American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall on Friday provided some hard numbers for reporters about how COVID-19 is impacting commodity prices. In the past month, dairy prices have dropped 26-36%, corn futures have dropped by 14%, soybean futures are down 8% and cotton futures have plummeted 31%. Hog futures are down by 31%. A surge in demand for beef …
Farmers and Ranchers Committed to US Food Supply
America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to doing all they can do to maintain the nation’s food supply amid growing challenges posed by COVID-19. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president Zippy Duvall, along with Chalmers Carr, a peach farmer in South Carolina, and John Boelts, a produce farmer in Arizona, gave an update on how farmers are dealing with the …
COVID-19 Restrictions Could Impact Food Supply
Beginning today, the United States will suspend routine immigrant and nonimmigrant processing visa services in Mexico indefinitely, including immigrant workers approved under the H-2A guest worker program who are needed to help farmers and ranchers get food in the grocery stores. “The decision to halt visa application processing in Mexico will restrict the number of immigrant workers being allowed to …
AFBF to Expand on Bayer Farm State of Mind Campaign
At Commodity Classic on Thursday, Bayer and the American Farm Bureau Federation announced the transition of Bayer’s Farm State of Mind campaign to Farm Bureau. The initiative aims to raise mental health awareness among the farming community and reduce stigma surrounding the topic of mental health in rural communities. Farm Bureau plans to combine the Farm State of Mind with …
Ag Groups Form Farmers for a Sustainable Future Coalition
More than 20 farm and ranch groups representing millions of U.S. farmers and ranchers are launching Farmers for a Sustainable Future (FSF), a coalition committed to environmental and economic sustainability to serve as a primary resource for lawmakers and policymakers as they consider climate policies. The coalition will share with elected officials, media and the public U.S. agriculture’s commitment to …
Trump Touts Trade Triumphs at Farm Bureau Meeting
President Donald Trump addressed farmer and rancher members of the American Farm Bureau Federation for the third year in a row Sunday, and promised to be back next year while continuing to fight for what is important to them. “My administration understands that if we want to stand up for America, we must stand up for American farmers,” said President …
101st Farm Bureau Meeting Opens on Somber Note
The 101st American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Austin, Texas started off on a somber note with the announcement at the general session Sunday morning that the wife of AFBF President Zippy Duvall had passed away the night before. “It is with deep sadness that I share the news of Bonnie Duvall’s passing after a courageous battle with cancer,” …
Agriculture Celebrates China Phase One Signing
Agricultural organizations are very positive overall about the signing of the historic Phase One Trade Agreement with China Wednesday, an agreement which calls for China to purchase between $40 and $50 billion in American agricultural goods each year for two years. “Together we are righting the wrongs of the past and delivering a future of economic justice and security for …
President Trump to Attend Third AFBF Convention
It’s a three peat for President Trump as headliner for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual convention. The president will address the 101st AFBF convention on Sunday, January 19 in Austin, Texas. He previously addressed the 99th and 100th conventions in 2018 and 2019. “The American Farm Bureau is honored President Trump will return for a third consecutive year …
AgButler Serves to Offer Farm Labor Solutions
Thanks to the growing “gig economy” we can now easily get an Uber or Lyft, get food from different restaurants with GrubHub or DoorDash, find a babysitter or a handyman and more, all with our phones. Now the gig economy is coming to agriculture. AgButler is a gig economy platform that serves as a solution to a rural labor shortage …