Ag equipment has been running on biodiesel during the Farm Progress Show for a number of years, but this year is the first year machinery will be operating on a B20 blend at the show. Growmark is this year’s official Farm Progress Show fuel sponsor. Mark Dehner, Marketing Manger Refined and Renewable Fuels for Growmark, says the company is using a B20 blend of biodiesel at this year’s event to showcase the value of alternative fuels for farmers nationwide. It’s simple economics he says. Biodiesel generates more use and demand for energy crops, particularly soybeans. And that, he says, means added value for the farmers. Plus, Mark points out that manufacturers are making more equipment that’s compatible with biodiesel blends.
“We’re seeing more and more engine manufacturers endorse a B20 blend of biodiesel,” Mark said.
I spoke Mark about why Growmark believes biodiesel is an important fueling resource for farmers. You can listen to my interview with Mark here:
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Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board (left) and Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones (right) were two of the competitors out here at the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race today.
I spoke to both of them before their competition runs and will post my interview with Chuck later. In this post you can watch Joe give it all he had this year, which was good but just a tad short. I’m betting he’ll be back though. He really commends Michael Peterson for being such an advocate for renewable fuels like biodiesel (the tractor was running on B20) and also New Holland for their support. He says that this country music audience is a great one to expose to the message.
Listen to my interview with Joe:
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We know that renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel are good, right? That’s the premise of a new website that is launched today - GoodFuels.
Addressing America’s dependence on foreign oil will require many solutions. A solution at our disposal today, and one that is already making significant contributions, is the increased production and use of biofuels like ethanol. Ethanol is already reducing our dependence on foreign oil by hundreds of millions of barrels per year and helping to keep oil and gasoline prices lower than they might otherwise be.
GoodFuels.org seeks to provide a thoughtful and comprehensive discussion of all the issues surrounding biofuels and their important role in our energy future, as well as be a resource for information, news and research pertaining to developments in biofuels.
Diesel consumers wanting to alleviate soaring fuel prices and high grocery bills should consider using biodiesel. The Missouri Soybean Association says biodiesel helps extend the nation’s limited fuel supply. Plus, it creates an abundance of livestock feed.
The state’s House Transportation Committee recently held a hearing on legislation that would require all diesel fuel sold in Missouri to be blended with 5 percent biodiesel fuel. Dave Drennan, executive director of the Missouri Dairy Association, testified in support of the biodiesel legislation.
“As more soybeans are crushed to meet the demands of biodiesel producers, more soybean meal is made available to livestock producers in greater quantities… By increasing the supply of soybean meal, biodiesel helps dairy producers keep costs down,” said Drennan.
High fuel prices have also impacted dairy prices. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, 85 percent of all products that are produced and purchased in the state are shipped by diesel-powered trucks. Despite local dairy production, Missouri is a milk-deficit state and imports 1.7 billion pounds of milk from other states each year.
According to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, rising usage of soybean oil to produce biodiesel has strengthened soybean oil prices while weakening soybean meal prices. This means more livestock feed is available at lower prices. Soybean meal is created when soybeans are crushed to extract the oil needed for biodiesel. Soybean oil is the only part of the soybean needed to produce biodiesel. For every gallon of biodiesel that is produced, 4 gallons of livestock feed are created.
Ed Hegland is a farmer from Minnesota and currently serving as Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board. He stopped by the New Holland booth here at the Commodity Classic trade show where I got to talk to him about how equipment manufacturers are supporting biodiesel.
Ed says that as a farmer he’s excited to see companies like New Holland and others following their lead to step up and help promote the use of biodiesel, a farm product.
I asked him what other things these companies can do besides providing warranty support for 100% biodiesel. He says that education would be one thing. He thinks the manufacturers need to make sure that dealers and distributors get the right information on usage and handling of biodiesel so customers will learn it and to make sure that they stress quality.
Listen to my interview with Ed Hegland here:
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AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: and
There are actually a good number of ag journalists here at the National Biodiesel Conference this year - more than usual.
Of course, we had our good friends from AgriTalk, seen here interviewing NBB CEO Joe Jobe for Monday’s show. They did a show Tuesday also and then took off to head for Reno for the Cattlemen’s meeting.
