Renewable Fuels Discussed At Breakfast

Chuck Zimmerman

MFA OilBreakfast this morning in Columbia, MO was at the MFA Oil headquarters. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce has a Food For Thought Breakfast Series that features interesting topics and speakers. Today it was Michelle Kautz, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition and Jon Kleiboeker, Missouri Soybean Association speaking about renewable fuels, ethanol and biodiesel.

David PerkinsPictured here is MFA Oil’s David Perkins, special projects manager, who also discussed how MFA Oil is supporting and encouraging the use of renewable fuels. The people attending were from a variety of business interests and many learned a lot about ethanol and biodiesel that they never knew. Judging by the questions asked there’s still a big job to do educating the general public about renewable fuels. For example, one of the speaker said that many consumers who purchase a flexible fuel vehicle (runs on E-85 or regular gas) don’t even know that they can put E-85 in it! I also heard that one of the reasons many gas pumps that contain up to a 10 blend of ethanol don’t even label it as such is because they found that consumers shied away from it thinking it would hurt their car somehow!

Obviously a lot of consumer education to do about these renewable fuels!

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Ethanol

Corn Congress Discussed On CornTalk

Chuck Zimmerman

MCGA CornTalkLast week Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO Gary Marshall was in Washington, DC where his meetings focused on several issues. In this week’s CornTalk program Cindy interviews Gary about the energy bill, the highway bill, WRDA and CAFTA.

You can listen to CornTalk here Download MP3 File

CornTalk is also a weekly podcast of AgWired. Just use the link you’ll find in our sidebar to subscribe.

Ag Groups, Audio, Podcasts

Purina’s Animal Advice Podcasts

Chuck Zimmerman

Purina PodcastYou know we advocate podcasting and are just waiting for the ag public relations world to “get it.” Some people already do. Take the folks at Purina. They podcast pet advice.

They’re also using RSS very effectively and have a number of feeds available that include:

Dog Pictures and Profiles From the Latest Beneful® Dog Pages
Cat Advice (Emotional): Purina® Cat Chow® Mentor Amy Shojai
Kitten/Mature Cat Advice: Purina® Cat Chow® Mentor Dr. Debbie Horwitz
Cat Advice (Nutritional): Purina® Cat Chow® Mentor Dr. Janet Jackson
Cat Advice (Physical): Purina® Cat Chow® Mentor Dr. Steffen Runquist
“Real Cats, Real Stories” From Purina® Cat Chow®
Expert Cat Care! Advice From the Purina ONE® Online Vet
Expert Dog Care Advice From the Purina ONE® Online Vet

Okay, so maybe they’re targeting the general public. I don’t know why anyone would think that farmers are any different though.

Agribusiness

NCGA’s FSATF Report

Chuck Zimmerman

Taking Ownership of Grain Belt Agriculture ReportI had not seen this report before seeing a link to it in today’s NCGA News of the Day. It’s the result of NCGA’s Future Structure of Agriculture Task Force II work. It looks like a lot of work went into this document. I wonder how it’s being used and if it will have any impact. Anyone know?

You can read the full report on their website.

Their Executive Summary makes a clear statement that some things need to change for production agriculture to continue to grow and be a viable business for farmers.To revitalize rural America, agriculture needs a new focus—an emphasis on entrepreneurship versus entitlement. Hundreds of farmer-owned ventures have flowered throughout the Grain Belt since the mid-1990s. But more investment beyond production agriculture is critical, since future profits in commodity agriculture will grow only in nickels and dimes; upstream processors, many of which can be farmer owned, will capture the real dollars from value-added agriculture.

The report makes a number of specific recommendations:

• Elevate bio-based research and technology to a national priority.
• Encourage farmer-owned brands by removing legal barriers.
• Reform producer-owned business structures to improve tax efficiency, easily raise capital and offer investor liquidity.
• Foster and fund value-added education and rural entrepreneurship.

Ag Groups

Farm Radio & Print In Florida

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastThis week’s ZimmCast features Gary Cooper. No, not that Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper as in, president of Southeast AgNet & Citrus Industry magazine.

Gary has been in farm broadcasting all his life and now he owns a magazine. Ever wondered what it’s like to try to marry these two mediums together? Well, in my interview with Gary we talk about why he made the purchase and how he’s integrating these two mediums for the benefit of Florida citrus growers and the companies that advertise.

You can listen to my interview with Gary here Download MP3 File

Our ZimmCast is also a weekly podcast which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar.

Audio, Media, Podcasts, ZimmCast

PMN Is 5 Years Old

Chuck Zimmerman

Plant Management NetworkThe Plant Management Network (PMN) is celebrating its first five years of online publication. To commemorate the occasion, PMN took a look back interviewing some of those involved when it began.

Started in July 2000 as a single journal, PMN now offers a full suite of applied science-based agricultural resources. Said Tim Murray, first Plant Health Progress journal editor-in-chief and Washington State University plant pathologist, “As one of the web’s first electronic-only publications, I remember that when we first went online people wondered if it would last. After five years, I think the answer is definitely ‘yes’. Not only is the journal now part of the permanent literature, it has evolved into a comprehensive network for applied agriculture.” He added, “People I talk with today can’t imagine not having this kind of hands-on information available electronically.”

