Covering the President

Cindy Zimmerman

CZ-Bush Covering the visit of President Bush to the Advancing Renewable Energy conference in St. Louis made for an interesting day. It was most amazing to me how incredibly tight security was, especially for the press. The general convention attendees had more freedom than the press. The “local media” were confined to a “pen” – that’s what they called it – and we were not allowed on the floor where the attendees were. The White House press corps had a special “pen” right up front. We were relegated to a riser behind the chairs. What was cool was being able to post live on Domestic Fuel because we did have live, high-speed internet access. My pictures were not great with our little digital Canon, but usable for the web.

The last time I covered a presidential event was when his daddy was in the White House and he addressed the 1992 American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Kansas City. We had just moved to Missouri from Florida to work for Brownfield Network and I hosted a live telecast of the event with Lynn Ketelsen of Linder Farm Network. There was nothing like this type of security there. But, there also was no high speed internet, digital cameras or digital recorders either.

I had the president’s full remarks posted on Domestic Fuel about ten minutes after he finished talking today – probably faster than anyone else did, which is very cool. Is it not amazing how far technology has come in such a short time? It certainly makes me believe that we are capable of making renewable energy the rule rather than the exception in this country within just as short a time period, if not shorter.

Thanks to the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council for sponsoring coverage of the Advancing Renewable Fuels Conference on Domestic Fuel.

Uncategorized

Farm Media at the Renewable Fuels Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Peter Shinn The Advancing Renewable Energy Conference this week in St. Louis is subtitled “An American Rural Renaissance” and the media here have gotten an eduation in the importance of agriculture to the future energy security of this nation. The farm media here, like Peter Shinn with Brownfield Network, already knew that. It’s been very gratifying to hear so much about agriculture and energy and how this emerging industry will help to revitalize rural America. This has been an awesome event. As I write this, President Bush is addressing the crowd of over 1200 people, talking about using tax dollars on research for renewable energy. More later.

Uncategorized

Latest Podcast From the MGEX

Chuck Zimmerman

MGEXHello from the road. I wanted to bring your attention to the latest edition of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange Monthly USDA Crop Report Commentary. I just recorded it, uploaded it and updated the podcast file before getting back in the car and heading up the highway to Missouri.

What a great way to use the new media tools. Are you doing this yet?

In case you don’t have your iPod yet, you can download the commentary here: Listen To MP3 Minneapolis Grain Exchange Monthly Commentary (7 min MP3)

Or you can listen to the commentary right now:

mgex-10-12-06.mp3

I’ll catch up with you after I get back from this trip.

Agribusiness, Audio, Podcasts

Meet Ambassador Matt

Chuck Zimmerman

Ambassador MattThere’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

REC-Johanns 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.REC-Bodman

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: Listen To MP3 Johanns (5 min MP3)

Listen to a segment of Johanns’ remarks here: Listen To MP3 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

Harry Siemens(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

Pork PodWe 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

ZimmCast88 - Southeast AgNet New MediaThis 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: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 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

Southeast AgNetWelcome 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

Jim RiemannI 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