Author Chris Butterworth received the Foundation’s fifth annual “Book of the Year” award during the recent AFBF annual meeting. The book shows young readers how each ingredient made its journey to their lunchbox with illustrations by artist Lucia Gaggiotti that highlight many aspects of farming and include information on food safety and nutrition.
Butterworth, a native of England, is the author of more than 70 nonfiction books for children, covering a diverse range of issues.
“There’s always something else to find out about, and writing about a thing is the best way to find out about it,” said Butterworth. “I started writing information books when my own children were little. I couldn’t find the sort of book I wanted them to read, so I wrote one of my own.”
The Book of the Year award is part of the foundation’s effort to identify “accurate ag books,” a data base that now includes more than 400 books for children, teenagers and adults. In addition to their accuracy, Book of the Year selections are educational, reflect farmers’ and ranchers’ love for the land and what they do, create positive public perceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more and touch their readers’ lives as well as tell the farmer’s story.
Bob Stallman of Texas was re-elected to serve another two year term as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation after a long voting delegate session to set policy direction for 2012 as the organization’s 93rd annual meeting wrapped up on Tuesday in Honolulu.
The business session of the AFBF meeting lasted all day Tuesday covering a wide variety of policy issues, most important being farm bill recommendations. “I think we kept a very forward looking policy in place,” Stallman says. “When the question came up about supporting direct payments, that was soundly rejected.”
Stallman says the basic principles of the proposed Systemic Risk Reduction Program (SRRP) for farm policy were kept, but the name of the concept was rejected. “Maybe we’ll come up with something better,” he said.
Be sure to check out the AFBF 93rd Annual Meeting Photo Album as well as all audio and video from the annual meeting here on AgWired and feel free to download and use whatever you wish.
Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced Monday at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93rd Annual Meeting. Young farmers and ranchers from around the country competed for the awards by demonstrating knowledge of and achievement in agriculture, as well as commitment to promoting the agriculture industry.
Ben and Jennifer Moore of Tennessee won the Achievement Award, which recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities.
Heather Barnes of North Carolina won the Discussion Meet, where participants are evaluated on their ability to exchange ideas and information on a predetermined topic.
Andy and Ellie Holt of Tennessee won the Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an agricultural operation.
All the winners receive their choice of either a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado or 2012 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM and paid registration to attend the 2012 AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., in February.
Photo courtesy of AFBF.
AFBF 93rd Annual Meeting Photos
The important business of the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting has been underway today as voting delegates have been considering hundreds of resolutions for the organization’s policy priorities in 2012.
Most of the morning session was taken up with resolutions ranging from opposition to the Renewable Fuels Standard (which was defeated) to strongly urging Congress to balance the budget, which was approved. The afternoon session is considering the meatier issues of farm bill policy proposals.
AFBF president Bob Stallman will meet with the media after it’s all over to report on just what the delegates decided for the 2012 marching orders of the nation’s largest general farm organization.
AFBF 93rd Annual Meeting Photos
Growing up in south Florida, I have been a fan of humorist Dave Barry from the time he was still just the humor columnist at the Miami Herald before he hit the big time, so it was a thrill for me to see him at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. And while he was unknown to many of the farmers and ranchers in the crowd before today, he was really hilarious and they know him now.
Barry is a big city guy who admitted to knowing nothing about agriculture except for an attempt to grow zucchini, but he was quick to pick up on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement about closing many Farm Service Agency offices around the country. “I’m kinda ticked off because Secretary Vilsack took my entire speech,” Barry said when he took the stage. “So, I’m just going to give the zip codes of the FSA offices that are going to close and then I’m outta here.”
Here’s a couple more ag-related Barry funnies:
“Americans don’t understand agriculture. Way too many Americans believe that food comes from the supermarket. That’s so stupid. It comes from the trucks parked behind the supermarket. Even I know that.”
“You do something useful, something important, you feed the entire world. If you stopped doing what you did, people would starve to death. If I stopped doing what I did, there would be a tiny, incremental drop in the world’s supply of booger jokes.”
