Hello ZimmComm Fans:
The ZimmComm Team wishes you a very Merry Christmas. We are looking forward to a break in the action through New Year's and hope you get some time to relax too.
We'll be summarizing some of the top 2015 stories in the AgWired community next week as we take a look back at a wonderful year.
Now for some news from the ZimmComm News Network:
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 AgWired ZimmCast on LibertyLink Campaign
If you have been listening to farm radio at all in the last couple of months you have probably heard the Real Yield radio spots that have been running featuring real farmers from around the soybean producing part of the country talking about their experience with the Bayer CropScience LibertyLink system. MOREZimmCast
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Special Edition Gator Unveiled by Deere
A special edition of the Gator utility vehicle is being offered by John Deere. The XUV825i was designed with livestock and crop producers in mind and offers extra storage, making tools organized and easily accessible. It also features two cargo tool boxes and LED roof lights for greater visibility. MORE
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Major Farm Organizations Comment on Omnibus
Some major farm groups are offering their thoughts, good and bad, on the omnibus legislation just passed by Congress. American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman found plenty to like in the measures, but had some misgivings on some parts. MORE
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 Domestic Fuel
American Wind Power Blows Beyond 70 GW
American wind power has blown beyond the 70 gigawatt (GW) mark. There is now enough power generated from wind to supply more than 19 million average American homes. This milestone was achieved in November leading into a historic climate agreement by global leaders to reduce carbon emission. This, along with the Clean Power Plan will continue to drive demand for wind energy in the U.S. MORE
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Solar Industry Celebrates Passage of Tax Extenders
The solar industry is celebrating the passage of the tax extenders package on Friday, December 18, 2015 that included several clean energy credits. The omnibus appropriations bill included a 5-year solar investment tax credit (ITC) extension. The 30 percent ITC for solar will be extended for another three years. It will then ramp down to 26 percent in 2020 and 22 percent in 2021 and then remain at 10 percent permanently beyond 2022. MORE
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Report: Renewables Fastest Growing US Power Source
According to GlobalData, non-hydro renewable energy will be the fastest growing power source in the U.S. through 2025. Installed capacity is expected to increase from 121.9 gigawatts (GW) in 2015 to 216 GW in 2025. "US Power Market Outlook to 2025, Update 2015 - Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape," finds the strong rate of growth suggests that the current U.S. government fully supports the growth of clean generation technologies. The U.S. was one of signers of the most historic climate treaty agreed upon in Paris earlier this month during COP21. MORE
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Precision
USDA Planning GMO Labeling Stakeholder Meeting
In the new year, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack plans to bring stakeholders in the genetically engineered food labeling debate to the table to reach common ground on the issue. MORE
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PanAridus Granted Natural Rubber Alternative Patent
PanAridus, LLC already has nine patents for guayule plants- a plant that yields a polymer nearly identical to natural rubber, and was recently awarded a tenth. Currently guayule plants are the only known source of domestically grown rubber that has been successfully tested in tires, making it attractive to tire manufacturers who must import tropically grown rubber. The newest patent is for a infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) machine that can measure the rubber content of a guayule plant still in the ground. MORE
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Congress Halts OSHA Overreach
In July the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent a memorandum to end the exemption of retail stores to the Process Safety Management (PSM). PSM is a set of procedural, operational and organizational standards to intended to prevent the release of hazardous chemicals at manufacturing facilities. The rescinding of this exemption would force virtually all ag retailers that store and sell anhydrous ammonia to comply with PSM. MORE
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Strider Expands to U.S.
Strider, a well-respected, agriculture-focused tech start-up in Brazil, has recently expanded in the U.S. market. Mainly in Texas as of now, Strider is bringing it's mission of cutting input costs to the American farmer by helping farmers monitor pests, diseases, and weeds. This platform creates value by taking the information collected by scouts on the field to be evaluated by crop consultants and acted upon by growers. MORE
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European Animal Health Investment Forum
Make plans to attend the European Animal Health Investment Forum taking place in London, February 10-11, 2016 as the latest innovations for livestock and companion animal health are showcased. MORE
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Windy City Welcomes #ASTACSS Conference
Seed industry representatives from around the globe are gathered in the Windy City this week for the 70th Corn and Sorghum Seed Research Conference, 45th Soybean Seed Research Conference, and Seed Expo 2015 - better known as CSS 2015 and Seed Expo. The event was held December 7-11, 2015 with more than 2,900 diverse people from across the globe at the event, coming together to look at what the American seed industry is doing. MORE
Listen to audio here.
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USMEF Hosts Pork Workshop in UAE
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) conducted a series of workshops on pork in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The workshops, designed to promote U.S. pork and encourage chefs to feature more pork dishes on the menus of their hotels and restaurants, were attended by hotel and restaurant industry professionals and food retailers in the region. Along with educational workshops, samples of sausages, salami, bacon and other U.S. pork products available in the UAE were shared and sampled. MOREPodcast
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Funding for Poultry Research Lab in Omnibus Bill
The National Turkey Federation, United Egg Producers and the University of Georgia applaud the work of Congress to include $114 million to fully fund renovations and critical upgrades to the Southeast Poultry Disease Research Laboratory (SEPRL) in Athens, Georgia. The groups appreciate House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee leadership and staff for including the funding within the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which was passed late last week by both House and Senate. MORE
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Cargill Acquires Format International Ltd.
Cargill announced this week that the company has officially completed the acquisition of Format International Ltd., a leading global feed formulation software company with more than 30 years of experience and more than 5,000 users across 93 countries. The acquisition will allow Cargill to continue its commitment to provide the most innovative solutions to customers by giving the company an opportunity to create world-class formulation solutions and offer an even more comprehensive range of products and services. MORE
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