Deere Funds Innovation Center

Laura McNamara

John DeereA $1 million grant from John Deere will fund the development of a new John Deere Technology Innovation Center at the University of Illinois. Illini students and faculty will use the center for studies and research in agriculture, business, engineering and information technology.

The new facility, which is expected to be ready by July, is located in the
University Research Park in Champaign, Illinois and will create an accelerated
innovation environment to assist Deere in utilizing advanced electronics, mechatronics,
advanced sensors and control systems technology.

Deere said the new technology innovation center in Champaign will expand its
capabilities to respond to the rapidly changing environment for John Deere’s customers
and businesses through leveraging the capabilities of the University.

John Deere says the new center will serve as a satellite facility for the company’s Moline Technology Innovation Center, which is located on John Deere’s World Headquarters campus in Moline, IL.

Ag Groups, Education, John Deere, Technology

Chewing Some Argentina Cud

Chuck Zimmerman

Amanda NolzThis agriblogger is getting a taste of life in Argentina this summer. Mandy Nolz publishes, Chewing The Cud. Here’s what she’s doing down south, “For the month of June, I will explore the city of Buenos Aires to attend Spanish classes, live with a host family, and complete my goal of studying abroad during my college career.”

She’s already had some interesting observations about the differences in life there versus here. For example:

What surprised me the most, is the true understanding these city folks have of rural South America. If you haven´t heard, the government in Argentina continually butts heads with the agriculturalists. Due to the high export taxes, farmers have a hard time making money when the government is so focused on keeping domestic prices low for the consumer. As a result, there have been protests, strikes, and much fighting done by the ranchers in order to change things for the better.

As a former Beef Ambassador, she has her priorities right.

They eat beef, they are aware of how it is produced, and they support the ranchers. Does it get any better than that? If you are reading this, please take note and begin to educate the people of your community about agriculture. It is time that we have our voice in the heart and souls of the cities in America. If not, where does the future of agriculture rest? Ciao, from Argentina!

International

NAMA Facebook Group

Chuck Zimmerman

FacebookI just joined the NAMA Facebook Group. It was started by Erin Koglin, Michigan State University and already has 161 members.

As she describes it, “For all those of you who are members, were members, or just support members of the National Agri-Marketing Association! Go NAMA!”

So get friendly and connected online.

NAMA

Connie Siemes Secretary for IFAJ

Chuck Zimmerman

Connie SiemesThe International Federation of Agricultural Journalists continues to develop. Now they’ve got a part time secretary, Connie Siemes, Netherlands.

The IFAJ has appointed Connie Siemes from The Netherlands as part-time secretary to assist the Presidium and the Executive Committee for two days a week. Eleven people from eight countries applied for the new position, which will involve providing a range of administrative and support services to the IFAJ and its members.

“There were 11 applicants from eight countries, so we were really impressed with the diversity among the candidates,” said vice president, Mike Wilson, who was part of a special committee formed to identify the best candidate. “Our job was to seek applications for the new post and we were delighted at the quality of applicants we had,” added president David Markey.

Connie is the wife of IFAJ executive member, Hans Siemes. She regularly attends IFAJ events and played an important role in organizing the annual congress hosted by The Netherlands in 2003. She speaks English fluently, is good in German and has some French, which will be useful in her role liaising with affiliated guilds around the world.

Her appointment to the IFAJ means there is a new secretarial address. People can now write to the IFAJ care of P.O. Box 205, 6920 AE Duiven, The Netherlands.

IFAJ, International

Speed Networking at NAMA Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

If you’re looking ahead at your travel plans then don’t forget about NAMA Boot Camp.

ZimmComm New Media/AgWired is a sponsor again this year. We’ll be sponsoring the opening reception/session on Speed Networking. Good networking skills are essential and in case you don’t know how to introduce yourself and exchange business cards, you’ll have a chance to learn how and practice. Additionally, you’ll hear about online social networking. As if you don’t already do that. Right? If not, then you’d better show up. I define speed networking as how fast your internet connection is!

Register here.

NAMA

Bio Economy Transition

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-175 - Bio Economy TransitionBiofuels have been making headlines all over the place lately. I’m sure the weather in the central United States is going to continue to fuel the issue. It’s also taking us out on the road a bit this month. Cindy’s at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop and later this week I’ll be at the Iowa Indy Corn 250.

Steve HalbrookNext week I’ll be attending Farm Foundation’s program titled, “Transition to a Bio Economy: Risk, Infrastructure and Industry Evolution.” If you haven’t made your reservation then there is certainly still time.

