solar panels to your operations or add an algae farm interspersed within your fields.

One of the featured growers was Cliff Etheredge, a cotton farmer, aka wind farmer, in Roscoe, Texas. He along with 400 other landowners are sharing in the payment royalties from wind energy production. “Farmers really do appreciate these things,” he says. This is dry land. We sit out here and pray for rain and cuss the wind. Now what we’ve been cussing all these years turned out to be a blessing.”

Continue reading →

Slunecka New Minnesota Soybean Grower Exec

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Tom Slunecka is taking the reins at the the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council as the new executive director. Prior to taking the helm of the soybean team on August 27, 2012, Slunecka was the vice president of marketing for PhibroChem where he focused on ethanol and animal agriculture. He also served as the executive director of the organization Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC).

“I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with these strong groups and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that agriculture will be faced with in the coming years,” said Slunecka, a long-time member of the biofuels and agricultural industry. “I am excited to help execute current and future research projects to bring new opportunities to Minnesota producers’ farm gate. Equally important is to continue to work with the strong leaders developing and implementing farm policies necessary to support soybean farmers’ profitability. I appreciate the opportunity to play a part in fulfilling the visions set forth by Minnesota Soybean.”

Slunecka is moving to Minnesota from Omaha and is a native of South Dakota. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Agriculture from South Dakota State University in Brookings and will bring his vast experience to the soybean industry.

“We are very happy to add a leader of the quality that Tom provides,” said MSGA President and Dodge County farmer Bruce Schmoll. “He is visionary and will help establish and achieve goals that will benefit soybean growers across Minnesota.”

“Ethanol Rocks” Video Contest at Farm Progress Show

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The annual Farm Progress Show is heading back to Iowa this week and Boone, Iowa will be swarming with thousands of attendees checking out the latest and greatest in agricultural and energy technologies and products. One group who will be showcasing its work is the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), a state affiliate of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Organizational employees will be educating members about what they are doing to help Iowa corn growers just inside the gate at booth 26N.

ICGA will also be promoting the “Ethanol Rocks” video contest open to high school and college students. Those students who attend the Farm Progress Show along with their coordinators can enter to win a Sony Handycam and NCGA backpack filled with just the right loot to get them started on their film career.

“With school starting, NCGA is taking this opportunity to reach out to high school and college students, along with FFA and Ag Club coordinators to sign up for our “Ethanol Rocks” video contest,” said NCGA First Vice President Pam Johnson. “In addition to finding out more about this program, show attendees can stop by the Iowa Corn Growers Association booth, visit with corn growers and learn what NCGA and Iowa Corn are doing to promote our industry at the national and state levels.”

The short videos should be two minutes or less and should highlight the benefits of ethanol fuel blends to the U.S. environment and economy. The first place winner will pocket $1,500 and the second place winner to take home $500. There will be winner for two categories: high school and college students. Videos must be received by 5:00 pm CDT, Monday, October 15, 2012.

In addition to getting the low-down on 411 for the Ethanol Rocks video contest, Farm Progress attendees can also stop by the ICGA booth to sign a petition to keep the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in place. There is also an opportunity to win free registration to the 2013 Commodity Classic and visitors can walk away with educational materials on programs, topics and policies affecting the corn industry.

Each day during the show, at 2:00 pm, ICGA will host membership VIP educational sessions where speakers from the Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team, CommonGround along with industry spokespersons will discuss how to involve the next generation in agriculture, discuss the economics of corn stover and learn about feed feasibility trials using corn stover.

The ZimmComm team will be posting live this week from the Farm Progress Show so don’t miss out on the one-of-a-kind coverage only Chuck and Cindy can bring.

How Biofuel Production Helps Livestock Producers

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The Midwest has finally been getting rain, but not in time to reverse the state of the corn crop due to the nationwide drought. Yet, biofuel producers are still helping livestock producers says Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Because of ethanol production, there is a larger corn crop and more flexible supply than ever available during other drought periods.

The recent USDA report confirms what the agricultural and biofuels industry already knew – that the drought’s impact on supply and price will be felt by corn consumers around the world. Shaw added, “Yet, the ag sector has seen droughts before, and it will survive again. This is a time when all of agriculture should pull together. Unfortunately, national livestock trade associations have chosen to politicize the on-going drought as part of their multi-year effort to return corn prices to $2 per bushel. At times like this, it is important to look past the rhetoric to the facts.”

During the American Coalition 25th Annual Ethanol Conference, Cindy Zimmerman sat down with Shaw to discuss the call for a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) with many of the calls coming from the livestock industry. They also discussed 10 ways ethanol producers are helping livestock producers during this tough time.

Monte Shaw interview at ACE conference

“In particular ethanol helps the farmer-feeders. We have a better price of corn. It makes them more competitive against the integrators,” explained Shaw. “But then we also have the distillers grains. And if you think about it, we planted 95 million acres of corn this year instead of 75 million because of ethanol. So yes, we’re taking a nasty hit from this drought and this is going to cause pain among all corn users, but we’re going to have a much bigger crop than we would have otherwise.”

