CropLife Foundation Releases Seed Treatment Report

At the end of last week Croplife Foundation released a new report, “The Role of Seed Treatment in Modern U.S. Crop Production.” The report contains extensive information on the benefits of seed treatment for growers, consumers and the environment. The CropLife Foundation held a press conference with these speakers: Jay Vroom, chair, CropLife Foundation board of directors Andrew W. LaVigne, …

Patriot Renewable Fuels, Rep. Bustos, Fight for RFS

On November 27, 2013 Patriot Renewable Fuels, based in Annawan, Illinois hosted a Renewable Fuel Roundtable with special guest Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL). In addition, the biorefinery broke ground on its $10 million 4-5 million gallon biodiesel plant that will use the corn oil produced from ethanol plant to produce biofuels. Listen to Rep. Cheri Bustos full remarks here: Check …

United Soybean Board Conference Call

This morning the United Soybean Board held a conference call with media to introduce new officers and answer questions. An audio file of the recording is available below. USB ADDS 70th DIRECTOR, ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN AT ANNUAL MEETING The year 2014 will be a historic one for the United Soybean Board (USB) as it expands to a 70-member board of …

Concerns about Impact of Lowering RFS

Representatives from state government, the agriculture community, and the ethanol industry all say the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) biofuels requirements would have a negative impact on agriculture and rural economies. A telephone press discussion about the proposal held on Wednesday featured comments from Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, American Farm Bureau economist Matt Erickson Renewable Fuels …

Advanced Biofuels Industry Previews EPA Testimony

The Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) hosted a call today to preview their testimony that will be delivered during EPA’s public hearing on December 5, 2013 about its proposed 2014 renewable fuel volumes as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The EPA is also accepting comments on its proposal to in part, slash advanced biofuel requirement along with slashing all …

Analyst Summarizes Canada Crop Report

Canadian farmers harvested record crops this season, according to the December report from Statistics Canada. Production of most field crops increased in 2013 compared with 2012 as yields reached a number of record highs. Both canola and wheat production reached record levels in 2013. Analyst Bruce Burnett with the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) summarized the report and his take on …

The Chicago Farmers Rebrands Farmland Fair

The Chicago Farmers annual Farmland Investment Fair has been rebranded for 2014 as simply “The Farmland Fair” with a continued focus on the connection of social media and farmland investment. The Chicago Farmers 2014 Farmland Fair – “Where People Come To Learn, Connect and Understand Farmland” – will be held on February 1, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. …

More Content From NAFB 2013

The ZimmComm team got so much content from this year’s NAFB Convention that we decided to add a second page because the first one was getting so full. Here is a link to the first post where you can find interviews from NAFB leadership and other companies we chatted with during Trade Talk: 2013 NAFB Convention Photos: 2013 NAFB Convention …

MFA, Inc. – 100 Years Annual Mtg.

The oldest farmer owned cooperative in the United States is celebrating their 100th anniversary. Chuck is reporting from the MFA Inc. Annual Meeting held at the Missouri State Fairground in Sedalia, MO. MFA Inc. The co-op provides livestock feed and plant food and crop protection products, along with other agricultural supplies and products for farmers across the state. Photos: MFA, …

Veterans Enter Fight for RFS

Two new organizations have entered the fight for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) today as concerns about the future of the RFS deepen with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed 2014 renewable fuels volumes going south. VoteVets.org and Americans United for Change held a press teleconference to announced their participation in the counteroffensive against what they are calling, “Big Oil’s …

2013 NAFB Convention

NAFB 2013 was held November 13-15 in Kansas City, Missouri at the Westin Hotel at Crown Center.  The chilly weather didn’t stop anybody from attending the 70th annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention, where hundreds of farm broadcasters came together to discuss the pressing topics of the industry. Photos: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo Album Audio: Airing on the Side …

IRFA’s Shaw: Obama Admin Needs Soul Searching

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is urging the Obama Administration to conduct a thorough soul-searching after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposal to “radically” reduce Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) levels for 2014. “Today’s RFS announcement represents the biggest policy reversal of the entire Obama Administration,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw during a press teleconference. “The …

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at NAFB

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the 70th National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Annual Convention in Kansas City on Friday. The Secretary centered his comments around the RFS announcement, record levels of exports, drought issues and the farm bill. He also answered questions from the broadcasters. Listen to or download the entire one hour press conference: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo …

EPA Announces 2014 RVOs, Industry Reacts

Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposal for the 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for the amount of renewable fuels to be blended into gasoline and diesel. The EPA has proposed to set the cellulosic biofuel category at 17 million gallons, biomass-based diesel at 1.28 billion gallons, advanced biofuel at 2.20 …

ASFMRA Agronomics Vision 2014

The 84th Annual Convention of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers is being held in conjunction with the Agronomics Vision 2014 conference in Reno, NV. Here are photos and audio and video files for your use. More will be added as they get edited. We’re expecting about a dozen or more in total. Photos: Agronomics Vision 2014 …