2025 Tech Hub Live

Growing Fuel For Indy Cars

Chuck Zimmerman

Show CarGrowers attending the Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA might have wished they could drive this car but they were content to grow the fuel that’s powering it around the track this season. The #17 Rahal Letterman show car was accompanied by Al Jentz, Amaizing Energy. Al is also on the board of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council which manages the promotion of the car. He gave an overview of how things are going in the ethanol industry for the growers and retailers who were attending.

Al JentzAl says that although he felt like he was preaching to the choir his presentation allowed corn growers to learn more about EPIC’s promotional activities and ask questions.

He also felt like he got to learn more about what Syngenta is doing to develop corn varieties that will make the ethanol production process more efficient.

Syngenta is also a member of EPIC.

You can listen to my interview with Al here: learning-centers-jentz.mp3

Or you can download the interview using this link: Listen to MP3 Al Jentz Interview (4 min MP3)

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Ethanol, Syngenta

Missouri Governor Recieves Flex-Fuel Hybrid

Laura McNamara

Missouri Corn Grower's Association Education Director Gary Marshall, Ford Manager Tony Reinhart and Missouri Governor Matt Blunt The latest in renewable energy vehicles from Ford joins Missouri Governor Matt Blunt’s official fleet. Ford has produced just 20 of its hybrid-electric, flex-fuel Escapes that can run on E85 fuel and Ford Manager Tony Reinhart handed Blunt the keys to one of these rare vehicles. Blunt says the specially-equipped Escape will help promote his Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard, which outlines that all fuel sold in the state will have to contain 10% percent ethanol by January of 2008. The Governor pointed out that Missouri is the fourth state to have such a requirement. The hybrid, flex-fuel also meets Blunt’s executive order that requires at least 70% of new vehicles purchased by the state to be flex-fuel vehicles.

Each of the hybrid, flex-fuel Escapes were manufactured in Kansas City and a total of five of the 20 (well, 21 if you count the prototype) will remain in Missouri: one to Governor Blunt, three to Kansas City Power and Light and one to the Tour of Missouri Bicycle Race where it will serve as the pace car.

Listen to why Tony Reinhart, Governor Blunt and Missouri Corn Grower’s Association Education Director Gary Marshall say this vehicle represents Missouri’s commitment to renewable resources:

blunteth.mp3
Ethanol

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • With an ever-increasing demand from the livestock industry on RFID technical services, Allflex USA has promoted Chuck Rogers to Technical Services Manager. Rogers joined the Allflex expert team in 2006 and has helped to elevate the company’s technical expertise in helping producers with all aspects of implementing and troubleshooting EID systems. Rogers will manage the North America Technical Team and support the implementation of EID systems in various types of livestock operations. He will also work within the global Allflex R process to evaluate new EID products and determine their suitability for use in real-world conditions. Rogers’ training includes degrees in information technology systems and electronic engineering.
  • Penton Media’s Farm Industry News® was named as the winner of three regional awards at the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ regional awards banquet held in Chicago. The magazine received two editorial and one design award at the ceremony. “We’re honored to have been selected by our peers for these awards, from more than 2600 entries,” said, Karen McMahon, editor of Farm Industry News. McMahon won gold in the “Original Research” category for her October 2006 article “Plenty of Power.” In the “How To” article category, “Farm Office Redesign,” written by Jodie Wehrspann, senior editor, was awarded second place. The magazine’s September 2006 cover received a bronze award for its cover photography taken by Lynn Varpness, art director for Farm Industry News. Farm Industry News also won a bronze award at the National ASBPE Awards. Lora Berg, contributing editor of Farm Industry News, was awarded third place in technical feature for her Animal Trackers story.
  • Penton Media’s Farm Industry News®, The Corn and Soybean Digest®, National Hog Farmer® and Hay & Forage Grower® were named as award winners by the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA) at the annual association awards banquet held in Louisville, KY during the Agricultural Media Summit. Dale Miller, editor of National Hog Farmer, won a gold award for his personality profile, “Wendell & Dell Murphy: Dedication Sustains Murphy Family Ventures.” The Corn and Soybean Digest’s Susan Winsor was named as a Level Three Master Writer by the association, while Neil Tietz, editor of Hay & Forage Grower, took second place for his photography in the Nuts & Bolts category. “Can We Stop Wasting Energy?” an editorial opinion piece by Greg Lamp, editor of The Corn and Soybean Digest, won a bronze medal. Lamp also placed third for some of his unpublished photography. Mark Leiknes, art director for The Corn and Soybean Digest, received a bronze medal in the special publication design category. Jennifer Kampinen, marketing communications specialist, took first place honors for the 2007 Farm Industry News Media Kit and second place honors for The Corn and Soybean Digest 2007 Media Kit.
Zimfo Bytes

