RFA Kicks Off National Ethanol Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Chris StandleeThe 2009 National Ethanol Conference got started this morning with a golf tournament and welcome from Renewable Fuels Association Chairman, Chris Standlee, Agengoa Bioenergy Corporation. Cindy and I will be covering the event courtesy of the RFA. We’ll also be posting content onto The Ethanol Report site for them.

Most of our coverage will appear on Domestic Fuel which just got a whole new look as of this morning. I hope you like the new theme.

Let’s get back to Chris. He’s expecting this to be a great conference and said that not only are we in oil country but that there are more attendees this year from the oil business than usual. Chris says that he’s very optimistic about the health of the ethanol industry even in light of the challenging year we just completed.

You can listen to my interview with Chris here: nec-09-standlee.mp3

Keep an eye on our: National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • The U.S. fruit, vegetable and mass-market floral industry contributes $554 billion annually to the nation’s economy, according to a new study from Battelle. The economic impact study – titled Economic Reach and Impact of the Fresh Produce and Floral Industry, commissioned by Produce Marketing Association (PMA) – used unprecedented economic modeling to analyze and measure the industry’s field-to-fork reach.
  • Massey Ferguson proudly introduces the Massey Ferguson 8600 Series high-horsepower row crop tractor to North American farmers.
  • Dow AgroSciences LLC, and the China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Hangzhou, China, announced that they have entered into a research agreement to combine the strengths of Dow AgroSciences’ platform of traits and technologies with CNRRI’s leading rice germplasm.
    Zimfo Bytes

    New Website For California Ag Network

    Chuck Zimmerman

    California Ag NetworkRoy Isom, California Ag Network, has a new website and he’s beginning to podcast and according to last week’s USDA Farm Broadcaster’s Letter, he’ll start doing video clips too. Now we just need to get Roy on Twitter, eh? Roy also broadcasts on KMJ, Fresno.

    Here, you will find agri-business and farming news, information, or agriculture related resources, equipment, and supplies. If you’re involved in cultivating the land, fruit production, or raising livestock, if you’re a processor, packer, exporter, or researcher California Ag Net is your business and community center.

    You can hear Roy here (mp3).

    Media

    This Will Be A Classic Week

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Commodity ClassicHow many of you will be attending Commodity Classic this week? No, don’t reply because I know a lot of you will. If you’re twittering from there then use this hashtag: #cclassic. What’s a hashtag? Follow this link. If you’re not a Twitterer but want to keep up with the conversation then you can use the Twitter Search Engine like this.

    Cindy, Joanna and I will arrive on Wednesday which is when the games really begin. We’ll be doing some significant event blogging here so feel free to check in often.

    Commodity Classic

    Netbooking It With A Mini

    Chuck Zimmerman

    chuck-mini-testI know I’m a Mac guy but I thought I’d try out one of the new netbooks which so far are only in the PC world. So today I’m trying out an HP Mini. Just got it set up.

    This is a photo from the built in camera. Not great quality but . . . given the subject matter. So, why a mini? Well, after researching and thinking about it for a while I think it’s a convenience thing.

    Let’s say my Mac is tied up doing a live video stream (it will be at the National Ethanol Conference next week) and yet I still want to be live blogging or tweeting. I’ve got my iPhone of course but these things are so small and they are a full computer that I thought I’d try it out. Plus we’re talking less than $400. So, we’ll see. Hopefully, Cindy will like it and let me keep it.

    Equipment

    The Monsanto Classic Blogger

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Brooke HoelscherMonsanto is sponsoring a Commodity Classic blogger once again this year. Thanks to Tyne Morgan, former Classic blogger herself, for the heads up. This year Brooke Hoelscher will be providing her perspective on the Classic happenings in Grapevine, TX. Here’s a little bit about Brooke.

    I am a junior Agriculture Communications and Journalism major at Texas A&M University. I study the principals of professional writing, editing, public relations, and advertising in the agriculture industry. I plan to graduate in December 2009 and pursue a career in marketing and public relations.

    Commodity Classic

    Some Crop Scientists Are Frustrated

    Chuck Zimmerman

    There’s an interesting story in yesterday’s N.Y. Times titled, “Crop Scientists Say Biotechnology Seed Companies Are Thwarting Research.” Apparently a group of university scientists has filed this statement to the EPA which the story says will be holding meetings next week on biotech crops and was seeking public comments.

    “Technology/stewardship agreements required for the purchase of genetically modified seed explicitly prohibit research. These agreements inhibit public scientists from pursuing their mandated role on behalf of the public good unless the research is approved by industry. As a result of restricted access, no truly independent research can be legally conducted on many critical questions regarding the technology, its performance, its management implications, IRM, and its interactions with insect biology. Consequently, data flowing to an EPA Scientific Advisory Panel from the public sector is unduly limited.”

    The seed companies require contracts to purchase their genetically modified seed and therein lies the concerns and frustrations apparently. It makes a good read just prior to Commodity Classic next week when seed companies will be exhibiting while the EPA is meeting.

    Agribusiness, Seed

    Ervin Group Awards iPod Nano

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ervin Group iPod Nano GiftStill wondering about social networking? How about this, from Ken Wurdeman’s Twitter account, which points to a note in the Ervin Group Facebook page.

    Congratulations to Jack Moyle Jr. of Moyle Irrigation, Enterprise, Utah, winner of this iPod Nano, courtesy of Ervin Group.

    Jack submitted the winning story idea for Lindsay Corporation’s “Irrigation Advances” magazine, which is written and designed by Ervin Group. Ervin Group sponsored the story idea contest as part of Lindsay’s recent dealer meeting. Jack suggested a story about how his grower-customers are using precision technology to increase profitability.

    Moyle Irrigation has been a Zimmatic dealer for nearly three decades.

    Agencies

    Flip Ultra Captures Video Clips with Ease

    Amanda Nolz

    When my professor in my class, Digital Media Production, told us that we were required to purchase a Flip Ultra Video Recorder for class, I was disgusted. Great, this is just what I need…buying a junky piece of equipment that I will never use after this class.

    flip-ultra_350 However, my bad attitude didn’t last for long. As I started to use the video equipment, along with Apple’s Final Cut Express for editing, I realized that this handy gadget may extend to the start of my career as a journalist in May. Although this tiny camera doesn’t look like the traditional video equipment used by professionals, it’s a convenient to use on the run. Its small size fits in my pocket, making it easier to carry my notebook and photography equipment on an assignment. The best part is that it films in HD, so the picture is high quality and the sound works great without the use of a microphone.

    To say the least, after only a few uses, I’m a fan of this equipment, and I’m glad I made the purchase. Check out the links I provided above to learn more about the editing program and this video camera. They are pretty affordable and a lot of fun to use. Let me know if you decide to make the purchase. I want to hear about your future video projects!

    Uncategorized

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

      Zimfo Bytes

    • Cooperatives Working Together has now finished the farm audits of its sixth herd retirement round since the program was started in 2003, removing 50,630 cows that produced almost one billion pounds of milk (186 herds in 33 states).
    • Join us on March 12, as the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) hosts two major events in Washington, DC: the Mix-and-Mingle Luncheon and the National Celebration of Agriculture Dinner. Click here to sign up for the luncheon. Dinner tickets can be purchased here.
    • In response to food price inflation and the worldwide economic crisis, Cargill has made an unprecedented gift of $1 million to The Global FoodBanking Network.
    • AgCareers.com is hosting a Webinar for human resources professionals: “Improve On-Boarding — Impact Employee Retention”, March 13, at 11:00 am (EST).
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