Renewable Fuels Association Features E85 Can-Am Conversion

Chuck Zimmerman June 18, 2019

During the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) this year the Renewable Fuels Association featured a racing Can-Am X3 (2018 model) which has been converted to running on E85. This beautiful vehicle wrapped with the RFA’s “Fueled With Pride” image, has been racing this season. The extra horsepower provided by the E85 fuel has provided a performance boost as you’ll hear RFA’s Robert White say in a conversation I had with him (listen below). TIDD Racing is the team racing the Can-Am and they loaned it to RFA for the FEW.

Robert says that TIDD Racing contacted him to discuss opportunities for more horsepower and torque. So they did some research on companies doing E85 conversions and found Evolution PowerSports who had a pretty simple solution. Robert says the conversion gave the Can-Am an extra 50 horsepower! To promote it at FEW he says they gave away 1,000 t-shirts.

Besides the Can-Am in the RFA booth Robert says the organization was very involved in the Fuel Ethanol Workshop program.

Geoff Cooper, RFA CEO, gave the opening keynote address
Robert was featured in an Association Roundtable: A Look at Our Industry’s Health, the Strength of Its Policy Foundation and the Best Path Forward to Growing Our Market. He also moderated a panel: Building a Plant Culture that will Attract and Retain Top Talent
Kelly Davis moderated a panel: Positioning Your Plant Now to Maximize the Coming Opportunities in Low Carbon Fuel Markets and Carbon Sequestration
And as we reported previously, Missy Ruff received the TRANSCAER 2018 Chairman’s Award

You can listen to my interview with Robert here: Interview with Robert White, RFA

Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

Happy Pollinator Week!

Cindy Zimmerman June 18, 2019

The birds and the bees, the bats and the butterflies, and the Bayer Blue Ribbon beekeepers are all in the spotlight this week for the 12th annual National Pollinator Week celebration.

Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership. Twelve years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations.

The Bayer Bee Care Program is celebrating National Pollinator Week by honoring those who are working hard to support bees and other pollinators around the country. The company announced Blue Ribbon Beekeepers to recognize the outstanding achievements of young people who have made a positive impact on their communities through beekeeping or pollinator-related research.

These Blue Ribbon Beekeepers include past winners of the annual Bayer Bee Care Program Young Beekeeper Award, as well as other outstanding up-and-comers in the beekeeping industry. The inductees are:

Catherine Trusky, 17, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Hayden Chrisman, 17, of Commerce, Texas
Jake Reisdorf, 16, of Carmel, California,
Jonathan “JD” Murphy, 18, of Denison, Texas
Kate Riding, 15, of Redmond, Oregon
Leo Schirokauer, 18, of Shaker Heights, Ohio
Tucker Leck, 12, of Neodesha, Kansas

Learn more about them from Bayer.

AgWired Precision, Bayer, Bees, pollinators

Animal Ag Bites 6/17

Carrie Muehling June 17, 2019

National Beef Packing Company, LLC now owns the Iowa Premium beef processing facility located in Tama, Iowa. This transaction enables National Beef to expand its beef processing operations into the State of Iowa and add over 850 employees to the National Beef family.
The American Feed Industry Association is now accepting applications for the 2019 Feed Facility of the Year program. The winners will be recognized at the 2020 International Production & Processing Expo, being held Jan. 28-30, in Atlanta, Ga.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to announce that Gina Tumbarello, AFIA’s director of international policy and trade, has been reappointed to serve on the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds.
The American Feed Industry Association is pleased to announce the addition of Mallory Gaines as its manager of market access and trade policy, effective June 10.
Expanding U.S. export markets is vital to the success of American pork producers, but trade disputes with some of our top markets, most notably China, are hampering growth and have caused severe financial harm to U.S. hog farmers, National Pork Producers Council Vice President and Counsel of Global Government Affairs Nick Giordano said at a Global Business Dialogue event in Washington, D.C. Giordano’s full remarks can be read here.
Connectiv, the Business Information Association, announced winners of its second annual Connectiv Innovation Awards, which included WATT Global Media in the category of Leveraging Ecosystem Partners. Andy Smith, Director of Innovation & Technology for WATT Global Media, accepted the award at the Connectiv Executive Summit on May 16, 2019. WATT’s award was for “Using Digital Convergent Technology (DCT) to Optimize Production Workflow.”
Kristyn Nigon was selected as the 2019 Vita Plus summer intern. She will be working with the Vita Plus Loyal team to gain experience in dairy management and the feed industry, as well as conduct her own research project and learn more about Vita Plus for the duration of the summer.
The National Pork Board is seeking applicants for the 2019 student social forces team. The applications are open now through July 8 at Pork.org/SocialForces. The social forces team will advocate for pig farming through social media usage. Selected applicants who successfully complete all outlined milestones will be eligible for a $500 scholarship.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that signup begins June 17 for the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, the cornerstone program of the dairy safety net that helps dairy producers manage the volatility of milk and feed prices, operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.

