Bio-Oil Produced Right on the Farm

Joanna Schroeder January 20, 2016

Soon farmers will be able to produce bio-oil right on their farm. The renewable fuel can be produced from agricultural and food waste using a new mobile unit. The goal of USDA project is to be able to distill this bio-oil in existing petroleum refineries.

ARS scientists are testing this mobile pyrolysis system for on-farm production of bio-oil from agricultural waste.

The research team, headed by Agricultural Research Services (ARS) chemical engineer Akwasi Boateng with the Sustainable Biofuels and Coproducts Unit at the Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, is working on a modified pyrolysis technique called “tail-gas reactive pyrolysis” (TGRP). Traditionally, pyrolysis uses very high heat and the resulting product is not compatible with current distillation equipment at petroleum biofineries due to its highly acidic and high oxygen content. The fuel also requires the addition of an expensive catalyst.

Now, however, using waste materials, bio-oils are being produced at an accelerated rate using a new high-output mobile processing unit funded by a Biomass Research and Development Initiative Grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Instead of shipping large amounts of agricultural waste to a refinery plant at high cost, the mobile reactor allows conversion of the biomass into energy-dense bio-oil right on the farm. In addition, this bio-oil is a higher quality bio-oil that is more marketable to biofuel producers than bio-oil made from traditional pyrolysis methods.

“Ideally, the biofuels added to gasoline would be identical to fuels produced at petroleum refineries,” Eklasabi told AgResearch Magazine. “The quality of TGRP deoxygenated liquids is equal to or better than the bio-oil produced by catalyst pyrolysis.” And, added Eklasabi, bringing the bio-oil one step closer to being able to be distilled at existing petroleum refineries.

Agribusiness, Biofuels, USDA

Straight from the Nufarm Zebra’s Mouth

Chuck Zimmerman January 20, 2016

We’ve been telling you about Chip, the Nufarm zebra, who was at the 2016 Potato Expo last week – and if you check out the Potato Expo photo album you’ll see quite a few of Chip – but we wanted to get the story straight from the zebra’s mouth. So, I had a little chat with the striped star to find out just why he agreed to join Nufarm at the expo.

Chip’s main mission was to let people know about Nufarm’s research into bactericides that have the potential of controlling zebra chip. “Zebra chip is a disease that causes potato growers a lot of problems and as a zebra named Chip, I took a personal interest in this threat because frankly I thought it was damaging the zebra’s reputation,” said Chip, who actually is a little shy so he spoke through Nufarm marketing director Brian Rund. “I’m considered quite photogenic … so we invited people to take selfies – or “zelfies” as I call them – and we tweeted them out and it went great!”

The zelfie participants were all entered into a drawing to provide Chip with a new home and the winner was Lucy Zhu from Edmonton, AB. She is very happy to welcome Chip into his new home.

Besides getting a new home, some of Chip’s highlights at the Potato Expo were visiting the Simplot igloo and working in the Spud Nation food truck. Listen to the interview with Chip here: Interview with Chip the Nufarm Zebra

Potato Expo 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of the Potato Expo is sponsored by

Coverage of Potato Expo is sponsored by Nufarm

Audio, Crop Protection, Nufarm, Potato

Chile & Peru Slated for Stops on USDA Trade Mission

John Davis January 20, 2016

Two South American countries have been slated for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) trade mission. This news release from the agency says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will lead a trade mission March 14-18 to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in Chile and Peru.

“Thanks to existing free trade agreements, the United States enjoys strong trading relationships with both Chile and Peru,” said Vilsack. “In addition, both nations are part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which if implemented will boost the Chilean and Peruvian economies and tighten integration with the U.S. economy, helping further expand demand for U.S. agricultural products.”.

The United States entered into a trade agreement with Peru in 2009 that slashed agricultural tariffs and improved market access for many U.S. products. As a result, U.S. farm and food exports to Peru have nearly tripled, reaching a record $1.25 billion in fiscal year 2015. In the Chilean market, all U.S. products enjoy duty-free access as of 2015, thanks to the free trade agreement enacted in 2004. Since 2004, U.S. exports to Chile have grown more than 500 percent, totaling $803 million in fiscal year 2015.

“In both Chile and Peru, steady economic growth and an expanding middle-class population are fueling demand for high-quality, made-in-America food and agricultural products. Now that the United States enjoys open access to these markets, it’s a great time for U.S. companies – especially small- and medium-sized enterprises – to start or expand their exports there,” Vilsack said.

