Want to find some farm folks on Twitter? Mike Haley at Follow Farmer List has used Listorious to put together several other lists.
‘Bout Time For Biodiesel Blogging
After my presentations tomorrow at the Chicago Farmers Farmland Investment Fair I’ll be off to Dallas for the National Biodiesel Conference and I’ll be the Biodiesel Blogger for the 5th year!
I’d like to thank New Holland for their sponsorship of the National Biodiesel Conference Blog this year and their support for the biodiesel industry.
You can subscribe to the Biodiesel Conference Blog using the RSS Feed Link. We’ll also be podcasting our audio interviews again and that subscription link is here.
In addition to my posts on the NBC Blog I’ll also be posting onto our energy.agwired.com website and even right here on AgWired.
New From Merial
This is one of the most familiar sights for ag journalists to see at a Cattle Industry Convention. You can believe that the company representative that is probably interviewed the most is therefore with Merial.
In what seems to be becoming a tradition I interviewed Dr. Frank Hurtig during the convention to find out what’s new from Merial. He says that once again the company will be offering the Ivomec Challenge. He says that it’s coming on the heels of what many parasitologists are saying will be one of the worst springs and summers for parasites out on pastures due to 2009 weather patterns. To participate in the Ivomec Challenge a producer has to treat all their cows and calves with Ivomec this spring and then if those calves don’t weigh more this fall than last fall Merial will give them enough Ivomec product to treat their herd again this fall at no charge.
To hear other news from Merial just listen to my interview with Frank below:
Zimfo Bytes
- TeeJet Technologies introduces the only system available offering guidance and live video to be displayed simultaneously, which helps improve accuracy and efficiency in field operations: the Matrix Guidance System with RealView Guidance Over Video.
- Valley Irrigation announces it has entered into an agreement with Computronics Holdings Ltd. This agreement allows for the development and distribution of Farmscan Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) controls through Valley dealers worldwide.
- John Deere announces it is holding Drive Green Tractor Experience events at more than 50 locations across the southern and eastern United States for 2010.
- Monsanto Company announced it has received approval from the U.S. EPA for the sales of a new formulation of acetochlor for early post-emergence use in cotton and soybeans. The product will be marketed as MON 63410 Herbicide for the 2010 growing season.
Ag and Biofuels Industry React to Renewable Fuel Rule
Organizations representing both biofuels and agriculture are pretty happy overall with EPA’s release of final rules for the implementation of the second phase of the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS2.
“We’re pleased the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes that corn ethanol provides a distinct advantage over conventional gasoline when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, with a reduction of more than 21 percent in some cases,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Darrin Ihnen. “This means that all corn ethanol including existing grandfathered capacity and new production will qualify to meet the conventional biofuels targets in the RFS.”
American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman says that they are encouraged by the rule because it “will help keep the nation’s renewable fuel standards on a path toward greater energy independence. By raising the volume of biofuels available for our nation’s transportation fuel supply, the administration is building on the strong bipartisan efforts that began years ago to provide a home-grown solution to the energy challenges facing our nation.”
Ethanol and biodiesel organizations were also pleased with the rule, which was changed from the initial proposal to be more favorable to first generation biofuels. See all their reactions on our sister site Domestic Fuel.com including a podcast with details from administration officials and comments from major biofuels groups.
However, while overall reaction has been favorable, all organizations are expressing concern about EPA’s continued reliance on the unproven theory of indirect land use change, which penalizes domestic biofuels production on the basis that it results in more land put into production globally in areas like the Amazon rain forest. “Removing the impacts from the international indirect land use theory means that corn ethanol actually provides a 52 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, compared to gasoline,” said NCGA’s Ihnen. “The EPA is not considering similar indirect impacts of petroleum-based fuels, so why are they so stringent when it comes to green, renewable corn ethanol?”
Ag Day Celebration Events In Washington, DC
Time to make your plans to participate in the 2010 Ag Day Celebration. Here are the details:
Ag Day 2010 in Celebration of American Agriculture
Join other industry leaders on March 18, 2010, for two great events to honor and celebrate just how AMAZING American agriculture really is!
