I just learned about the Back Forty blog since cappressglw is now following me on Twitter.
This is a gathering place for people who have found their patch of ground to grow what they like, raise the animals they like and stretch out a bit without the neighbors peering in through the side window. Call it a small farm, hobby farm, ranchette, living the rural lifestyle or going ruralpolitan, it’s all about people getting in touch with the land.
A Smile At The End Of A Monday
Thanks to one of my Facebook friends I got a link to this video/song which I think is hilarious. It’s Monday. Time to lighten up and relax.
I’m lobbying for them to perform at an NAFB Convention. What do you think? Actually, they’ve got another video that might be more appropriate.
See you in KC, MO.
Post Update: Chelsea says I should warn you that there are some “adult” words in this video.
Ethanol Producers Form Growth Energy
I just found out about that new ethanol group being formed. It’s called Growth Energy.
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home.
The organization will be dedicated to promoting clean, green ethanol as America’s best renewable fuel that is high-tech and homegrown, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. In addition, the organization will release a new policy brief and announce a new advertising campaign focused on dispelling one of the major myths about ethanol production.
The new organization will have a press conference tomorrow which we’ll participate in and have more information to share then.
TwiTip is Your Twitter Resource
Hello Twitter lovers and wonderers. I know you either like Twitter and tweeting or you’re still wondering, “Twitter?”
Now you’ve got a great new resource to help you get it from new media master down under, Darren Rowse. It’s called TwiTip. Darren is also Mr. ProBlogger.
So go there. Learn and start tweeting. Warning: You may get addicted.
Zimfo Bytes
- Novus International, a leader in animal health and nutrition, recently announced the appointment of Dr. Nasser Odetallah as Product Manager, Enzymes and Probiotics. Dr. Odetallah’s primary responsibility will be to increase the brand awareness and sale of CIBENZA™ feed additives and other Novus enzyme and probiotic products.
- Vyta Corp now controls 100% ownership interest in BIOAGRA, LLC, and Paul H. Metzinger, President and CEO of Vyta Corp, becomes the sole Manager, and only executive officer of BIOAGRA, LLC.
- Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encourages Iowa fuel retailers and gas stations to submit nominations for the Secretary’s Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards, which recognize fuel retailers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to sell renewable fuels. Awards are presented for both the marketing of ethanol and biodiesel.
- BBI International will move its corporate headquarters from Salida, Colorado, to the Denver suburb of Lakewood, Colorado, by the end of the year. The privately held media, events, consulting and engineering firm will also consolidate its event logistics, marketing and media operations in Grand Forks, North Dakota, effective immediately.
New Ethanol Group Being Formed
According to Mr. Ethanol, Jeff Broin, CEO, POET we’re about to hear of a new organization that will help open new markets for the renewable fuel.
When I spoke to Jeff at last week’s Project LIBERTY field day he said that an issue that presents a challenge to the ethanol industry is the regulatory cap which limits ethanol to 10 percent of the fuel supply – and the industry is bumping up on it now. He says they need access to more markets. For that reason a new ethanol organization is being formed. “We actually are just in the process of working with many other ethanol producers and several ag companies to create a new organization that’s going to drive that agenda forward.” He says we’ll hear more about it shortly.
I also asked him what he thinks about the results of our Presidential election. He says, “President-Elect Obama, is going to be I think very, very strong for ethanol.” In fact, Jeff says that POET had one of Obama’s top advisors on energy at their grand opening in Ohio just a couple weeks ago and she stated that he would like to see the RFS increase to 60 billion gallons which Jeff says, “is a great thing for farmers, it’s a great thing for agriculture, it’s a great thing for ethanol.”
You can listen to my interview with Jeff here: poet-liberty-08-broin-2.mp3
You can also download the interview with this link (mp3).
Farm Safety Quiz at NAFB Trade Talk
NAFB Trade Talk is this Thursday. Cindy and I will be there with our golden ZimmComm microphones. There are a lot of organizations exhibiting again this year. Feel free to let me know what you’ve got planned and we’ll feature it here on AgWired. Let’s take the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Program as an example. They’re doing a “Farm Safety Quiz” at Trade Talk.
WHAT:
Provide your listeners tips to help keep children safe on the farm and ranch by taking the Safety Quiz offered by the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day™ program. You ask the quiz questions, and we’ll provide the answers and reasons why.
This is just one way the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program works to help keep children safe and healthy on the farm, ranch and at home.
WHO:
Beth Horak, Extension educator from Western, Neb., has been involved with this program for nearly 15 years and also serves as coordinator for the Nebraska Rural Health and Safety Coalition.
YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS (samples):
How many passengers, at most, are ATVs designed to handle?
• None • One
• Two • Three
How fast can a stick or toy fly out of a lawnmower discharge chute?
• 10 miles per hour • 20 miles per hour
• 200 miles per hour • 500 miles per hour
If you have no other safe place for a child to stay while you drive a tractor, it is OK to let them ride in a tractor cab with you.
True or False?
How long does it take for a child to become hopelessly trapped in flowing grain?
• Less than 6 seconds • Less than 1 minute
• Less than 2 minutes • More than 5 minutes
WHERE & WHEN:
• Trade Talk Booth # 12, Hosted by Fertilizer Institute/Nutrients for Life
Working With Farm OEM’s
The Director of Business Development for POET is Scott Weishaar. He was the guy who told us about the various equipment options on display at their Project LIBERTY field day. That’s because he works directly with the farm OEM’s. He’s being interviewed in this picture (left).
He says the response from the OEM’s is phenomenal. There are several systems already being tested and they should be available in the near future. He says one of the important elements of harvesting cobs for the farmer is being able to do it without “slowing them down.” He also says they’re targeting the collection of cobs to all sizes of farms too. Therefore, there are multiple options and costs for some of these solutions
Options to collect the cobs include CCM (corn cob mix) where the cobs are mixed with the grain during harvest and then separated afterward and towable solutions where the cobs are collected in separate bins during the harvest process.
You can listen to my interview with Scott here: poet-liberty-08-weishaar.mp3
You can also download the interview with this link (mp3).
I also recorded Scott’s stage presentation in which he talks about the whole cob collection process which you can watch here:
Jennifer Saylor Joins NAFB Staff
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting has a new Member Services Manager. She’s Jennifer Saylor and you’ll get to meet her at this week’s NAFB convention.
Jennifer’s previous experience includes donor development, event and database management, and marketing communications with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. She also has participated in volunteer projects with the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association.
A 2003 graduate of the University of Missouri, earlier this year she challenged herself to compete in her first triathlon. She earned her master’s degree in business administration from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, in 2006.
A self-described “communications buff,” Jennifer looks forward to working with the NAFB member broadcast industry. While interviewing for the position, she familiarized herself by searching member Web sites and listening to farm radio stations.
October ZimmNews
The latest edition of ZimmNews has been delivered to in-boxes everywhere.
In case you didn’t get it or just want to look at it online then you can find it here: October ZimmNews
Some highlights include:
- New Media Tip
- Where Have We Been
- Where Are We Going
- New Media Training for COSDA
- Power of YouTube for John Deere
- Best of the ZimmCast
I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading.