Rural Benefits to Defense Biofuels Investments

Cindy Zimmerman

The Obama administration today announced new investments in the biofuels industry as part of the Defense Production Act (DPA).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Navy and Department of Energy jointly announced $30 million in federal funding to match private investments in commercial-scale advanced drop-in biofuels. The Energy Department is also announcing a total of $32 million in new investments for earlier stage research that will continue to drive technological breakthroughs and additional cost reductions in the industry.

“This is an important next step in the President’s direction to Navy, Agriculture and Energy to work together to support the commercialization of ready-to-use, drop-in, advanced biofuel substitutes for diesel fuel and jet fuel,” said U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. “This funding opportunity will enhance our national security and support the creation and commercial-viability of a defense-critical industry – domestic biofuels.”

“This is a matter of national security, energy security and also good for rural America,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It opens up great promise for the development of non-food feedstocks as a potential cash crop for farmers throughout the United States. The refineries that will be converting this biomass into fuel will likely be located in rural areas, helping to create jobs.”

DPA is an authority that dates back to 1950 and has been used to boost industries such as steel, aluminum, titanium, semiconductors, beryllium, and radiation-hardened electronics.

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) made possible through the DPA, will be carried out in two-phases, with government and industry sharing in the cost. In Phase 1, applicants will submit a design package and comprehensive business plan for a commercial-scale biorefinery, identify and secure project sites and take additional required steps spelled out in the announcement. Awardees selected to continue into Phase 2 will submit additional information for the construction or retrofit of a biorefinery.

Listen to a portion of this morning’s press announcement with Mabus and Vilsack:
Administration Press Conference

Audio, Biofuels, USDA

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Melissa Sandfort

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  • AgWeb recently launched the interactive Winter Wheat Harvest Map — updated daily — to give online users and followers a chance to see real-time wheat harvest results from across the country.
  • Syngenta announced that it has entered into a barley breeding collaboration with InterGrain.
  • BRANDT has named Dennis Salettel as new Business Development Manager for the company’s Turf and Ornamental group.
  • The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association have been named a Bronze winner in the 33rd Annual Telly Awards for the short documentary, Underwater and Overlooked: Crisis on the Missouri River.
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    Iowa Farmers Market App

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Iowans now have a mobile way to locate a local farmers market thanks to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Listen to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey talk about it today: IA Sec. of Ag Bill Northey
    Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today unveiled the free Iowa Farmers Market app for smartphones that is designed to help Iowans access the more that 230 farmers markets serving Iowans across the state.

    The app is available for both iPhones and Android phones and allows users to find the farmers market closest to them by using GPS location services or to search for specific farmers markets by city or zip code. Once they have located a market, the user can view the hours of the market, browse a list of vendors and see a phone number and email address of the market manager. App users can also leave reviews of the market and vendors and upload their photos to share with others.

    “This app will make farmers markets easier to find and give visitors useful information as they plan their trip,” Northey said. “We are entering prime market season when sweet corn and many other fruits and vegetables will be available, so I hope Iowans take advantage and enjoy this fresh produce and use this app to help them locate a market.”

    The app is free to download and is available through Apple’s App store and Google Play by searching “Iowa Farmers Markets.” The app for android phones can also be found at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.utc.titaniumapns2, and the link for Apple devices is http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ia-farmer-mkts/id501591188?ls=1&mt=8.

    Apps, Audio

    New President of International Seed Federation

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The new President of the International Seed Federation is Tim Johnson, Illinois Foundation Seeds. I spoke with Tim about his induction to the position at the ISF World Seed Congress 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. He says it’s an honor to be selected by the general assembly of ISF for the two year commitment. He calls it the “global ASTA” and is also very involved in the American Seed Trade Association.

    Tim says the ISF represents almost eighty national and regional seed associations around the world. Seed is Life is their tag line.

    The mission of the ISF is to facilitate the international movement of seed, related know-how and technology; to mobilize and represent the seed industry at a global level; to inform its members; and to promote the interests and the image of the seed industry.

    In order to fulfil its mission the ISF promotes strong co-operation among national and regional seed associations. It endeavours to work in partnership with organizations responsible for international treaties, conventions and agreements and those that shape policies that impact the seed industry.

    The ISF deals with many of the same issues that we’ve learned that ASTA deals with, phtyosanitary, intellectual property rights, co-existence and more. He is happy that English is the official language of the ISF.

    Listen to my interview with Tim here: Interview with Tim Johnson

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, International, Seed

    The John Deere PowerStick

    Chuck Zimmerman

    As I sit in the Des Moines airport one of my helpful gadgets is the new John Deere PowerStick. It’s a 2GB USB drive that also charges up and includes multiple connectors to power up your other gadgets! That’s a cool combo. You charge it while you use it and it charges your iPhone or other device when you need it.

    Thank you John Deere for this creative and useful gift. I received it for participating in the John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit. Much appreciated and is now an official part of my mobile journalism kit.

    John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Equipment, John Deere

    John Deere Does Agile Development

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Agile Development is not something you might think of when you think of John Deere. It’s a term associated with software development that is “based on iterative and incremental development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing, cross-functional teams.” Guess what? That’s what John Deere is doing according to Aaron Senneff, Development Manager at John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group. He leads and participates in the groups formed to conduct this “agile development” of new John Deere products of all kinds.

