Meet Ambassador Matt

Chuck Zimmerman October 11, 2006

There’s a new Beef Ambassador in town. He’s Mathew Peebles of Silver Springs, FL. Mathew won the title of 2007 National Beef Ambassador at the annual competition, held Oct. 5-7 in Minneapolis, MN.

Twenty contestants from throughout the country vied for the national title and $5,000 in cash prizes sponsored exclusively by Tyson Foods, Inc. Additionally three educational scholarships totaling $2,250 were given by the American National CattleWomen Foundation, Inc. Peebles received $2,500 cash and a $1,000 college scholarship. Second place went to Amanda Rankin, Caliente, Calif., who received $1,200 and a $750 scholarship. Third-place winner JoAnna Strom, Beresford, SD, received $800 and a $500 scholarship. Christie Molinaro, Pennsylvania, and Londa Johnson, Minnesota, received $250 each as honorable-mention awards.

Peebles is a member of FFA, and the Junior Florida Cattlemen’s Association. He enjoys promoting the beef industry, raising cattle and team roping. Peebles career plans are to become a veterinarian.

Beef

Advancing Renewable Energy in St. Louis

Chuck Zimmerman October 11, 2006

Cindy is in St. Louis this week for the big Renewable Energy Conference which is going to feature THE President. I thought I’d share this post from her on Domestic Fuel:

The US Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy are the hosts of the Advancing Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis this week. Both addressed the crowd, estimated at upwards of 1500 people, showing the huge interest in renewable energy nationwide.

Both Secretaries talked about the great need for cellulosic ethanol – in fact, just about every speaker today has at least touched on the topic. Secretary Johanns had the pleasure of announcing $17.5 million dollars in biofuels research and development grants, funded jointly by USDA and DOE. “Developing renewable energy is a priority for the Bush administration,” said Johanns. The 17 projects to be funded by this grant money include projects such as development of commercial corn hybrids for cellulosic biomass to ethanol, willow biomass crop management, waste biomass feedstocks for ethanol production, and doubling switchgrass yield by 2020 for cellulosic ethanol.

Johanns took on a few of the arguments of the (mostly ethanol) “naysayers,” starting with the claim that ethanol costs too much to be competitive with oil without subsidies.
“It costs about $1.10 to produce a gallon of ethanol,” said Johanns. “In fact, ethanol will continue to be competitive with gasoline as long as oil prices don’t drop below $30 per barrel.”

Regarding whether we can produce enough corn to meet the demand, Johanns said people who say that, “haven’t met the same farmers I have.” Johanns added that USDA economists estimate that ethanol production “could nearly double in the next five years, without forcing us to choose between corn for food or for fuel,” and he added that research into new varieties, biomass and new technology will make that happen.

Secretary Bodman noted some of the exciting research the Department of Energy is doing in rapid DNA sequencing and advanced light sources which are making “energy from biomass more promising than any time before.”

Bodman says the goal of the administration is to make cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive by 2012, but that their efforts “are not confined exclusively to cellulosic ethanol. We are also sponsoring promising research on other biofuels from biomass, inlcuding bidiesel, biofuels for aviation, and biologically produced or inspired hydrogen and other fuels from sunlight.”

Listen to a segment of Johanns’ remarks here: Johanns (5 min MP3)

Listen to a segment of Johanns’ remarks here: Bodman (3 min MP3)

Coverage of the Advancing Renewable Energy Conference sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Audio, Ethanol, USDA

Thanksgiving with a difference

Chuck Zimmerman October 10, 2006

(Editor’s Note: I was supposed to post this on Monday – Sorry Harry)

Thanksgiving Day in Canada, Monday, Oct. 9 is a time to celebrate. For most producers, the last two years have been tough. For some, it goes back even further than that, but with this year’s crops, for the most part, bursting grain bins at the seams, it’s time to sit back and celebrate. Yes, I know the people raising hogs are having their struggles, too, but you want to know something, keep on trucking.