Other farm broadcasters included Tom Steever from Brownfield Network and Dale Minyo with Ohio Ag Net.
On the print side, we had lots of hard working folks like Greg Lamp with Corn and Soybean Digest, seen here on a conference call with Diane Johnson planning the 2009 IFAJ meeting in Dallas. Yes, he is working harder than it might appear!
Others on hand were Mike Wilson with Farm Futures, our former intern Margy Fischer with Farm Journal, and an old friend of ours from the Florida days, Jerry Jackson with the Orlando Sentinel. It was great to see Jerry again. He has been covering the ag beat for the Sentinel for as long as I can remember.
This is the first time since we’ve been biodiesel blogging that I can’t be at the National Biodiesel Conference but Cindy and John are there and boy have they been posting some content. You can see posts like this one on the National Biodiesel Conference Blog.
Green actress and “sustainable summiteer” Daryl Hannah has been a part of every National Biodiesel Conference since the beginning and this year was no different.
“We need to educate ourselves in sustainable feedstocks, production and distribution models,” said Daryl. “We need to take the lead and rebuild the faith and the promise of biodiesel. We need to support the still endangered smaller scale family farmers that are the heart of America, show that garbage can be turned into gold and that we can create a homegrown fuel that reduces emissions and helps preserve the health of future generations.”
Listen to Daryl’s remarks here:
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I’ll be Rushing off to Reno early on Monday to attend the Cattle Industry Convention once again. You’ll be able to follow all the action right here on AgWired.
I’ll also be the Beef Board Blogger on Beef Board Meeting.com. This will be the third year that the Cattlemen’s Beef Board has blogged their activities at this major national event which includes interviews and copies of all their committee activities. It’s transparent communications at its finest.
While I’m in Reno, Cindy and John Davis will be in Orlando for the National Biodiesel Conference. I’ve been the Biodiesel Blogger for a couple years for them but this year we’ve got a conflict so Cindy and John will be taking care of the duties there.
The Renewable Fuels Now Coalition is a group of organizations and associations that support the need for a balanced energy diet in America. ZimmComm New Media is proud to be assisting the group in its efforts.
A new coalition that supports increased use of domestically produced renewable fuels says nearly three out of four Americans want renewable fuels.
According to a new national poll released today by the Renewable Fuels Now coalition, 74 percent of Americans believe we should increase our use of domestically produced renewable fuels like ethanol.
In addition, 87 percent of Americans maintain the federal government should actively support the development of a renewable fuels industry in this country, and 77 percent think Congress should encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their gasoline products.
Renewable Fuels Now is a coalition representing the ethanol, biodiesel, agriculture and other industries that support increased use of domestically produced renewable fuels as part of a balanced energy policy for America. The Coalition’s members include the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), 20/20 Vision, Wisconsin BioIndustry Alliance, Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC), Kansas Association of Ethanol, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, IndyCar Series, Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association, Ohio Corn Growers Association, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, and Northwest Renewable Fuels Association.
ZimmComm New Media is assisting the new coalition with internal member communications and media outreach.
I was going to try to ignore Jean Ziegler the ignoramus from the United Nations when he came out and said that making biofuels from food crops is a “crime against humanity” but . . . it does make me mad and I think it should piss off all American farmers at least. Of course there’s not much about the UN that I think highly of anyway. Here’s a link to the story on AP.
NCGA is rightly incensed by this and their CEO, Rick Tolman has some appropriate words on the issue.
“It is a travesty when an official makes public statements that are so irresponsible, so inaccurate and so inappropriately damning,” he added. “The statements ‘crime against humanity’ and ‘catastrophe of the massacre (by) hunger in the world’ are not to be used lightly or in such an irresponsible manner. If this is an example of how Mr. Ziegler carries out his responsibilities, he should resign his post immediately. Hunger is not something to trifle with and those in positions of responsibility need to be accountable in their statements.”
The Clean Fuels Development Coalition says a majority of Americans support recent campaigns for renewable fuels. The company says that a new poll conducted by Harris Interactive demonstrates that nearly nine in 10 American adults (88 percent) agree that the U.S. should pursue renewable energy sources.
