Growth Energy Calls For COOL For FUEL

Chuck Zimmerman

General Wesley ClarkGen. Wesley Clark, Growth Energy, made a major announcement this morning at the Farm Progress Show. The organization is calling for country of origin labeling for fuel. I would call that the “COOL for fuel” initiative! Hey, we do it with food, why not fuel?

General Wesley Clark, Co-Chairman of Growth Energy, today called on the United States Congress and the White House to take action to dramatically enhance the market transparency of the nation’s fuel supply by requiring a national standard of country of origin labeling (COOL) for fuel.

The Label My Fuel initiative would create a COOL standard similar to requirements already in place for common consumer items, including apples, beef, cars and coffee. The goal is to help create consumer awareness of the costs and national security implications of the nation’s addiction to foreign oil.

Clark also unveiled Growth Energy’s labelmyfuel.com, which showcases the costs of American dependence on foreign oil, and serves to rally grassroots support for Congressional action on COOL for fuel legislation.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2009 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

You can listen to the press conference below:

Audio, Energy, Ethanol, Farm Progress Show

Get a Rustler From New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland RustlerThe first big news at the Farm Progress Show was the announcement by New Holland, our sponsor, of their new utility vehicle called The Rustler. Carly is seen here in the driver seat of the one we have on display in the media tent.

New Holland announces a new product for the hardworking rancher, farmer or property owner and the hardplaying outdoor sports enthusiast: the Rustler™ utility vehicle. Equally at home at work or play, Rustler™ utility vehicles combine rugged performance with an ultra-smooth ride for “go-anywhere, do-anything” confidence. No matter what you do, a New Holland Rustler can be built for you!

In fields and woods, over ruts and rocky roads, through mud or snow, Rustler UVs get the job done. Whether hauling supplies, pulling trailers or transporting people and gear, Rustler UVs can be configured to meet the need: they are offered in two-passenger or four-passenger versions, with gas or diesel engines, 4×2 or 4×4 axles, and with a wide variety of options and accessories.

Full news release here.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2009 Farm Progress Show
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland

USB’s See For Yourself Tour A Huge Success

Joanna Schroeder

Last year, the United Soybean Board wanted soybean farmers to learn more about how their checkoff program was helping their bottom line. Thus, the See For Yourself program was created. After a successful first year, the program was continued, and this year, 10 soybean farmers representing eight states, went on a trip to see how the soybeans they grow are being used throughout the world.

Ohio soybean farmer Christopher Gibbs (seventh from left) and United Soybean Board Audit and Evaluation Chair Jim Stillman (sixth from right) take time out from a walking tour of downtown Guadalajara, Mexico to pose with the rest of the See for Yourself participants for a group photograph.

Ohio soybean farmer Christopher Gibbs (seventh from left) and United Soybean Board Audit and Evaluation Chair Jim Stillman (sixth from right) take time out from a walking tour of downtown Guadalajara, Mexico to pose with the rest of the See for Yourself participants for a group photograph.

This year, the group started in St. Louis and from there went to Guadalajara, Mexico. I wasn’t on the trip but I had a chance to talk with two growers who were. Jim Stillman, USB’s Audit and Evaluation Chair and a soybean farmer from Emmetsburg, Iowa and Christopher Gibbs, a soybean farmer from Maplewood, Ohio.

Gibbs heard about the program online. He said of his experience, “I didn’t have any real examples of how the soybean dollars were being used, and this trip gave me a real opportunity to see this first hand. I think the goal of this trip was met.” He encourages anyone who is interested in learning more about the program to apply for next year’s trip.

Stillman gave me the rundown on everything they saw and did which you can hear in the interview below. “All the farmers were very impressed and quite in awe of all the things the soybean board is doing in the international markets. We will call on these farmers throughout the year,” said Stillman, “to have them talk about their experiences.”

You can hear about Christpher Gibbs’ and Jim Stillman’s expereinces first-hand in the back-to-back interviews below.

Soybean, USB

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Phyllis Parks, CPA, CVA, an accountant from Danville, IL, was elected to serve as the president of the Farm Financial Standards Council.
  • Arenus recently donated a supply of their joint health product, STEADFAST EQUINE, to NARHA centers nationwide.
  • The new Genome Alberta GenOmics Facebook application will be a one stop source for genomics and other related ‘omics’ news including nutrigenomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics.
  • The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is launching the 2010 Yield Challenge, slated to kick off after Labor Day and continue through next year’s growing season. Applications are due by April 1, 2010.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Farm Progress Show Ready To Kick Off

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Farm Progress Show 2009It’s that time. Time for the 2009 Farm Progress Show. I know a lot of people and a lot of work has been going on in Decatur, IL already and I’ll be on location tomorrow afternoon. Cindy and Carly will be going to their first FPS. It looks like they’ll have some great weather. That’ll be a change.

    Before we head out I’d like to thank our sponsors for this year’s AgWired coverage. They are New Holland and BASF. Over on our Precision.AgWired.com website we’ll have coverage sponsored by Ag Leader Technology.

    It’s going to be a busy show. I’ve got a list of events and Tuesday is just going to be a back to back day of photos and interviews. So keep it right here if you can’t make it.

    AgWired coverage of the 2009 Farm Progress Show
    is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

    Farm Progress Show

    Regulatory Czar Nominee Could be Nightmare for Ag

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Americans for Limited Government (ALG) has mounted a campaign against the nomination of Cass Sunstein to be the White House’s “Regulatory Czar” in order to prevent a “litigation nightmare.”

