The 2014 Export Exchange was held October 20-22 in Seattle, Washington with representatives from more than 50 different countries in attendance to learn more about DDGS, the distillers feed product produced by U.S. ethanol plants. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). In this interview, RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks …
PERC Calculators Estimate Propane Cost Savings
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has just released a suite of cost calculator tools for customers in three of the industry’s fastest-growing markets: agriculture, commercial landscape, and on road fleets. The calculators are designed to estimate potential fuel savings and ROI with clean, American-made propane when compared with conventional fuels like gasoline and diesel. We’ll be learning more …
Abengoa Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Grand Opening
Spanish-based Abengoa celebrated its cellulosic ethanol achievement with a grand opening celebration on October 17, 2014. Thousands of people attended the event with dozens of high profile guests on hand ranging from former and current Senators to governors to the town mayor, to Interior Secretary and Energy Secretary Ernst Moniz who gave the keynote speech. The bioenergy plant is based …
USDA Announces New Farm Bill Program
USDA is making plans to launch new Farm Bill program to help provide relief to farmers impacted by severe weather, including drought. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion, available nationwide for farmers of select crops starting next spring, allows eligible producers who have been hit with severe weather to receive a higher approved …
COOL Reform Coalition Reacts to WTO Ruling
The World Trade Organization (WTO) released the compliance panel report on the U.S. Country of Origin labeling (COOL) law finding that “the amended COOL measure violates Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because it accords to Canadian and Mexican livestock less favourable treatment than that accorded to like US livestock.” The COOL Reform Coalition held a press call and webinar …
AgCatalyst
“It’s all about the content” the theme of this year’s AgCatalyst event in Minneapolis. 2014 AgCatalyst Photo Album Farmers as AgCatalysts – The Sales Lion Prowls at AgCatalyst – Talk About Digital Food Fights – Become an AgCatalyst –
Ethanol Advocacy App
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) announced a new mobile app called “RFA Advocacy.” The app is free of charge and available to download on all iPhones and Android-powered smartphones. The app offers easy access to RFA’s talking points, charts, videos, and infographics. It also features RFA’s newsfeed, maps of Capitol Hill, a one-stop social media sharing platform, and easy-to-use legislative …
2014 CTIC Conservation in Action Tour
The Conservation Technology Information Center held its annual Conservation in Action Tour October 14-15 in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The tour provided an in-depth look at the unique story of the approximately 700,000-acre EAA, located south of Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Lettuce, sugar cane and owls were just a few of the crops and creatures seen on the tour …
2014 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo
The National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo opened with a conversation about the current state of important federal biofuels policies, including the status of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). 2014 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo Photo Album State of the Advanced Biofuels Industry – Preview of Advanced Biofuels Conference – Algal Industry Questions Focus on Biofuels, America – Tips …
Interview with AEM Ag Sector Lead
Farm equipment sales are down significantly this year, but the head of the Association of Equipment Manufacturer‘s Ag Sector remains optimistic about the industry. According to AEM, sales of 4 wheel drive farm tractors and combines are down 15 and 17 percent respectively so far this year. In this interview, AEM Senior Vice President and Ag Sector Lead Charlie O’Brien …
Interview with Grains Council CEO
With a record corn crop being harvested, exports are more important than ever. The United States exported more than 11 percent of the U.S. corn supply to over 100 countries in the 2013/2014 marketing year, which U.S. Grains Council president and CEO Tom Sleight says is a nice recovery from lost market share after the drought of 2012. In this …
New Holland Blogger Days
The New Holland Bloggers. Sounds like it could be anything from a band to a social media team. New Holland does have a social media team but this group I’m talking about is made up of independent bloggers who were invited to Turin, Italy to learn about New Holland’s participation in Expo Milano 2015. 2014 New Holland Blogger Days Photo …
Verdesian Los Alamos Media Day
Verdesian Life Sciences is a company focused on science and technology. They are also focused on education – education of journalists, employees, sales representatives and ultimately growers. Verdesian is, as founder and CEO JJ Grow explains, a plant health nutrition company filling in the micronutrient and macronutrient gaps in agriculture. Or, in simpler terms, “Things that fix nitrogen”. The company …
2014 Canadian Farm Writers Federation Conference
The Canadian Farm Writers Federation Annual Conference was hosted by the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers Association at Prince Edward Island, October 2-5. With the theme “Dig Deep” the agenda included learning more about the island’s biggest crop, potatoes, as well as interesting farming ventures such as mussel production. 2014 Canadian Farm Writers Federation conference photo album CFWF Digs Deep into …
NCBA Concerns About Beef Checkoff
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met earlier this week with the Beef Checkoff working group and reportedly told them he’s planning on implementing a new checkoff program for the industry by January, 2016. Speaking were NCBA president Bob McCan, NCBA immediate past president Scott George, and NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts.