Ethanol Plant Builder

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff Broin and Sam BodmanIt’s the final week before the Indianapolis 500. Time to get revved up. I’ll be heading on over later this week. On Thursday the IRL is having an Ethanol Forum which will feature speakers like IRL founder Tony George and USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, Tom Dorr. I’ll report on it for you right here.

In leading up to the activities in Indiana I’m going to post some more interviews I conducted during Ethanol Day a couple of weeks ago. So let’s get started. One of the founders of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is Jeff Broin, CEO of the Broin Companies, designers and builders of ethanol plants. Jeff is pictured on the left, next to U. S. Secretary of Energy, Samuel Bodman who attended the event. Jeff describes what EPIC does and what he thinks of all the publicity generated by the ethanol/IRL matchup.

You can listen to my interview with Jeff here: Listen To MP3 Jeff Broin Interview (3 min MP3)

Audio, Ethanol, Indy Racing

COLT Technologies Now TekVet

Chuck Zimmerman

COLT TechnologiesColt Technologies officially changed its name to TekVet, LLC last week. So when I saw this I went to their website and now I’m confused. The website says “Colt Technologies.” But in their newsroom they have the release saying they changed their name. Seems like a webpage update is in order.

In addition to the name change, the company announced it has moved its headquarters back home from Puerto Rico to a facility in North Salt Lake, Utah.

Agribusiness

FarmStack Classifieds Now Online

Chuck Zimmerman

FarmStackOnline classifieds have a new player in the agricultural arena. It’s FarmStack.com. I don’t have anything to buy or sell so I haven’t tried it out.

Basic listings on Farmstack.com are free of charge, whereas Featured and Premium listings carry a small charge. Listings by individual farmers and growers are always free. Registration on the site is free. Individual Farmers and Growers may list tractors, implements, organic foods and many farm related products to seek buyers locally, nationwide and globally.Read More

Agribusiness

Batting For Better Sales

Chuck Zimmerman

Association of Equipment ManufacturersEquipment manufacturers are gearing up for their annual marketing seminar. This year it will take place June 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD. This is a pretty full scale marketing conference and since they’re going to Camden Yards for a baseball game the theme is “Take Me Out To The Marketplace.” That competitive challenge the Orioles face is much like the one any business faces as well.

Besides the annual marketing seminar, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers also has plans in place for a their AgExecutive Forum which will be held Tuesday, July 11 at the Renaissance Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, IL.

Equipment

Get Revved Up For Indy

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast69 - Revving It Up For IndyAfter a week off, the ZimmCast is back just in time to Rev You Up For Indy. Yes, it’s the final week leading up to the Indianapolis 500. To get you revved up this week’s program is all about ethanol and the IRL, powered by EPIC.

In case you’ve wondered about all the hype over the Indy Racing League converting to ethanol as a fuel you can listen to sound bites from some of the people instrumental in making it happen. The program also includes the latest episode of “Fill up Feel good” the official podcast of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

So sit back and enjoy using the following link: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 69 (9 min 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, Ethanol, Indy Racing, ZimmCast

New ZimmCast On The Way

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m sure you’ve noticed that I didn’t post a new ZimmCast this week. Mea culpa. It’s the first week in well over a year that I’ve missed an episode. But don’t worry. There will be a new one this coming week and all the weeks after that. After 69 programs I hit a wall this week in ideas and time.

So look for a new ZimmCast by Monday. I promise.

Uncategorized

Festival Time of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Herman, MO MaifestIt’s already time for the festival season to get in high gear. Many of them are tied into agriculture like the Maifest in Herman, MO. Yes, wine, bratwurst, beer, these are all agricultural products.

What I’m interested to know is what’s your favorite festival? Send me an email or post a comment. I’d like to feature the ones you enjoy. If your favorite festival has a website, let me know the URL too.

I don’t think I have a favorite one. I’ve been to too many over the years and I could list a lot of them but I’m interested in the ones you like.

Uncategorized

Growing His Own Fuel

Chuck Zimmerman

Steve King & ParentsSteve King races what he grows. He grows corn and when that’s turned into ethanol he puts it in his number 88 and sprints past the competition.

At Ethanol Day in Indianapolis recently, Steve, sprint car driver, was there to help promote the alternative fuel. Steve is pictured to the right of his parents, Danny & Naomi.

I interviewed Steve while we had a relatively quiet moment (there’s usually never a quiet moment at the speedway). Steve says he began using ethanol about 5 years ago. Besides growing corn he also has a feedlot. He says ethanol allows him to load less fuel at the beginning of a race and that gives him a competitive advantage.

You can listen to my interview with Steve here: Listen To MP3 Steve King Interview (3 min MP3)

Audio, Ethanol

New Pork Boarders

Chuck Zimmerman

Pork BoardNew National Pork Board members were just appointed by Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns. They are:

Five appointees will serve 3-year terms, and one appointee will serve the remaining 2-year term created by the resignation of Deborah M. Johnson from North Carolina, which was effective March 4. The appointees to serve 3-year terms are: Dianne L. Bettin, Truman, Minn.; Dennis O. Michael, Yankton, S.D.; Jeff E. Galle, Pittsfield, Ill.; Eugene C. Nemechek, Wilson, N.C.; and William R. Brown, Nevada, Ohio. The appointee who will serve a 2-year term is Alan E. Wilhoite, Lebanon, Ind.

Ag Groups, Pork

Farm Assist For Potato Growers

Chuck Zimmerman

Quadris Ridomil GoldSyngenta is helping out potato growers in more ways than one this month. To start with they just received EPA approval for Quadris Ridomil Gold fungicide.

This new addition to Syngenta’s fungicide portfolio provides growers with a new, user-friendly twin pack of Quadris® and Ridomil Gold® for soil application in potatoes. With Quadris Ridomil Gold growers receive the benefits of two proven products to protect against all four major classes of fungi and control soil borne disease and storage rots. A single application provides broad-spectrum control of pink rot, Pythium leak, black scurf (Rhizoctonia) and silver scurf.

Then they also started their annual potato blight hotlines. They team up with five universities in key potato growing regions to provide access to vital disease information. Read More

Agribusiness