RFA Ethanol Podcast

Biotechnology Feeds Sustainability, Feeds the World

Laura McNamara

Thirty-three percent of the land’s surface is used for food production. That’s the figure that John Hoffman, Iowa farmer and President of the American Soybean Association puts out there. He says that 33 percent makes up 55 percent of the land that’s arable. So, we’re already using more than half the arable land out there to feed the world. Much …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Biotech, Environment, Farm Progress Show, Farm Shows, Farming, Technology

The Art and Science of Soil Conservation

Laura McNamara

The air we breath is often taken for granted. And, Peggy James, Natural Resources Conservation Service liaison to The Nature Conservancy says, so too are non-profits. “Non-profits are like air,” Peggy said. “They’re all around us but we hardly notice it. They are an integral part of a healthy, artistic, viably economic, productive society working towards sustainability.” Sustainability, Peggy says, …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Farm Shows, Farming, International

Infrared Mapping for Carbon

Laura McNamara

Veris Technologies is doing what any committed any company specializing in agricultural technology should do: it’s thinking ahead and developing products it anticipates farmers will need in the near future. Representative Eric Lund says that’s why Veris has developed near infrared mapping. The technology is designed primarily for mapping soil carbon, a need that Eric explains might not be relevant …

Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Farming, Research, Technology

Forecasting for Farming Success

Laura McNamara

There are two kinds of information that are important for Pessl Instruments: “ground truth” and expected forecasts. The Austria-based company claims that it offers a one-of-a-kind tool for farmers: “What we do is we measure the ground truth,” Gottfried Pessl, President of Pessl Instruments said. “That means what’s going on actually on the field of the farmers but we now …

Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Equipment, Farming, International, Technology, Weather

Ag Steward of the Chortí Maya

Laura McNamara

There is a group of indigenous people in Honduras that live off an average of $300 a year… less than one dollar a day. At least two months out of every year they starve. That’s the reality as Billy Collins sees it. Billy has been working with the Chortí Maya, the direct descendants of the Mayan Indians, for five years. …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Corn, Education, Environment, Farming, Food, Forestry, International, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Help Flooded Farmers in the Midwest

Laura McNamara

Willie Nelson is sending out pleas for help. He’s calling for donations to help family farmers that are being devastated by severe weather and flooding in the Midwest. Severe weather in nine Midwestern states is devastating family farmers. Disastrous floods in Iowa and Wisconsin have hit farmers especially hard–more than 30 counties in Iowa alone have already been declared federal …

Ag Groups, Environment, Farming, Weather

Deere Goes Greener

Laura McNamara

Deere equipment isn’t the only thing that’s green about John Deere. The ag company has announced its plans to reduce its total global greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent per dollar of revenue from 2005 to 2014. The company has committed to the reduction goal in conjunction with its participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program, which …

Environment, John Deere

Celebrate Food the Slow Way

Laura McNamara

San Francisco is hosting the largest celebration of American food in U.S. history. Slow Food Nation is expected to attract tens of thousands in an experience that highlights the connections between plate and planet. The celebration is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, August 29 through September 1, 2008. The majority of Slow Food Nation’s events will be free and open …

Ag Groups, Environment, Food

Do a Carbon Belch on June 12

Chuck Zimmerman

This is just too good to pass on letting you in on it. Carbon Belch Day. I love it. I know you may think it’s a little over the top but then how would you describe what the whacko climate change alarmists, who’s real goal is to control society, are doing? Let’s have a little bit of balance. One of …

Energy, Environment

Tree Farmer of The Year

Laura McNamara

The 2008 Washington State Tree Farmer of the Year goes to David Robbins of The Hama Hama Tree Farm. The Washington Farm Forestry Association says the award is meant to recognize David’s exceptional commitment to enhance his forest land. The tree farm is mostly composed of Douglas-fir with scattered stands of alder, hemlock and cedar, and supports a sustainable harvest …

Ag Groups, Environment, Farming