AgWired Animal, Animal Bites

ZimmCast 619 – President Trump’s Visit to Ethanol Plant

Chuck Zimmerman June 14, 2019

In this week’s program you will hear from industry attendees to President Trump’s visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) in Council Bluffs, IA.

Included in the program are:

Mike Jerke, CEO, SIRE
Craig Floss, President/CEO, Iowa Corn Growers
Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Kevin Ross, farmer and 1st VP, NCGA
Monte Shaw, Executive Director, IRFA
Geoff Cooper, President/CEO, RFA

Geoff provides a wrap-up of the program since I was able to talk with him after the President had toured the facility and given his speech.

That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: President Trump visits Ethanol Plant

Audio, Biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, ZimmCast

New Dates for New Ag International InfoAg in Brazil

Cindy Zimmerman June 14, 2019

New Ag International is looking forward to taking two concurrent conferences to Brazil in August 2019.

InfoAg International Conference & Exhibition, a three-day event jointly organised with the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), will run in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil from 28-30 August 2019. These are new dates.

This event will run concurrently with the largest biocontrol event in Latin America. After the successful Biocontrol LATAM 2016 in Brazil and 2018 in Colombia, the industry is gathering back in Brazil. New Ag International will be taking its Biocontrol LATAM Conference and Exhibition to Campinas Wed 28 – Fri 30 August.

The deadline for the Early Bird Rate ends this Friday June 14, so please register online now to save.

AgWired Precision, Biologicals, Biotech, Events, New Ag International, Precision Agriculture

USDA Picks Kansas City as New Home for ERS, NIFA

Carrie Muehling June 14, 2019

The Kansas City area will be the new home for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

“Following a rigorous site selection process, the Kansas City Region provides a win win – maximizing our mission function by putting taxpayer savings into programmatic outputs and providing affordability, easy commutes, and extraordinary living for our employees,” said Secretary Perdue. “The Kansas City Region has proven itself to be hub for all things agriculture and is a booming city in America’s heartland. There is already a significant presence of USDA and federal government employees in the region, including the Kansas City ‘Ag Bank’ Federal Reserve. This agriculture talent pool, in addition to multiple land-grant and research universities within driving distance, provides access to a stable labor force for the future. The Kansas City Region will allow ERS and NIFA to increase efficiencies and effectiveness and bring important resources and manpower closer to all of our customers.”

USDA conducted a Cost Benefit Analysis and conservative estimates show a savings of nearly $300 million nominally over a 15-year lease term on employment costs and rent or about $20 million per year, which will allow more funding for research of critical needs like rural prosperity and agricultural competitiveness, and for programs and employees to be retained in the long run, even in the face of tightening budgets. On top of that, state and local governments offered generous relocation incentives packages totaling more than $26 million. Finally, this relocation will give USDA the opportunity to attract a diverse staff with training and interest in agriculture. You may click HERE to view USDA’s Cost Benefit Analysis.

“We did not undertake these relocations lightly, and we are doing it to enhance long-term sustainability and success of these agencies. The considerable taxpayer savings will allow us to be more efficient and improve our ability to retain more employees in the long run. We will be placing important USDA resources closer to many stakeholders, most of whom live and work far from Washington, D.C. In addition, we are increasing the probability of attracting highly-qualified staff with training and interests in agriculture, many of whom come from land-grant universities. We look forward to this new chapter as we seek to fulfill our motto at USDA, which is to ‘do right and feed everyone,’” added Secretary Perdue.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, USDA