“And then the ethanol industry returns that 20 million additional acres of protein goes straight to the livestock industry. So we have 20 additional acres of protein that would not be out in the market, the feed market, if it weren’t for the ethanol industry,” he added. Continue reading →

AFBF Reacts to Corn & Soybean Outlook

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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists says today’s USDA crop forecast is a “harbinger of volatility in global grain markets.”

“There is an old saying in commodity markets that small crops tend to get smaller,” said AFBF economist Todd Davis. “If this holds true, then future reports will show declining projected production for corn and soybeans and further reductions in projected demand. This will also mean higher projected prices and great volatility in the commodity markets as demand is rationed and more supply is encouraged worldwide.”

Farmers in South America are taking note of the lowered corn and soybean projections of the U.S. and Davis believes this will be the basis for much attention and speculation.

“A bountiful South American corn and soybean crop should ease the pressure for exports from the U.S. and will help relieve concern over tight stocks,” said Davis. “As always, weather will be the focus both in the North American crops as well as in South America,” he cautioned.

USDA now forecasts U.S. corn production at 10.8 billion bushels, down 13 percent from 2011 and the lowest estimated production levels since 2006. Soybean production is now estimated to be 2.69 billion bushels, down 12 percent from 2011 and the lowest production since 2007.

Chillin In My Corn Watch

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While Cindy and Chuck are traveling around the country bringing you real agricultural news, I’m chillin on this beautiful day in my corn watch. Yes, you heard me right, I have an environmentally friendly watch that is partly made from corn.

Sprout Watches manufactures a line of eco-friendly watches that contain corn resin and bamboo. The watches come in multiple colors, but I chose white because of its neat design on the watch face. Each color watch has a different earth themed design to go along with its earth themed materials.

But back to the corn resin. It’s used as a component of the plastic, rather than using petroleum-based products. Nice, right?  Sprout promotes the technology on its website and notes that corn resin pellets sequester far less fossil fuel and emits much less greenhouse gases.  In addition, the watches are biodegradable and will not leach toxins into the ground. If you want to learn more, they have some neat graphics to demonstrate the process from stalk to watch.

So why am I sharing this story with you? Because it is another example of what our corn farmers across the country are bringing us today and a glimpse of what they will be helping to bring to use in the future – a myriad of products that are petroleum free.

Book Review – Cows Can’t Quack

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“Cows can’t quack…but they can moo,” begins Cows Can’t Quack, the second delightful children’s book written by Dave Reisman. In my esteem, this book is another winner but who am I to judge at my age? No, I will not delve that information, oh faithful reader. However I will admit I found the illustrations (Jason A. Maas) absolutely charming.

Quinn H. Reading "Cows Can't Quack"

To really test out the merits of the book, I enlisted one of my closest friends, 4 year old Quinn H. It was a HIT! She jumped around the room making the sounds and motions of the animal of each page. Her favorite animals were reprised over and over again in the book until our fun was shut down for bed time. After she was tucked in, I quietly stole away with the book, but I won’t be a grinch. The next time I see her we will read it again and it will be left behind to become a favorite in her library.

For those of you with young children in your lives, this is definitely a book to buy and give as a gift (or keep tucked away in your home for when you have visitors). And if you haven’t already, consider also picking up Reisman’s first book, Cows Can’t Jump. I can’t wait to read his next book and I’m sure readers, you won’t be disappointed either.

Bedford Launches New Solutions Focused Website

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There are two launches today – the Farm Progress Show kicked off in Decatur, Illinois this morning and Bedford Reinforced Plastics has unveiled its new solution-oriented website – a perfect tool for growers.

Many in the agribusiness arena may not be familiar with Bedford. The company manufacturers custom FRP (fiberglass-reinforced polymers) for many different industries. But the company actually has its roots in agriculture. This I learned from Eric Kidd, the Director of Marketing for Bedford.

The founder of the company was a dairy farmer and when he started the business, they started out making fencing. Last couple of years Kidd said they have been working with fertilizer companies because fertilizer is a very corrosive material and their FRP doesn’t corrode. Bedford is also a good fit for poultry barns and other livestock sheds – going from the traditional wood structure to a non-corrosive FRP structure.

“Poultry feces is very corrosive so you’re constantly replacing many parts of the barns,” said Kidd. “Whether replacing one wood structure at a time or building a brand new building from composites, you don’t have to deal with maintenance issues.”

Listen to my interview with Eric Kidd here: Bedford Launches New Solutions Focused Website

Other unique areas the company has a solution for – blackberry growers. Bedford was approached by Trellis Growing Systems when the company was looking for a unique material to become a major component of their RCA (Rotating Cross Arm) System. This trellis technology now allows farmers to grow blackberries in the Midwest and one reason is that FRP is not affected by extreme weather conditions.

FRP isn’t a cheap building material, but for those ag customers who have built structures with the material, the money has been well spent. Kidd said a grower must have a significant need and his sales team works with you to evaluate your operations and determine if FRP is a good fit. This is the same philosophy that has been carried through to their new website – custom FRP design for a grower’s custom needs.

Click here to view Bedford in Action at the 2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album.


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems