For the third year in a row now, the main topic of discussion at the NAFB Trade Talk was farm bill, or lack thereof. Despite reports that high hopes are fading for a farm bill yet this year, the ag group representatives we talked to were still cautiously optimistic. “I think progress is being made and I’m still confident that …
McChrystal to Keynote AFBF Annual Convention
Gen. Stan McChrystal, a retired four-star general and former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, will deliver the keynote address at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2014 Annual Convention, Jan. 12-15, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas. More than 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to gather in San Antonio for the 95th Annual Convention …
Farm Bureau Discusses Cygnus Acquisition
Since we are in a busy agriblogging month, you get a double dose of the ZimmCast this week, with a second podcast about an important recent announcement in the agribusiness world. Last week during the Ag Media Summit, we got the news that American Farm Bureau Federation had acquired Cygnus Business Media’s agricultural events and publications, including five IDEAg branded …
Farm Bureau Buys Farm Shows/Publications
I don’t know about you but this caught me by surprise. What do you think about what Farm Bureau’s big announcement today? The American Farm Bureau Federation announced today the acquisition of Cygnus Business Media’s agricultural events and publications. The purchase includes five IDEAg branded farm shows – Minnesota Farmfest, Dakotafest, Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show, Northern Illinois Farm Show …
Honoring Marsha Purcell
A big thank you to our good friend Gene Hemphill for sharing a photo of Marsha Purcell who has just retired from a career of service to agriculture. He went further though in also providing us with these fantastic comments: Email Dateline: Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 – “Wow! The day has finally come and I can’t believe it – it’s …
Farm Bill Split Could Happen
Momentum seems to be building for a vote in the House on a farm only farm bill – but only if the votes are there. During a town hall meeting in Oklahoma over the July 4th recess, House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas indicated that he expected leadership to split the bill but he would rather not see that happen. …
AFBF Files Suit to Protect Farmers’ Privacy
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is taking legal action to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from publicly releasing personal information about thousands of farmers and ranchers and their families. The lawsuit was prompted by the expectation that EPA will be responding this week to several Freedom of Information Act requests, so AFBF is seeking a temporary restraining order before …
Groups Call on House for Farm Bill Now
The American Farm Bureau Federation and more than 532 other organizations today called on House leadership to bring the farm bill back to the House floor for a vote as soon as possible. The groups also urged against splitting the nutrition title from the legislation. In a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the vast group encompassing agriculture, conservation, nutrition, …
Farm Bureau: Fourth of July Still a Bargain
While prices at the grocery store might have gone up a bit, our friends at the American Farm Bureau Federation say a Fourth of July picnic is still a bargain. The group’s latest marketbasket survey shows a party for 10 people with all the Independence Day favorites, such as hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade …
Senate Passes Immigration Reform
Unlike last week’s farm bill vote in the House, it was no real surprise to see the Senate pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation Thursday by nearly the 70 vote margin supporters had predicted. And the email reactions from agriculture groups are coming in fast – again, unlike last week when prepared statements on farm bill passage had to be furiously …