    During the John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit I talked with Aaron about how John Deere is using agile development. He says that the company sees it “as an opportunity for us to accelerate not just our product development cycle but our innovation portfolio.” The process works by having groups meet every two months to set a vision for what they want to accomplish over the next two months. At the end of those two months they start all over again. The process includes personnel from all of John Deere’s divisions. Some of the products being announced now like MyJohnDeere.com came directly out of this process.

    You can listen to my interview with Aaron here: Interview with Aaron Senneff

    John Deere FarmSight Tech Summit Photo Album

    Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, John Deere

    Farm Groups React to Obamacare Ruling

    John Davis

    In a split 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has voted to uphold the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Two major farm groups were also split in their evaluation of the decision, with the American Farm Bureau and National Farmers Union both issuing statements yesterday.

    Here’s what Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation had to say:

    “Farmers, ranchers and rural residents need affordable and accessible health care. We remain concerned that mandating individuals and businesses to buy insurance will impose an expense that creates economic hardship, particularly for self-employed individuals and small businesses.

    “We believe one of the primary goals of health care reform should be to reduce costs for participants. The plan reviewed by the Supreme Court would impose a new financial burden on our members. As the legal and political interpretation of this ruling is further analyzed and debated in the weeks and months ahead, it is important to remember that access to affordable health care eludes many American families across the country.

    Stallman went on to say he hopes Congress and the President work together to solve some of Farm Bureau’s concerns about the law.

    Meanwhile, NFU President Roger Johnson supported the court’s action:

    “Farmers, ranchers and rural residents face significant barriers to obtaining accessible, affordable health care. The ACA contains significant, necessary reforms that help all Americans, including those who are self-employed and purchasing expensive care from the individual market, afford insurance and the preventive care they need; provides resources to rural health care providers and incentives to physicians serving in rural areas; bars health care companies from denying coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions; and closes the Medicare prescription drug coverage ‘donut hole.’

    “All Americans deserve health care that is comprehensive, affordable and accessible, regardless of occupation or geographic area. NFU commends the Supreme Court on its decision to uphold the ACA, and looks forward to continuing to work with the administration to ensure the law is implemented as written.”

    AFBF

    Kicking Off National Hot Dog Month

    Melissa Sandfort

    To celebrate the start of July’s National Hot Dog Month, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is proud to announce the winner of its t-shirt slogan contest. ‘Hot Dogs: Relish the Moment’ was America’s top choice for the Council slogan, beating seven other finalists in a Facebook poll. Gadi Lefkowitz of Baltimore, MD, who submitted the winning slogan, wins a $250 gift certificate to the grocery store of his choosing to build the perfect summer picnic and a custom designed t-shirt with his slogan immortalized on it.

    Contest runner ups were:
    1st runner up: ‘Make the Dog Days of Summer a Footlong by Joe Lilli
    2nd runner up: ‘We Know How the Sausage Gets Made’ by Susan Schonfeld

    They will receive $150 and $100 gift certificates to their favorite grocery store respectively and each will get a t-shirt with their slogan. Altogether the contest drew more than 225 unique entries from around the country.

    The contest results were announced just as the Fourth of July week was about to begin – a week when Americans will eat more than 150 million hot dogs. That’s just part of the seven billion hot dogs that Americans eat between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

    Agribusiness, Food

    New Chairman of American Seed Trade Association

    Chuck Zimmerman

    It’s the passing of the gavel. This time at the American Seed Trade Association convention. Here is new ASTA Chairman, Blake Curtis, Curtis & Curtis, Inc. (left) with past Chairman Mike Gumina, Pioneer Hi-Bred. I spoke with Blake at the end of the convention to find out things went in his opinion and what the future priorities are for the organization.

    Blake says the convention was held at a very opportune time with the discussions and action on the farm bill and that served as a reminder about how important it is to be involved politically. The idea of meeting on a regular basis in Washington, DC has been raised. Looking ahead Blake says one of the most important goals is to continue the things they’ve been working on. One of those is an intellectual property rights bureau which he says provides an opportunity to educate people about the benefits of intellectual property rights. He also points to the ASTA strategic plan and importance of staying in touch with members to make sure they’re providing the benefits members need.

    In conclusion, Blake says “ASTA should be seen as a pacesetter organization helping to set the ground rules for not only national but international trade.” He says they have people on staff who work to facilitate the movement of seed around the world and can be seen as a resource for any issues related to it.

    Listen to my interview with Blake here: Interview with Blake Curtis

    2012 ASTA Convention Photo Album

    Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

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    • Woodruff Sweitzer announces the addition of five team members to the staff roster: Tori Powers, Kristin Witt, Dan Hood, Laura Tyson and Michelle Hanko.
    • Pioneer Hi-Bred will now be known as DuPont Pioneer.
    • Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC launches the Feeding for 30 Facebook page, offering tips on proper sow nutrition and management as well as industry insights for swine producers working towards the industry goal of 30 pigs per sow per year.
    • Wheat Growers grain and agronomy cooperative announces that Dale Gilyard has been hired as Director of Grain Operations.
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