Agri-Culture: Going Bananas

Laura McNamara

Green fruit hanging from a banana tree in VietnamBananas are a staple of Southeast Asia. In Thailand, small crepes stuffed with bananas, chocolate and condensed milk are popular treats and are often the staple for the average backpacker. Banana shakes are also a favorite. (Personally, I go for banana-coconut shakes.) The same goes for Cambodia as well as Vietnam. Although, neither of those countries offer “banana pancakes” that can rival those in Thailand. I’m in Laos now and I heard the “banana pancakes” here are just as good as those in Thailand. We’ll see…

The bananas here in Southeast Asia sometimes look funny, like midget bananas. I didn’t know they could come so small. You see bunches of dwarfed bananas that barely stretch beyond the length of your palm. They’re great snacks and you can usually get a huge bunch of them for about $2.

In Thailand, banana flower salad is an excellent local dish. Watch out though! It’s spicy!!

When I was on my 5-day motorcycle trek through the central highlands of Vietnam, my guide explained that the pulp from banana trees is used by villagers to feed their pigs. They chop up the trees, then grind the pulp and put it in a stew of sorts. The pigs love it.

Farming, Food, International

Agri-Culture: Viet Tea

Laura McNamara

Vietnamese green tea plantationTea is just as common of a drink in Vietnam as coffee. Well, green tea that is. Vietnamese black tea is used for exports. But the green tea is a local favorite. At most restaurants, you get Vietnamese tea free with every meal. Some restaurants serve better local tea than others. Sometimes, it can be quite bland. Other times, the tea can be deliciously tasty. Subtle, but tasty. I hope that’s not too confusing. Anyway, we zigzagged our way through plenty of tea plantations on that 5-day motorcycle trip.

Agribusiness, Farming, Food, International

Lisa O’Brien New Executive Director Of USB

Chuck Zimmerman

Lisa O'BrienWelcome Lisa O’Brien to the United Soybean Board as the new Executive Director.

In her new role, O’Brien will be responsible for day-to-day administration of all contracts related to the soybean checkoff, as well as outreach with directors, Qualified State Soybean Boards (QSSBs), contractors and staff. O’Brien’s responsibilities will commence March 1, 2008.

“I’m excited about being selected as USB’s new executive director,” says O’Brien. “Coming from a non-for-profit organization, I was drawn to USB because of the time and effort farmers give to benefit the overall industry. Also, it’s an unprecedented time to be in agriculture, particularly as you look at the new innovations and technologies that are emerging.”

O’Brien has spent the past fifteen years of her career in managerial positions. She was recently employed as executive director of the world renowned Susan G. Komen for the Cure St. Louis Affiliate.

She also served as executive director for Clayton Chamber of Commerce (Clayton, Mo.) as well as a business manager for Marsh, a Videojet Company, which retails coding and marketing equipment supplies.

Ag Groups, Soybean, USB

Rick Got His Ride Wrapped

Chuck Zimmerman

Rick Tolman's RideHere’s Rick Tolman’s new ride. He’s the CEO of the National Corn Growers Association. I was in St. Louis today to have a little strategy session about Corn Commentary. You can read the Rick’s Ride story there. We’ve been working with NCGA on Corn Commentary for 6 months now. Kind of hard to believe. While I was there I did an interview with Mimi Ricketts and Jennifer Crichton about the project which I’m going to feature in next week’s ZimmCast.

I also spent some time at the Apple store getting a couple lessons on things like their iWork ’08. I think I’m just going to quit using the old Microsoft Office stuff (Word, Excel, PPT, etc.). You’ll find the iWork programs way more feature rich and easier to use. Plus I can still open and save to those files types for you who are still stuck in a PC mode. I really shouldn’t talk though. Cindy’s not on a Mac yet and doesn’t want to so we’ve still got them all over the place. Macs are just more fun.

Ag Groups, Corn

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • CDMS, Inc. and ZedX®, Inc. announced the formation of a technology and marketing agreement resulting in the combination of technology and services associated with CDMS’ Advisor System and ZedX’s AgFleet® product line. Under this agreement, CDMS and ZedX will integrate and incorporate components of their current and future information technologies into a single solution serving the various sectors of the agricultural industry.
  • Ag Leader Technology, Inc. introduced the AgGPS® EZ-Guide® 250 lightbar guidance system. The EZ-Guide 250 is an entry-level guidance system, designed to meet the needs of growers. This lightbar has an easy-to-use interface, an integrated WAAS/EGNOS GPS receiver with sub-meter pass-to-pass accuracy and real-time coverage mapping capabilities. Ag Leader expects the EZ-Guide 250 lightbar guidance system to be available for shipments in March 2008.
  • Governor Blunt decides to not seek second term: “While we are disappointed that Governor Blunt will not seek re-election this year, we certainly understand his desire to spend more time with his family and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors,” said Dale R. Ludwig, Missouri Soybean Association Executive Director/CEO. “Governor Blunt has been a dynamic leader and a great friend to agriculture. We could not be more appreciative of his leadership over the course of the past three years.”
    Zimfo Bytes

    Winter Blast

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Winter BlastThe road tripping agriblogger is ready for some action. I’m just glad it’s not today. Cindy and I will be heading in different directions starting this weekend. In the meantime I’ve still been taking pictures like this one outside ZimmComm world headquarters.

