Ethanol “FlameDisk” Demo

Cindy Zimmerman

“Drink the best and burn the rest” has been the unofficial motto of the ethanol industry – but you can literally do that when you grill with the FlameDisk® charcoal alternative. According to their promotional material, “the FlameDisk® is much more eco-friendly than charcoal and lighter fluid because it features renewable ethanol. Ethanol is extremely clean burning and generates 90% …

Corn, Ethanol, Video

BASF LEGOs Donated to FFA

Cindy Zimmerman

Remember the LEGO sculpture at BASF’s Commodity Classic booth in Anaheim? Ever wonder what they did with that? Turns out that BASF donated the thousands of LEGO bricks used in the custom barn and crop sculpture to the National FFA Organization in Indianapolis. The organization plans to utilize the LEGO bricks beginning this fall as part of leadership conferences and …

BASF, Commodity Classic

HSUS Claims Ag is “Paranoid”

Cindy Zimmerman

The head of the Humane Society of the United States says agriculture interests are just “paranoid” about the organization’s motives. In an 18 minute interview with Brownfield Network’s Julie Harker about the proposed “puppy mill” ballot initiative in Missouri that would impose new regulations on dog breeders, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle refuted the idea that they were ultimately targeting the …

Wackos

Grains Council Opens Office in Panama

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Grains Council has officially opened a new international office in Panama City, Panama to serve Latin America and the Caribbean Region. USGC Chairman Rick Fruth commented, “By establishing an office in Latin America and the Caribbean region, the Council is strategically positioning itself to defend U.S. markets while simultaneously enhancing the quality of life of our trading partners.” Kurt …

International, USGC

Your PB&J Recipes Can Help Feed the Hungry

Cindy Zimmerman

How do you like your PB&J? Since March is National Peanut Month, Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) is celebrating with “PB&J My Way,” a national recipe contest looking for nutty new takes on the classic PB&J. For every peanut butter sandwich recipe received, SPG will donate a jar of peanut butter to hunger relief organization Feeding America. No matter how you …

Peanuts

Raising the Bar at Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

With 202 companies exhibiting in 816 booths, the 2010 Commodity Classic Trade Show once again raised the bar on must attend industry events in agriculture. The show surpassed previous turnout for a Commodity Classic held in California with 1,369 growers attending and a total attendance of 4,330. ZimmComm’s coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic also raised the bar once again, …

BASF, Commodity Classic, John Deere, New Holland

Taking the SOY Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

Each year, soybean growers around the country take the American Soybean Association (ASA) and BASF up on their challenge to reduce weed competition, increase plant health and protect yields – but only three are chosen. We already met first place winners David and Sue Roehm in an earlier post. Today we meet Dave and Mary Jonas of Pinnconning, Michigan, one …

ASA, Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic

Farmer Cooperatives Can Tell Story at Workshops

Cindy Zimmerman

Workshops on competition in agriculture, like the one held last week in Iowa, can allow farmer-owned co-ops to tell their story. According to the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), Friday’s joint workshop between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) set the stage for farmer-owned co-ops to show how they promote a more competitive agricultural …

Agribusiness, Cooperatives, USDA

Headline News from Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Headline fungicide continues to make headlines, even after years on the market. The more research they do with growers using this product, the better it gets. During a press conference at Commodity Classic, BASF Regional Sales Manager Gary Schmitz and Technical market Manager Nick Fassley talked about the more than 6,000 on-farm trials that have been held just in …

Audio, BASF, Commodity Classic