International, Trade, USDA

NCGA Gains Insight During Priority and Policy Conference

John Davis January 20, 2016

Members of the National Corn Growers Association were able to gain some great insights during their recent annual Priority and Policy Conference held in St. Louis. This news release from NCGA says the meeting brought together a wide array of stakeholders for discussions on the direction and the future of the organization.

“This meeting consistently provides a chance for NCGA leadership to gain valuable insight from our state affiliates while fostering deep discussions that help all of us examine the issues more fully,” said NCGA President Chip Bowling, a grower from Newburg, Md. “This year, NCGA focused on finding new and innovative ways to foster discussion and deepen our exploration of the issues. The insight and ideas our attendees brought to discussions will provide us with sound guidance upon which to base effective, impactful plans for the upcoming years.”

The meeting includes chairs, presidents and executive directors of NCGA’s state organizations, as well as chairs and vice chairs of the organization’s action teams and committees. For two days, these leaders discussed organizational policy and their perspective on the relative importance of each issue facing the industry. As each party provided their own unique perspective, a clearer picture of the overall views held by corn farmers across the United States came into focus.

Again this year, as part of a collaborative initiative with the U.S. Grains Council, the Priority and Policy Conference also included leadership from that organization for a discussion of USGC priorities and trade issues.

Ag Groups, NCGA

Real Interviews with Real Growers about LibertyLink

Chuck Zimmerman January 19, 2016

If you listen to farm radio you probably have heard spots for Bayer’s LibertyLink system. Last fall they included promotion for the RealYield game which ended December 31, 2015. Those commercials, moderated by Cindy, came from real interviews with real growers like Reid Atha from northwest Missouri. I thought you might want to hear one of the full interviews instead of just a sixty second spot.

I asked Reid what the biggest challenges are to farming in his area. Last year it was the weather but on a year to year basis it is weed control. He says that he’s going into his third season using the LibertyLink system. During the 2015 season he saw excellent weed control even with the weather challenges. As he puts it after treating with Liberty, “It smoked everything.” He didn’t plant a single bean until June 14th last year but says his yields were excellent.

Listen to my interview with Reid for his full story: Reid Atha, Missouri

Vilsack: Farmer Greatest Job on Earth

Joanna Schroeder January 19, 2016

Being a farmer is the greatest job on earth noted USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. He spent the morning back in his home state of Iowa (Vilsack is a former Iowa Governor) to kick off the 10th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. He kicked off his speech noting that he is proud of the work the USDA has done to help expand the industry.

The key focus on his remarks were the amount of people, both consumers and legislators, who don’t see the benefits of this industry the way we see them, who are attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the courts, and attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard in the halls of Congress. “But we continue to point out to those who oppose this industry, the benefits of the country.”

For example, the ethanol industry has helped reduce the price of gas at the pump, even as gas prices go down, and given consumers choice at the pump. He also noted biofuels benefit the farm and rural communities, and help to reduce the trade deficit.

Vilsack discussed several of the programs the USDA has implemented to help grow and improve the industry including the Biomass Assistance Program, Biomass Research Centers and Loan Guarantees. But he said he was most excited of the new markets that are being developed. He also highlighted the Farms to Fly program that is looking at producing renewable biofuels for the aviation and shipping industry as well as biofuels for our military.

We need consumers to understand that every time they go to the pump, they are helping the industry. He also stressed the importance of the blender pump program and continuing to bring more mid-level blends to consumers.

In closing, Vilsack said expanding the renewable fuels industry is more than just the benefits (choice at pump, environment, national security, etc.). “It’s really about preserving the value system of rural America. This is an industry that allows us the process of diversifying the opportunities in rural America, to support production agriculture, to expand the biobased economy…so that we have more stable farm income and we give people opportunities to live, work and raise their families in rural areas. That is important to me.”

Listen to USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack’s full remarks: Vilsack Remarks During IRFA Summit

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, USDA

Julia Debes Named Communication Director at NSP

Kelly Marshall January 19, 2016

Julia Debes will now be serving as the communications director for the National Sorghum Producers. She will be working as associate editor for the Sorghum Grower magazine and supporting the organization through public relations and marketing communications.

Debes joins NSP with eight years of experience in communications and public relations, most recently operating her own business, North Homestead Communications. Before that, she served as the assistant director of communications for U.S. Wheat Associates, deputy press secretary for the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office and as communications specialist for Florida State House Majority Leader Adam Hasner among other valuable work experiences.