    This morning it was 60 degrees. Right now it’s 18 degrees with a wind chill of -1 and falling still. This is definitely not the type of weather you want to travel in.

    Uncategorized

    Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year

    Chuck Zimmerman

    2008 Innovator Dairy FarmerThe Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year was named by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today Magazine. Pictured are (l-r) The Fletcher family (Tyler, Melissa, Mikala and Charles) accept congratulations from IDFA Secretary Mike Reidy and Dairy Today Editor Jim Dickrell.

    KBC Farms in Purdy, Mo., a member of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA), was named the Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year. Operations Manager Charles Fletcher and his family received the award on Jan. 21 at the 2008 Dairy Forum in La Quinta, Calif. The award is co-sponsored by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today magazine.

    The award recognizes U.S. dairy producers who apply creativity, excellence and forward thinking to achieve greater on-farm productivity and improved milk marketing.

    “DFA is proud of Charles and congratulates him and his family on this accomplishment,” says Randy Mooney, of Rogersville, Mo., first vice chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. “Charles and his family farm are a real success story. We can all be inspired by his example of innovation and excellence.”

    Charles operates KBC Farms with his family, where they milk 600 cows on two pasture-based dairies. His father, Gene, started the farm in 1969, and started a partnership with his sons and son-in-law in 1993. Charles is the managing partner and farms with his wife, Melissa, and their children: Tyler, 15 and Mikala, 10.

    Ag Groups, Dairy, Publication

    Cellulosic Ethanol is Real and In American LeMans Racing

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Reece Nanfito and Tom SluneckaWe keep hearing about cellulosic ethanol and how close some companies are to actually producing it. Well for KL Process Design Group that day is here. Today they made a major announcement in Sebring, FL (which we’re helping get out to farm media) in conjunction with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and the American LeMans Series. Pictured are (l-r) Reece Nanfito, EPIC and Tom Slunecka, KL Process Design Group.

    In a technological breakthrough for both renewable fuels and racing, cellulosic ethanol will be used for the first time in motor sports this year, paving the way for the biomass fuel to be used commercially.

    KL Process DesignKL Process Design Group of South Dakota will supply the American Le Mans Series with cellulosic E85 racing ethanol for the 2008 season. The fuel, produced from waste wood, will be used for the first time during the season opener — Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15. Corvette Racing will be the first team to use the cellulosic-based flex-fuel ethanol in competition.

    You can hear a sound bite from their press conference (Tom Slunecka) here: epic-cellulosic-release-slunecka-1.mp3

    Western Biomass EnergyKL Process Design Group announced the production of cellulosic ethanol at their first plant in a separate release today as well.

    In a development that could dramatically advance the renewable fuels industry, cellulosic ethanol is now in production at the first small scale waste wood commercial facility operating in the U.S. Located just 1 mile South of Upton, Wyoming, the plant was engineered, constructed and is operated by KL Process Design Group (KL). This is the result of six years of development efforts between KL and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

    Audio, Ethanol

    Skype-ing With Laura in Vietnam

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Laura Skype-ing From HanoiI just got off a video Skype call with Laura from Hanoi as in Vietnam. If you don’t have Skype then you really ought to get it. It makes communicating from anywhere so much easier and less expensive. Laura wants you to know she just got off a long bus ride btw and she’s just starting the day in a dark cafe.

    I told her that I really liked her posts from her travels like today’s about Vietnamese coffee. I think we’re going to see more from her trip as she keeps her eye and camera on the agriculture she’s traveling past. I’m sure you’ve seen the posts she’s been making. Since last November all of them have been from whatever country she happens to be in as she continues on a worldwide tour. My how reporting has changed.

    Feel free to Skype me if you want. You can find me at AgWired. I’ll try to leave it open more often.

    Uncategorized

    Purdue Field Guide Now Available

    Melissa Sandfort

    image.jpgA pocketbook sized in-field reference is now available that provides a variety of applicable information for row crop producers and crop specialists throughout the Corn Belt. The 2008 “Corn and Soybean Field Guide” includes improved photos for easier identification of insects, weeds, plant diseases, herbicide injuries and nutrient deficiencies.

    “This publication has a lot of practical information for people in production agriculture,” said Corey Gerber, director of the Purdue Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center. “The books are condensed and can be carried in a pocket or left on the dash of a pickup for easy use.” The field guide is $6, and orders can be placed now. To order online, visit the Purdue Extension Education Store.

    Uncategorized