NBB’s Joe Jobe Says “Take the RFS Back in 2015”

Chuck Zimmerman January 20, 2015

Talking about how much the truth matters and calling for cooperation from the petroleum industry Joe Jobe, CEO, National Biodiesel Board, got attendees fired up this morning during his opening general session speech. He received a standing ovation at the end of the speech when he loudly proclaimed:

2015 is the year we get back to the future of this program. Back to the future of this industry and this country. We are the ones on the right side of history, and we have a powerful force on our side. The truth. So rise up with me people. Rise up and tell our story. Rise up and take the RFS back in 2015.

Only by diversifying the transportation fuels market and providing competition to crude oil can the U.S. truly achieve energy security, he explained.

“The RFS is a good policy – it is pro-competitive, pro-consumer, free-market capitalist policy,” Jobe said. And, “2015 was intended to be a turning point for the RFS,” he said. “For the first seven years, conventional biofuel was designed to lead the growth in volumes until 2015 where conventional biofuel is statutorily capped at 15 billion gallons. From 2015 on, advanced biofuels are intended to lead the growth of the program. And so far, biomass-based diesel has emerged as the only domestically-produced, fully commercialized advanced biofuel.”

You can listen to Joe’s full speech here: Joe Jobe Speech

2015 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes January 20, 2015

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has introduced the 2015 Executive Committee members.
Six western retail distributors and United Suppliers, Inc., are announcing the pending formation of Aligned Ag Distributors LLC, a joint venture distribution company.
Meredith Agrimedia is pleased to introduce Tyler Smith as a new National Sales Account Executive.
Select Sires Inc. was formed 50 years ago when four farmer-owned cooperatives joined forces to offer a wider variety of genetic options to their members and improve efficiencies.

Zimfo Bytes

Veteran Ag Journalist Joins Agri-Pulse Team

Jamie Johansen January 20, 2015

Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce that award-winning veteran agricultural journalist Ed Maixner is a contributing editor, effective Jan. 5.

Maixner most recently served as editor of the Kiplinger Agricultural Letter and as food and agribusiness editor for other Kiplinger publications. Before joining Kiplinger, he wrote and edited for Farm Progress Companies.

Before Farm Progress, Maixner served as an associate director for Western States Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to bipartisan policy on western regional issues, including natural resources, environment, and agriculture. He was also a legislative assistant to former U.S. Senator Bryon Dorgan of North Dakota. Prior to serving on Dorgan’s staff, Maixner spent two decades as a journalist covering agriculture and other topics.

“It’s exciting to have Ed join us as a regular contributor, after stepping down from a distinguished career with Kiplinger’s ag newsletter,” said Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse Editor and Publisher. “He led the Washington Bureau at Farm Progress Companies when I was vice president for editorial there. We’re pleased to have a journalist with his experience, expertise and connections contributing to Agri-Pulse.”

Maixner earned his bachelor of arts degree at North Dakota State University and a master of arts in journalism at The Ohio State University, where he was awarded a Kiplinger Fellowship in Public Affairs Reporting. He was awarded the Truth in Journalism Award from the American Corn Growers and the J.S. Russell Memorial Award from the North American Agricultural Journalists for agricultural reporting. In addition, Maixner received a first place team story award from the American Agricultural Editors Association for coverage of what the 9-11 attacks would mean for American agriculture.

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness

FMC Partners With Emerge Application Solutions

Jamie Johansen January 20, 2015

FMC Agricultural Solutions has partnered with Emerge Application Solutions, Owensboro, Ky., to commercialize the new 3RIVE 3D™ in-furrow crop protection delivery platform. The FMC patent-pending 3RIVE 3D technology seamlessly integrates formulation technology, application technology and active ingredients to increase the number of acres planted in a day.

“This system is streamlined for speed and efficiency. Growers can plant up to 500 acres on a single fill. There’s no need for large saddle tanks or changing tender rigs and, compared to granular products, the fully loaded unit adds minimal weight to the planter,” said Rick Kesler, FMC business services manager. “3RIVE 3D lets growers easily and efficiently cover more acres in less time while saving water, fuel and labor.”

Growers looking for a chance to see the system in person can do so at upcoming farm shows. The 3RIVE 3D system will be on display at the National Farm Machinery Show, February 11-14 in Louisville, Ky. and at Commodity Classic, February 26-28 in Phoenix, AZ.

FMC scientists used their market-leading formulation expertise to reduce the amount of water needed to deliver crop protection products to the furrow. Just 40 ounces of solution is applied per acre. The 3RIVE 3D manifold precisely mixes the right amount of product with a very low volume of water and expands the mixture up to 50 times into a three-dimensional continuous Zone of Protection delivered directly into the furrow. 3RIVE 3D products from FMC are exclusively formulated for use in the 3RIVE 3D application system and require minimal measuring and no mixing or tank agitation, thus simplifying in-field preparation.

