RFA Ethanol Podcast

Ag Groups Testify at Senate Farm Bill Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Agriculture Committee heard testimony from farmers and farm organizations Thursday on risk management priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill. Among those who testified was National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Pam Johnson. “NCGA has invested time and resources to develop and analyze concepts for a new farm bill that would help farmers in times of need …

AFBF, Farm Bill, NCGA

Farm Bureau Members Donate to Hunger Program

Cindy Zimmerman

The Farm Bureau “Harvest for All” program continued to grow in service to hungry Americans in 2011. The farm and ranch families of Farm Bureau last year raised more than $556,273 and donated more than 10 million pounds of food to the program operated through Feeding America, a total of nearly 13 million meals. In addition, farmers and ranchers tallied …

AFBF

Farm Bill Games Begin

Cindy Zimmerman

Let the Farm Bill games begin! The Senate Ag Committee held the first of four scheduled farm bill hearings this past week, focusing on energy and rural development issues. 

In the coming weeks there will be hearings on conservation programs Feb. 28 and nutrition issues on March 14; and most importantly, a hearing on Title I – the farm safety …

AFBF, Conservation, Farm Bill

Foundation for Agriculture Book of the Year

Cindy Zimmerman

Presenting accurate information to children about where their food comes from is the goal of the 2012 American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture “Book of the Year” – “How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food.” Author Chris Butterworth received the Foundation’s fifth annual “Book of the Year” award during the recent AFBF annual meeting. The book …

AFBF, Education

AFBF President Pleased With Policy Direction

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

AFBF, Audio

AFBF YF&R Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

AFBF, Farming

AFBF Voting Delegates in Session

Cindy Zimmerman

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, …

AFBF

Dave Barry Leaves Farmers Laughing at AFBF

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

AFBF, Audio

Vilsack Announces USDA Streamlining at AFBF Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

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’ …

AFBF, Audio, USDA

Aloha from NAFB President

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

AFBF, NAFB, Video