Senate Passes #GMO Disclosure Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Late Thursday evening, the U.S. Senate voted 63-30 to pass the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard that preempts individual state laws to require labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow spent 24 minutes before the vote laying out logical reasons for the legislation, not the least of which was that it requires the …

Audio, Biotech, Food, GMO

Secretary Vilsack Addresses #Biobased2016

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was the keynote speaker at the United Soybean Board 2016 Biobased Stakeholders’ Dialogue at USDA headquarters today. Vilsack was impressed with the wide range of biobased products on display at the event. “You all are helping to transition our entire economy,” he said. He called the whole biobased products initiative over the past several years a …

Audio, Soybean, USB, USDA

Senate Advances #GMO Labeling Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Not intimidated by anti-GMO activists throwing $2000 in “Monsanto Money” on the floor, the U.S. Senate Wednesday voted 65-31 to limit debate on a bipartisan National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard that would preempt individual state laws to require labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients. With cloture invoked, the Senate is expected vote on final passage as early as today. …

AFBF, ASTA, Audio, Biotech, Corn, Food

New Executive Director at @CTIC_Tweet

Cindy Zimmerman

The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) has named Chad Watts as new Executive Director. Watts joined CTIC in 2012 as Project Director, leading a range of highly successful conservation programs including the Indian Creek Watershed Project, the Great Lakes Cover Crop Initiative and the influential National Cover Crop Survey, which has been cited in Congressional testimony. “Chad’s deep commitment to …

Conservation, CTIC

4R Approach is Personal to Ontario Crop Advisor

Cindy Zimmerman

For Chris Snip of Agris Co-operative in Ontario, Canada, the 4R approach to nutrient management is personal. Snip has been a Certified Crop Advisor for 16 years and was one of five crop specialists recently named as the first recipients of the new GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate award. “My family and I spend a lot of time in Lake Erie, …

Agronomy, Audio, Environment, FS System, GROWMARK, Soil

Senate Vote on #GMO Labeling Expected This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate is scheduled to vote to limit debate on the GMO labeling compromise from Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow this week and agricultural organizations are urging their members to contact their senators about it. If the vote for cloture achieves 60 votes tomorrow after the Senate returns from the Independence Day recess the …

Food, GMO, NCGA

July Kicks off @Bayer4CropsUS Showcase Days

Cindy Zimmerman

Starting next week, growers around the country will have the opportunity to visit a local Bayer Showcase Days event to learn about the most recent advances in managing weed resistance; sudden death syndrome in soybeans; nematode pressure; and other agronomic challenges. The events will also feature seed traits, varieties and hybrids and demonstrate the success of various Bayer products used …

Bayer, Corn, Cotton, Events, Soybean

Record #Soybean, Higher #Corn Acres Planted

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) planted acreage report for this year estimates record soybean plantings and increased corn acres over last year. The report estimates U.S. soybean planted area at a record high 83.7 million acres, up 1 percent from last year, while corn growers increased their acreage from last year by 7 percent to 94.1 million acres, making …

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA

I AM @USFRA – Chris Galen @NMPF

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) was one of the founding members of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) five years ago to amplify the voice that dairy producers have in speaking about food production. “Ultimately, a lot of what USFRA is doing is built around communicating messages to people who influence the food marketing environment,” says NMPF Senior …

Audio, Dairy, USFRA