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

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • New Mustang Max EW insecticide from FMC Corporation is the answer for effective, economical control of key insects in tree, fruit and vegetable crops. Mustang Max EW is a cost-effective solution for controlling multiple pests, providing excellent knockdown of key insects and maintaining that control for higher yields and increased profit potential for growers.
  • Dow AgroSciences LLC announced it has submitted SmartStax™, a new insect-protection and weed control stacked trait combination in corn, to the U.S. EPA for regulatory review. SmartStax is the industry’s first-ever eight gene stack combination in corn that will feature multiple modes of action to control both above and below ground insects as well as herbicide tolerance.
  • The members of Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) voted to continue the historic dairy farmer self-help program through 2009. In a unanimous vote, the committee overseeing the management of CWT endorsed a continuation of the program – at the present membership assessment level of 10 cents per hundredweight – through calendar year 2009.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Pumping Hands And Gas

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ryan Hunter-ReayConsumers in Ankeny, IA were treated to a little relief at the gas pump today when the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council teamed up with Kum & Go for a pre-race ethanol promotion.

    Regular (E10) was selling for $2.50/gallon and E85 was $1.85. I filled up my flex fuel van before I left.

    Four of the IndyCar drivers were on hand to help out including Team Ethanol driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay, pictured here, along with Ed Carpenter who is shaking hands with a lady who asked for their autographs.

    I’ll have interviews and more pictures to come. We just got finished with the promotion and are taking a break to get something to eat.

    Post Update: Here’s a link to the photo album I’ve started: Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

    Ethanol