Dave Barry also mentioned that he is still running for president. “I don’t see why I shouldn’t, everybody else is. They’re all in New Hampshire, I’m here in Hawaii with you. That’s how much I care…. I will be a friend to the American farmer and rancher. You can just text me the Farm Bill, I’m good with it.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack revealed a plan for streamlining operations and cutting costs at USDA during an address to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting on Monday.
“The USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like we did 50 years ago,” said Vilsack. “We must innovate, modernize, and be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars. We must build on the record accomplishments of farm communities in 2011 with a stronger, more effective USDA in 2012 and beyond.”
Part of the plan includes closing 259 domestic offices, facilities and labs across the country, as well as seven foreign offices and consolidating over 130 county Farm Service Agency offices in 32 states. “Of the 131 offices on the list, 35 currently have no employees,” Vilsack said. “Let that sink in for a second.”
Aloha from yet another president at the 93rd American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting – the president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB). Tom Steever of Brownfield Ag News gave the traditional NAFB president greeting at the start of the closing general session Monday – and was darn near as funny as keynote speaker and Pulitzer Prize winning humorist Dave Barry.
On the American Farm Bureau annual meeting blog is a nice video interview that Janice Person (@JPLovesCotton) did with Hawaii Farm Bureau president Dean Okimoto, a farmer on Oahu who mainly grows baby greens, herbs and specialty vegetables for restaurants in Oahu or to sell through farmers’ markets.
Dean talks with Janice about agriculture in Hawaii, which mainly features small farms compared to the mainland but with year-round productivity. Dean also discusses the importance of the ag community in Aloha State.
Enjoy, and be sure to check out the AFBF meeting blog for the perspectives of guest bloggers from around the country who are contributing.
The new chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) committee is a 4th generation cattle producer from Southwest Missouri who is enthusiastic and optimistic about the future of agriculture for his generation and those to come.
“I want nothing more than for my children to be the fifth generation on the same property that my great-grandparents started back in the early 1900s,” says Glen Cope of Aurora, Missouri about his young son and daughter. “The traditions of farming and ranching are something that I think Americans should appreciate – certainly I do.”
Glen hopes to tap into the motivated and dedicated leadership of state Farm Bureau YF&R committees across the nation. “I think more and more young farmers are returning back to the farm,” he said. “They see the potential that there is and I think there’s renewed excitement in people who have grown up on the farm.”
Glen was elected to the national YF&R chairmanship this week at the 93rd AFBF annual meeting and will officially take over as chairman in February at the end of the committee’s leadership conference to serve for one year. Glen has also served on the state level as chairman of the Missouri Farm Bureau YF&R and currently serves on the Missouri Beef Industry Council board of directors as well. The YF&R program includes men and women between the ages of 18 and 35. The program’s goals are to help younger Farm Bureau members learn more about agriculture, network with other farmers and become future leaders in agriculture and Farm Bureau.
American Farm Bureau Federation Congressional Relations Director Mary Kay Thatcher gives 50-50 odds on getting a new farm bill done in 2012.
“It’s going to be a real uphill battle to get it done,” Thatcher said during a farm bill session at the AFBF annual meeting on Sunday. “It’s a goal that’s certainly worth working towards because there’s going to be less money in 2013 than we have this year so the longer we wait, the more difficult it’s going to be.”
Thatcher says the AFBF board came up with a proposal for farm policy that is a totally new approach to a farm safety net, called the Systemic Risk Reduction Program or SRRP. “Instead of offering some kind of a shallow loss program where you have farmers suffer a little bit of a loss and government steps in at 13% to 25%, we believe the government should be there for the really deep catastrophic revenue losses.”
The concept would be the opposite of the shallow loss mentality of having crop insurance at the bottom and federal government at the top. “We would have the federal government at the bottom and crop insurance top that off,” Thatcher says.
The SRRP idea is going by an acronym pronounced “syrup” and with AFBF voting delegates to consider it during the policy setting part of the annual meeting on Tuesday, it remains to be seen whether they will think it’s sweet or just a bit too sticky for them.
The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation told members gathered for the organization’s 93rd annual meeting Sunday that America’s farmers and ranchers are more productive than ever and are providing a solid economic foundation for our nation.
