Dorr Resigns from USDA

Cindy Zimmerman

We’ve seen USDA Under Secretary Tom Dorr so many times in the past year or so at so many events that we have gotten to know him pretty well. But, now he is moving on and out of USDA.

USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development, Tom DorrU.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced the resignation, effective December 1, 2008, of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr.

“Tom Dorr has been a transformational leader for USDA Rural Development,” Schafer said. “As the transition to a new Administration continues in the months ahead, senior leaders will be moving on, but Under Secretary Dorr’s contributions to USDA and rural America will be felt for many years to come.”

A native of Marcus, Iowa, Tom Dorr joined USDA in 2001, serving as USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development and Senior Advisor to the Secretary. He was appointed in December 2005 by then-Secretary Mike Johanns to chair the USDA Energy Council and served as co-chair of the Federal Biomass Research and Development Board.

No word yet where Tom will be landing – although many of the appointed in USDA are naturally looking for new jobs and have been for some time. No matter who was elected, they were likely to be replaced. But, I would think we will be seeing Tom around in the ag sector somewhere in the future.

USDA

POET Project LIBERTY

Chuck Zimmerman

POETI think the last time I was in Emmetsburg, IA it was to visit with a local radio station for the Brownfield Network. It’s been a while. Well, that’s where I’m headed to attend tomorrow’s POET Project LIBERTY field day.

The main purpose of this year’s event is to highlight advances in corn cob harvesting for cellulosic ethanol. I’ll be posting here and on Domestic Fuel.

So, as you can guess, I’ve got some miles to cover.

Agribusiness, Ethanol

Vicki Henrickson Joins BCS Communications

Chuck Zimmerman

Anita, Rhonda and VickiVicki Henrickson is pictured on the right here along with Rhonda Ludwig and Anita Vanderwert at this year’s Farm Progress Show. It’s the first picture I found in the ZimmComm archives when looking for one to use with this news from BCS Communications.

Blasdel Cleaver Schwalbe Communications, LLC, announces that Vicki Henrickson has joined the company as media director / lead media strategist on the John Deere Agricultural Products account.

Henrickson has been managing strategic media planning and placement for John Deere Agricultural Products and John Deere Publishing for the past two years as VickiMedia of Davenport, Iowa. She has extensive media strategy and planning experience, as well as tremendous knowledge of the broad range of agricultural media available today.

Leigh Ann Cleaver, partner, BCS Communications, says the addition of Vicki to the BCS team further integrates the portfolio of communications services the agency provides John Deere. “Our business is designed to offer senior-level, experienced professionals who work with clients everyday to help them accomplish their goals. Joining forces with Vicki adds significantly to our media services.”

Agencies

Pioneer Corn Mikes

Chuck Zimmerman

Pioneer Corn MikesI thought this image of corn microphones from the Pioneer NAFB Trade Talk invitation was worth sharing. Pretty cool creative, eh?

If you’re planning to attend the 2008 NAFB Convention, get your microphone and recorder ready, and stop by the Pioneer Hi-Bred Trade Talk booth. You’ll learn more about the latest from Pioneer and what is to come in 2009.

The Golden ZimmComm Microphones will be there!

Agribusiness, NAFB, Pioneer

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Syngenta announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the pot and garden Chrysanthemum and Aster business of U.S. flowers producer Yoder Brothers Inc. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2008, pending regulatory approvals.
  • The world’s largest dairy exporter, Fonterra Co-operative Group, has opened its new research and development center – the Chicago Technical Center (CTC) – in Chicago, Ill. Fonterra has invested $2.4 million in the state-of-the-art facility, which applies New Zealand intellectual property and technology to the benefit of both the New Zealand and US dairy industries.
  • The unveiling of the 700,000th square baler made at New Holland was accompanied by a celebration to commemorate the continuing success of one of the most significant labor-saving inventions in the mechanization of agriculture. The 700,000th New Holland square baler, a Model BC5070, is one of the new generation square balers New Holland has introduced this year.
  • The USDA has granted approval of Mycomune R, a vaccine to help prevent respiratory disease in calves caused by Mycoplasma bovis. This new vaccine, which contains antigens against four economically important strains of M. bovis, can be administered to beef and dairy calves as young as three weeks of age.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Frying Turkey is High Cotton

    Chuck Zimmerman

    National Cottonseed Products AssociationIn case you’re already planning your turkey dinner the National Cottonseed Products Association wants you to consider cooking in cottonseed oil. I have not fried a whole turkey yet but maybe this is the year to do it. Apparently cottonseed oil is now available to consumers.

    For years, peanut oil has been the default oil for deep-frying turkey, a long-time Southern delicacy and favorite Thanksgiving tradition. This year, consumers shopping for frying oil likely will see they have another choice: cottonseed oil.

    According to Ben Morgan, executive vice president of the National Cottonseed Products Association, the industry is behind a successful initiative to expand distribution of cottonseed oil to consumers nationwide.