A Media Perspective of the Syngenta Learning Center

Chuck Zimmerman

Karen McMahonFarm Industry News editor Karen McMahon was one of the media representatives attending the Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA. Here she’s taking notes during our media briefing. (Me, I take pictures)

Today when we were out in the field I interviewed her about what we’ve seen and what she thinks about attending a very personal, just for the media, opportunity to listen to and interview company representatives and then get to go out in the field and see what they’re talking about “live.”

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

Media, Syngenta, Video

Corn After Corn Ideas From Dr. Fred Below

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Fred BelowOne of the more entertaining presenters at today’s Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA was Dr. Fred Below. He’s a professor of crop physiology at the University of Illinois.

The main focus of his comments was mitigating the effect of yield loss when planting corn after corn. His research offers a number of suggestions for growers and you can hear them in my interview with him. You can also get a taste of his presentation in the following video.

You can listen to my interview with Dr. Below here: learning-centers-below.mp3

Or you can download the interview using this link: Listen to MP3 Dr. Fred Below Interview (3 min MP3)

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

Audio, Syngenta, Video

Learning On Bruce Johnson’s Farm

Chuck Zimmerman

Syngenta Learning CentersThe Syngenta Learning Center in Milford, IA was located on a farm just south of town. The owner of that farm is Bruce Johnson.

Right after lunch today I got to talk with Bruce about his farm and why he decided to work with Syngenta to hold this major event on his property. He says that about 59 acres is involved with the project and one of the things he’s looking forward to is getting the information first hand about the products and practices the Syngenta is working on.

You can listen to my interview with Bruce here: learning-centers-johnson.mp3

Or you can download the interview using this link: Listen to MP3 Bruce Johnson Interview (3 min MP3)

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

Audio, Syngenta

Syngenta’s Science of Corn

Chuck Zimmerman

Bruce BattlesOne of the presenters at the Syngenta Learning Centers media briefing is Bruce Battles, Agronomy Marketing Manager, Syngenta Seeds. He talked about the science of corn from the standpoint of what Syngenta is working on with new varieties. He says that there are a lot of options and challenges for growers. For example he says they’re working on solutions to the challenges of planting corn after corn.

You can listen to my interview with Bruce here: learning-centers-battles.mp3

Or you can download the interview using this link: Listen to MP3 Bruce Battles Interview (4 min MP3)

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

Audio, Syngenta

Welcome to Syngenta Learning Centers

Chuck Zimmerman

Syngenta Learning CentersThe Syngenta Learning Centers got off to a great start today as everyone was divided up into groups and then rotated between different program stations.

Right after having some donuts and coffee we got an overview of the property and what we’d see. You can hear what that sounds like in the following audio file.

Welcome to the Syngenta Learning Centers: learning-centers-welcome.mp3

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

Audio, Syngenta

Milford, IA Syngenta Learning Centers Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Syngenta Learning CentersThe Syngenta Learning Centers program in Milford, IA is underway on a nice and cool day. The area had a little bit of rain overnight but we got lucky and haven’t had any this morning.

There are hundreds of farmers out here. Enough to be divided into 8 groups. Each group is attending a session on a particular topic. When the horn sounds it’s time to rotate to the next session. We’ll do 4 before lunch and 4 after lunch.

I’ve got lots of pictures and interviews but I’m going to wait until I get to my stopping point tonight in Omaha to work them up for you.

Syngenta Learning Centers Photo Album

Syngenta