RaboCasting

Chuck Zimmerman

RabobankI really like the idea of Rabobank producing an audio podcast of their news releases. (If you’d like this done for your company or organization then give the ag experts at ZimmComm New Media a call.)

Here’s what the latest RaboCast is about:

Since 1937 June has been Dairy Month: an annual tradition to celebrate the dairy industry. A new Rabobank podcast examines some causes for this celebration, such as growth in specialty products and an increase in dairy exports.

In the podcast, Rabobank Dairy Analyst and Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory Managing Director Debbie Perkins, explores the current U.S. dairy market, the growth of specialty products and export opportunities. (The full podcast is available online at www.RabobankAmerica.com/Rabocast.)

Agribusiness, Dairy, Podcasts

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Cattle producers can use the first and only vaccine available that prevents persistently infected calves caused by bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus Types 1 and 2, and offers 365 days of protection – Bovi-Shield GOLD® FP® from Pfizer Animal Health. The USDA recently upgraded the label claim for Bovi-Shield GOLD FP to the “prevention of persistently infected calves caused by BVD Types 1 and 2,” which is the highest label claim the USDA has assigned to a BVD-containing vaccine.
  • Pork producers can now use Denagard® (tiamulin) 10 Medicated Premix to combat costly enteric diseases in pigs weighing more than 250 pounds. The FDA recently accepted the removal of the weight limit.
  • Planalytics WeatherPin, a unique tool for displaying weather information that impacts agricultural producers and the businesses they depend on, has been
    selected by Farm Journal Media to power the new MyWeather section of the site. Scheduled for launch on July 1, MyWeather provides detailed, site-specific weather information in a user-friendly interface that incorporates historic and seasonal weather trends with radar imagery and other features.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Bunge and Corn Products to Combine

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Corn ProductsOnce this deal closes, Corn Products International will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bunge.

    Bunge Limited and Corn Products International, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Bunge will acquire Corn Products in an all-stock transaction. The aggregate transaction value is approximately $4.8 billion, including assumption of approximately $414 million of Corn Products’ net debt.

    Under the terms of the agreement, approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Corn Products stockholders will receive common shares of Bunge with a market value of $56.00 for each share of Corn Products common stock that they own, subject to adjustment as described below. Following the closing of the transaction, Corn Products stockholders will own approximately 21% of Bunge’s fully diluted shares.

    Agribusiness

    Farm Podcaster Tool

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Alesis ProTrackOkay farm podcasters. You’ve got a new choice in recording gear. You’re already carrying an iPod right? Just add the Alesis ProTrack and you’re good to go.

    Record stereo direct-to-iPod with ProTrack. Capture live audio anywhere and anytime with the convenience of your iPod (Classic and 5th generation) and iPod nano (2nd or 3rd generation). Just slide your iPod into the integrated sled and you’re ready to roll.

    You can record without additional equipment using the built-in pair of condenser microphones fixed in XY configuration. ProTrack also gives you a pair of combo XLR – 1/4-inch inputs so you can connect any professional sound source including external microphones. When running on plug-in power using the included AC adapter, ProTrack supplies 48V phantom power.

    Podcasts

    Ethanol Car Runs Strong in Iowa

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Iowa Corn Indy 250This year’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 is over and as usual, ethanol won. Actually, Dan Wheldon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing won the race. You can see plenty of victory lane pictures in my photo album.

    However, I was rooting for Team Ethanol. They ran as high as 3rd place but according to driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay, they lost a gamble on fuel strategy. He ran a strong race all day and really wanted to finish on the podium in front of so many fans of ethanol but it wasn’t to be. He finished 8th though and maybe he’ll get some breaks to go his way next time.

    I’m out of here and heading home before getting on the road again tomorrow for the “Transition To a Bio Economy” conference in Berkeley, CA. See you from there.

    Don’t forget to check out my photo album from all the activities of the past few days.

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Corn, Ethanol

    My Iowa Pace Car Ride

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Pace CarAfter today’s ethanol press conference the media were treated to rides out on the track in the Iowa Speedway Pace Car. I got to do one at Indy a couple years ago in a truck so this was different.

    Our driver was Davey Hamilton.

    Even though we only went about 95 mph, the curves were tough to deal with. As hard as I was pressing up against the door I was very glad to have my seat belt on.

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Ethanol, Video

    Getting The Inside Look at Ethanol

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ethanol Press ConferenceWe had an inside look at ethanol press conference here at Iowa Speedway this morning. Participating were (l-r), Toni Nuernberg, EPIC, Craig Floss, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Mike Sobetski, LifeLine Foods and Troy Hobbs, Monsanto. They helped answer questions journalists here had about the fuel that’s burning in these IndyCars.

    You can see individual posts with each of them on our Domestic Fuel site. But if you’d like to listen in or download the audio for your own use, here’s the links:

    You can listen to Toni’s comments here: iowa-08-toni.mp3

    Download it here.

    You can listen to Craig’s comments here: iowa-08-floss.mp3

    Download it here.

    You can listen to Mike’s comments here: iowa-08-sobetski.mp3

    Download it here.

    You can listen to Troy’s comments here: iowa-08-hobbs.mp3

    Download it here.

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, Ethanol

    Practice Time at Iowa Speedway

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Iowa SpeedwayThe first practice session for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 is just about to conclude and Team Ethanol’s #17 car is doing very well. I’ve got another interview scheduled with him in about 45 minutes.

    Ryan Hunter-Reay clocked a practice lap at 181.676 mph and is currently 7th fastest. The track was heating up this afternoon as we have a sunny day, something people here in Iowa are very happy to see. There’s another practice session this afternoon and they’ll be back out tomorrow.

    We’re hoping to see Ryan crossing that finish line first on Sunday!

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Ethanol

    Ryan Hunter-Reay Pumps Up Team Ethanol

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ryan Hunter-Reay With Highway PatrolI finally got to meet the Team Ethanol driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay. Ryan was on hand at the Kum & Go pump promotion and posed here with the Highway Patrolmen who helped us with security and traffic and other drivers. He’s the tall guy on the left. Cindy and Laura have already had a chance to meet him. This is my first Indy race of the year though.

    Ryan says the Iowa race is very important, especially due to the connection to the corn growers here in the state. He says he’s learned so much from working with people in the ethanol industry, especially how it’s a real part of the solution to our energy crisis.

    You can listen to my interview with Ryan here: iowa-08-hunter-reay-1.mp3

    Or watch it on this video:

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Audio, Energy, Ethanol, Video

    Talking Ethanol With Pioneer’s Russ Sanders

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Russ SandersPioneer Hi-Bred is sponsoring the Iowa Corn Indy 250 again this year and I spoke to Russ Sanders, Marketing Director, about how the company is involved. He’s pictured here (left) with Team Ethanol driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay and EPIC Director of Communications, Joanna Schroeder.

    Russ says that the company sees a great opportunity in the biofuels arena and their participation in this race provides them with a great opportunity to get the message out about the positive benefits of a fuel like ethanol.

    You can listen to my interview with Russ here: iowa-08-sanders.mp3

    Or watch it on this video:

    Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    I’ll be out at the track today and through the weekend following along with EPIC and finding the ag angle to the most exciting racing there is.

    Audio, Ethanol, Pioneer, Video