    ALG President Bill Wilson sent letters last week to farm organizations urging them to actively oppose the nomination. “What concerns me and I am sure will concern you is Mr. Sunstein’s extreme positions on animal rights,” Wilson wrote in his letter to the agricultural sector. “If put into law or regulation, these radical stands will destroy agriculture and threaten America’s ability to feed itself much less do any exporting of agricultural products.” Wilson says Sunstein favors granting legal rights to animals and “further regulation” against hunting, animal testing and farming.

    To make their point in a pretty funny way, ALG released this “Farce Side” cartoon (with apologies to Gary Larson, creator of “The Far Side”). While the cartoon is amusing, Sustein’s extreme animal rights beliefs could prove to be very serious indeed if his nomination is approved. As an example of Sustein’s views, read his “The Rights of Animals: A Very Short Primer” – a very scary treatise in which he says “there is no good reason to permit the level of suffering now being experienced by millions, even billions of living creatures.”

    Sunstein has been nominated to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the White House Office of Management and Budget. This post is also known as the “Regulatory Czar,” since all major regulatory actions by the federal government are subject to review by this office. The current status of his nomination is that it will require 60 votes in the Senate to invoke cloture after Senate Republicans earlier this month blocked a unanimous consent resolution to approve Sunstein without any roll call.

    ALG is recommending that farmers and ranchers and all Americans who want “to have the right to choose what to eat and purchase at the grocery store” to urge their senators to vote against Sustein’s nomination.

    Animal Activists

    Biodiesel Powered Sleds

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Chuck interviews Donnie BungartWhat do you think of when you hear that there’s a sled running on biodiesel? Probably not thinking tractor pull sled are you? Unless you’re a tractor pull fan. Well those big machines that the tractors and trucks pull are also diesel powered and in Jefferson City, MO there’s a company that manufactures them and runs them on biodiesel.

    The company is Bungart Motor Sports and I learned about if from Donnie Bungart. Thanks to Tom Steever, Brownfield Network, for the picture.

    Bungart Biodiesel SledDonnie says they do over 160 shows a year around the country. At the Midwest Extreme Truck and Tractor Pull in Jefferson City he says they had two sleds in operation. He says they run B20 in them and have been for over 3 years very successfully. Donnie says they’ve had a lot of luck locating the fuel when they need it, especially at major truck stops.

    So if you’re not a tractor pulling enthusiast you might ask, “What’s a sled?” Donnie says it’s a weight transfer machine. It starts out not weighing much but as the tractor pulls it more and more weight is transferred which ultimately stops the tractor. At least we hope! Thanks again to the United Soybean Board for inviting me out to the tractor pull.

    You can listen to my interview with Donnie below:

    Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, Soybean, USB

    Pulling With Biodiesel

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Dennis Shramek and Young BloodThis soybean grower from Missouri doesn’t plant corn with the machine he’s standing next too. No way. But he does power it with a biodiesel blend and compete in tractor pulls across the United States. He’s Dennis Shramek and one of the competitors in this weekend’s NTPA Midwest Extreme Truck and Tractor Pull. Thank you to the United Soybean Board for inviting me out.

    I met him early Friday evening long before his class was set to compete. Dennis grows soybeans and corn in central Missouri. He says they do a lot of no-till. Besides growing crops he’s got this AGCO DT225 which he competes with for points. He says they run over 3,000 horsepower! They blend their own biodiesel and jug it up and bring it along to the event. He gets better lubrication with biodiesel than pure low sulfur diesel. He says they’ve been competing with this tractor for about 6 years and they’ll compete at least 16 to 18 times a season.

    Dennis is sure that the biodiesel industry will grow since it’s a clean fuel and helps the U.S. economy and helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

    You can listen to my interview with Dennis below:

    Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Soybean, USB

    New Products From John Deere

    Chuck Zimmerman

    John DeereJohn Deere has once again come out with a whole list of new product announcements. The big one is about their introduction of the 8R Series high-powered row crop tractors.

    As producers take on more acres and grow their farm operations, they and their employees are spending more time in the tractor cabs working. New 8R Series Tractors help operators work more comfortably and productively. The lineup includes six wheeled models that range from 225 to 345 engine horsepower and three track models that range from 295 to 345 engine horsepower.

    Other announcements include:

    John Deere adds new economy-sized, versatile self-propelled sprayer model to lineup

    John Deere introduces new Load CommandT System

    John Deere introduces all-new PitStop Pro that lets customers quickly change anhydrous ammonia tanks

    John Deere adds new 800-hp Self-propelled Forage Harvester model to 7050 Series lineup along with two new heads

    John Deere unveils new 400 Series Self-propelled Windrowers for 2010

    John Deere adds two new AutoTracT guidance products to portfolio

    John Deere dealers now offer select products from Raven Industries

    Agribusiness, John Deere, Tractor

    Midwest Xtreme Truck and Tractor Pull

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Last night I spent a little while at the National Tractor Pull Association Midwest Xtreme Truck and Tractor Pull in Jefferson City, MO. There was a big crowd and I’ve never seen so many trucks and tractors, modified and ready to pull. My main reason to attend was because the National Biodisel Board and United Soybean Board were involved since several participants were running a blend of biodiesel in their tractors. I’ll have a couple interviews coming up soon with them.

    In the meantime, I thought you’d enjoy a couple short video clips. These are some of the early competitors. The first one below was taken with my iPhone and I uploaded it there. The bottom one was taken with my Flip Mino HD and uploaded this morning. What do you think of the quality of each?

    Soybean, Tractor, USB