New DuPont Product Formulated From Renewable Resources

Laura McNamara

DuPontIt’s a product that has a wide range of uses, as a potential component in running shoes and ski boots, to cosmetics, to automotive parts. DuPont describes its new Cerenol product as its newest polymer formulated with renewable resources; made with corn instead of petroleum. The company adds that Cerenol also enhances performance.

DuPont(TM) Cerenol(TM) is a family of renewably sourced, high-performance
polyols (polyetherdiols). Cerenol(TM) can replace petroleum-based ingredients
or finished products without compromising functionality. It offers value-
added properties and can increase process efficiencies for a broad range of
products in diverse markets including personal care, functional fluids and
high-performance elastomers. Unlike petroleum-based or other plant-based
alternatives, DuPont(TM) Cerenol(TM) is easily tailored to meet specific needs
and performs better in many end uses while providing environmental benefits.

“Since customers want environmentally smart options that do not compromise
performance, we are pleased to now offer both Sorona(R) and Cerenol(TM) — two
high-performance polymers that are engineered to meet or exceed the
performance of their petroleum-based counterparts,” said DuPont Bio-Based
Materials Vice President General Manager Peter C. Hemken.
Read More

Advertising

Greg Vincent Editor of Top Producer

Chuck Zimmerman

Greg VincentPrevious journalism experience does indeed count when you take over an editor position and so does a little public relations work! Congrats to Greg Vincent on his new gig with Farm Journal Media. He’s been named editor of TOP PRODUCER magazine beginning June 18.

In making the announcement, Farm Journal Media Vice President of Editorial Charlene Finck said, “The vision Greg has for TOP PRODUCER is impressive and very reader focused. He has amazing drive and enthusiasm, and I look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

With a unique blend of agricultural journalism and agri-marketing experience, Vincent has a strong understanding of the publishing business. A leader in the agricultural journalism industry, Vincent served as the editor and associate publisher of Dealer & Applicator magazine for Vance Publishing from 1999 through 2006.

Publication

An Inside Look at Farms in Chicago

Laura McNamara

The Chicago FarmersThe dates and locations are set for The Chicago Farmers Summer Tour. The Chicago Farmers aim to offer a forum for education and the exchange of information between members and the agribusiness industry. The summer tour is the latest event meant to enhance knowledge, profitability, stewardship, consumer awareness, and fellowship among participants.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Please join us as we tour two Illinois farms!!

TOUR #1: 10:00am to 11:30am
Mendota Hills Wind Farm ~ Paw Paw, Illinois

LUNCH: 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Beacon Restaurant ~ Rochelle, Illinois
(Lunch is included with tour fee)

TOUR #2: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Butler Organic Farm ~ Malta, Illinois

$35 Chicago Farmer Members ~ $40 Non- Members/Guests
Registration Deadline: June 22, 2007

To Register:
Call The Chicago Farmers Administrative Office
312-388-FARM (3276)
Payment of check or cash will be accepted the day of the tour.

Uncategorized

News & Booze and Slow Food

Chuck Zimmerman

Slow FoodLaura just brought my attention to “Slow Food,” an organization that I coincidentally mentioned in a recent post. I haven’t finished checking them out but did come across an article on their website that rings true to American agricultural journalists.

In his article Phil Rees bemoans the lack of alcohol in today’s newsrooms. He writes about the good old days and he could just as easily be writing about U. S. journalists instead of British ones. We have political correctness gone mad in the world today so everyone’s afraid to do anything. One of the reasons I wanted out of the traditional corporate media world was that I was hearing and feeling “it just isn’t fun anymore” way too much.

Phil’s article is hilarious and makes for a good laugh. If you think ag journalists are any different then you haven’t been to an NAFB or AMS convention. We used to joke at NAFB that it stood for Nearly Always Free Beer. I can provide you with plenty of anecdotes like ones in the article from many years in ag media. Here’s an excerpt from Phil’s article.

It was not unusual for a newsroom sub-editor to pull out a hip flask and take a slug or two in between visits to the bar. I remember being offered a scotch at about ten in the morning by a hardened lead story writer from Glasgow. I was allocated to be his assistant that day.

Food, Media

ALOT Barbecue Social in St. Louis

Laura McNamara

Savory meat will be sizzling on the grill later this week in St. Louis. The current class of Agricultural Leadership of Tommorrow, about 40 individuals, are inviting St. Louis AgriBusiness Club members to a barbecue social at Warren Stemme Farm. ALOT Alumni, the St. Louis County Farm Bureau Board and local legislators are also invited.

WHEN: Friday, June 8 , 2007
TIME: 6 p.m. – Social and Networking,
6:30 p.m. – Barbecue and short presentation
LOCATION: Warren Stemme Farm, 165 River Valley Drive, Maryland Heights, MO
Warren’s cell phone in case you get lost: 314-614-8897
RSVP by June 6th: Cost will be approximately $5-10 per person, payable by cash or check at the door.
Email your reservations to ddittmar@stlouisagclub.org or call 618/257-8272. No charge for kids.

ALOT is a two-year leadership program, attracting Missouri adults from across the state, representing rural and urban areas, full-time farmers and agribusiness, media, financial representatives and more.
Read More

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Food

Ag Future Board Renews Leadership of Monsanto Chemistry VP

Laura McNamara

Agriculture Future of AmericaThe Agriculture Future of America Board of Directors has elected to renew board membership of the vice president of Monsanto Global Chemistry. The Board re-elected Vice President Mike Frank at a meeting last month.

