New online course teaches the mechanics of ethanol
A new online training course for ethanol provides an understanding of ethanol fuel and how it affects engine performance and the environment.

The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) developed the training module for anyone who wants to get to know the technical side of the fuel, according to Reece Nanfito, senior director of marketing.

“It is an interactive course that goes through the benefits of ethanol and then goes through in great detail how ethanol performs in engines,” said Nanfito. 

Dan Schwartzkopf, who is general manager of Renova Energy and also a drag race car driver, consulted for EPIC on the information to be included in the course to make sure it was correct and easy to understand for any level of interest.

“This program is going to enable anybody to go on-line and get questions answered,” said Schwartzkopf.  “If your interest is just knowing what ethanol is, then it’s going to tell you a story.  If your interest takes you into wanting to know the details of the working of a motor and the fuel together, it’s going to take you to that level.  So, it’s an A to Z program.”

The tutorial, available at www.drivingethanol.org, is free. A graphic link with a wrench on the right hand side navigates to a registration page. 

—Submitted by Ethanol Promotion & Information Council

Accelerated Genetics offers summer internship positions
Accelerated Genetics is offering three types of internships to college students for the summer of 2007. They are sales and service internships, an advertising and public relations internship and a marketing services internship. The marketing services and sales and service internships are available in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

The company’s advertising and public relations internship is available for a qualified candidate at the company’s headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Visit www.agteamdirect.com/Careers.aspx, to learn more about the requirements and application deadlines for these internships.

—Submitted by Accelerated Genetics

Kubota announces safe use of B5 biodiesel fuels
Kubota Tractor Corporation announces its decision to approve the use of “B5” biodiesel fuels in specified Kubota diesel-powered products. Biodiesel fuels, most often offered in a blended-petroleum format, are derived from vegetable oils.

The approved blends of biodiesel fuel for use in Kubota diesel-powered products range up to a “B5” blend that consists of 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent petroleum diesel.

Kubota has tested and approved the use of American B5 biodiesel fuel as a blend component that meets the minimum requirements provided by the American Society of Testing and Materials, Standard ASTM D6751 specifications. The petroleum diesel fuel base must meet ASTM D975 specification. To ensure quality, biodiesel fuels or blended fuel should be purchased from a BQ-9000 accredited producer.

—Submitted by Kubota

Dairy internship directory available
College students who are looking for an internship can find an assortment of possibilities on the National Dairy Shrine website. The directory currently contains more than 20 different internships across the country available to college students. Because some of the internship positions have more than one intern, the actual number of offerings is more than 40.

There are opportunities for students to take internships in communications, public relations, marketing, on-farm consulting, youth education and company development.

To visit the directory go to www.dairyshrine.org and click on “Students’ Corner” found on the website’s left navigation bar. From there, click on “Internships” to find the complete directory.

—Submitted by the National Dairy Shrine

Zinpro redesigns its website
Zinpro Corporation recently unveiled a new approach to its web site.

Overall, the newly designed site, www.zinpro.com, includes customized information that is segmented according to the specific animal species and by United States and international markets.

“From detailing key Zinpro Performance Minerals needed for specific phases of production to providing company and product information, users will find the redesigned site clean, concise and easy to navigate,” says Brad Frisvold, marketing manager, Zinpro Corporation.

Zinpro.com also features a section to help customers evaluate the worth of a mineral product.

NMPF leaders praise members for united support in 2006
Leaders for the National Milk Producers Federation praised their association’s members for united support in 2006 and said similar effort would be needed to address upcoming issues.

“We need to maintain a unified front and a uniform message when we deal with our elected officials on farm policy. United, we can get a great deal accomplished, as we did with the 2002 Farm Bill.  But if we let individual or regional differences prevail, we will not be successful in our efforts,” NMPF President and CEO Jerry Kozak said during the association’s annual meeting in November.

NMPF Chairman Charles Beckendorf, a dairy farmer from Tomball, Texas, thanked the association’s members for their recent support on several high profile issues, including immigration reform and world trade talks.

He also praised the association’s support for legislation to regulate large producer-handler dairies and to tighten regulations on low-carb dairy products.

“We head into 2007 with a clear blueprint of the dairy producer community’s policy interests and goals,” Beckendorf said, as he praised NMPF’s members for committing to work together now and in the future.

Copies of both speeches can be found at www.nmpf.org.  PD