The poll, commissioned by the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, concludes that 72 percent of adults believe that higher oil prices have had a substantial impact on the rising cost of food in recent months, compared to only 35 percent who believe ethanol production has had a significant impact on rising food prices.
The poll asked 2,199 U.S. adults about their attitudes regarding ethanol. Other results indicate that nearly eight in 10 adults (78 percent) believe usage of ethanol would lessen the country’s dependence on foreign oil.
Energy policy is at the forefront of national debate with pending energy legislation expected to hit congressional calendars this fall. The Senate- approved version of the energy bill contains a provision mandating the use of 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022.
The production of biofuels plays a key role in both rural development and national security for one Pennsylvania agriculture official. Executive Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture says investing in homegrown biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, translates into the investment in domestic, local economies. Redding was referencing the benefits of biofuel production in the wake of PA Governor Edward G. Rendell’s PennSecurity Fuels Initiative.
Testifying before the state House Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy, Redding said that Governor Edward G. Rendell’s PennSecurity Fuels Initiative, part of his Energy Independence Strategy, will support the production of nearly one billion gallons of renewable transportation fuels annually.
“For every dollar we don’t send overseas, that’s another dollar we can use to grow Pennsylvania’s economy,” said Redding, noting that the United States imports 60 percent of its oil, with Pennsylvania spending $30 billion annually on liquid fuels produced beyond the state’s borders. “Depending on fossil fuels from countries that are politically unstable or controlled by regimes hostile to America’s interests is a danger to our national security. Under Governor Rendell’s plan, our farmers, local communities, biofuel manufacturers, and trucking and rail industries all win, while curbing our reliance on foreign oil.”
Under the Governor’s PennSecurity Fuels Initiative, every gallon of gasoline sold in Pennsylvania will include 10 percent ethanol once in-state production reaches 200 million gallons per year; with incremental increases up to 20 percent once annual production reaches 300 million gallons.
The Chairman and CEO of ConoPhillips will speak on “Our Shared Energy Future” before the Detroit Economic Club on Wednesday October 3, 2007. James Mulva will discuss current U.S. energy policy and layout plans for incorporating renewable fuels at Burton Manor in Livonia, MI.
In a speech titled, “Our Shared Energy Future,” Mr. Mulva will describe the shortcomings of current U.S. energy policy, and why this is a critical issue for other industries and all citizens. He will also call for a new, comprehensive national energy policy that incorporates four major tenets: diversifying our energy sources, including fossil fuels as well as renewable and alternative forms of energy; lowering the carbon intensity of our energy supplies; improving the efficiency of energy use throughout the U.S. economy; and the critical need for greater government and private investment in technology and education.
ConocoPhillips is the third-largest integrated energy company in the United States, based on market capitalization, oil and gas proved reserves and production; and the second-largest refiner in the United States.
The Detroit Economic Club was formed in 1934 as a platform for the discussion and debate of important business, government and social issues. It is known internationally as a top speaking forum for prominent business and government leaders, who address members and their guests at the Club’s 35 meetings a season.
Chuck and Cindy have been providing international ag coverage for the past several weeks, and in November, it will be my turn. I’m planning to join John Deere at the preview days for the 2007 Agritechnica exhibition in Hanover, Germany. Agritechnica leadership is getting excited about the event and about the record setting number of exhibitors. Dr. Reinhard Grandke, Chief Executive Officer of the German Agricultural Society, says that, with more than 2,111 exhibitors, Agritechnica has grown by 39 percent. Grandke adds that the event’s overall growth is due, in large part, from the growth in international exhibitors - which has jumped up 65 percent from last year.
“This makes Agritechnica not only a platform for innovation with the latest technology, but also a source of ideas and inspiration for the key issues of the future in agriculture and agriculture technology. It is also the forum for the farmers of the future, seeking to use new, technology-based strategies to exploit new potentials for efficient farming in their locations and specializations.”
“The future development of the agricultural machinery market will depend on the development of the local agricultural machinery markets, which are becoming more and more relevant. Whether the commitment of many farmers in bioenergy production pays off must be scrutinized carefully, and it remains to be seen whether some biogas plants are really profitable or rather pose a financial risk.”
