AgWired

I don’t know why I let things like the global warming hoax bother me but sometimes . . . It seems like lately I’ve been hearing and seeing more “news” coverage of this subject. For a while last year the term changed to “climate change” when a number of stories came out from weather reporting stations and actual meteorologists and weather scientists that in fact the Earth had cooled. Now it seems like we’re back to global warming. I think the news media and a lot of people confuse a current weather condition with long term climate change. Just because it’s hot today or cold today doesn’t really mean much in the long term.

Because of our work with renewable fuels groups I think I’ve been exposed to more of the rhetoric and science behind this issue than most people. I am just not alarmed about global warming and that man has caused it or can effectively control it. Apparently a growing number of Americans are feeling this way too according to a new Gallup poll which found that when it comes to news coverage of the subject “. . . a record-high 41% now say it is exaggerated. This represents the highest level of public skepticism about mainstream reporting on global warming seen in more than a decade of Gallup polling on the subject.”

You can see some interesting information on the subject at ICECAP. I also found an interesting take about new media vs. old in a post by Paul Chesser, Climate Strategies Watch (bold is my doing). This comes after his pointing to the Gallup poll.

So what does this say after 20+ years of irresponsible media exaggeration of the issue? It tells me a few things: that there is no such thing as a dominant “mainstream media” any more that captivates the news-consuming public. That while it’s nice to have one of these news outlets do your story, it’s not vital, and it’s not necessary to agonize over whether they do so or not. That these historically well-known news outlets are not only losing readership and revenues because of advertising losses, but because of credibility loss and disconnect with their communities. News consumers are smarter these days and know how to detect biased reporting, and they are not buying the product any more. With the speed and efficiency of the Web, it almost doesn’t matter any more where your information gets published; it’s that it does get published, gets found by a few key constituents, and gets launched from there. Can anyone purchase a Sunday paper in any city these days and honestly say it was worth the money?

Yet too many in political activism, public relations, and business believe that if your message hasn’t penetrated these media dinosaurs, then you’ve failed. Well, as the global warming issue illustrates, the skeptics are at least tied with the alarmists if they are not outright winning, despite the lack of respect and attention from the dying news giants. The polls show it clearly.

We certainly have climate change and maybe we’re in for some drastic ones in the future. I think a lot is being done to effect changes in how we as humans affect the environment. Agribusiness and farmers would be at the top of the list of people doing work on this. I have no doubt we’ll find positive solutions to any situation that arises. Just look at the work in drought tolerant and disease resistant crops or improved efficiencies in ethanol and biodiesel production for example.

I’m betting you have an opinion on this too.

Growers are looking for ways to reduce costs this summer, especially as fertilizer costs are on the rise. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) just might have a way to help you save money. During Commodity Classic last month, they launched a new propane irrigation engine. According to Brandon Robinson, Projects Coordinator with PERC, “Propane is one of the most efficient fuels out there. In one tank of propane, 90 percent of the fuel will be turned to energy.”

Studies were conducted at the University of Nebraska tractor testing lab where diesel irrigation engines were compared against the new propane irrigation engines. In terms of a gallon comparison between the two fuels, the results showed that is 1.5-1.6 gallons of propane for every gallon of diesel, said Robinson. “This is a great improvement over the old numbers.”

According to Robinson, another advantage of using propane on the farm is that propane prices typcially go down in the summer when other fuel prices go up. This makes propane 30 percent more cost efficient than using diesel irrigation engines that use other fuels, such as diesel.

“We are seeing demand increase as farmers are looking for more efficient applications and cleaner and greener applications. We expanding our base in terms of how farmers can use propane on the farm,” said Robinson.

Growers can learn about all the farm-application uses for propane by visiting www.agpropane.com. You can also learn more by listening to the full AgWired interview with Brandon Robinson: cc-09-joanna-perc.mp3