Agribusiness, Crop Protection, FMC

Register for Industry Leading Ag Marketing Conference

Jamie Johansen January 20, 2015

Ranch House Designs Inc. has provided hands-on workshops in agricultural marketing, livestock marketing and agricultural photography since 2011. Their latest event will take place March 27-29th in Kansas City, MO and I will be there. Join me atThe Gathering Conference, a leading educational workshop in the industry that is great for farmers and ranchers, association staff members and industry professionals.

To date more than 400 participants have attended our workshops, with many attending multiple conferences. The great thing about these workshops is that they are producer friendly, farmer friendly, and are guaranteed to teach you marketing tool, photography skills, and cutting edge advertising methods that can immediately be implemented in your agri-business, farm, ranch, or organization.

Conference registration includes admission to the following:
– Friday night welcome social featuring business panel discussion.
– A full day of workshops held Saturday, March 28
– Sunday’s half day program
– An all-new, special conference workbook never before published and filled with conference notes, tips and insider tricks
– Access to a private Facebook group for workshop attendees to ask questions, share tips, and find shared lodging for the event.
– A chance to win more than $1500 in conference giveaways including a free ad design, social media set up, individual photo training session and more!
– Up to $500 in discounts in future services from Ranch House Designs or Luke and Cat future services.

General conference registration opened January 20th at 8:00 a.m. CST and will be limited to the first 50 participants. Early bird seats sold out in less than one hour.

**College students may receive a 10% conference discount with coupon code STUDENT at checkout.

Agribusiness, Events, Marketing

American Agri-Women Leader Joins Advisory Committee

Jamie Johansen January 20, 2015

Doris Mold, First Vice-President for Resolutions and Vital Issues for American Agri-Women, was recently appointed to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Agricultural Advisory Committee.

Mold owns and operates a dairy farm in Wisconsin and an agricultural consulting business. She also teaches farm and agri-business management courses at the University of Minnesota. Mold has served on numerous agricultural committees on the local, state and national level.

AAW is the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women representing more than 50 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliates. The organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The Agricultural Advisory Committee was created in 1985 to advise the Commission on issues involving the trading of agricultural commodity futures and options and facilitate communications between the CFTC, the agricultural community and agriculture-related organizations.

CFTC Chairman Tim Massad sponsors the Agricultural Advisory Committee. Members include representatives of national farm organizations, major commodity groups, agribusiness concerns and agricultural bankers. Mold will serve a four-year term.

“I am pleased to represent American Agri-Women — and women in agriculture — and provide our perspective to the CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee. It is important that those of us directly impacted by agricultural commodity futures and options markets have a voice in providing advice to the Commission,” says Mold.

Ag Groups

Field to Market Update at AFBF

John Davis January 20, 2015

An alliance for sustainable agriculture is giving farmers, companies and ag organizations what they need to measure sustainability and meet the needs of a booming global population. During the American Farm Bureau Federation’s recent 96th Annual Convention, Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market, the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, talked about the tools available to help farmers track their progress and choose best practices on their farms.

“Sustainability is about meeting the needs of today while improving the ability of future generations to meet the needs of tomorrow,” Snyder said.

Field to Market offers several resources to help farmers and companies achieve this goal and share that story more broadly. Their national report analyzes trends across several commodities, with a focus on efficiency and production, and their Fieldprint Calculator allows farmers to analyze specific fields to measure progress and to share that data with suppliers, should they so choose.

“The real value of Field to Market is in the information that farmers are able to collect and then put to use, making long-term improvements on their farms,” Snyder said.

The most recent information into Field to Market shows a marked decrease in agriculture’s environmental footprint, important for major companies which have set ambitious sustainability goals for the next five to 10 years.

2015 AFBF Convention photo album

AFBF, Sustainability

USFRA Brings Food Dialogues to Dairy Forum

Jamie Johansen January 19, 2015

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) will assemble a range of voices to discuss animal care and animal care standards during The Food Dialogues®: Dairy Forum; Animal Care and Consumers’ Emerging Expectations. The event will take place at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Dairy Forum from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 in Boca Raton, FL.

“Animal care and welfare is not only an important factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions, but it’s also of the upmost importance to America’s farmers and ranchers, food processors and retailers,” said Nancy Kavazanjian, chairperson of USFRA. “USFRA is excited to partner with IDFA to host a dialogue on this topic that is so important to the U.S. food industry.”

