Tom Dorr at National Ethanol Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom DorrOnce again I got to hear our Undersecretary for Rural Development, Tom Dorr. He was first up on the program here this morning at the National Ethanol Conference to speak about the farm bill and focus on renewable fuel policies and provisions.

He says the ethanol industry is going through some growing pains, or put another way, transitional challenges. He’s convinced these will be overcome. Like many of the speakers here he talked about the attacks on ethanol, especially of late, in terms of sustainability. He said that some of the same regulatory rhetoric being discussed in Europe in regards to biofuels is creeping up in the debate in Washington, DC. He pointed out that farmers have long been working on sustainability and the facts show that they’re increasing yields while reducing inputs.

You can hear most of Dorr’s speech here (I missed the very beginning): nec-08-dorr-1.mp3

The online photo album from this event has grown to over 250 photos. I hope you enjoy them. I’ll be starting a new one from Nashville by tomorrow!

National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, USDA

A Nashville Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

2008 Commodity Classic is getting underway here in Nashville at the Opryland. Little bit of snow fell this morning, but its clearing up now and folks are getting in, getting registered and getting orientated to this huge venue.

The media room is a bit far off from the main activities of the convention center but – as always – it is well staffed and offers the best facilities for media in the business. Reporters are arriving and getting set up, filing reports already.

Chuck will be here this evening, but will miss the BASF event today. Can’t wait to tell you about BASF’s Seed Treatment news!

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, Media, New Holland

New Media Presentation at Cal-Poly

Chuck Zimmerman

New Media Presentation at Cal-PolyNext week I’ll be flying out to San Luis Obispo and the California Polytechnic State University to do a little new media training. Scott Vernon has set up a double session for faculty and students titled, “Exploring the New Media: Using Podcasts to Drive Your Message and Expand Your Reach.”

This is going to be fun. The idea is to “Create Innovative New Ways to Communicate to the Industry, the Public, Prospective Students, Current Students and others!” I’ll be showing how to create podcasts and how we’re seeing podcasts being used in agriculture. This is on behalf of the Agricultural Education and Communication Department.

I know that more and more companies and even those in traditional media are looking for new employees with the skills to create multimedia content for websites and podcasts. These skills were once taught piecemeal but the computer tools of today are changing everything. If your school or staff would benefit from a session on the use of new communications platforms then you know who to call (the Agriblogger and Farm Podcaster).

University

The Fishy Truth

Melissa Sandfort

untitled.bmpConsumers with questions about seafood sustainability and safety now need to look no further than the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Web site for answers. At the International Boston Seafood Show, NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher launched the agency’s new Fish Watch site, designed to answer consumer questions.

“Steering the public to Fish Watch is a great way for consumers to get all the facts,” said National Fisheries Institute (NFI) President John Connelly. “The seafood-buying public deserves the most accurate and up-to-date information on safety and sustainability and NOAA has it.”

During a news conference announcing the site, Lautenbacher said, “Our hope is that you will go here for ground-truth science. It is not about making decisions for you.”

With the proliferation of unwarranted seafood health scares and myriad sources dictating what are good fish and bad fish, the new agency Web site aims to arm the public with an unbiased education and provides a balanced clearing house for consumers.

“Environmental issues are very important but mixing environmental concerns with potential health effects is confusing for consumers,” said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Harvard University, who joined Lautenbacher’s panel of experts at the unveiling.

Uncategorized

McCormick Company Supporting CBB Producer Communicaitons

Chuck Zimmerman

Beef Checkoff and McCormickA new agency will be working in support of producer communications for the Beef Checkoff.

Cattlemen’s Beef Board agency review panel lead by Joint Producer Communications Committee Chair Richard Nielson, cow/calf operator from Ephraim, Utah, met in Denver Monday, Feb. 25, to hear presentations from the three agencies chosen as finalists to support the CBB paid producer communications paid media effort. A panel of CBB and Federation members joined with communications staff to unanimously choose McCormick Company, an Amarillo-based full-service marketing communications firm established in 1926 and the 14th oldest advertising and public relations firm in the United States. McCormick has a long-standing relationship with a number of association and commercial livestock clients and has worked with the checkoff in various roles since its beginning. In fact, McCormick designed the beef check logo in 1986.

“The panel members were impressed by McCormick’s enthusiastic presentation which also demonstrated them to be highly qualified with a deep understanding of our target audience – producers who pay the checkoff,” said Nielson. “McCormick’s problem-solving approach and creative ideas won them the contract.”

