Both conventional and organic farmers joined together last week on social media to criticize a video that uses cute kids to attack modern farming practices. The YouTube video was produced by a group called Only Organic and features children acting out a school play singing “Old McDonald had a Farm” with lyrics about pesticides and GMOs and hormones and antibiotics. …
House Ag Committee Chair at Ag Day Luncheon
National Agriculture Week was a busy one in Washington DC and with the House Agriculture Committee. Chairman Mike Conaway of Texas spoke at the National Ag Day luncheon on Wednesday. “Production agriculture has a wonderful story to tell,” said Conaway. “Problem is you just have to keep telling it over and over and over.” Conaway stressed the need for agriculture …
Wheat Bagel Breakfast with Side of Politics
The National Wheat Foundation and National Association of Wheat Growers hosted a bagel breakfast for Ag Day in DC on Wednesday featuring a panel discussion highlighting topics such as biotechnology, sustainability, Big Data and research. One of the panel participants was Matt Erickson, chief economist for the Senate Agriculture Committee, who talked about Big Data and agriculture. “When you talk …
Rep. Lucas on Protecting Ag
Former House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) stopped by the Agri-Pulse Ag Day kickoff event Tuesday evening and commented on the budget plan unveiled by House Republicans would protect 2014 Farm Bill programs. “The 2014 Farm Bill is primarily mandatory spending for the next five years but there’s a certain amount of discretionary spending, like day to day …
House Panel Hears Testimony on WOTUS
Representatives of agricultural organizations unanimously condemned the proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule during a hearing held Tuesday by the House Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry. American Farm Bureau Federation General Counsel Ellen Steen told the panel that “unless dramatically altered,” the rule will create enormous uncertainty and vulnerability for farmers and ranchers nationwide. “It is impossible to …
USFRA Keeps Growing to Educate Consumers
The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA) recently surpassed 80 affiliates with the addition of nine new industry partners, but board members Mike Geske of Missouri would like to see that grow even higher. “We’re all affected by this same food conversation in the United States,” said Geske during an interview at Commodity Classic. “People want to know their food …
Ag Secretary and EPA Chief at NFU
The heads of both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency spoke to the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention in Wichita Monday. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $97 million in programs to support the continued development of farmers markets, farm to school efforts and rural economies and will also expand risk management tools for specialty crops and …
EPA and USDA Heads to Keynote NFU Convention
Members of the National Farmers Union will hear from both Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA administrator Gina McCarthy on Monday at their convention in Wichita. NFU’s Chandler Goule says registration is open to anyone for the organization’s 113th annual meeting. “We’d love to have more people come, listen to our grassroots debate,” said Goule. In an interview at Commodity …
Agri-Pulse to Kick Off Ag Day Activities
Agri-Pulse will be getting a head start on Ag Day activities in the nation’s capitol next week on St. Patrick’s Day with a discussion on “Farm to Fork Politics: Unleashing Innovation in Agriculture.” “This is a terrific opportunity to learn from the people who are on the leading edge of agricultural innovation – improving crop, livestock and egg production and …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with NFU President
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features National Farmers Union President, Roger Johnson. As the group prepares for their 2015 convention, Johnson shares his support for current farm bill and opposes any attempt to return to open policy debate. NFU members oppose Trade Promotion Authority for the Obama Administration, but support liberalizing trade with Cuba. Johnson and the NFU are strong …