Food industry and animal care experts will discuss the various tools and strategies that farmers, ranchers and veterinarians use to promote animal health and a safe food supply. These animal care techniques and practices – from housing to the use of antibiotics – are increasingly important to food manufacturers and consumers as they’re making sourcing and purchasing decisions. The event’s discussion will address whether what is happening on farms and ranches across the nation is meeting consumers’ expectations.

“This important animal care session will be a great exclamation point to the Dairy Forum,” said Connie Tipton, chief executive officer of IDFA. “Having been a panelist for a previous Food Dialogues, I know how engaging these discussions are and I’m thrilled to bring this important topic to all of the dairy processors, producers, suppliers, retailers, academics and media that will be at the Dairy Forum.”

Elisabeth Leamy, a 13-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, author and Dr. Oz consumer and investigative correspondent will return to moderate the panel. Leamy also moderated The Food Dialogues: Chicago; Integrity in Food Marketing in June.

The panel will include:
– Chuck Ahlem, dairy farmer, Hilmar Jerseys, Hilmar, California
– Dr. Marcia Endres, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor of dairy science, University of Minnesota
– Bruce Feinberg, global animal health and welfare officer, McDonald’s
– Dr. Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D., president and CEO, American Humane Association
– Jim Mulhern, president and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation
– Mike Reidy, senior vice president, corporate affairs, Leprino Foods Company

The panel is open to all registered attendees of the Dairy Forum and will also be available online. To register for the live stream, go to Food Dialogues: Dairy Forum.

Ag Groups, Dairy, USFRA

Consumer Electronics Offer Glimpse into Ag Tech

Chuck Zimmerman January 19, 2015

This ZimmCast is going to be another focus on the AgNerd Cloud. It’s just been working that way lately.

I did not attend the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas but via Twitter I met John Shutske, Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach Programs in the University of Wisconsin’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences who was attending. John agreed to share some of his observations of the events he attended during last week’s show so that’s what we’re talking about in this week’s program.

John says he attended a pre-CES event focused on improvements in broadband especially for the rural market. It was there that he had an “ah-ha” moment when they talked about how quickly the new 5G mobile system will be in place which will offer significant speed and ability to transfer much more data for different types of applications. The system is expected to be fully employed by 2020 with the expectation that we’ll see 1000 times the mobile date being transmitted by more than 100 times more connected devices. These won’t just be phones and tablets but sensors, IP cameras and more.

At CES John says technology was organized into different “marketplaces” which aggregated types of technology. An example was one focused on the smart home. But in looking at the technology on display it was easy to image the smart farm. Besides managing energy use and security John saw technology that can tell what has been put into your refrigerator and what has been removed from it! No more hiding that late night snack I guess.

There was a wearable device marketplace that not only included gadgets like Google Glass but also featured applications that can collect and interpret what’s going on around your body. Think of that in terms of applications to animal health and well being.

CES is a big show with an estimated attendance this year of 170,000 people. John learned that there are currently an estimated 1.9 trillion devices connected to the internet. By 2020 that is estimated to be more than 7 trillion.

Drones and other autonomous and mobile devices were also showcased. John talks about some of the advancements being created in these devices. One example he looked at was a UAV device that can use solar power to enhance battery life including landing pads where the device can land and charge by itself. Additionally, another one showcased remote control software to control your UAV via any device connected to the internet.

There were a number of automobile companies displaying vehicles using technology developed in partnership with other types of technology companies and this should continue in the ag sector as well. 3-D printing, including food products was also on display.

Listen in on our conversation to hear more of what John found during his experience in Las Vegas this year and what some of it can mean for agriculture.

You can listen to this week’s program here: AgNerd Cloud - Consumer Electronics and Agriculture

Next year’s show will be January 6-9 in Las Vegas in case you’re wondering.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

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Apps, Audio, Education, Internet, Precision Agriculture, Technology, ZimmCast

Feeding America – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Jamie Johansen January 19, 2015

To honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the anniversary of his birthday is commemorated as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, which falls on January 19 this year.

All across the nation, millions of Americans will help aid their neighbors and their communities by volunteering.

Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, is asking people to volunteer at a local food bank, food pantry or soup kitchen as their way of honoring the legacy of Dr. King.

The organization is a network of 200 food banks that provide food and groceries to 46 million Americans each year.

“Our recent study, Hunger in America 2014, found that in a typical month, more than 2 million people contribute more than 8.4 million volunteer hours to Feeding America food banks and the agencies they serve. This is a great testament to the generosity of the American people. Our volunteers are the reason we are able to provide people in need across the nation with more than 77 million pounds of food every week,” said Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding America. “It is a daunting challenge that would simply not be possible without our volunteers.”

Ag Groups

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