Ag Groups, Agencies, Beef

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Syngenta and DuPont announced a global agreement that will provide DuPont business, Pioneer Hi-Bred, access to Syngenta’s novel insect control corn event, MIR162. Under the royalty-bearing agreement, Syngenta will grant Pioneer a non-exclusive, global license with stacking rights to MIR162. MIR162 will protect corn above the ground by delivering high-level control of a broad spectrum of lepidopteran insects including fall army worm, corn ear worm, western bean and black cut worm and sugar cane borer, which are key pests in the U.S., Brazil and Argentina.
  • Jed Harms, president of Kemin AgriFoods North America, announces the promotion of Fernando Valdez, Ph.D., to Director of Technical Services. Since joining Kemin in 2000, Fernando has served as the Dairy Technical Support Manager, then Product Manager for the KEMTRACE® mineral and NUTROCAL® product lines. Prior to joining Kemin, Fernando worked as Purina Mills Dairy Consultant and Dairy Team Leader for 13 years.
  • FMC Corporation announces several new appointments within its North America Agricultural Products Group (APG) division, effective immediately. Aaron Locker has been promoted from Product Manager to Director of Strategic Account Management; Daryl Wiest moves into the new position of Market Access Manager; Mark Frerichs has been promoted to North America Sales Director; Taking over for Frerichs in the Midwest region is Chip Willingham; Craig Heim has been appointed Manager of Product Development and Bobby Leifker, formerly a Retail Market Manager in California and Idaho, has been appointed Product Manager.
Zimfo Bytes

Shannon Brown is Corn Fed

Chuck Zimmerman

Shannon BrownI don’t know about you but I love being corn fed and I love Shannon Brown’s song. I got to meet her this afternoon here at the National Ethanol Conference and she and her band performed an awesome show. If you’re going to Commodity Classic you will not want to miss seeing her and the other stars who will be performing.

I asked her about the song and how it all came about and what she thinks of the ethanol business that she’s been involved in through her sponsorship by VeraSun Energy.

Shannon says the song reflects the fact that she’s a corn fed Iowa girl and the song signifies who she is and where she comes from. She says that working with VeraSun has been an eye opener and she’s fully behind the mission of the ethanol industry. She says consumers should definitely feel comfortable putting it in their car.

You can hear my interview with Shannon here: nec-08-brown.mp3

And if you’d like to hear how this song sounded on stage then you can also do so here: nec-08-corn-fed.mp3

National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol

The AgriTalk Shadow

Chuck Zimmerman

AgriTalk GuysI really hate to do this to you but they’re here. Following me around again. The AgriTalk guys.

You’ve got “speak no evil” and “see no evil” and “hear no evil.”

They’re doing programming from here at the National Ethanol Conference today and tomorrow before following me up to Nashville and the Commodity Classic.

It’s like having a triple shadow.

National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Media

Bob Dinneen Says the Ethanol Industry is Sound

Chuck Zimmerman

Bob Dinneen and Chris StandleeThe Reverend of Renewable Fuels got up and preached a powerful sermon today on the state of the ethanol industry. Bob Dinneen, President of the Renewable Fuels Association, gave his annual state of the industry speech this morning. He was also presented with a plaque in appreciation of his 20 year anniversary of leading the organization from RFA Chairman, Chris Standlee (right).

Speaking before more than 2,200 attendees at the 13th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, Florida, he declared that the state of the U.S. ethanol industry is sound:

“With your continued commitment, I can report to you without exaggeration or hyperbole that the state of the U.S. ethanol industry is sound, that we are prepared to meet the opponents of change with facts, with a resolute spirit, and with renewed dedication to the proposition that together we can change our nation’s energy, economic and environmental destiny.”

The complete text of Dinneen’s State of the Ethanol Industry Address can be found here (pdf).

You can listen Bob’s speech here: nec-08-dinneen-speech.mp3

National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol

Off to Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

While Chuck is busy basking in the glorious Florida weather, I am preparing to head on out to the 2008 Commodity Classic in Nashville at the Opryland.

First on the agenda tomorrow afternoon is the BASF International Seed Treatment Symposium to provide us media types with all the latest info on BASF products and technology.

The Classic really gets rolling on Thursday with meetings for each of the three commodity groups – corn, soybeans and wheat – WIN sessions and the trade show grand opening.

The yet-to-be-completed Farm Bill will likely be a major topic of conversation and new agriculture secretary Ed Schafer will address the crowd on Friday during the general session.

We are also looking forward to Saturday night’s entertainment at the Grand Ole Opry featuring “Corn Fed” Shannon Brown, John Conlee, Joe Diffie, Carolina Rain and The Steeldrivers.

The Commodity Classic is the combined convention and trade show of the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Association of Wheat Growers. Next year it will be even bigger when the National Sorghum Producers join the show. Having these groups all meeting together is one of the best unifying moves that the agricultural industry has made in the last decade. Not only does it make it easier for the producers who may grow more than one of those commodities, but it sure makes it easier for the ag media to cover it all in one trip!

Look forward to our coverage on both AgWired and Domestic Fuel all week long. Chuck will be joining me late Wednesday evening after wrapping up at the National Ethanol Conference.

AgWired coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored in part by: BASF

BASF, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA, Soybean, Wheat