Yes, I also know the prices for most commodities are low, and at today’s levels you can’t pay all the bills, even with good to great crops. However, you do have crop in the bin, this year’s growing season, except for areas having too little rain in July and August was almost ideal for putting in the crop, spraying, and for taking it off. It’s time to sit back, and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Don’t take your family for granted, and enjoy this time together. I’m not sure how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, but for us, there will be one empty spot at the table because our oldest daughter Lynn moved to Vancouver. That leaves Laurelle, our 13-year old, my wife Judith, and myself. Read More

International

Pork Board Podcast

Chuck Zimmerman October 10, 2006

We knew it was coming and I guess it’s now here. It’s the Pork Board’s podcast. Thanks to the Brownfield Network for finding this out.

Pork Pod is a new tool the Pork Checkoff’s is utilizing to provide useful information to producers. Pork Pod is a podcast. Podcasting is a method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription at no cost. You can listen to podcasts on your computer, download the podcasts on computer and then create a CD or subscribe to a feed for your iPod.

Podcasts, Pork

New Media Training in the Sunshine

Chuck Zimmerman October 10, 2006

This week on the ZimmCast I’m actually producing the program during a new media training session at Southeast AgNet.

In the program I interview Gary Cooper, company President and founder. Gary talks about why his company is moving into the production of new media news distribution.

Download this week’s program: ZimmCast 88 (8 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast88-10-10-06.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, ZimmCast

Training in Ocala, FL

Chuck Zimmerman October 10, 2006

Welcome to a training session here at Southeast AgNet headquarters in Ocala, FL. We’re going to be learning how to blog and podcast throughout the day.

If you see some test posts pop on and off throughout the day, now you’ll know why.

This is going to be fun!

Media

CAB President Will Retire

Chuck Zimmerman October 9, 2006

I didn’t know Jim Riemann but I certainly have liked his product. Here’s to hoping that we can always find a good CAB steak.

Certified Angus Beef LLC president Dr. M. James “Jim” Riemann recently announced his intentions to retire. Riemann has served as president since 1999. At Riemann’s suggestion, the CAB Board of Directors appointed senior vice president Brent Eichar as interim president, effective today. Riemann will remain through November 15, focusing on transition and retirement activities.

“I feel very good about the things our team has accomplished in the eight years I have been privileged to be a part of the program,” he said. “The Certified Angus Beef brand has grown to be a highly respected brand throughout all segments of the industry.” “The board is grateful for Jim’s dedication and loyalty to CAB and for his commitment to the mission, which is to increase demand for registered Angus cattle,” said CAB board chairman Bob Norton, St. Joseph, Mo.

Beef

Kudos for AVICTA Complete Pak

Chuck Zimmerman October 9, 2006

Syngenta’s AVICTA Complete Pak has been named Product of the Year by AgriMarketing magazine.

In its first year of introduction, the product captured nearly 50% market share of the estimated $43 million segment. Syngenta says it expects to grow sales by 35 to 50% this year. Runners up for the award were John Deere’s 4930 self-propelled sprayer, Great Plains Manufacturing, and Crop Quest’s Paramount Reporting service.

Agribusiness, Publication

Senator Frist in Iraq

Chuck Zimmerman October 9, 2006

Here’s the lastest story from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team on assignment in Iraq. In this one he speaks with U.S. Senator Bill Frist on his first visit to Iraq where he toured a prosthetics lab, the sprawling “tent city” field hospital at the Balad Air Base, and met with President Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Senator Bill Frist, M.D., from Tennessee and Senator Mel Martinez from Florida made multiple strategic stops in Iraq as part of a fact-finding trip. Sen. Frist graduated from Princeton University in 1974 and from Harvard Medical School 1978. The senator worked as a heart and lung transplant surgeon and the director of the heart and lung transplantation program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

“When you look at the unbelievable fields here, you can’t help but see great potential for the future. There are incredible partnerships building between the United States and Iraq,” said Frist. “The University of Tennessee, for example, has a great agriculture program. There’s enormous potential for the university to work hand-in-hand with Iraqi farmers.” Listen to the report here: Senator Frist in Iraq (1 min MP3)

Audio, International

Light Posting Here

Chuck Zimmerman October 8, 2006

I should be back in the swing of things by tomorrow evening. It’s not that I’ve been away from blogging though.

Tomorrow I’m heading up to Ocala, FL on the way back from this personal trip. I’ll be conducting some blogging and podcasting training there.

We’ll get up to date shortly.

Uncategorized

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