Zimfo Bytes 6/14

Carrie Muehling June 14, 2019

The American Meat Science Association announced the appointment of Collette Schultz Kaster as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Fresh off a 2018 national television appearance on Discovery’s “Diesel Brothers,” the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council is set for another national television appearance, this time with the former star of “Cheers.” Scheduled to broadcast 3Q/2019, an upcoming episode of “Advancements with Ted Danson” will focus on recent advances in agriculture. Check local listings for more information.
Sweet Leaf Tea has announced its partnership with American Idol judge and country music megastar Luke Bryan for his 2019 Farm Tour, an annual event that uses music to salute the farmers who work behind the scenes to bring food to America’s store shelves, restaurants, and dinner tables. Bayer is also proud to be sponsoring the 2019 tour and continuing its #HeresToTheFarmer campaign. Every time the #HeresToTheFarmer hashtag is shared, Bayer will donate a meal to a hungry American through Feeding America®.
National Beef Packing Company, LLC now owns the Iowa Premium beef processing facility located in Tama, Iowa. This transaction enables National Beef to expand its beef processing operations into the State of Iowa and add over 850 employees to the National Beef family.
Connectiv, the Business Information Association, announced winners of its second annual Connectiv Innovation Awards, which included WATT Global Media in the category of Leveraging Ecosystem Partners. Andy Smith, Director of Innovation & Technology for WATT Global Media, accepted the award at the Connectiv Executive Summit on May 16, 2019. WATT’s award was for “Using Digital Convergent Technology to Optimize Production Workflow.”
The 2019 recipients of the Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation Pathways to Agri-Food Scholarships are: Marcus Grymonpre, Chilliwack, BC; Emily Gross, Bow Island, AB; Shaylyn Novak, St. Walburg, SK; Alice Rooke, Alexander, MB; Faith Emiry, Massey, ON; Isaac Ayer, Sackville, NB.
As the trade wars continue to wage in the United States, farm equipment sales numbers mirror the uncertainty within the industry. U.S. sales saw minimal growth in most categories while Canada dropped in all but two, according to the latest Association of Equipment Manufacturers sales data.
FMC Corporation announced that it is realigning the leadership structure for its North America and Latin America regions. Ronaldo Pereira, president, FMC Latin America, has been appointed president of the company’s new Americas Region, which encompasses the U.S., Canada, Central America and South America. Pereira will continue to report to Mark Douglas, FMC president and chief operating officer. Due to this leadership realignment, Amy O’Shea, vice president and business director for North America, will leave the organization to pursue other opportunities.
The U.S. Wheat Associates Board of Directors seated new officers at its annual meeting June 12, 2019, in Whitefish, Mont. USW officers for 2019/20 are: Chairman Doug Goyings of Paulding, Ohio; Vice Chairman Darren Padget of Grass Valley, Ore.; Secretary-Treasurer Rhonda Larson of East Grand Forks, Minn.; and Past Chairman Chris Kolstad of Ledger, Mont. USW officers were elected to these one-year positions at the January 2019 board of directors meeting in Washington, D.C.
The American Feed Industry Association is pleased to announce the addition of Mallory Gaines as its manager of market access and trade policy, effective June 10.
The National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board has elected John Linder to become the organization’s first vice president for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
IDEAg Group, producers of Minnesota Farmfest, will showcase an industrial hemp demonstration plot at the show this year.
USDA data indicates that the rural population of post-9/11 veterans is growing quickly and provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill seek to increase access for those veterans who wish to enter farming. Congress included veteran farmers and ranchers as part of a new definition of underserved producers, allowing them to take advantage of improved crop insurance benefits such as additional premium discounts.
Russele Sleep of Bedford, Iowa was named the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion at the 56th annual competition held at Tulare Sales Yard, Tulare, Calif. and presented by the Livestock Marketing Association.
The Sugar Association is marking more than 75 years as the scientific voice of the United States sugar industry. Founded by beet and cane sugar growers and refiners during World War II in 1943, the group was dedicated to the scientific study of sugar’s role in food and the communication of that role to the public during a period of war-time sugar rationing. This video invites the public to understand the people and the processes that bring sugar from the farms to our tables.

Zimfo Bytes

Behind the Scenes with President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman June 13, 2019

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy CEO Mike Jerke shared their thoughts about President Donald Trump’s behind the scenes tour of the ethanol plant Tuesday.

Jerke and Cooper met the president as he arrived at the plant and escorted him in to meet some local farmers and plant employees and learn more about ethanol. Both said President Trump took a very active interest in the plant and listened to concerns they raised about Small Refinery Exemptions hurting demand.

Listen to comments from Jerke and Cooper and watch the White House highlight reel from the visit below.

Press call with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper and SIRE CEO Mike Jerke

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Manure Constituent Sensing Available with John Deere Feature

Carrie Muehling June 12, 2019

A new feature from John Deere allows producers and commercial service providers to measure N, P, and K values in liquid manure applied as fertilizer.

The John Deere HarvestLab™ 3000 with Manure Constituent Sensing analyzes liquid manure 4,000 times per second to provide laboratory-quality values for important nutrient constituents to help producers manage their total fertilizer program.

According to John Mishler, precision ag tactical marketing manager for John Deere, the HarvestLab 3000 infrared sensor used to evaluate nutrient characteristics of forage crops and feed can now be used to provide accurate values for major constituents found in liquid manure used for fertilizer. “The system provides accurate, real-time values for total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and dry matter content of the manure as it’s applied to the field,” Mishler explained. “This enables the operator to manually or automatically adjust the volume based on the nutrient values to meet specific nutrient targets or goals for their fields, and possibly save on commercial fertilizers.”

Iowa Farmer Represents Corn Growers with Pres. Trump

Cindy Zimmerman June 12, 2019

National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Kevin Ross represented corn growers in hosting President Trump for a tour of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa Tuesday. Ross farms in nearby Minden and sells corn to the ethanol plant.

The visit was an opportunity for NCGA to thank the President for following through on the commitment to allow for year-round sales of E15, a priority for corn farmers. On May 31, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule for E15. In addition to increasing demand for farmers, higher blends of renewable fuels such as E15 reduce fuel prices for drivers by three to ten cents per gallon and result in lower emissions, improving air quality and providing greater greenhouse gas reductions.

Ross also urged President Trump to address EPA’s waivers to large refiners that are undermining the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and work with members of Congress to pass an infrastructure bill.

Listen to Kevin’s remarks and an interview with him below:

SIRE plant remarks by NCGA officer Kevin Ross, Iowa

Interview with Kevin Ross, NCGA 1st VP

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, NCGA

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