Agriculture Future of America (AFA) has selected its new leadership at the Board of Directors meeting on May 22, 2007. The Board of Directors serve a three-year term. Mike Frank, vice president of Monsanto Global Chemistry, was re-elected to his term at this meeting.

AFA’s mission is to create partnerships that identify, encourage and support outstanding college men and women who are preparing for careers in agriculture. Since 1996, AFA has provided leader and career development training to 4,000 college students and young professionals in agriculture.

The AFA board is responsible for developing the organization’s vision and mission, ensuring effective program planning and identifying opportunities for growth within the organization’s objectives.

Mike Frank began his career with Monsanto in 1988. Through his career he has served in a variety of sales, marketing and general management roles. He received an engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan and an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago. Read More

Ag Groups

A Little Country and Canada

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-122 - Country and CanadaIt’s going to be a country music week here on AgWired starting Wednesday in Nashville. To get us in the mood this week’s ZimmCast ends with some country music.

Harry and Judy SiemensBut moving from country to Canada, I finally got to meet AgWired contributing editor, Harry Siemens. We were both at the Alltech Symposium and recorded a short conversation for you. Harry has been doing the new media thing even longer than I have and he’s doing very well. You’ll hear his perspective on the use of the internet by Canadian farmers in our discussion.

Harry is pictured here with his wife, Judy at the opening night banquet at the Alltech Symposium.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 122 (14 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast122-6-4-07.mp3

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes.

Audio, International, ZimmCast

Tractor Co. Pulls in Gold For Country Living

Laura McNamara

Country Living AssociationThe Country Living Association gets a new gold sponsor. The Association’s director, Courtney Yukis, says Tractor Supply Company now possesses a gold-level sponsorship. Tractor Supply Company joins Land O’Lakes, Purina Feed and Fastline Publications at the gold-level. Founding sponsors include John Deere, Allied Insurance and Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company. All Country Living Association sponsors promote rural living.

Membership in Country Living Association is geared toward individuals and families who reside in the country and marketers who supply these families with goods and services that benefit country life. Meredith Corporation’s Living the Country Life magazine serves as the organization’s official publication.

“We’re very pleased to have Tractor Supply Company join us, with their long-standing values of providing products and services that make our members’ lives easier and more rewarding,” says Yuskis.

“Tractor Supply Company is thrilled to support the Country Living Association, particularly because of our beginnings in 1938 as a mail-order catalog offering tractor parts to family farmers,” says Blake Fohl, senior vice president of marketing. “CLA’s values are intertwined with ours. We locate our stores in rural areas because we supply unique products to support the rural lifestyle of our customers, while CLA promotes country living at its best,” Fohl adds. Read More

Agribusiness, John Deere, Publication, Tractor

Getting Ready For Some Country Music

Chuck Zimmerman

2007 CMA Music FestIt’s been so nice to be home for more than a day. It’s amazing how much you can get done. I’ve been doing some around the home and computer work this weekend and not posting much. However that will change this week as I get to attend the CMA Music Festival once again thanks to New Holland and the Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race. I’ll be heading to Nashville on Tuesday and things will kick off late on Wednesday.

We learned a lot doing the first tractor race last year and this year’s will be bigger and better. If you’re interested, there’s an auction still going on for the New Holland tractor that was signed by all of last year’s participants.

I think there’s also going to be some surprises in store and can I just say the word, “biodiesel?” More on that later this week.

New Holland

Homeownership Month Reflects USDA Homebuilding Efforts

Laura McNamara

USDA Rural Development USDA Rural Development spotlights its roll in homebuilding efforts this June, National Homeownership Month. Thomas Dorr is the Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development. He says programs sponsored by USDA Rural Development have enabled rural residents to have their own abode to call home.

“For nearly 60 years, USDA Rural Development has helped rural Americans with the blueprint to become a homeowner,” Dorr said. “In the most recent year, we helped 43,000 rural families achieve the American dream of homeownership.”

This year’s Homeownership Month highlights the close partnership of USDA Rural Development with partner organizations through financial and technical assistance by direct and guaranteed loan programs. Volunteers in the Mutual Self-Help housing program are also recognized for helping future homeowners build their own houses under the direction of an experienced construction supervisor. Through community building events, almost 1,500 families built their own homes last year, earning 25 percent credit through “sweat equity.”

USDA is hosting more than 100 events nationwide during June to underscore the Administration’s commitment to providing Americans with safe, affordable housing:

Recognition of the 100th Mutual Self-Help home built for Rural Development by a Wichita, Kansas, faith-based organization working with the state Rural Development office for affordable housing options; Maine’s fourth grade student essay contest, “What A Home Means To Me;” Celebration of a new home in Sulphur, Louisiana, where USDA-guaranteed lenders provide single-close construction loan and permanent financing; A three-day house raising for a lower-income family in Kentucky to mark the 25th anniversary of a community-based nonprofit and its volunteers; Recognition of 13 lenders in Michigan partnering with Rural Development to close a record $2 billion in guaranteed homeownership loans.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s Web site.

USDA