“We are the 1 percent that is producing food and fiber for the other 99 percent,” said Bob Stallman of Texas in his annual address to the approximately 7,000 Farm Bureau members gathered for the annual meeting in Honolulu.
As the voting delegates of the nation’s largest farm organization will be setting policy this week for the year ahead that includes the writing of a new farm bill, Stallman talked about their Systemic Risk Reduction Program proposal, which he says is unique in that it helps protect farmers from catastrophic losses while recognizing budget realities. “It is also unique in that it can be applied to a broader range of commodities like fruits and vegetables,” he said.
Talking about the toll that increasing government regulations are having on agriculture, Stallman suggested a new type of reality show. “I’d have government regulators try to farm under the growing web of restrictions that farmers and ranchers face,” he said to applause. “Before long they would find out they couldn’t do half the things they thought they could … The winner – if one emerged – would be awarded a machinery bill, a margin call and a mortgage.” Let’s pitch that idea to the networks!
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie welcomed members of the American Farm Bureau Federation on Sunday with open arms and shared his vision of agriculture for the Aloha State.
“You have to have an integrated approach to water, to land and to agriculture,” Abercrombie said, as he talked about the rich Polynesian history of the state and the concept of Ahupuaa – from the mountains to the sea, what he calls the “synthesis of understanding of the environmental foundation that would provide the prosperity for paradise.”
The governor noted that the state has moved away from the monoculture of sugarcane and pineapple plantations to a ‘modern concept of agriculture that was entrepreneurial and innovative and geared towards becoming as self-sufficient as possible.”
Abercrombie says Hawaii imports more food than in past decades. “We are within a few days of being unable to sustain ourselves if we are not able to move towards more self-sustenance when it comes to agriculture,” he said.
To that end, the governor came up with a comprehensive plan for the state that included what he calls “an agricultural renaissance” in Hawaii. “Food security is the primary goal,” he said. “Entrepreneurial farming and jobs, preserving and advancing rural communities, sustaining natural resources, agricultural resources and the planning and commitment that will bring that all about.”
Farmers and ranchers from around the nation are heading to the Aloha State this weekend to “Navigate the Waves of Change” at the 93rd Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting.
The event officially gets underway on Sunday morning with the opening general session, with state farm bureau awards and address by AFBF president Bob Stallman. The closing general session Monday will feature a key note address by one of my favorite humorists Dave Barry, as well as distinguished service and YF&R awards.
The real work of the annual meeting actually gets underway Tuesday morning, when voting delegates gather to set the marching orders for the organization in the year to come.
We’ll be bringing you coverage of AFBF annual #93 right here on AgWired. Aloha!
Thanksgiving dinner this year will cost more, but it’s still a bargain no matter how you slice it.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the retail cost of menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings increased about 13 percent this year. That may seem like a lot, but it still means that the average cost to feed a hungry table of ten is less than $50 – not even five bucks a plate. Try to get that in any other country for the same price!
“The quality and variety of food produced for our dinner tables on America’s diverse farms and ranches sets us apart from our contemporaries around the world,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “It is an honor for our farm and ranch families to produce the food from our nation’s land for family Thanksgiving celebrations.”
The turkey itself is what gobbled up most of the price increase this year. According to AFBF, a 16-pound turkey will cost about $21.57 this year at $1.35 per pound, an increase of about 25 cents per pound over last year. “Turkey prices are higher this year primarily due to strong consumer demand both here in the U.S. and globally,” said AFBF economist John Anderson.
Those into the organic scene can expect to pay double the amount for the average Thanksgiving meal this year, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau. The Organic Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings will cost $106.39, with a 16-pound organic turkey at $63.84 or $3.99 per pound. But really, even that is a bargain at just over $10 per person.
So, gobble up and give thanks this week for the most abundant and affordable food supply in the world.
With a deadline looming for the so-called “super committee” to make super cuts in the federal budget, all signs are pointing to a super failure.
The committee was charged with making cuts that ideally would mean a new Farm Bill and that was a major topic of discussion with farm group representatives at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk.
