Rock and Roll Meets Tractor and Country

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck Leavell and Michael PetersonWe certainly had a little bit of rock and roll getting together with country at the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race. One of the contestants who held the lead for a while was Rolling Stones keyboardist, Chuck Leavell (left), seen here with Michael Peterson.

Chuck is a central Georgia tree farmer where he and his wife have 2,500 acres. He’s the proud owner of a New Holland 2410. I asked him why he participated and one of the things he likes is supporting FFA, which he feels strongly about. As far as a celebrity tractor race goes, he thinks it’s the coolest thing in the world. When he’s not on the road rocking and rolling with the Stones, he says you’ll find him on his New Holland out in the woods.

He’s also a big believer in biofuels like biodiesel and has a special interest in cellulosic ethanol production. That makes sense for a tree farmer.

Listen to my interview with Chuck: cma-08-chuck-leavell.mp3

Watch Chuck ride:


2008 CMA Music Festival Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the CMA Country Music Festival is sponsored by:
New Holland

Audio, New Holland, Video

EPIC Member Website Re-designed

Chuck Zimmerman

EPIC Member WebsiteWhile I’m on the subject of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, I realized that I’ve neglected to mention their newly designed member website.

I think it’s a great example of how a “blog” can be your primary website. EPIC staff, (occasionally, Cindy and myself), easily and frequently update the website with fresh information that their members want and need to know. Members can subscribe to it and there are plenty of pages of information that are also updated easily and frequently. It’s another ZimmComm New Media blog project that we’re pretty proud of. Elizabeth Hilpipre, EPIC staff, is becoming a master blogger and loves her new iMac btw.

Ag Groups, Ethanol

Speeding To Iowa Corn Indy 250

Chuck Zimmerman

Iowa Corn Indy 250It looks like the flooding in Iowa has not affected things at the Iowa Speedway where I’m headed this afternoon for pre-race activities for this weekend’s Iowa Corn Indy 250.

Iowa’s flooding disaster is not directly affecting scheduled events for the IndyCar Series weekend, June 20-22, at Iowa Speedway. The facility has immediate access to I-80 and is located on elevated ground near an adjacent airport. Racing fans who plan to attend the Iowa Corn Indy 250, especially those out-of-state, are encouraged to proceed with plans to attend the event.

Over the next several days I’ll have some stories here, but mostly on our Domestic Fuel site. Our coverage of the activities is once again sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Ethanol

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • 2008 Farm Progress Hay Expo, its 22nd annual show, will be held June 25 and 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The show site is located just south of Ossian, Iowa, at the Knutson Farms and Winkler Farms. Admission is free; parking is $7 per vehicle. For more show information, click here.
  • Ag Leader Technology has established the Ag Leader Technology Precision Agriculture Scholarship within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. Five Ag Leader scholarships will be awarded annually starting in the 2008-09 school year. Students can apply for the scholarship online.
  • The CHS Foundation has awarded $25,000 in scholarships to high school students pursuing careers in the agriculture industry. An independent, external committee selected recipients based on essays, career goals and extracurricular activities. More information on all CHS Foundation scholarships is available here.
  • Neogen Corporation announced the formation of its new subsidiary in Mexico, Neogen Latino America SPA. The new company, headquartered in Mexico City, will distribute the company’s food and animal safety products throughout Mexico.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Deere Goes Greener

    Laura McNamara

    John DeereDeere equipment isn’t the only thing that’s green about John Deere. The ag company has announced its plans to reduce its total global greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent per dollar of revenue from 2005 to 2014.

    The company has committed to the reduction goal in conjunction with its participation in
    the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program, which Deere joined in
    2007.

    John Deere locations worldwide will implement energy-saving projects to meet the target. Climate Leaders is a voluntary industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop long-term comprehensive climate change strategies. Participants set a corporate-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal and annually report their progress to the EPA. Through program participation, companies create a credible record of their accomplishments, reduce their impact on the global environment, and identify themselves as corporate climate leaders.

    John Deere’s energy management program began in 1973 and requires company operations to implement energy-conservation initiatives and track energy use. In response to international global-warming concerns, Deere added a worldwide greenhouse gas emissions inventory program in 2003.

