Live RFA Press Conference at 1pm, Eastern – Updated

Chuck Zimmerman

Post Update: I recorded this AgWired Live TV stream of today’s press conference and updated this post so you can watch the recording. Keep in mind that I just started this yesterday and I was only using my Mac with the built in camera and microphone recording what you heard in the room.

The Renewable Fuels Association, along with National Corn Growers and National Farmers Union will be holding a press conference today at 1pm eastern time. It will be at the National Press Club. How convenient is that, since I’m here and we’ll be finished with the NAFB Washington Watch program by then. So my plan is to stream it live here. The press conference features:

The Honorable John Block, former Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Buis, President, National Farmers Union (NFU)
Bob Dinneen, President of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)
Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA

The topic will be: “Farmers and Ethanol Industry to Present the Facts On Food Price Increases.” This topic just won’t go away and it’s at least in part due to the immense amount of misinformation being spread in the media, most notably this week, the Washington Post with their irresponsible series called, Global Food Crisis.

I’m hoping to be able to stream the press conference live this afternoon and you’ll be able to watch it here with the following player. Basically, starting at 1pm or within a few moments of that, you should be able to click on the player and see the live stream. A lot depends on the internet connection I’ll have there. In any case, I’ll also be recording it to post on Domestic Fuel as well.

Post Update: Here is a recording of the live stream from today in two segments:

Ag Groups, Ethanol, Food, Video

Senator Harkin is Hopeful

Chuck Zimmerman

Senator Tom HarkinThis morning NAFB members are getting fully updated on the farm bill as well as other issues here in the Russell Bldg. First up on our program was Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, who was looking a little tired as he took the podium.

The Senator told us that he expects (hopes/dreams) that we’ll actually have a farm bill by today or tomorrow after the House and Senate conferees spent all day yesterday, including meeting with the Administration, on hammering out a final agreement. We’ll see. However, he did provide the group with quite a few numbers and statistics on what we should expect from the final bill.

I asked him what specialty crop producers could expect and you can hear his answer here: ww-08-harkin-specialty.mp3

NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

Audio, Farm Policy, NAFB

Ceres First to Brand Bioenergy Seeds

Laura McNamara

ceres.pngAs technology unleashes more and more energy possibilities from more and more crops, it can get a little confusing as to which plants can do what. Ceres, Inc. plans to clarify bio-friendly seeds with its new bioenergy seed brand.

Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. plans to market its agricultural seeds and traits under the trade name Blade Energy Crops in the United States. Company president and CEO Richard Hamilton unveiled the new brand at the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology in Chicago earlier today.

“Blade will be the first multi-crop seed brand supplying the new market for non-food, low-carbon biofuel feedstocks,” Hamilton said. These biomass-dense crops will be grown as raw materials for next-generation biofuels and biopower. One of the great appeals of energy crops is that they can thrive on agricultural lands that are ill-suited to food production.

“Supported by the latest technology in genomics-based breeding, trait development and compositional analysis, we are positioning Blade as a premium seed brand for biofuel and biopower feedstocks. For growers, that means high yields and greater yield stability. Downstream, it means easier processing, and ultimately, more energy per ton of biomass,” said Hamilton. “From both an economic and environmental perspective, if we are going to turn plant matter into fuel, we should use feedstocks that give us the maximum fuel yield per acre.”

The company says the Blade name was inspired by its first crops, switchgrass, sorghum and canes, which are from a category of closely related grass species, known as C4 grasses. C4 grasses are the natural world’s most efficient engines of photosynthesis, the process by which plants store solar energy in the form of carbohydrates. New technologies have made it possible to convert the most abundant form of these energy-rich molecules, called cellulose, into renewable fuels.

Agribusiness, Corn, Energy, Farming, Seed

Farm Broadcasters Visit Capitol Hill

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm BroadcastersNAFB members are currently sitting in an office of the Senate Bldg. listening to a series of legislators discuss policy and what’s happening on the farm bill from their perspective.

Here’s the happy, smiley group as we walked up the hill past the Capitol to this building.

We’re going to be here all morning and fortunately my AT&T card is working like a charm! The photo album is up to date so feel free to visit and get a better sense of what this group is doing in Washington, DC.

NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

NAFB

Ladies and Gentlemen, Tom Brand

Chuck Zimmerman

Agraria Restaurant DinnerNAFB’ers were treated to a wonderful dinner at Agraria last night. It’s a restaurant owned by the North Dakota Farmers Union.

Our emcee for dinner was Tom Brand, KFEQ, who was formally announced by Ken Root, WHO. The photo was taken with my camera by Leah Guffey, WFMB.

Sponsors include the National Farmers Union and The Fertilizer Institute. This is a unique restaurant which not only serves an excellent meal experience but is focused on purchasing products from farmers.

