RFA Ethanol Podcast

EPA Chief Discusses Climate Change Report

Cindy Zimmerman

The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency discussed the new White House climate change report out yesterday with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting meeting in Washington DC this week. “It’s a really good document in terms of focusing on the United States,” she said. “In particular, it looks at the agriculture sector. It talks about the droughts …

Audio, Environment

Vilsack and Farm Workers Want Immigration Reform

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined United Farm Workers president Arturo Rodriguez and Nisei Farmers League President Manuel Cunha on a conference call Monday to discuss the importance of commonsense immigration reform for California’s agriculture economy and rural communities. “There’s no more important state to agriculture than the state of California,” said Vilsack. “It is a farm economy that is very …

Audio, labor, USDA

USDA Releases 2012 Ag Census Results

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2012 Census of Agriculture released today by the USDA reveals less farms and new trends. The census reveals there are now 3.28 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres of farmland across the United States. Those numbers are all lower than 2007 when the census reported 3.18 million farmers, 2.2 million farms and 922 million acres. …

Audio, Farming, USDA

Next USFRA Food Dialogues in Chicago

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has announced the date, place and topic for its next Food Dialogues. It will be held at the Chicago Integrity in Food Marketing event at the InterContinental Hotel, June 10, from 9:30-11 a.m. CDT. USFRA’s research tells us that nearly 60 percent of people feel it’s extremely important for grocery stores and restaurants …

Ag Groups, Food, USFRA

RoboFlight Offers Affordable Ag UAVs

Cindy Zimmerman

RoboFlight is a global company that deals in data acquisition including UAV platforms as well as full scale aircraft and satellite systems. Beyond the agricultural industry, RoboFlight also works in security, search and rescue, utilities, mining and insurance. Chuck interviewed Phil Ellerbroek, Global Director of Sales for RoboFlight, and he shared more about the company. RoboFlight acquired Aerial Precision Ag, …

Audio, data, Farming, Precision Agriculture

Opening Day for Farmland Movie

Cindy Zimmerman

The long-awaited theatrical debut of the Farmland movie has arrived! The film is being distributed via D&E Entertainment in more than 60 major markets, starting today, after being privately screened around the country to agricultural audiences and shown at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and Cleveland International Film Festival. In …

Ag Groups, USFRA

CUTC Highlights Native American Spirit

Cindy Zimmerman

Kristin Meadors with the Kentucky Distillers Association will deliver the keynote address at the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, June 2 in Louisville, Kentucky. “The bourbon industry’s iconic utilization of corn makes it a perfect platform in which to kick-off three days of lively discussions among the corn industry’s leading researchers, processors and business representatives,” said …

Ag Groups, Corn, Events, NCGA, Research

REPREVE Launches New Biomass Crop System

Cindy Zimmerman

A North Carolina-based biomass company has launched a brand new system for the production of high-yielding energy crops that can be used for renewable, bio-based products. REPREVE® RENEWABLES LLC is collaborating with farmers and landowners across the country to use the innovative biomass crop system grow giant miscanthus grass on marginal and underutilized land. REPREVE developed a comprehensive solution to …

Audio, Biofuels, Equipment, Ethanol, Farming

BASF: Knowing the Enemy is Key in Weed War

Cindy Zimmerman

The first defense in the war against weeds is knowing the enemy, according to BASF Crop Protection. A recent BASF survey found that 76 percent of growers have made changes to their weed management programs to address weed resistance and proper weed identification is fundamental to any effective control program. “The first step in weed control is to know your …

Agribusiness, BASF, Farming, weed management

Walmart Highlights Ag Sustainability Pledges

Cindy Zimmerman

Kicking off a new Sustainable Product Expo this week, the CEOs from more than a dozen global companies gathered at Walmart headquarters in Arkansas Tuesday to pledge to increase sustainable food production. Eight of the largest food companies announced pledges to help ensure that tomorrow’s food supply is affordable and sustainable for the nine billion people projected to inhabit the …

Audio, Dairy, Sustainability