“Many manufacturers [are] presenting numerous novelties with a high degree of innovativeness. These include several trend-setting world innovations. These involve special-purpose, efficient and intelligent machines and processes. Their aim is to economise on production inputs and achieve higher yield security. It is no longer a question of simply developing machines which are bigger and wider. Instead, what is wanted is performance and flexibility through innovative technologies.”
The more information I receive and read from the FAO, the more I’m disillusioned with the whole organization. I think there’s a lot of well-meaning people there but between them and the Organization for Economic Co-operation (OECD) I’m now more inclined to put them in the whacko classification. Take their “OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook - 2007-2016″ report that’s already being quoted and used by the people who want to bash the development of biofuels, most especially ethanol. The report devotes quite a bit of misguided text to the subject of biofuels. Additionally, they’ve issued a background paper from their 20th meeting of the Round Table on Sustainable Development, held at the OECD on September 11-12 titled, “Biofuels - is the cure worse than the disease?” (pdf). It states, “The conclusion must be that the potential of the current technologies of choice — ethanol and biodiesel — to deliver a major contribution to the energy demands of the transport sector without compromising food prices and the environment is very limited.”
I’ve been to FAO headquarters and have followed them over the years. The United States is one of the biggest financial contributors to it but in my experience the organization seems to often go out of its way to criticize our country. I have no desire to visit OECD headquarters. Guess where they’re located. This latest report consists of a serious amount of wild speculation using assumptions. For example, look at this section from the Outlook report:
This Outlook does not analyse the developments in the biofuels sector, but treats biofuel production through implicit and exogenous assumptions in a number of countries. In particular these include the US, the EU, Canada and China, while ethanol production in Brazil is an explicit part of the sugar baseline.
US
The US is assumed to substantially increase its ethanol production, which predominantly is based on domestic maize. Ethanol output and corresponding maize use is assumed to grow by almost 50% in2007, and while growth rates are assumed to decline thereafter, US ethanol production is still assumed to double between 2006 and 2016 (Figure1.2). This expansion would exceed the requirements stated in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by far. In consequence, maize use for fuel production, which has doubled from2003, would increase from some 55Mt or one-fifth of maize production in 2006 to 110Mt or 32% at the end of the projection period.
Bio-diesel production, in contrast, is assumed to remain relatively limited in the US, due to lower profitability caused by high feedstock costs. Soya oil use for bio-diesel production is expected to reach 2Mt in2007 and to further increase to 2.3Mt in2011, with no growth assumed for the remaining projection years.
You’ve got to love those “exogenous assumptions.” This makes me think back to one of my favorite college teachers, Mr. Frank Counts. He hammered into our heads that to assume is to make an “ass” of “u” and “me.” This whole report is based on assumptions rather than what I would consider credible science but since it’s such a liberal group the whackos with an anti-ethanol agenda are already quoting it like it’s gospel.
Take this twit who writes for ReportonBusiness.com who states, “A small army of scientists and environmentalists has warned for years that ethanol, especially of the corn-based variety so popular in North America, is, at best, misleading advertising, at worst, a crime against nature and taxpayers alike.” Army? More like a group of whackos with an agenda who cater to people like this guy.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns visited around while he was here at the Farm Progress Show. One of his stops was the New Holland tent to see Jay Leno’s Ecojet, the concept car that runs on 100% biodiesel.
Pictured (l-r) are Alan Kemper, VP of the American Soybean Association, Harold Boyanovsky, CEO of CNH, Sec. Johanns and Ricky “Skip” Tyler who travels with the car. They’re looking at the jet engine that powers this muscle car.
I asked Sec. Johanns what he thinks of a company like New Holland working with an entertainer like Jay Leno to promote biodiesel.
You can listen to Secretary Johanns reply here:
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New Holland’s Gene Hemhill is responsible for bringing the farm equipment company together with Jay Leno and so I asked him what this means to New Holland.
You can listen to Gene’s reply here:
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The Director of Ag Industry Relations for John Deere is Don Borgman. Here he is getting interviewed by Mike LaPorte, KRVN.
Don says that although biofuels isn’t a real focus for John Deere at their product launch what’s going on in the development of biofuel products is having a real impact on their business. He highly recommends that producers use a blend of biodiesel in their John Deere equipment.
