Sen. Thune Talks Rail Delays and Livestock Aid

Cindy Zimmerman April 1, 2014

Rail delays are impacting shipments of ethanol and grains, among other commodities, thanks in part to the long, cold winter – but also due to increased transport of crude oil from North Dakota.

“The railroads are going to have to do a better job,” said Sen. John Thune during an interview in Washington DC last week after meeting with biofuels supporters from the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). “It’s important that the railroads recognize that agricultural commodities need to be shipped too.”

Thune, who is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is looking forward to seeing the farm bill finally passed by Congress getting implemented quickly, especially for livestock producers in his part of the country still waiting for disaster aid after the deadly blizzard last fall. “Normally once they get the rules out and the sign up period starts…it’s a couple of weeks to get the money out there, so we hope that if the ag department is correct and they can get it done by the middle of April, that by the end of April-first part of May we’ll be getting some assistance in the hands of livestock producers,” he said. “It can’t come soon enough.”

The senator from South Dakota also discusses the EPA proposal lowering the Renewable Fuel Standard and getting expired tax credits for renewable energy extended. Interview with Senator John Thune (R-SD)
2014 ACE Biofuels Beltway March photo album

Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, Livestock

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes March 31, 2014

The World Food Prize Foundation awarded its Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Medallion to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
Please join U.S Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, Kansas Farm Food Connection & Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City for a private screening of Farmland.
On Tuesday, April 1, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will host a Google+ Hangout to discuss types of agricultural credit and ways to access them in support of new farmers and ranchers.
A new six-part miniseries debuted this week on NCGA’s YouTube page, with the first episode providing an up-close look at how corn growers are active in areas to promote the use of ethanol as a motor fuel.

Zimfo Bytes

Novus International Names New CEO

Cindy Zimmerman March 31, 2014

The Board of Directors for Novus International has named François Fraudeau as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective immediately. He replaces Thad Simons who is officially retiring as CEO and will become the Senior Executive Advisor to the Board.

“The Board is grateful for the tremendous leadership and guidance provided by Thad over his many years with Novus,” said Mr. Katsurao Yoshimori, Senior Vice President of Mitsui & Co. (USA), Inc. “Novus has achieved unprecedented success under his direction and we are proud to have had his leadership.” Novus is privately owned by Mitsui & Co. and Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.

“Going forward there is no better leader for Novus than François Fraudeau,” noted Thad Simons, member of the Board of Directors. “François is a proven leader with extensive experience in the feed additive industry and ability to bring people together.”

During his career with Novus, Fraudeau has held various positions in Europe, Asia and the USA and has extensive knowledge of methionine and other core Novus technologies. “Novus is a unique company with a truly global footprint in the animal nutrition space, and I am honored to be chosen to lead this company forward,” said Fraudeau. “We have great opportunities in front of us as we deliver on the next chapter in Novus’s continuing legacy of helping to feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life by making a clear difference in sustainably meeting the growing need for nutrition and health.”

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Novus International

USDA Forecasts Record Soybean Plantings

Cindy Zimmerman March 31, 2014

According to the USDA 2014 Prospective Plantings report released today, farmers are intending to plant an estimated 81.5 million acres of soybeans in 2014, up six percent from last year and an all-time record high if realized, surpassing the previous record of 77.5 million acres planted in 2009.

Planted acreage intentions for soybeans are up or unchanged in all states except Missouri and Oklahoma. The largest increase is expected in North Dakota with a record high 5.65 million acres, an increase of one million acres from 2013. If realized, the planted area of soybeans in Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin will also be the largest on record.

Corn growers intend to plant 91.7 million acres in 2014, down 4 percent from last year and if realized the lowest planted acreage since 2010. Expected returns for corn are anticipated to be lower in 2014 compared with recent years. Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts and Utah are expected to increase planted acreage from last year. If realized, planted acres in Idaho will be a record high.

Wheat planted acres are expected to be down one percent from last year at 55.8 million acres while cotton acreage is anticipated to be up seven percent to total 11.1 million acres.

Also released today was the Grain Stocks report, which showed corn stocks up 30 Percent from March 2013. Soybean stocks are one percent lower and all wheat stocks are down 15 percent.

The Minneapolis Grain Exchange crop call on the reports today featured commentary from Mike Krueger of The Money Farm. Listen to or download here: MGEX Prospective Plantings Report call

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

FMC Introduces Solstice at Classic

Kristin Liska March 31, 2014

This year at the Commodity Classic, FMC Corporation was excited to announce the registration of new Solstice herbicide to be used early post-emerge in corn.

Technical Service Rep Nick Hustedde says Solstice is a pre-mix of two modes of action – PPD and HPPD – that creates rapid activity that works especially well on large-seeded broadleaf escapes, such as waterhemp and Palmer Amaranth.

