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Howdy ZimmComm Fans:
The ZimmComm Team hopes you're having a great week wherever you are. For us, Chuck went to Washington, DC to work with the Agricultural Retailers Association at their Winter Board Meeting and Legislative visits. He was the photographer and got some good interviews that included what the policy priorities are for ARA this year.
Next week you will find team members at National Farm Machinery Show and the Crop Insurance & Re-Insurance Bureau annual meeting.
We asked about planting intentions for 2016 in our last ZimmPoll and found a pretty mixed bag of results that included "same as last year" and "more soybeans, less corn." Our new ZimmPoll is asking, "Do Iowa Caucus results reflect ag views?" Let us know what you think.
Here's some audio from this week you might have missed:
Now for some more news from the ZimmComm News Network:
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 AgWired ZimmCast from #NBB16
The 13th National Biodiesel Conference and Expo was held last week in Tampa and it was the 11th year that ZimmComm has done the Biodiesel Conference Blog. Way back in 2006, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) was one of the first industry organizations to see the value in new media like blogs and they continue to stay on the cutting edge to keep up with the latest trends. MOREZimmCast
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Sustainability Expert Defends Big Business
Terms like local, organic, natural and sustainable dominate the marketplace, but what does it all mean? One of the most tangible examples of sustainability is the use of drastically fewer resources over time, something many areas of agriculture, especially the dairy industry, can say is true of their production methods. Regardless of this fact, many large-scale production operations face a majority of the criticism from the sustainability movement. MOREPodcast |
Policy Priorities for Ag Retailers
The Agricultural Retailers Association is holding its winter board meeting in Washington, DC after a day of visits on Capitol Hill. Before the meeting started I visited with ARA Chairman, Harold Cooper, Premier Ag. We talked about the policy priorities for ARA this year. MOREPodcast |
 Domestic Fuel
Two Women Share Their Biodiesel Research
There is a growing number of women who are forging paths and leading the way in innovative biodiesel research. Two such women are Megan Hums, a student at Drexel University, and Jennifer Greenstein, a student at North Carolina State University. They are both members of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel program and they both presented posters during this year's National Biodiesel Conference & Expo. I spent some time with both young women to learn about how they became interested in biodiesel/bioenergy. These are some amazing young ladies! MOREListen to audio here.
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Ethanol Report Analyzes Iowa Caucuses
Since the ethanol industry made a strong effort to support candidates who favored the Renewable Fuel Standard going into the Iowa caucuses, the oil industry is making much about the fact that one of the only two candidates opposed to the RFS won the Republican vote in the state. In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen analyzes the caucus results and the position GOP winner Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has taken on ethanol, and comments on the successful efforts of America's Renewable Future to educate all the candidates about the RFS and renewable fuels. MOREPodcast
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RFA: Cruz In But Ethanol Not Out
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may have won in Iowa last night, but according to the Renewable Fuel Association (RFS), ethanol is not out. RFS President and CEO Bob Dinneen said that his win has created a narrative that presidential candidates campaigning in the state no longer have to voice support for ethanol or the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Dinneen said this is not the case. MORE
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Precision
USDA Awards $30.1 Million in Food Security Projects
The USDA and the Food Research Initiative (AFRI) have made possible $30.1 million to fund research projects pertaining to food safety, antibiotic resistance, and resilience of plants facing climate change. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and President Obama's Science and Technology Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. John P. Holdren recently announced that, after a competitive process, this money has been awarded to 80 research projects.MORE
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Sen. Thune on What Now for WOTUS
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was named one of the Legislators of the Year this week by the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and he spent some time with organization leaders on Tuesday talking about industry priorities. MOREPodcast
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Potato Board Offers Innovative Ideas
Blair Richardson, CEO for the United States Potato Board took time to share with Chuck Zimmerman at the recent Potato Expo about some big news announced at the event- the unveiling of the Spud Nation food truck. MOREPodcast
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ARA Hosts National Policy Conference
The Agricultural Retailers Association is hosting its National Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. February 1-3, 2016. During the event, members will conduct the business of the association through committee meetings leading up to a final board meeting mid week. In addition, ARA members will hear from regulators and interact with legislators while they are here, addressing their priorities on the legislative front. MORE
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Syngenta COO on ChemChina Offer
Syngenta confirmed Monday that ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company, has offered to acquire the company with the cash purchase of all Syngenta shares. The $43 billion deal must still be approved by two-thirds of Syngenta shareholders and receive regulatory approval.MORE
Podcast
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#TPP Signed in New Zealand
Trade ministers representing Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam gathered for the signing of the historic signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement concluded four months ago in Atlanta. The ministers released a joint statement noting that the "signing of the agreement signals an important milestone and the beginning of the next phase for TPP. Our focus now turns to the completion of our respective domestic processes."MORE
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Adding Beef Facts to Producer Tool Belt
Cattle nutritionist for Zoetis, Dr. Gary Sides, spoke to producers during the Cattle Industry Convention's Cattlemen's College on modern agriculture in a culture of Facebook. There he discussed government, environmental and cultural issues that affect beef consumption and the cattle industry and I sat down with him to learn more. MOREPodcast
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Results from Elanco Dairy Producer Survey
Elanco Animal Health conducted a survey over the course of the last two months to gauge awareness, knowledge and understanding of immune suppression during calving periods and identify topics of concern in dairy healthcare. MORE
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"Meat Matters" Campaign Pushes Back at Activists
The Animal Agriculture Alliance has unveiled a new campaign focused on meat and poultry, and the important role they play in a healthy, balanced diet. The Meat Matters initiative intends to counter the claims made by activist groups about the nutritional value of animal protein, as well as the sustainability of their production. MORE
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