Mix & Mingle Luncheon
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
U.S. Capitol Visitors Center
Washington, DC
Complimentary admittance to luncheon. Register for Luncheon
National Ag Day Dinner & Cocktails
5:30 p.m.
USDA Whitten Building Patio
Washington, DC
Tickets: $100 per person, or $1,000 for a reserved table of 10
hosted by the Agriculture Council of America in recognition of National Ag Week
Invited Guest Speaker:
United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack Register for Dinner
No Farms No Food Merchandise
This slogan pretty well sums things up don’t you think? No Farms No Food. The American Farmland Trust opened an E-Commerce store during the holiday season and you can still make purchases.
The store features our first line of products with the No Farms No Food® message. American Farmland Trust encourages buyers to keep the shopping spirit alive as we welcome 2010 and introduce new items throughout the year at http://www.zazzle.com/americanfarmland.
Sales from the store serve a vital purpose in helping AFT achieve its mission to protect farm and ranch land, increase the availability of fresh local food and farm products, and keep the land and our communities healthy. The profits from our e-commerce store continue to benefit the on-the-ground programs we implement each year.
Encourage Yellow Tail To Withdraw H$U$ Support
According to radical extremist group H$U$, they have received a $100,000 donation from Yellow Tail wines. They’re calling it the “tails for tails” program and the organizational logo will appear on Yellow Tail wine displays throughout the country through the end of March. The photo shows what one former product fan thinks of the donation decision.
Feel free to let Yellow Tail know your thoughts on their Facebook page. I have and unless they change their decision I have also removed them from my list of ZimmComm approved wines.
Ohioans For Humane Farms Files Petition
I guess I’m not shocked that HSUS has pulled this bait and switch on Ohio voters. While stepping aside to let Ohio farmers pass the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, our friends at HSUS are now campaigning to make sure that board pushes their agendas forward, which include: abolishing meat, dairy and eggs from the American diet and putting farmers and ranchers out of business. In their newest campaign, Ohioans for Humane Farms, HSUS and Farm Sanctuary are back on the campaign trail, ready to take action in the next election. Check out an excerpt from Kristy Foster in Farm and Dairy.
Producers and state officials had heard it was coming. Now, it’s official: The Humane Society of the United States launched a counterattack on Ohio Jan. 27. Ohioans for Humane Farms, backed by HSUS and Farm Sanctuary, submitted a petition — including signatures from Ohio voters in 48 counties — to Ohio’s Secretary of State in support of placing an anti-cruelty measure on the November ballot.
Regulations requested include: 1. End confinement for veal calves, breeding pigs and chickens in what has been described by the Humane Society of the United States as “tiny cages.” 2. Stop “downer cows” or animals too sick or injured to stand or walk on their own from entering the human food chain. 3. Establish regulations for the euthanasia of sick and injured animals.
Field To Table Video
How many discussions have you participated in about showing consumers how food gets from the field to the plate? I lost count a while ago. There are many groups and efforts going on to accomplish this. Here’s one I just found from the Canned Food Alliance. They’re using YouTube and MealTimes.org.
Canned food is one of the most versatile options for creating affordable, quick and healthy meals especially during colder months. But common misperceptions persist about the canning process. Within hours of harvesting, top quality fruits and vegetables are simply and naturally preserved for convenience and year-round availability, so you can enjoy tropical fruit even during the cold days of winter. Cans are also one of the safest and most recyclable forms of packaging available. Watch “Canned Food From Field to Table” to get the facts from the people who grow, pack, recommend and cook with canned foods.
The video features food blogger Tom Barritt, authto of food blog, Culinary Types, Associate Director of the Food and Nutrition Practice at Ketchum. Interesting combination. Are you a journalist or a public relations person? I don’t care personally and he is transparent about it. Doesn’t bother me. Does it bother you?