BrightFarms Builds Farm of the Future

Kelly Marshall

BrightFarms has broken ground on a new Chicagoland Greenhouse in Rochelle, IL.  The start-up company is changing the face of local produce with the first ever nation brand.  Working together with Roundy’s Supermarkets, and the greenhouses will supply the grocery chain with produce, hopefully in 2016. A model for the future of local, low-impact farming, the BrightFarms Chicagoland Greenhouse will be …

Agribusiness, Energy, Produce

Free Fuel Happy Hours at Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Chuck Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has been providing free E10 fuel fill-ups for bikers at the Buffalo Chip Campground during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for the past four years, and every year Chip owner Rod “Woody” Woodruff is first in line. Cindy borrowed my new Golden ZimmComm Microphone to interview Woody during her first trip to the annual event. “RFA …

Ag Groups, Audio, Biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, RFA, Video

Check Out the Online Biogas Calculator

Joanna Schroeder

There is a new online biogas calculator now available from PlanET Biogas Global. The tool enables farmers to check out the energy potential of their substrates. The biogas project calculator is free of charge and provides its users an early look regarding optimal substrate mixes for an efficient biogas production. “During my daily consultant work I have realised that most …

Agribusiness, Energy

GROWMARK Acquires MO Refined Fuels Terminal

Cindy Zimmerman

Illinois-based cooperative GROWMARK, Inc. is acquiring the refined fuels terminal near St. Joseph, Missouri from Magellan Pipeline Company to better serve customers in that area. Acquisition of the facility will enable GROWMARK to ensure continued supply of refined fuels and solidify the cooperative’s commitment to the energy business and to northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas, according to Kevin Carroll, GROWMARK …

Energy, Ethanol, GROWMARK

Propane Grain Dryers Increase Efficiency

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers at Commodity Classic were showing increased interest in upgrading their grain dryers to high efficiency propane units. Cinch Munson with the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) says their research shows that a new propane grain dryer can result in 50% efficiency savings. “PERC has worked with a number of grain dryers manufacturers over the past few years to …

Audio, Commodity Classic, Energy, Grains, PERC, Propane

Interest in #Propane at #Classic15

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers were showing quite a bit of interest in propane power at the 2015 Commodity Classic – everything from irrigation engines and grain dryers, to greenhouse heat and lawn mowers. “There’s new propane equipment on the market that’s very efficient,” says Cinch Munson with the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), who adds that the benefits are numerous. “Propane engines …

Audio, Commodity Classic, Energy, PERC, Propane

Propane Incentives at Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers attending the Commodity Classic this week in Phoenix can learn about the latest developments in reliable and efficient propane-powered agricultural technologies – and earn up to $6,000 towards equipment purchases through the Propane Farm Incentive Program. The program, sponsored by the Propane Education & Research Council, already offers up to $5,000 for qualifying equipment purchases but during the Commodity …

Commodity Classic, Energy, Irrigation, PERC, Propane

Propane Powered Engines for Ag

Cindy Zimmerman

2014 World LP Gas Forum Photo Album The new Tier 4 emission standards for diesel engines have opened up new opportunities for propane in the agricultural engine market. At the World LP Gas Forum in Miami this week, Propane Education and Research Council agricultural director Cinch Munson talked about how they have worked with OEMs to develop and commercialize new …

Audio, Energy, Irrigation, PERC, Propane, Video

PERC Debuts New Videos at World LPG Forum

Cindy Zimmerman

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) released a series of online videos with leading U.S. equipment manufacturers highlighting their investment in developing and commercializing new propane technologies. The videos debuted to an international crowd at the 2014 World LP Gas Forum in Miami, where they ran continuously on screens in the PERC showcase at the event. Companies featured in …

Audio, Energy, PERC, Propane

New LPG Applications Website Introduced

Cindy Zimmerman

2014 World LP Gas Forum Photo Album Will Ferrell would have been pleased with the “more cowbell” that rang in the new LPG Application Website – lpg.apps.org – as it went live at approximately 2:30 pm Eastern time on Tuesday at the World LP Gas Forum in Miami. Ringing the cowbell to introduce the website were Andrew Ford of SHV …

Energy, Propane, Video