CBOT Puts Ethanol Front & Center

Chuck Zimmerman

CBOT Ethanol Press Conference GroupThis is a quick post before I board a plane for Burbank out of O’Hare here in Chicago. This fine looking group is the speakers at this morning’s press conference at the Chicago Board of Trade. It was “tribute to the greening of racing morning.” The cars (Indy Cars) and speakers were set up on the plaza outside the CBOT building.

In the middle of the picture is Jeff Simmons, driver of the Team Ethanol car. He was here to ceremoniously ring the bell to begin trading on the CBOT floor. I’ve got lots of pictures and audio that I’ll be posting as soon as I can which may be tomorrow.

In the meantime I just wanted to let you know.

We had quite a few media in attendance and I think it was a very well-staged event.

Ethanol

Mac Conversion Update

Chuck Zimmerman

AppleIt’s been a while since I’ve given you a Mac update. This one got triggered because I’m writing an article on using a Mac for farm use for Country Guide.

It’s made me think through why I have a Mac and why I like it vs. my PC. I really think I can sum things up in these words, “The Mac is faster, simpler and easier to use.” It boots up faster. I was on my way to the airport last time and realized I didn’t know which airline I was flying on (symptom of frequent flyer disease). I reached over to my Mac which was off and within less than 60 seconds I had my answer. On my PC this would have taken about 3 minutes. I don’t know about you but every minute counts in my day.

Another thing I’ve got to say about the Mac has to do with antivirus software. I’m having lots of problems on my PC’s with Norton Internet Security 2007. It has cost me hours and I’ve even had to pay a tech to help get things resolved. On my Mac I’m not currently running any antivirus software. Here’s a big reason to have a Mac!

If you’ve been in an airport recently, look around. There’s more and more computers showing an Apple logo on them. I think I know why.

Uncategorized

Tonight on Tuesday

Chuck Zimmerman

Jay Leno's GarageSome busy travel days are coming up for ZimmComm. After tomorrow’s ethanol press conference at the Chicago Board of Trade I’ll be off to Burbank, CA for a little project involving this man, Jay Leno. I will have more on that for you by Tuesday afternoon or Wed. morning.

Cindy will be taking pictures in a Missouri soybean field tomorrow for an interesting project we’ll be involved in all summer. Then she’s off to Des Moines for a lab experience at Iowa State University that’s being put on by Elanco Animal Health.

At the end of the week I’ll be heading to Louisville, KY for the Alltech International Symposium and IFAJ Board meeting. So as I said, we are going to have a lot to post about here this week!

Uncategorized

National Poultry Judging Contest Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

TAMU Poultry Judging TeamPictured here is the Texas A&M University winning team in the National Poultry Judging Contest. You can find a complete list of winners here.

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association sponsored the 60th National Poultry Judging Contest held at Louisiana State University April 11-13. The contest works to increase student enrollment in poultry science. Collegiate teams from across the nation competed in three categories: production judging, breed selection, and market products judging. The competition allows students the opportunity to demonstrate how well they have mastered the U.S. Department of Agriculture rules and regulations governing the grading of eggs and poultry carcasses.

Team Market Products Finalists
Rank- University
1- Texas A&M University
2- Penn State University
3- Kansas State University
4- University of Arkansas
5- Louisiana State University

Ag Groups, Poultry, University

World Trade Organization Podcasting

Chuck Zimmerman

World Trade OrganizationIt looks like the World Trade Organization is podcasting. Here’s a notice I received that pointed to it with this episode being a 17 minute press conference on the following.

FARM TALKS CHAIR SEES REAL NEGOTIATION IN COMMENTS ON TEXT – Members’ comments on his “challenges paper” showed they were starting to negotiate the content rather than rejecting it, Ambassador Crawford Falconer, chairperson of the WTO agriculture negotiations, told journalists on 7 May 2007. The negotiations are likely to intensify towards the end of May after he has circulated his second instalment of the paper, he said. He was speaking in a press conference during a break in an informal meeting for members to make their first comments on the paper he circulated on 30 April.

You can download the mp3 file here or subscribe to the podcast with this link.

