Biodiesel Falls Under Minnesota Ag Marketing & Development

Cindy Zimmerman

Fields of soybeans surround the newly re-opened Renewable Energy Group REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in southern Minnesota, serving as a reminder of where the renewable fuel is rooted. Christina Connelly with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Ag Marketing and Development Division attended the grand re-opening Monday of the 30 million gallon a year plant, which was shut down in …

Biodiesel, Biofuels, Soybean

Minnesota Biodiesel Plant Means Jobs

Cindy Zimmerman

The one four-letter word we hear more than any other these days is “JOBS” and that is what the re-opening of a southern Minnesota biodiesel plant this week is all about. At the opening celebration of the Renewable Energy Group (REG) REG Albert Lea facility on Monday, Minnesota state representative Rich Murray (left) and local Chamber of Commerce Executive Director …

Audio, Biodiesel, Soybean

Biodiesel Adds Value to Minnesota Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Energy Group (REG) celebrated the official grand opening of REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in Minnesota on Monday, with representatives of the state and local community and agriculture industry. REG President and COO Dan Oh (right) says the plant was shut down in 2008 when economic woes hit the biodiesel industry, but REG felt it was a significant …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Soybean, USB, Video

Minnesota Soybean Growers to Celebrate Biodiesel Plant Re-Opening

Cindy Zimmerman

Minnesota soybean growers will be in attendance Monday at the grand re-opening of a soy biodiesel plant in Albert Lea that was shut down in 2008. The Renewable Energy Group (REG) acquired the former SoyMor production facility earlier this year, which is now known as REG Albert Lea, LLC. The company will be celebrating the grand re-opening of the plant …

Biodiesel, Soybean

Biotech and Trade on Minds of Soybean Farmers

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the many farmer leaders who stopped by the media tent at Farm Progress show was Steve Wellman, a soybean producer from Syracuse, Nebraska who is First Vice President of the American Soybean Association (ASA). I chatted with Steve about some of the issues on his mind these days. At the top of the list is approval of biotech …

ASA, Audio, Biotech, Farm Progress Show, Soybean

Growers Learn From Illinois Soybean Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

Some of the high yielding innovators in the 2010 Illinois Soybean Yield Challenge were at the 2011 Farm Progress Show to talk about the program and what they learned. The Shipman Elevator Team, sponsored by BASF, took first place in District 6 last year and also won the Novel Practices Award in the challenge funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff. …

Audio, BASF, Farm Progress Show, Soybean

Politics at Farm Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm Progress Show is always a great venue for policy makers to meet with farmers and talk about issues important to them, like a new farm bill and government regulations. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Garry Niemeyer brought his own U.S. Representative Bobby Schilling (R-IL) in for a press conference on Tuesday to share some of perspectives …

Audio, Corn, Farm Bill, Farm Progress Show, NCGA, Soybean

Farm Progress Show Deal for Illinois Soybean Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

The Illinois Soybean Association is offering a special deal for Illinois farmers to become members during Farm Progress Show that offers a pretty substantial return on investment. “For $145, they’re going to get a three year membership,” says ISA chairman Matt Hughes of Shirley, Illinois. “They also get a free toy semi, $100 worth of free biodiesel and 100 units …

Audio, Farm Progress Show, Soybean

New Ideas for Promoting Soybean Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

The final session of the US Soybean Export Council Animal Utilization Stakeholders meeting in Seattle this past weekend focused on a discussion of new ideas to promote soybean exports in the future. As chairman of the United Soybean Board International Marketing Committee, Jim Call of Minnesota split his time between the animal utilization and the human utilization meetings. “I think …

Audio, Feed, International, Livestock, Poultry, Soybean, USB