“Passing farm bills usually takes about 15 months, and ironically, this one – if it happens – will be one of the quickest ever in history,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Garry Niemeyer of Illinois, pictured here being interviewed with first vice president Pam Johnson of Iowa. He is concerned about budget cuts hitting agriculture more than other areas. “Everybody thinks that farmers are flush with money, which makes it pretty tough,” he said.
If, as it appears, the super committee breaks down and comes up with nothing, American Farm Bureau Federation economist Bob Young says it’s a whole new conversation as far as a farm bill is concerned. “Then we’ll be back to standard process and a much more challenging environment to write a farm bill with this Congress,” he said, noting that the agriculture committees have proposed cuts of about $23 billion for farm and food programs, which the industry believes would be fair.
“We want the super committee to work,” Young added. “If the United States cannot get our act together, the markets are going to be pretty exciting, which might be a polite way of putting it.”
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) says the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and an independent technical company must complete comprehensive and rigorous testing on all proposed technical fixes to ensure there is no interference between broadband and GPS signals that could be created by a broadband network being developed by LightSquared.
“It is critical that costs for resolving this issue are not passed along to farmers and ranchers through higher GPS or equipment costs,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said during a House Small Business Committee hearing on Wednesday. “LightSquared should cover the expense of all technical fixes related to the interference issue to ensure the cost is not passed along to farmers and ranchers.”
Many farmers rely on GPS for precision agriculture. This includes using GPS for accurate mapping of field boundaries, roads and irrigation systems; for precision planting; and for targeting the application of fertilizer and chemicals that combat weeds and crop diseases. GPS also allows farmers to work in their fields despite low-visibility conditions such as rain, dust, fog and darkness.
“While the deployment of broadband services is important for economic development, better education and improved health services in rural America, the use of precision agriculture is vital to America’s farmers and ranchers as they continue to feed, fuel and clothe the world,” Stallman said.
AFBF submitted comments to the FCC in July urging the agency to ensure there is no interference with GPS receivers prior to granting LightSquared permission to operate its high-powered base stations.
The AFBF board of directors elected Potts last week to succeeds Dick Newpher who retired after 19 years of service with AFBF, the last seven as executive vice president. Newpher previously worked 19 years with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in various capacities.
In her new role, Potts will lead the AFBF staff in its implementation of all programs and activities for the organization, as well as for the coordination between AFBF and its affiliated companies. She will also serve as treasurer of AFBF and its affiliates.
Since March of this year, Potts served as AFBF senior executive director for operations and development, overseeing strategic development and the operations of AFBF’s Organization, Accounting and Administrative Services departments, as well as coordination of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture and American Farm Bureau, Inc.
Potts first joined AFBF in 2004, serving as general counsel until 2009. In late 2009 she was named chief counsel of the Senate Agriculture Committee, serving under then-Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. She rejoined AFBF earlier this year.
After more than four years in limbo, trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama have finally been sent to Congress by the White House and could be voted on by next week.
“The series of trade agreements I am submitting to Congress today will make it easier for American companies to sell their products in South Korea, Colombia, and Panama and provide a major boost to our exports,” President Obama said in a statement.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said completing the agreements “will level the playing field and secure markets for America’s farmers, ranchers, growers and producers ahead of competitors in the global marketplace.”
Once the agreements were turned loose by the president, agricultural organizations immediately began calling on Congress to end the wait and pass them. “America’s farmers and ranchers have much at stake and the fact these three agreements are moving forward is very good news for our economy,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. “Combined, the three FTAs represent nearly $2.5 billion in new agriculture exports and would create the economic growth that could generate support for up to 22,500 U.S. jobs. These gains will only be realized if the three agreements are passed by Congress and implemented.”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Bill Donald welcomed the news but cautioned that the agreements are far from implemented.
“Today marks the biggest leap forward we have seen in nearly five years when the trade pact with Colombia was signed,” said Donald. “Our entire country, especially rural America, is nearing a historic moment.”
Donald said cattlemen “will not rest easy until the agreements are fully implemented.”
Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN) of the freshman class in the House of Representatives for 2010 would like to see the next Farm Bill delayed until after the 2012 election. “We’ve got to make sure as we approach writing a new Farm Bill that we’re very level-headed,” he said. “Farmers understand that we’ve all got to tighten our belts a little bit, but we can’t kid ourselves and think that we can balance the budget on the back of one percent of the budget, which is what ag gets.”