Agraria Restaurant is owned by and sources the highest quality products from family-farmers across the country. Enjoy our modern American cuisine derived from the families whose passion for farming not only provides the wholesome ingredients presented on our menu, but also embodies the very fabric of the American way of life.

NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

NAFB

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Two new fungicides from BASF recently received registration from the EPA for use on cereals, providing growers with broad-spectrum activity on rust, head scab and other major cereal diseases. Caramba™ fungicide, the first fungicide registered, provides activity against head scab. The second fungicide registered for use by the EPA is a premix fungicide product containing the active ingredients pyraclostrobin, the same active ingredient in Headline® fungicide, and metconazole.
  • Thomas Gahm joins the growing team of professionals at ABG, a global performance solutions company serving clients in the agriculture, life sciences and food industries. ABG is an Adayana company, and Gahm will also serve as director of communications and investor relations for Adayana. Most recently head of business communications for Syngenta Seeds in Minneapolis, Minn., Gahm brings more than 30 years of marketing communications experience to ABG and Adayana.
  • Kubota Tractor Corporation is tapping into the National Safety Council’s (NSC) annual celebration of National Safety Month in June to bring added attention to tractor and equipment safety. This year marks the 12th anniversary of National Safety Month, which has the theme of “Make a Difference.” The NSC has designated each of the four weeks in June with a specific safety focus: June 2-6: Emergency Preparedness; June 9-13: Reducing Distracted Driving; June 16-20: Poisoning Prevention; and June 23-27: Falls Prevention.
Zimfo Bytes

It’s That Time Again…

Laura McNamara

…that time to find the nation’s worst cook. The American Egg Board is launching its second annual ‘Search for America’s Worst Cook.‘ Can you think of anyone that might qualify?

Does your recipe repertoire consist of microwaveable meals and the phone number for Chinese take-out? Are you prone to flare-ups in the kitchen? Then you might just be America’s Worst Cook. According to the second annual cooking survey from the American Egg Board, 50 percent of Americans reported having a disaster in the kitchen at least several times a year, and 42 percent said they know someone in desperate need of basic cooking skills.

To prove that even the most disastrous cooks can master the art of cooking with eggs, the American Egg Board is launching the second annual “Search for America’s Worst Cook” contest. Entering is easy. Simply visit the website, and in 200 words or less along with a video or photograph(s), tell the American Egg Board why you — or someone you know — are in desperate need of cooking help.

The winner will be featured in an advertisement for the American Egg Board and will win a trip for two to New York City to take cooking classes and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of one of the greatest culinary cities in the world. The contest runs from April 29, 2008 through June 30, 2008.

Ag Groups, Food

Secretary of Ag Schafer Addressing NAFB

Chuck Zimmerman

Sec. of Ag Ed SchaferOkay, this is my last post with Secretary Schafer here at the NAFB Washington Watch. While I was streaming it live, taking stills and recording audio I also shot a video clip so you can see what the room is like when we meet here in the USDA board room.

I know there’s a story about the huge table that we sit around but I just don’t remember it. If you know the source for the table please leave a comment.

You can download and listen to the first 10 minutes of the Secretary’s remarks here: Listen To Secretary SchaferSecretary Schafer’s Remarks (10 min MP3)

Or listen right now with this link:ww-08-schafer-remarks.mp3

NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

Audio, NAFB, USDA, Video

Posing With The Secretary

Chuck Zimmerman

Sec. of Ag RoundtableThe board room here at the USDA Admin Building is a great place to have a meeting.

Here’s farm broadcasters participating in the NAFB Washington Watch program. It’s a very intimate setting and besides having a mult box to plug our audio recorders into we get to ask lots of questions. I’m recording our sessions and will be editing out some audio to post later.

One of the highlights of meeting with our Secretary of Agriculture is getting out picture taken with him.

Sec. of Ag with NAFBHere’s the whole NAFB group with Sec. Schafer just a few minutes ago on a break before we went back into session.

This afternoon we’ll be going out to USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. That’s a first for the NAFB Washington Watch and it will be my first time visiting the center.

NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

NAFB, USDA

Farm Broadcasters and New Communications Technology

Chuck Zimmerman

Sec. of Ag Schafer and my MacHere’s our Secretary of Agriculture speaking to the NAFB group here at their Washington Watch program a few minutes ago.

You’ll notice the Macbook Pro sitting in front of him. That was streaming his remarks live on AgWired Live TV using the built-in camera and microphone.

Sec. of Ag Schafer and my MacHere’s what it looked like on the Mac screen from my vantage point. You can still watch the event since I also recorded a portion of it.

I’m posting from the Mac while our next group of speakers from USDA is speaking. This group includes FAS, FSA and RMA.

NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

NAFB, USDA