GROWMARK and FS Announce Enduring Farm Award Winners

GROWMARK and local FS member cooperatives are recognizing 26 sustainable farming operations for the inaugural Enduring Farm awards. These farms were nominated for the award for their implementation of sustainable nutrient management practices such as following the 4R principles for all nutrient applications, monitoring nitrogen levels through soil sampling, and implementing variable rate technology for phosphorous applications. Nutrient management cropping …

Condon to Lead New Crop Science Division for Bayer

Bayer today announced the new Executive Leadership Team for the Crop Science division will be led by Liam Condon, who continues to serve as a member of Bayer’s Board of Management and as President of the Crop Science Division headquartered in Monheim, Germany. Condon is also responsible for Bayer’s Animal Health business unit and has over 25 years of experience …

ZimmCast 582 – More Members of the #GoldenMic Club

This ZimmCast features some new members of the #GoldenMic Club, interviewed during the Agri-Marketing Conference. Featured are Curt Dennison, Curt Dennison Photography; Daniel Lamoureux, LaTerre and Jeffrey Ross, Ross Creative Works. Listen to the ZimmCast here: Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.

New Free App Can Help Manage Federal Dicamba Regulations

Cropstream offers communication app to see nearby crop technology traits Cropstream, a new communication network built for agriculture, announces the release of a free crop registry app that allows growers to easily share their crop trait information with other farmers, agronomists and applicators right from their computer browser. Additionally, a mobile app allows users to view nearby crop technology traits …

Report Says Icahn Refinery Received RFS Waiver

Reuters published an exclusive report Monday citing two anonymous sources who claim EPA granted a small refinery hardship exemption to CVR Energy, owned by billionaire and presidential adviser Carl Icahn. CVR Energy just released its 1st quarter earnings last Thursday, posting a net income of $66 million, compared to $22 million in the first quarter of 2017. Audio file – …

Pruitt Provides Vague Answers About RFS Exemptions

The budget for the Environmental Protection Agency was the topic of two separate House hearings on April 26, but lawmakers spent the majority of the time addressing other concerns with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was brought up immediately by House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment Chairman John Shimkus of Illinois. One of the many …

Ethanol Report on Pruitt and the RFS

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt has been “unapologetic” under questioning this week about granting dozens of small refinery hardship exemptions, and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen believes he will continue to do so unchecked. In this edition of the Ethanol Report, Dinneen talks about how the exemptions have effectively cut the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) …

ZimmCast on Ag Careers and Farm Wifi

This podcast episode includes two Golden ZimmComm Microphone interviews from #NAMA18 (Agri-Marketing Conference). Featured are Matt Wetterson, Kayla Portwood and Melissa Williams with GROWMARK. Matt talks about his responsibilities with GROWMARK and challenges and opportunities. Kayla and Melissa talk about Ag Careers and how important reaching out to young people who want to work in the industry is to GROWMARK. …

Growth Energy Thrilled with Automotive Training Partnership

A new partnership between the American Ethanol program and the biggest automotive technical institute in the country is an important step forward in Growth Energy‘s mission to show consumers the many benefits of high octane biofuels. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the new partnership is with Universal Technical Institute (UTI), the nation’s leading provider of technical training for automotive, …

EPA Data Shows Waivers Have Lowered RFS Obligations

An analysis of EPA data by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) shows that small refinery exemptions for 2016 and 2017 have cost at least 1.6 billion gallons of biofuels in lost blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The volume of lost blending obligations for these two years is 10 times the collective volume of lost volume from 2013-2015. …

Ag Reporters Grill EPA Chief on RFS Issues

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt faced a grilling from agricultural reporters Tuesday about the agency granting waivers exempting refineries from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations and why it is taking so long to decide on allowing year round use of 15% ethanol in all markets.

Perdue Celebrates Anniversary With Senate Ag Committee

Tuesday was the first anniversary for Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture and he spent it briefing the Senate Agriculture Committee on The State of Rural America. Most of the questioning for the secretary revolved around trade issues and the farm economy. Listen to opening comments and questioning by Sen. Roberts and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Bayer Launches ForwardFarm in Maryland

Bayer’s ForwardFarming program launched in North America last week at the farm of fourth-generation Maryland farmer Trey Hill. Harborview Farms was chosen as the latest Bayer ForwardFarm, joining Bayer’s global network of 12 innovative, independent farms representative of their unique environments across Europe, Latin America and now, North America. “One of the primary goals of ForwardFarming is to foster dialogue …

House Ag Committee Advances Agriculture and Nutrition Act

The House Agriculture Committee voted along party lines Wednesday to pass the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R.2) out of committee, a new farm bill designed by Republicans to “address the economic challenges facing the nation’s farmers and ranchers, while making historic investments in opportunities for SNAP recipients.” All 20 Democrats on the historically-bipartisan committee voted against the legislation …

ZimmCast With New #GoldenMic Club Members

During the Agri-Marketing Conference the ZimmComm Team welcomed new members to the #GoldenMic Club. In our Connection Point booth we were set up to record interviews with attendees and I’m featuring a few of them in this week’s program and in weeks to come. This week you’ll hear Jamie Johansen interview: Stephanie Stalans, Helena Agri-Enterprises University of Wisconsin, Madison NAMA …