    The organization has some recommendations on just how to do it safely:

    Frying a whole turkey might seem a little intimidating at first, especially if you are not an experienced outdoor cook. However, with a little care and caution, you can get very good results your first time out.

    #3. Pour COTTONSEED oil into a turkey frying pot. Make sure you leave enough room for your turkey so that the oil will be just enough to cover it completely during frying. Do not overfill. Cottonseed oil is best since it’s stable and gives a good flavor to the turkey.

    Ag Groups, Food

    Get Ready To Support NAFB Foundation

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Terry Redlin PrintAt next week’s NAFB convention you’ll have a chance to support the NAFB Foundation with their annual auction. They’ve got a lot of items already donated like this Terry Redlin print (donated by Ron Claussen). Here’s some information about it:

    This print was created in 1980. It is number 837 of 2400.

    Initially, this print was sold exclusively through Ducks Unlimited banquets. I purchased this one in 1981. At that time, because of its popularity, “Morning Retreat” became the single biggest fund raiser in the history of DU. This is the print that prompted Terry Redlin’s national recognition.

    Obviously, since it is an original limited edition print, seldom is it available for purchase. Unframed limited artist proofs are available from the Redlin Art Center (www.redlinart.com) for $3,975. Sadly, due to a rapidly advancing illness, Terry Redlin has had to retire. There will be no more ‘original Redlins’.

    Ron just had the print framed for the auction which will take place at 5:30pm on Thursday, November 13 during the 2008 NAFB Convention.

    Cindy and I will be there in KC, MO and hope to see you. AgWired coverage of the NAFB Convention is being sponsored by DTN/The Progressive Farmer.

    NAFB

    Biodiesel Car On Display at SEMA Show

    Chuck Zimmerman

    SEMA ShowThe Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is holding their annual show in Las Vegas and Jay Leno’s Ecojet is on display. Besides the team from Jay Leno’s Garage, Joe Jobe, NBB CEO is also there to speak with the media and attendees. This is not a consumer show btw and according to Joe attorneys aren’t invited either. That’s interesting.

    I just spoke with Joe via Skype from my computer to his mobile phone on the show floor. He says it’s a big show and the “sassy” Ecojet is a big attraction for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it runs on B100 and is totally environmentally friendly. I think the fact that it’s a Corvette with a jet engine also has something to do with it too.

    You can listen to my interview with Joe here: nbb-sema-jobe.mp3

    Joe and the NBB have continued a working relationship with Jay Leno that started with New Holland’s involvement about a year and a half ago out in Jay Leno’s Garage. Since then Jay’s car has toured the country touting the benefits of biodiesel and raising awareness for the renewable fuel.

    Audio, Biodiesel, New Holland

    Nokia To Deliver Ag Info To Mobile Phones

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NOKIANokia is bringing a whole new dimension to the idea of mobile information delivery. They just announced a plan to bring agricultural information and education services to non-urban consumers in emerging markets with a service called Nokia Life Tools. Can the United States be far behind? Or are there companies already delivering ag information to mobile phones here in America?

    Designed specifically for emerging markets, Nokia Life Tools helps overcome information constraints and provides services to this next generation of mobile users. Nokia plans to launch the service, beginning in the first half of 2009 with the Nokia 2323 classic and the Nokia 2330 classic as the lead devices in India and expand across select countries in Asia and Africa later in 2009.

    Nokia plans to conduct a limited scale pilot in India before the end of 2008. Reuters Market Light (RML) is the content service provider collaborating with Nokia for agriculture services in the pilot, where accurate and regular information on weather, prices and availability of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and prevailing market prices for the produce are sent to the farmer. The information is customized to the farmer’s location and selection of crops, and will be delivered directly to his Nokia mobile phone. By getting the latest information directly on their mobile phones, farmers can overcome uncertainty and get just the right information that they need to grow and sell their crops. Read More

    Equipment, International

    CHS Straw Vote

    Chuck Zimmerman

    CHS, Inc.Okay, let me add to your political saturation level. Hey, it’ll all be over tomorrow night (we hope). I thought this was an interesting story, especially considering the business CHS is involved in.

    Minnesota polls are showing otherwise, but the 20-year-old straw vote tradition at the headquarters of CHS Inc. (NASDAQ:CHSCP) , a leading energy and grain-based foods company, is giving Tuesday’s election to John McCain for president and incumbent Norm Coleman for U.S. Senate.

    “We’ve conducted these straw ballots on major national and statewide elections at our location for two decades as a way to encourage employee interest and get out the real vote on Election Day,” said Jim Bareksten, director, government affairs. “Each time, our employee vote has mirrored the actual outcome — including the election of Jesse Ventura as governor in 1998.”

    The election, which also included employees at the company’s Rosemount, Minn., transportation terminal drew 153 “voters.” In the presidential contest, Republican McCain drew 57 percent of the votes to Democrat Barack Obama’s 43 percent. Straw poll participants gave Coleman, a Republican, 57 percent to 33 percent for Democrat Al Franken and 10 percent to independent Dean Barkley.

    Agribusiness, politics