You may not be familiar with Farm Foundation or this series of programs they’ve been hosting on the subject of a Bio Economy. To learn more myself, I spoke with Foundation Vice President, Steve Halbrook, pictured. He says that Farm Foundation is a non profit organization that works in agricultural and rural policy issues. They bring together industry, government and academic leaders to focus on the challenges facing our food system and rural communities.

Steve says this event will have a special focus on biofuels since it affects all facets of ag and rural areas, especially ethanol in the mid west. He says that leaders from several government agencies, including USDA, approached them hoping that the Foundation could help them better understand this issue.

The program this week ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. In the spirit of “bio” I chose “Biodiesel Willie” from 2012AM. I’ve played it before but I really like it in all the versions I’ve heard it, including live. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 175 (21 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:Interview With Steve Halbrook - ZimmCast 175

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Farm Foundation, ZimmCast

Blogging the FEW

Cindy Zimmerman

Fuel Ethanol WorkshopThe 2008 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop is getting underway here in Nashville. One thing I have already noticed is the number of international visitors here. I met someone from Canada and a couple from India was ahead of me at registration and I have seen many more from various countries wondering around the resort wearing FEW badges. Seems like there are more than there were last year.

Today most attendees are either playing in the golf tournament or taking in the pre-conference seminar on “First and Second Generation Ethanol Production.”

The official kickoff for the conference will be at 5:30 p.m. with the opening of the Industry Expo in the Ryman Exhibit Hall featuring more than 600 exhibitors.

Just started a photo album – not much in it so far but will be adding lots more by tonight.

2008 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

Thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association for sponsoring our coverage of FEW. Check out frequent updates on Domestic Fuel and Good Fuels.org.

Ethanol, RFA

Blog It On PR Newswire

Chuck Zimmerman

PRNewswire Blog ThisI’m not sure how long they’ve been doing this but I just noticed that when I opened a PR Newswire release it’s got a little link at the top that says, “Blog It.” It seems to only let you post to a Blogger or WordPress.com account though. I tried posting it to ZimmComm.biz but no go.

At least they’re thinking in the right direction. Adding a function that would allow you to post to a blog on your own domain/host would be a nice next step.

I guess bloggers can be journalists after all. Who would have thought?

Public Relations

Whose Yer Blog Daddy?

Chuck Zimmerman

HATChatJoining the growing number of ZimmComm designed and developed blog is HAT Chat.

Hoosier Ag Today announces the launch of the interactive blog “HAT Chat”. Located at www.hatchat.net, this blog is a place on the internet for a discussion of the news and issues impacting Indiana agriculture. HAT broadcasters Gary Truitt and Andy Eubank will regularly share their insights on the news and issues of Indiana agriculture as well as a behind the scenes look at the news and the operation of HAT. Hoosiers will be able to participate in this discussion by posting comments on the blog.

The blog will also be a place to learn the latest news about Hoosier Ag Today. News releases and other information about HAT will be posted to HAT Chat first. The site will be a multi-media site featuring photos, audio clips, and even video pieces. “This is going to be a fun place; I invite everyone to come and have some fun with us,” said Gary Truitt, President of HAT. The site was designed by ZimComm New Media.

Media

Food and Fuel From ICM

Chuck Zimmerman

LifeLine Foods openingCindy is attending this week’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Nashville, TN and will be primarily posting onto Domestic Fuel. I think she’s in the process of uploading some photos as we speak. This one is from when she attended LifeLine Foods opening last fall. I thought it was appropriate in light of this announcement from ICM, Inc. This is exactly the kind of thing we can expect if all the whacko food vs. fuel folks will allow us to use good old American ingenuity to solve our dependence on foreign oil problem. Lifeline is a working plant that partnered with ICM for the technology they’re using.

ICM, Inc. today announced that ethanol biorefineries investing in the company’s new, proprietary and innovative technology before the end of this year, will be capable of commercially producing both food and fuel in 2010. The announcement was made during ICM’s customer meeting at the annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) in Nashville, Tenn.

“We are talking about the ‘ethanol biorefinery of the future’…and very near future at that,” said Dave Vander Griend, founder, president and CEO. “Fifty years ago, the U.S. fed the world. We will be able to do that again with a food supply brought about by the evolution of ethanol production.”

Since the company’s founding, ICM’s mission has been to sustain agriculture through innovation. Recently, the company’s mission expanded to researching ways to deliver much-needed protein to the world, by way of ethanol processing. At the same time, the corn-to-ethanol industry is maturing, and a changing economic outlook is prompting existing biorefineries to explore means of maintaining financial success in challenging tight-ethanol, high-corn price markets. ICM recognized this changing outlook and is delivering on its mission by developing technology to create “new renewables” that can be built upon the existing ethanol biorefinery – the key facilitator of the new technology is a process called dry fractionation.

Agribusiness, Energy, Ethanol