You can listen to my interview with Don here:
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Hello from the American Coalition for Ethanol convention in St. Paul, MN. Before I get into some ethanol coverage though I’ve got a biodiesel story for you.
You might remember that I went out to Burbank earlier this year with Joe Jobe, National Biodiesel Board and Gene Hemphill, New Holland to visit Jay Leno’s Garage. While we were there Jay shot one of his website videos with Joe and they talked a lot about biodiesel. That video is now online for your viewing pleasure.
I think you’ll find that Jay is a very big fan of renewable fuels.
I got this photo from Joe Jobe at the National Biodiesel Board while we were in Nashville at the CMA Music Festival and stuck it in a note pad and just found it this afternoon.
This is from when we were on the set with Jay Leno recently before going with him to his garage after the show.
It’s a scan from a print. The Tonight Show photographer will only send photos to one person and we elected Joe to be the photo distributor. Thanks Joe.
Cindy attended the AEM AgExecutive Forum in St. Louis and captured it in photos.
Dairy Expo Talk
This week's program features a couple of interviews from World Dairy Expo.
First up is Stephanie Gable, who talks about her new job with Novus International, then it's Lindsay Hill, who talks about the new website and brand decisions at ABN Radio.
Ag equipment has been running on biodiesel during the Farm Progress Show for a number of years, but this year is the first year machinery will be operating on a B20 blend at the show. Growmark is this year’s official Farm Progress Show fuel sponsor. Mark Dehner, Marketing Manger Refined and Renewable Fuels for Growmark, says the company is using a B20 blend of biodiesel at this year’s event to showcase the value of alternative fuels for farmers nationwide. It’s simple economics he says. Biodiesel generates more use and demand for energy crops, particularly soybeans. And that, he says, means added value for the farmers. Plus, Mark points out that manufacturers are making more equipment that’s compatible with biodiesel blends.
and 
Joe Jobe, CEO of the 
We know that renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel are good, right? That’s the premise of a new website that is launched today - 
Ed Hegland is a farmer from Minnesota and currently serving as Chairman of the 
There are actually a good number of ag journalists here at the National Biodiesel Conference this year - more than usual. 
On the print side, we had lots of hard working folks like Greg Lamp with Corn and Soybean Digest, seen here on a conference call with Diane Johnson planning the 2009 IFAJ meeting in Dallas. Yes, he is working harder than it might appear!
This is the first time since we’ve been biodiesel blogging that I can’t be at the National Biodiesel Conference but Cindy and John are there and boy have they been posting some content. You can see posts like this one on the 
I’ll be Rushing off to Reno early on Monday to attend the 
While I’m in Reno, Cindy and John Davis will be in Orlando for the 
The 
A new coalition that supports increased use of domestically produced renewable fuels says nearly three out of four Americans want renewable fuels.
I was going to try to ignore Jean Ziegler the ignoramus from the 
The Clean Fuels Development Coalition says a majority of Americans support recent campaigns for renewable fuels. The company says that a new poll conducted by 
The production of biofuels plays a key role in both rural development and national security for one Pennsylvania agriculture official. Executive Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture says investing in homegrown biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, translates into the investment in domestic, local economies. Redding was referencing the benefits of biofuel production in the wake of PA Governor Edward G. Rendell’s 
The Chairman and CEO of 
ConocoPhillips is the third-largest integrated energy company in the United States, based on market capitalization, oil and gas proved reserves and production; and the second-largest refiner in the United States. 
Chuck and Cindy have been providing international ag coverage for the past several weeks, and in November, it will be my turn. I’m planning to join 
The more information I receive and read from the FAO, the more I’m disillusioned with the whole organization. I think there’s a lot of well-meaning people there but between them and the Organization for Economic Co-operation (OECD) I’m now more inclined to put them in the whacko classification. Take their 
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns visited around while he was here at the Farm Progress Show. One of his stops was the New Holland tent to see Jay Leno’s Ecojet, the concept car that runs on 100% biodiesel.
The Director of Ag Industry Relations for John Deere is Don Borgman. Here he is getting interviewed by Mike LaPorte, 
Hello from the 
I got this photo from Joe Jobe at the 
This week's program features a couple of interviews from World Dairy Expo.
