Biotech Playing Key Role In Production Of Biofuels

Chuck Zimmerman

I spoke with Paul Willems, BP Energy Biosciences Institute, one of our speakers at the Farm Foundation Transition To A Bio Economy Conference. I had met him previously at an earlier conference in the series. Paul says the BP Energy Biosciences Institute was created as a place to apply modern biology to energy problems. He told us that from their …

Ag Groups, Audio, Biotech, Energy, Farm Foundation

NAMA Connection Point Is Virtual

Chuck Zimmerman

The NAMA Virtual Trade Show is up and running. You’ll be able to find ZimmComm New Media close to the entrance in booth #102. That’s where you’ll need to drop off your entry forms for our drawing to win either an HP Mini Netbook computer or Cube II desktop speaker/dock for your iPod or iPhone. We’ll also have some other …

NAMA

Online Media Auction For NAMA’s ABEF

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a way you can provide support for the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF). It’s the annual online media auction which will run from today through 5pm April 9, 2009. If you have questions about how it works you can visit the Online Media Auction Procedures. ZimmComm New Media has submitted a package for you to bid on this year. You …

NAMA

Wind Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

Biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel weren’t the only energy alternatives on the program at the Farm Foundation Transition To A Bio Economy Conference. We also had a presentation on wind energy from Mark Willers, Minwind Energy. Mark says Minwind Energy was formed by a group of local farmers and businessmen in southwest Minnesota. He’d like people to understand that the …

Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Farm Foundation

Biodiesel Good Fit For Carbon Reduction

Chuck Zimmerman

The legislative guru for the National Biodiesel Board is Manning Feraci. He was on the Farm Foundation Transition To A Bio Economy Conference program. He gave us an update on the current state of the biodiesel industry and the need for stable policies coming out of DC. He says that he sees some real opportunities now as some of the …

Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, Energy, Farm Foundation

Take NAMA Pre-Conference Cause Marketing Survey

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a call to action to help Steve Drake out. He’s doing a breakout session at the NAMA Convention on cause marketing. Like me, he wants some feedback before getting there. So . . . Please take his Cause Marketing Survey for the 2009 Agri-Marketing Conference Presentation. He will appreciate it. And thank you to everyone who has taken my …

NAMA

Talking Social Media in DC

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s my happy group of social media students at the U. S. Grains Council office in Washington, DC. Pictured are Marri Carrow, USGC, Melissa George Kessler, NAWG, Mike Deering, USGC and Steve Mercer, U. S. Wheat Associates. We’ve been talking RSS, blogs, podcasts, Twitter, Facebook and more all morning. Like many ag groups today, these are looking at ways to …

Ag Groups

Carbon Is New Ag Commodity

Chuck Zimmerman

I think Joel Velasco, Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, had the quote of the day here at the Farm Foundation Transition To A Bio Economy Conference. He said that “carbon is the new agricultural commodity” and that “our incentive is to produce less of it and get paid for it.” So, grow a crop, sell it and maybe earn some carbon …

Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Farm Foundation, International

How Biofuels Policies Affect Trade

Chuck Zimmerman

Seth Meyer is with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). He’s also a speaker here at the Farm Foundation’s Transition To A Bio Economy Conference. He talked to us about how biofuels policies are affecting commodity prices and trade but he says there are a lot of other factors affecting export volume. For example, he says that even …

Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Farm Foundation, Farm Policy