Audio, International, Podcasts

Zimfo Bites

Chuck Zimmerman

  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved a label change for Prowl H2O herbicide from BASF that allows growers to make applications to their citrus crops up to one day before harvest. The label change currently applies to all citrus-growing states except for California. The previous label prohibited application within 60 days of harvest. The Prowl H2O label now specifies a one-day pre-harvest interval (PHI), which means that citrus growers will have an even greater window in which to make weed control applications.
  • FCS Financial is pleased to announce the recipients of their 2007 Scholarship Program. Those receiving a $1,000 scholarship are Wesley Moore, Belle, Mo., Melinda Breshears, Bolivar, Mo., Jason Reichert, Brunswick, Mo., Robert Benoit, Centralia, Mo., Austin Baker, Chillicothe, Mo., Nathan Bunse, Cosby, Mo., Jordan Stevener, Defiance, Mo., Slade Rousan, Dittmer, Mo., Brenda Arnold, Drexel, Mo., Emily Shaw, Frankford, Mo., Cassie Gilland, Grant City, Mo., Emily Snyder, Hamilton, Mo., Devin Heid, Harrisonville, Mo., Cody Johnson, Jasper, Mo., Justine Manson, Keytesville, Mo., Ashley Clarkson, La Plata, Mo., Michelle Noriega, Monett, Mo., William Gorrell, Napton, Mo., Kevin Lee, Nevada, Mo., Heidi Varner, Odessa, Mo., Daniel Wisner, Osceola, Mo., Robert Williams, Richmond, Mo., Shannon Weber, St. Charles, Mo., Katlyn Logan, Sheldon, Mo., Curt White, Stella, Mo., Rebecca Stephen, Stewartsville, Mo., Desirae Bauer, Stover, Mo., Justin Cron, Strafford, Mo., Jacqueline Gittemeier, Troy, Mo., and Charles Thompson, Walker, Mo.
  • A new feature on the Pioneer GrowingPoint website offers growers a chance to review tips and suggestions from their fellow farmers. “Growing Perspective” serves as a forum for Pioneer customers and growers to read helpful hints and insights from their peers. “Growing Perspective” showcases knowledge from Kip Cullers, Purdy, Mo., the 2006 world record holder for soybean production. Users who log on to the GrowingPoint website will find a section to submit questions to Cullers. He will answer the most popular inquiries and post the responses on the site on a regular basis throughout the growing season. This section also includes a video on Cullers; pictures show Cullers’ management practices. Users can access this new forum by logging on to the site at www.pioneer.com/growingpoint, typing “forum” in the search box, then clicking the “Growing Perspective” link.
  • PigCHAMP has been granted an exclusive world-wide license to distribute the Feed Allocation System (FAS) web-based software program developed by PrairiE Systems LLC. PigCHAMP and PrairiE Systems LLC are working together to develop a suite of products for the swine industry that combines the practical feed and budget management capabilities of FAS with the analytical and reporting power for which PigCHAMP is known.
Zimfo Bytes

More Rural Broadband Support From USDA

Chuck Zimmerman

USDAUSDA is once again working to develop broadband internet services in rural areas of the country. Yesterday Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr announced the publication of “new proposed rules designed to facilitate the further deployment of broadband services to rural communities nationwide.” It’s only a matter of time before no farmer or rural resident can complain that they don’t have good broadband available.

“These proposed changes will improve broadband coverage in rural America,” said Dorr. “Refining eligibility and coverage areas, along with increased emphasis on reaching areas with limited service are priorities within these proposed rule changes.”

Dorr outlined several key elements of the proposed rules: Promoting deployment to rural areas with little or no service; Ensuring that residents in funded areas get broadband access more quickly; Limiting funding in urban areas and areas where a significant share of the market is served by incumbent providers; Clarifying and streamlining equity and marketing survey requirements; Increasing the transparency of the application process, including legal notice requirements, to make more informed lending/borrowing decisions; Promoting a better understanding of all application requirements, including market survey, competitive analysis, business plan, and system design requirements; and ensuring that projects funding are keeping pace with increasing demand for bandwidth. Read More

Internet, USDA

Missouri River Flooding Along Katy Trail

Chuck Zimmerman

Katy Trail Closed NoticeEveryone’s watching to see how much flooding we get here in Missouri along the river. The Missouri River is up enough to close the Katy Trail. I still went out for a bike ride today and shot a little video.

I didn’t have time to make it to the closed section but saw all I needed of the river up near the top of the banks along the trail.

Here at Jefferson City the National Weather Service has downgraded their prediction by a couple feet with the crest passing through on Sunday.

Video

Corn Talking on Sky Radio

Chuck Zimmerman

Sky RadioThe National Corn Growers Association is using a new mechanism to help educate people about farming. It’s called Sky Radio. You can listen to it here (mp3 file).

The next time you’re on an airplane, you may be in for a little “shop talk” about corn. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is taking its environmental/stewardship message to the “skyways” with a segment on Sky Radio’s Environmental Watch Program. NCGA Chief Executive Officer Rick Tolman was interviewed by Sky Radio’s Marc Holland as part of the series “The Environmental Advisor.” Tolman discusses NCGA’s roles in biotechnology, conservation and research and development in shaping policy for America’s farmers and the economy.

“Farmers have done a really good job of taking cutting edge technologies and applying them to production,” Tolman says in the interview. He cites reducing tillage, precision application, using biotechnology to eliminate environmental stress as key factors in corn growers’ ability to produce greater yields with more efficiency.

The 3-minute segment is airing on select American Airlines and Northwest Airlines flights from May through July. The program will be rebroadcast on SkyRadio for a year with a link to the NCGA Web site.

Ag Groups, Corn

A Little Bull Shop

Chuck Zimmerman

BullShop.comIf you’re buying or selling breeding stock then I guess you need to do a little BullShop.com-ing.

BullShop.com is a useful site to anyone buying or selling breeding stock. Over the past five years, it has grown into the largest, all breeds, breeding stock site serving the cow-calf industry. The site is presented in a state-by-state format making it easy for buyers and sellers to use.
Breeders can choose national or state ads in their marketing efforts. The various free and paid ad categories include breeder ads, semen ads, embryo ads, state ads, featured ads and sale ads. Click to visit www.BullShop.com.

Paul Soli also has a blog built into the website. He’s also got another site called RuralAds.com. You can find Paul in Cottage Grove, MN. You can learn more about Paul from a story in his local paper.

Agribusiness, Internet