Internet, Publication

New COB For BIO

Chuck Zimmerman

Biotechnology Industry OrganizationThe Biotechnology Industry Organization has a new board chairman and annouces its new board of directors. The organization started in 1993.

BIO Names Chairman, Board Members for 2005-2006

WASHINGTON, July 15 – James C. Mullen, president and CEO of Biogen Idec Inc., has been elected chairman of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Board of Directors. Mullen replaces Richard F. Pops, CEO of Alkermes Inc.

“Richard Pops guided BIO through two important years marked by the successful negotiation and passage of historic Medicare reform that includes prescription drug benefits for senior citizens,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “As Richard’s term successfully ends, I look forward to the next two years working with Jim Mullen.

For more information, including a list of the new board members, contact Debbie Strickland, +1-202-962-9200.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness

Lamberton New To NAWG

Chuck Zimmerman

National Association of Wheat GrowersThere’s a new kid in town. Actually he’s not a new kid but he’s new to the National Association of Wheat Growers.

NAWG Hires Communications & Industry Relations Director

NAWG is pleased to announce that Lance Lamberton will join the organization’s staff on August 1 as Director of Communications and Industry Relations. In this post, he will be responsible for maintaining and cultivating relationships with news organizations and publications, communicating NAWG priority issues and managing special projects and relationships with NAWG industry partners.

Lamberton comes to NAWG with a long and distinguished career of communications experience and accomplishment. His career has included stints in the communications departments of Delta Air Lines, Lockheed Martin, Jersey Central Power & Light Company and Exxon Corporation. He also served as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Policy Information under President Ronald Reagan.

For more information contact Lance.

Ag Groups

New Podcasting Info

Chuck Zimmerman

PodcastingI thought you might be interested in some new information about podcasting. Although you can debate the current statistics and maybe you don’t want to download and listen to audio wherever and whenever you want, a lot of people are doing it and I think it’s a great public relations tool!

PodblazeTo start with there’s a great little white paper on podcasting from the folks at Podblaze. It’s titled “What You Don’t Know About Podcasting Could Hurt Your Business: How to Leverage & Benefit from this New Media Technology.”

You can download the paper here. “The purpose of this white paper is to educate readers about the potential marketing value of Podcasting, and how to leverage this new media technology for maximum benefit. This new media audio technology provides ample opportunity for businesses and individuals to leverage their subject matter knowledge and expertise to generate increased brand exposure, improved product awareness, increased sales and additional revenue opportunities.”

Podcasting NewsNext you can check out this post at Podcasting News In it you’ll find information from a report by The Diffusion Group. For example, “Demand for time-shifted digital audio files or podcasts is expected to grow from less than 15% of portable digital music player owners in 2004 to 75% by 2010, according to new forecasts from The Diffusion Group, a consumer technology research and marketing firm.”

Podcast Guide BookFinally, you might want to check out this book, “Podcasting: Do It Yourself Guide.” From the back cover, “It’s your show, and you can do what you want. Got something to tell the world? Want unlimited listening options? Podcasting makes it happen. It’s the hottest communication trend of the twenty-first century, and one of the first guys to jump on board is ready to get you started. Todd helps you choose software, subscribe to the best podcasts, produce one with equipment you already have, record and distribute your shows—even explore the geeky stuff. Whether you’re producing a podcast or listening to one, podcasting puts you in charge.”

So there you have it. Some new information and resources if you’re considering podcasting!

Podcasts

Obesity Warning Labels A Joke

Chuck Zimmerman

Food Products AssociationHere’s something I totally agree with. The whole idea that just by putting a label on foods we’ll somehow eliminate obesity is ludicrous. To start with don’t think obesity is some new problem in America. It’s just another scare story because the mainstream media has to find something to shock us with. No one ever talks about personal responsibility anymore. Let’s just blame the food companies and the people who grow food for the fact that we can’t stop eating.

Singling Out Individual Foods “Does Not Help Address Complex and Multi-faceted Nutrition Issues,” Say FPA – CSPI’s Call for Obesity Warning Labels is “A Bumper Sticker Approach to Nutrition Education”

(Washington, D.C.) – Commenting on calls by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for obesity warning labels and other measures targeted at soft drinks, Robert Earl, MPH, RD, Senior Director of Nutrition Policy for the Food Products Association (FPA), made the following remarks:

“Singling out individual foods or ingredients does not help address complex and multi-faceted nutrition issues, such as obesity. What helps consumers is balanced, science-based information on how to include a variety of foods to achieve balanced, healthful and enjoyable diets with adequate hydration, coupled with an appropriate level of physical activity – not attacks on products.

“In calling for unjustified obesity warning labels on non-diet soft drinks, CSPI is advocating a ‘bumper sticker’ approach to nutrition education. Consumers deserve better than that.

Ag Groups