Fincher is a real minority in Congress as a 7th generation cotton farmer but he is proud to be able to represent agriculture and help to educate his colleagues about the importance of the industry. This guy is good – would love to see him run for president!
Mary Kay Thatcher with the American Farm Bureau Federation also talked to the southern peanut growers about farm bill possibilities. Mary kay is a veteran when it comes to farm bills, having been through the process six times before, and she thinks we may actually see two new Farm Bills if the debt ceiling negotiations mean the kind of cuts they are considering for agriculture. “We’re unfortunately going to take a pretty fair amount of cuts this year, probably in the range of $30-40 billion out of the commodity and conservation titles,” she said. “If indeed we lose that much money, it will sort of require us to write a farm bill in the next couple of weeks, and then to write it next year for re-evaluating what we have left and looking the other titles.”
Appropriately named “Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage,” this website tells the story of American farm and ranch families who have shaped the history of our nation.
“Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage” also commemorates more than the proud tradition of the American farm and ranch family, according to AFBF President Bob Stallman, who also serves as president of the foundation.
“Farms and ranches that have been in the same family, and supporting family members and local communities for generations stand as testament to the true sustainable character of American agriculture today,” Stallman said. “Farmers and ranchers, by nature, are always committed to leaving the land in better condition for the next generation. We are proud to help raise awareness of that through this new website.”
“Agriculture’s Lasting Heritage” features a variety of components to interest non-farmers as well as farmers and ranchers. An interactive map allows the visitor to quickly link to a comprehensive list of state century farm programs and resources. Users will find an immediate connection with the farmers who operate our century farms, as they watch the story unfold through video profiles of a variety of farms. Written profiles also will be provided to offer additional stories of those who have contributed to the sustainability of our agriculture industry, and our nation.
In this week's program Chuck talks with Mike Adams, AgriTalk.
Chuck and Mike often wind up at the same events all over the country so it seemed like a good idea to do a little AgriTalking about the changes they've seen in the ag media landscape.
Author Chris Butterworth received the Foundation’s fifth annual “Book of the Year” award during the recent AFBF annual meeting. The book shows young readers how each ingredient made its journey to their lunchbox with illustrations by artist Lucia Gaggiotti that highlight many aspects of farming and include information on food safety and nutrition.
Bob Stallman of Texas was re-elected to serve another two year term as president of the 
Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions 
The important business of the 
Growing up in south Florida, I have been a fan of humorist Dave Barry from the time he was still just the humor columnist at the Miami Herald before he hit the big time, so it was a thrill for me to see him at the 
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack 
The new chairman of the 
The president of the 
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie welcomed members of the 
Farmers and ranchers from around the nation are heading to the Aloha State this weekend to “Navigate the Waves of Change” at the 93rd Annual 
“The quality and variety of food produced for our dinner tables on America’s diverse farms and ranches sets us apart from our contemporaries around the world,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “It is an honor for our farm and ranch families to produce the food from our nation’s land for family Thanksgiving celebrations.” 
The committee was charged with making cuts that ideally would mean a new Farm Bill and that was a major topic of discussion with farm group representatives at the recent 
If, as it appears, the super committee breaks down and comes up with nothing, 
Many farmers rely on GPS for precision agriculture. This includes using GPS for accurate mapping of field boundaries, roads and irrigation systems; for precision planting; and for targeting the application of fertilizer and chemicals that combat weeds and crop diseases. GPS also allows farmers to work in their fields despite low-visibility conditions such as rain, dust, fog and darkness.
The AFBF board of directors elected Potts last week to succeeds Dick Newpher who retired after 19 years of service with AFBF, the last seven as executive vice president. Newpher previously worked 19 years with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in various capacities. 
“The series of trade agreements I am submitting to Congress today will make it easier for American companies to sell their products in South Korea, Colombia, and Panama and provide a major boost to our exports,” President Obama said in a statement. 
Prospects for a new Farm Bill dominated a discussion at the 
Mary Kay Thatcher with the 
Appropriately named 
In this week's program Chuck talks with Mike Adams, AgriTalk.
