(Columbia, MO) – The new chairman of the Missouri Beef Industry Council (MBIC) was honored at the recent National FFA Convention as a 2006 Honorary FFA American Degree recipient.
Andrew McCrea of Maysville, a former national FFA officer, was one of nine Missourians who received the award, more than any other state except Indiana.
Omaha, Neb. (Oct. 31, 2006) (AgNewsWire) A new on-line training course for ethanol provides an understanding of ethanol fuel and how it affects engine performance and the environment.
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) developed the Ethanol Fuel Performance Training module for anyone who wants to get to know the technical side of the fuel, according to Reece Nanfito, senior director of marketing.
“It’s intended for auto service technicians and other people interested in ethanol as it performs in engines,” said Nanfito. “It is an interactive course that goes through the benefits of ethanol and then goes through in great detail how ethanol performs in engines.”
EPIC research has found that auto technicians could use more information on ethanol and engine performance to help educate vehicle owners.
“Today’s consumers ask their mechanics for advice related to the use of fuels in their cars,” Nanfito explained. “So, the ethanol industry wants to make sure those mechanics have the right information to answer those questions adequately.”
Dan Schwartzkopf, who is general manager of Renova Energy and also a drag race car driver, consulted for EPIC on the information to be included in the course to make sure it was correct and easy to understand for any level of interest.
“This program is going to enable anybody to go on-line and get questions answered,” said Schwartzkopf. “If your interest is just knowing what ethanol is, then it’s going to tell you a story. If your interest takes you into wanting to know the details of the working of a motor and the fuel together, it’s going to take you to that level. So, it’s an A to Z program.”
The online ethanol fuel training course can be found on the EPIC website www.drivingethanol.org. A graphic link with a wrench on the right hand side navigates to a registration page. Anyone can register to take the course.
Columbia, MO (AgNewsWire) A cattle producer and radio broadcaster from northwest Missouri is the new chairman of the Missouri Beef Industry Council, which administers the $1 per head beef checkoff in the state. Andrew McCrea of Maysville has served on the board for five years and was elected to serve as the chairman at the October 19 board meeting in Kansas City.
“It’s wonderful to be chairman of a group that has done so much, not only in the past year but in the past years and I think is really headed in a positive direction.”
St. Louis, Mo. (October 10, 2006) (AgNewsWire)
There’s a new breed of Dodge Rams tackling the nation’s environmental and energy challenges, and they’re running on biodiesel.
Representatives from DaimlerChrysler hit the streets of St. Louis today in the new 2007 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty Diesel Pickup to tout the benefits of clean, renewable biodiesel for America’s transportation system, the economy and the environment. Chrysler Group announced that every 2007 Dodge Ram diesel coming off the assembly line at the company’s Fenton, Missouri north plant will be fueled with B5, a blend containing 5 percent biodiesel made from soybeans grown in the U.S.
The Dodge Ram’s B5 factory fueling builds on a similar program implemented first with the company’s Jeep® Liberty CRD and continued with the recently announced 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD.
According to Reginald Modlin, Director of Environmental Affairs for Daimler Chrysler, delivering their diesel vehicles fueled with biodiesel is a first step in educating customers about the advantages of the fuel.
“We want to have our diesel products seen as environmentally-responsible products, which they are,” said Modlin. “We have also seen the public taking a great interest in renewable fuels, so we see a great opportunity here for manufacturers to get the word out that biofuels help reduce greenhouse gases and emissions over all. In addition, the natural lubricity of biodiesel actually helps us with engine maintenance. So, it’s an all around win for our customers.”
The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500/3500 series diesel pickup trucks are powered by the 5.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel engine. Beginning in January 2007, the vehicles will be built with the new Cummins 6.7-liter turbo-diesel engine and will meet all Federal and state environmental standards.
“What Chrysler is doing is advocating biodiesel blends in this advanced diesel technology,”said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board, the industry’s nonprofit trade association. “They were the first to promote the use of B20 for fleets in the Dodge Ram. They are really leading the way in terms of promoting energy conservation and renewable energy.”
Additional information about biodiesel is available online at www.biodiesel.org.
Additional information and news from DaimlerChrysler is available online at www.daimlerchrysler.com.
This material sponsored by the USDA Biodiesel Education Program.
Omaha, Neb. (October 5, 2006) (AgNewsWire) The ethanol industry has kicked off a new promotion with tailgate parties and pump promotions centered around pro football games this fall.
According to Reece Nanfito, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council’s (EPIC) senior director of marketing, promotions for the ag-based fuel are planned to take place prior to professional football match-ups around the country.
“At the tailgating parties, we have tents and banners and in many cases we’ll have the IndyCar Series simulator car there. And as people walk into the stadium and celebrate before they go to the big game we will be promoting the benefits of ethanol and handing out brochures and information.”
The first tailgate parties were held on Sunday October 1 in Houston and Washington DC, and October 2 in Philadelphia. Nanfito says the pump promotions are taking place at various retailers in some of the cities prior to the games as well.
Ethanol tailgate parties are scheduled for football games in New York, Indianapolis and Philadelphia on Sunday, October 8; Dallas, Pittsburgh, New York, Washington DC and Baltimore on Sunday, October 15; Houston, Kansas City and Buffalo on Sunday, October 22; Dallas on Monday, October 23; Buffalo and Philadelphia on Sunday, October 29; and Washington DC, Baltimore and Pittsburgh on Sunday, November 5.
Pump promotions are scheduled to be held on Friday, October 6 in Philadelphia; October 13 and 14 in Dallas; October 20 and 21 in Houston; and November 4 in Washington DC.
Information about ethanol and locations for upcoming pump promotions can be found at www.drivingethanol.com.