“I am very excited to welcome Julia to team sorghum,” said NSP External Affairs Director Jennifer Blackburn. “Julia brings a wealth of talent and experience to our growing communications team, and she will undoubtedly be an asset to our organization, ensuring we continue to be the best in serving the sorghum industry.”

Debes and her husband farm in central Kansas and are part of the fifth generation to run Stoskopf Farms.

Ag Groups, NSP, sorghum

Comedian Damian Mason at #PotatoExpo

Cindy Zimmerman January 19, 2016

Comedian Damian Mason visits with Nufarm’s Chip the Zebra

Damian Mason is a very popular, very funny speaker for agricultural groups that we’ve heard several times at different events but he always has a serious underlying message for his audience.

One topic he hit on at the Potato Expo last week was the organic trend. “I’m not anti-organic, I’m actually pro-organic because it’s a profitable niche and it gives us a chance to do value added differentiation in the grocery store,” said Mason. “The problem with organic for normal, mainstream agriculture is we think it’s about science. It’s not about science … it’s about feelings.”

Mason calls organic the “Prius” of the grocery store. “On paper, you would never buy a Toyota Prius for the economics or the gas savings…people don’t buy a Prius because of the economics, they buy it for the social consciousness.”

Listen to more serious thoughts from this funny guy in this interview: Interview with Ag Comedian Damian Mason

Potato Expo 2016 Photo Album

Coverage of the Potato Expo is sponsored by

Audio, Marketing, Nufarm, Potato

Poll Shows Farmers Back Trump

Joanna Schroeder January 19, 2016

A new poll among farmers show Trump is the Republican forerunner for the nomination due to his strong support of agriculture. Conducted by Farm Futures, the poll found 37 percent of those favoring a Republican candidate said they would vote for Trump “if the election were held today.” Trump’s support among GOP farmers was even stronger at 39 percent from farmers outside Iowa, which holds its caucuses Feb. 1. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz finished second, with 29 percent in Iowa and 20 percent elsewhere among farmers. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was third, with 12 percent in Iowa and elsewhere while former surgeon Ben Carson was fourth at 6 percent and 10 percent respectively.

Trump’s support is growing in the Farm Futures poll up from 20 percent last August. Farm Futures reports that Trump supporters seemed especially worried about the downturn in the farm economy. Some 57 percent of those outside Iowa said they worried about being able to pay back their debts, the most of any Republican. Trump supporters also reported slower growth, higher debt and lower income.

While hot-button issues like immigration and terrorism dominate the campaign among all voters, both sides of the farm aisle say the most important issue in the 2016 presidential election is “the way government in Washington operates.” Some 30 percent of Democrats and 32 percent of Republicans agreed. Another 10 percent of Democrats and 13 percent Republicans listed terrorism as the top issue.

Around 14 percent of Republicans and 13 percent of Democrats said the economy was the top issue. But the bipartisan consensus broke down on the economic battle lines. The second most important issue in the election for Republicans, with 19 percent, was the federal budget deficit, with only 6 percent of Democrats. But 18 percent of Democrats said “income and wealth inequality” was their number one concern. Support for that issue from Republicans was zero.

The survey was dominated by commercial-sized, full-time farmers with a majority of the response coming from the Midwest. The poll reflects thinking of the largest 10 percent of the more than 2 million farm operations. According to Farm Futures, approximately 85 percent or more of these growers typically vote for Republican candidates at the presidential level. Among those favoring Democrats, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the leader. She gathered 78 percent of the support in Iowa, compared to 20 percent for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Trump and Carson both enjoyed support from younger farmers, though Farm Futures notes that’s a relative term in a farm demographic whose average age is 57. The average age of Clinton supporters was the oldest of any of the candidates, both nationwide and in Iowa.

Agribusiness, politics

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes January 18, 2016

Swanson Russell announces the additions of Sandra Baumgarner, Rachel Dicke and Emily Madden.
Woodruff Sweitzer (WS) recently announced the addition of Lindsey Woolsey and Brandon Thomas to its Kansas City, Missouri, office, Cynthia Kotovsky to its Columbia, Missouri, office and Halli Kubes to the agency’s Red Wing, Minnesota, office.
The Minnesota AgriGrowth Council is pleased to announce the re-election of Steve Peterson as chair of its board of directors.
Agriculture Night with the St. Louis Blues vs. the Anaheim Ducks is Friday, March 11, 2016, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

Zimfo Bytes

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