Nick also talked about Authority Maxx, which received EPA registration last fall, as well as Anthem now registered for soybeans. Interview with Nick Hustedde, FMC

While at the FMC booth, I was also able to talk with Matt Hancock about FMC’s Capture LFR insecticide, which he says is now the leading soil-applied insecticide in corn. Matt says one of the main reasons for that is that Capture LFR helps improve yield “by protecting your stand from corn root worms, including resistant corn root worms, and secondary pests like white grubs, root aphids, seed corn maggots, cut worms, wire worms, all those pests that are out there in the soil waiting to damage your stand before it ever really gets started good.”

Matt adds that farmers can visit ZoneOfProtection.com to find out more about Capture LFR – and listen to him explain more in this interview. Interview with Matt Hancock, FMC
2014 Commodity Classic Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Crop Protection, FMC, Herbicide, Insecticides

Spring into Agri-Marketing Conference

Chuck Zimmerman March 31, 2014

I’m really hoping spring has finally sprung here in Florida. You might know that the origin of the state’s name is the Spanish Pascua Florida, meaning “feast of flowers” (Easter). Certainly is starting to look that way around here.

And since we’re in the sunshine and warming up, I’ve got to plug the 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference which is just around the corner (next week!). We’re going to have fun, fellowship, professional development, awards, student competition, tour, golf and more. Come early and stay late. Let’s make this a conference to remember.

Conference Twitter hashtag is #NAMA14.

NAMA

Registration for IFAJ 2014 Now Open

Chuck Zimmerman March 31, 2014

It’s that time. Time to register for the 2014 IFAJ Congress, “Innovations From a Small Island.” Cindy and I are looking for sponsor support for this year’s event. If you’re interested please contact me.

Yep, that’s right – we’ve tested the system far and wide. Registration is quick and simple, with payment made by a secure online transaction.

“Our supplier of payment solutions is one of just 600 companies in the world to attain PCI Level 1 Compliance, which is the highest level of online data and payment protection,” explains Congress chairman Adrian Bell.

“There’s been extensive testing of the registration and payment systems amongst the Congress committee and more widely within the British Guild, ironing out any bugs and problems before go-live on Monday.”

Don’t miss the early-bird rate!

It’s the British Guild’s 70th anniversary this year, so we’ve put in place a special anniversary early-bird offer: the first 70 to register will save £70 on their (full delegate, single rate) registration fee. There are 220 places available in total, including those involved in Master Class and the Young Leaders.

Learn all about this year’s Congress in the online publication, Innovations:

IFAJ, Media

Conversation with Sen. Mike Johanns

Cindy Zimmerman March 31, 2014

During the American Coalition for Ethanol Biofuels Beltway March last week, I was fortunate to be able to tag along on a few Congressional office visits – and pushy enough to get a few interviews with some lawmakers!

One of those was Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) who will be retiring this year after serving for more than 30 years in public office – starting at mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska, then governor of the state, Secretary of Agriculture, and finally the U.S. Senate since 2009.

I asked Sen. Johanns about ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the problem farmer face with over regulation, and what his vision is for the future of agriculture. Interview with Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE)
2014 ACE Biofuels Beltway March photo album

ACE, Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol

Happy 10th Anniversary to Agri-Pulse

Cindy Zimmerman March 31, 2014

Just like us, our friends at Agri-Pulse started their company in 2004, so we are celebrating our tenth anniversary together!

Also like us, Agri-Pulse is run by a husband and wife from a home office in a nice vacation spot, so we have a place to wind down when not on the road – which is more often than not! Where we rely on freelancers, however, Agri-Pulse has expanded over ten years to include a staff of ten that keep the business running from Washington DC to world headquarters at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.

In this week’s ZimmCast, we talk to Agri-Pulse president Sara Wyant and her husband and right hand man Allan Johnson. We did this interview last week, just after the kick off of National Agriculture Day, which they passionately support.

Check out the photos from their portion of National Ag Day here:
Agri-Pulse Ag Day Photo Album

You can listen to this week’s program here. ZimmCast with Agri-Pulse

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here.

Ag Day, Agri-Pulse, Audio, Media, ZimmCast

Little Ethanol Lobbyist

Cindy Zimmerman March 31, 2014

Wearing a tie and sporting a “Don’t Mess with the RFS” button, 10-year-old Ethan Fagen was the youngest of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Biofuels Beltway marchers last week on Capitol Hill.

Ethan came along with his grandfather, Ron Fagen of Fagen, Inc., and he was right in the trenches with him handing out materials and talking about the benefits of ethanol, like how good it is for the environment compared to fossil fuels. “Think in 200 years if you run ethanol there will be cleaner air for the next generation,” said Ethan, who is part of that next generation.

Sitting in the front as the ACE Fly-in participants heard from government officials, Ethan caught the attention of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who thought it was “pretty cool” he was there for the event.

In my interview with Ethan, he told me that he would like to be a farmer someday and grow corn and have cattle. It’s interesting that if you add two letters to Ethan’s name, it becomes ethanol. Interview with Ethan Fagen, ACE Fly-in Participant

2014 ACE Biofuels Beltway March photo album

Audio, Ethanol

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