RFA Ethanol Podcast

Pairing Propane and Power

Laura McNamara

Some of the latest propane technology pairs propane with solar power to offer hybrid electricity generation systems. Stuart Weidie, Chairman of the PERC Research and Development Advisory Committee, says experts are looking at coupling propane with more than just solar energy though. I spoke with Stuart about the various opportunities his panel has been researching in combined heat and power …

Agribusiness, Education, Environment, Farming, Propane, Research, Technology

Texas Railroad Commission Highlights Propane Technology

Laura McNamara

The Railroad Commission of Texas is the organization hosting the 2007 Propane Technology Forum here in Austin, TX. Propane is a key interest of the commission’s Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division. I spoke to Director Dan Kelly about some of the highlights of today’s featured speakers. You can listen to my interview with Dan here: Kelly_Dan.mp3 Dan expanded on …

Audio, Education, Farming, Propane, Research, Technology

Roush F-150 Burns Propane Fuel

Laura McNamara

Chuck has already posted information on the innovative use of propane as motor fuel from Roush Manufacturing, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to interview Roush representative Tom Arnold myself. Not to mention the application of propane as motor fuel is certainly interesting enough to cover more than once. You can listen to my interview with Tom here: Roush_Tom.mp3

Education, Environment, Farming, Propane, Research, Technology

Putting the Heat on Cotton

Laura McNamara

Paul Funk is one of the experts at the 2007 Propane Technology Forum who has taken all the talk about innovative propane research a step further. Paul is a scientist with the USDA-Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory. He is among the first to put heat defoliation of cotton with propane into practice. Paul and I discussed what he’s encountered out …

Audio, Cotton, Education, Environment, Farming, Propane, Research, Technology

Propane Heat Remediation Ideal for Organic Farmers

Laura McNamara

Paul Funk’s heat defoliation of cotton isn’t the only way propane-generated heat is being used. Temp-Air scientist Raj Hulasare says propane heat remediation is an ideal solution for treating bins, silos, and other storage vessels for pests. He adds that propane heat remediation is a particularly viable option for certified organic farms, which are restricted from using many chemicals to …

Audio, Education, Environment, Farming, Propane, Research, Technology

New FFA Middle School Website

Chuck Zimmerman

Garfield the cat is now an FFA spokesperson or rather cat. Find him on Garfield’s Middle School Discovery. The National FFA Organization launched a new Middle School Discovery website dedicated to middle school FFA members and their teachers. And Garfield the cat serves as FFA’s Spokescat, revealing his “catitude” about the wonders of agriculture and FFA. Garfield and friends also …

Ag Groups, Education

AEM Announces Winners of Student Ag Engineering Awards

Laura McNamara

Dozens of agricultural engineering students have received awards from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers this year. The awards are meant to honor those students particularly involved in their field. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) honored the latest winners of AEM’s annual Student Engineering and Mechanization Awards during special ceremonies at the recent American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’ …

Ag Groups, Education

FFA Announces First Ever Recipients of Earth Day Service Challenge Awards

Laura McNamara

The winners of the National FFA Organization’s first Earth Day Service Challenge Awards are honored with thousands of dollars in grants, in partnership with Timberland PRO. The $7,000 Best Impact grant, awarded to the chapter that demonstrates the most powerful impact to the community, goes to the Oshkosh West FFA chapter from Oshkosh, Wis. The $3,000 Best Civic Engagement grant, …

Ag Groups, Education

John Rice Receives North Dakota Grain Growers Scholarship

Laura McNamara

The North Dakota Grain Growers Association and the North Dakota Barley Council are proud to announce the ‘Growing For The Future’ scholarship was presented to FFA member John T. Rice from the Maddock FFA Chapter. This $500 scholarship is meant to further Mr. Rice’s educational possibilities and to strengthen his future involvement in agriculture. His participation in FFA and his …

Ag Groups, Education

New Ag Scholarships For Illinois

Laura McNamara

Rhea & Kaiser, a marketing communications agency based in Chicago, has created two one-time scholarships to be offered by The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University. The scholarships honor long-time clients of Rhea & Kaiser who have recently retired. The $750 scholarships were established in the Department of Agriculture in honor of Illinois State graduate Dave Striegel …

Education