    Deere says its direct greenhouse gas emissions come from operations such as foundry, heat-treat, painting, powerhouse, and testing. Indirect emissions, Deere says, result from demand for electricity or steam.

    Environment, John Deere

    Deere Funds Innovation Center

    Laura McNamara

    John DeereA $1 million grant from John Deere will fund the development of a new John Deere Technology Innovation Center at the University of Illinois. Illini students and faculty will use the center for studies and research in agriculture, business, engineering and information technology.

    The new facility, which is expected to be ready by July, is located in the
    University Research Park in Champaign, Illinois and will create an accelerated
    innovation environment to assist Deere in utilizing advanced electronics, mechatronics,
    advanced sensors and control systems technology.

    Deere said the new technology innovation center in Champaign will expand its
    capabilities to respond to the rapidly changing environment for John Deere’s customers
    and businesses through leveraging the capabilities of the University.

    John Deere says the new center will serve as a satellite facility for the company’s Moline Technology Innovation Center, which is located on John Deere’s World Headquarters campus in Moline, IL.

    Ag Groups, Education, John Deere, Technology

    Chewing Some Argentina Cud

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Amanda NolzThis agriblogger is getting a taste of life in Argentina this summer. Mandy Nolz publishes, Chewing The Cud. Here’s what she’s doing down south, “For the month of June, I will explore the city of Buenos Aires to attend Spanish classes, live with a host family, and complete my goal of studying abroad during my college career.”

    She’s already had some interesting observations about the differences in life there versus here. For example:

    What surprised me the most, is the true understanding these city folks have of rural South America. If you haven´t heard, the government in Argentina continually butts heads with the agriculturalists. Due to the high export taxes, farmers have a hard time making money when the government is so focused on keeping domestic prices low for the consumer. As a result, there have been protests, strikes, and much fighting done by the ranchers in order to change things for the better.

    As a former Beef Ambassador, she has her priorities right.

    They eat beef, they are aware of how it is produced, and they support the ranchers. Does it get any better than that? If you are reading this, please take note and begin to educate the people of your community about agriculture. It is time that we have our voice in the heart and souls of the cities in America. If not, where does the future of agriculture rest? Ciao, from Argentina!

    International

    NAMA Facebook Group

    Chuck Zimmerman

    FacebookI just joined the NAMA Facebook Group. It was started by Erin Koglin, Michigan State University and already has 161 members.

    As she describes it, “For all those of you who are members, were members, or just support members of the National Agri-Marketing Association! Go NAMA!”

    So get friendly and connected online.

    NAMA

    Connie Siemes Secretary for IFAJ

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Connie SiemesThe International Federation of Agricultural Journalists continues to develop. Now they’ve got a part time secretary, Connie Siemes, Netherlands.

    The IFAJ has appointed Connie Siemes from The Netherlands as part-time secretary to assist the Presidium and the Executive Committee for two days a week. Eleven people from eight countries applied for the new position, which will involve providing a range of administrative and support services to the IFAJ and its members.

    “There were 11 applicants from eight countries, so we were really impressed with the diversity among the candidates,” said vice president, Mike Wilson, who was part of a special committee formed to identify the best candidate. “Our job was to seek applications for the new post and we were delighted at the quality of applicants we had,” added president David Markey.

    Connie is the wife of IFAJ executive member, Hans Siemes. She regularly attends IFAJ events and played an important role in organizing the annual congress hosted by The Netherlands in 2003. She speaks English fluently, is good in German and has some French, which will be useful in her role liaising with affiliated guilds around the world.

    Her appointment to the IFAJ means there is a new secretarial address. People can now write to the IFAJ care of P.O. Box 205, 6920 AE Duiven, The Netherlands.

    IFAJ, International

    Speed Networking at NAMA Boot Camp

    Chuck Zimmerman

    If you’re looking ahead at your travel plans then don’t forget about NAMA Boot Camp.

    ZimmComm New Media/AgWired is a sponsor again this year. We’ll be sponsoring the opening reception/session on Speed Networking. Good networking skills are essential and in case you don’t know how to introduce yourself and exchange business cards, you’ll have a chance to learn how and practice. Additionally, you’ll hear about online social networking. As if you don’t already do that. Right? If not, then you’d better show up. I define speed networking as how fast your internet connection is!

    Register here.

    NAMA