RFA Ethanol Podcast

BASF R&D

Cindy Zimmerman

I am in Japan now with Chuck and will be spending much of this week posting interviews and pictures from last week’s BASF trip while Chuck is covering the IFAJ events. So, I am starting at the beginning of the trip and posting the interviews with BASF executives done after the global press conference September 12. Research and development of …

Audio, BASF, Corn, Farming, Research, Soybean

Competing Crop Solution Companies Monsanto and Dow Launch Joint SmartStax Innovation

Laura McNamara

The competition in crop protection is getting rather friendly. Two of the largest suppliers of technology-based agricultural solutions in the U.S., Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences, are teaming up in the unprecedented release of an eight-gene stacked corn combination. See the Zimfo Bites Melissa posted for media event information. Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, …

Agribusiness, Corn, Farming, Research, Technology

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

Pest Control with Propane

Laura McNamara

Several experts in the propane industry mentioned the innovative use of propane as an insecticide at the 2007 Propane Technology Forum, but Robert McGee with Texas A&M Agriculture Research is the expert whose presentation focused solely on propane’s capability to eliminate pests. In a brief interview, Robert and I reviewed the main idea of his presentation. You can listen to …

Agribusiness, Audio, Environment, Farming, Propane, Research, Technology

Propane Heat Sanitizes

Laura McNamara

Raj Hulasare with Temp-Air introduced the application of propane heat remediation at the 2007 Propane Technology Forum and Scientist Terry Smith with Mississippi State University has applied that concept to his research in dairy sanitation. Terry and I discussed how propane heat sanitation offers dairy producers a chemical-free option when maintaining the health of their dairy cows. You can listen …

Agribusiness, Audio, Dairy, Environment, Farming, Propane, Research, Technology

Monsanto World Headquarters Expansion Complete

Laura McNamara

The Monsanto World Headquarters is now 40,000 square feet bigger. The global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products has completed construction of a new data center in Missouri. Monsanto Company has announced it has completed construction of a new data center on the west side of its World Headquarters campus in Creve Coeur, Mo. The $21 million, 40,000 square-foot …

Agribusiness, Biotech, Research