I just found out that I’ll be live blogging AgNite during the Republican National Convention. This is going to be very cool and a lot of fun. There’s an impressive list of companies and organizations already supporting this opportunity to showcase American agriculture to a national audience.
You can count on seeing some live video via AgWired Live TV and lots of photos and interviews. My coverage will be sponsored by the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council and AgStar Financial Services. I’m betting some additional sponsors will come on board too. If you’re interested please contact the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council.
Now that I’m going to be in Minneapolis for the convention, I’m working on media credentials for the RNC itself. This is proving to be a challenge but one I’m certainly going to continue to work on. If I’m going to be there early in the week I think it would be great to stay longer and find interesting stories about rural America and agriculture.
My coverage is planned for AgWired and Domestic Fuel primarily but I’m sure I’ll find content we can use in a variety of other outlets we contribute to as well.
I’ve just started working with the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on logistics for the venue that AgNite will held at (The Depot) but assuming I can get credentialed for the RNC, here’s what their venue looks like (Xcel Energy Center):
Investment in Africa is spurring economic innovation and growth throughout the continent. There’s no question about that for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.
“Make no mistake about it,” Schafer said. “Investment in agriculture, investment in the structure of agriculture to move food to the market, is an investment in Africa’s future.”
Schafer urged private sector investors to build stronger partners and markets in Africa at the 2008 U.S. Africa Agribusiness Forum Friday. The ag secretary said in order to truly develop a successful farm to market infrastructure in Africa, the private sector must get involved. Schafer pointed out that much of Africa lacks the basic fundamentals needed for thriving agriculture markets. He said things as simple as storage, refrigeration, a consistent supply of electricity, expertise in where to sell and how to sell simply don’t exist in many African regions. (more…)
Wow. What a morning here at the BASF Media Summit. After doing some live video streaming, interviews, pictures and recordings we got to have lunch with USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Bruce Knight.
Bruce talked about the farm bill of course. He used a description from a story in the Washington Post which called the current proposal “an overstuffed turkey.” When he was asked about so many farm groups coming out in support of the proposal he basically said that if he was a special interest group he’d be pretty pleased with it too. However, he said that just because a lot of groups support it, that doesn’t make it good for Americans.
Last week I had the pleasure to spend a couple of half day sessions doing some media production training with Jennifer Morrill at American Farmland Trust in Washington, DC. It worked out very well since I was attending the NAFB Washington Watch.
At the Washington Watch Issues Forum I also got to interview AFT President, Ralph Grossi. (Jennifer took the picture.) As you might guess, we talked about the farm bill. Ralph explained how AFT has been involved in the farm bill process for over 2 years. One of the things he says they’ve been able to do is bring people to the table to discuss the legislation who might not have otherwise.
You can listen to my interview with Ralph here:
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This morning NAFB members are getting fully updated on the farm bill as well as other issues here in the Russell Bldg. First up on our program was Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, who was looking a little tired as he took the podium.
The Senator told us that he expects (hopes/dreams) that we’ll actually have a farm bill by today or tomorrow after the House and Senate conferees spent all day yesterday, including meeting with the Administration, on hammering out a final agreement. We’ll see. However, he did provide the group with quite a few numbers and statistics on what we should expect from the final bill.
I asked him what specialty crop producers could expect and you can hear his answer here:
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An agricultural research facility in Florida fears the 10 percent reduction in ag research funding will close its doors… and abruptly abort research on a nameless, mixed breed of cattle. The St. Petersburg Times reports:
Indeed, few people have ever seen cattle like these. Unless you’re knowledgeable in bovine research, the cross-bred calves huddled in tall grass of the pastures near the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Subtropical Agricultural Research Station at Chinsegut Hill may appear rather strange.
The animals are so new, in fact, that they don’t even have an official name yet.
Rather, research scientists at the facility refer to them simply as an F1 composite breed, a catch-all name that indicates they are the mixed offspring of several beef cattle breeds in this case American Angus and Brahma cattle, plus the South American Romosinuanos that are a product of more than a decade of genetic research.
While Coleman praised the calves’ aesthetic virtues, his hope is that they will someday lead to a tastier, more profitable breed of beef cattle.
Though that result is a long way off, Coleman fears it may never happen at all…
With the Bush Administration calling for a 10 percent cut in agricultural research in its proposed USDA budget for 2009, Coleman said this agricultural research station is one of three targeted for closing. (more…)
Pennsylvania is securing more farms under it’s nationally recognized Farmland Preservation Program. The state has announced that this year 351 farms have been protected.
“Once again, we’ve shown our commitment to the future of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry with the preservation of another 5,234 acres of quality farmland for a total of 33,445 acres this year,” Governor Edward G. Rendell said. “In addition to safeguarding the land, we are also preserving the proud tradition of farming, our state’s number one industry.”
Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of farms and acres preserved. Since the program began in 1988, a total of 377,910 acres on 3,339 farms have been protected.
Pennsylvania allocated nearly $40 million this year for the preservation program, including $4 million from Growing Greener II, Governor Rendell’s initiative that supports environmental programs in the state. County programs contributed $37 million in matching funds to protect quality farmland from development and non-agricultural uses. Combined, this $77 million can preserve an additional 38,500 acres or more than 300 farms.
“Looking ahead, we expect another good year for preservation in 2008 as we celebrate the program’s 20th anniversary,” said Wolff. “With the help of Governor Rendell, we anticipate reaching the 3,500 farm and 400,000 acre milestones.”
The farm bill isn’t the only legislation of interest to ag groups right now. In fact, I think I’ve had more email over the energy bill lately. Of course it’s now on it’s way to the President to sign tomorrow morning and who knows when that will happen with the farm bill. Here’s a sample of comments just sent out after the House passed the energy bill this afternoon. I’m sure more will be sent out by tomorrow.
“Getting an energy bill across the finish line is no small accomplishment and one in which this Congress should take great pride. By coupling increased renewable fuels use with improved efficiency standards for automobiles, Congress is making a bold statement about the future direction of energy policy in this country. By seizing on the potential that renewable fuels offer to reduce foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions and provide meaningful economic opportunity across this country, this Congress has put America firmly on a path toward greater energy stability and sustainability.” (Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen)
“We are ecstatic that a robust energy bill is finally within reach,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “The passage of this historic bill is a major step toward energy independence. We eagerly await the president signing this legislation into law.”
“On behalf of the American Coalition for Ethanol’s nearly 2,000 grassroots members nationwide, I applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for taking action on this energy bill and including the critically important Renewable Fuels Standard that will increase America’s energy security through the expanded production and consumption of ethanol. Congress’ bipartisan spirit has made energy progress possible for the good of all Americans who deserve better, more cost-effective choices at the pump than expensive, imported oil and gasoline. Ethanol is a win-win-win for the U.S. economy, environment, and energy security.” (Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE) (more…)
Just in case you didn’t know it, the Senate passed a farm bill today. Ho Hum. The news releases and statements are flying. It’s still got to go to conference committee and the President isn’t happy with it. Politics as usual. Kind of like the energy bill which is heading toward the White House now that it finally got past Congress. Well not exactly. The energy bill should be signed but the farm bill probably won’t. As our Acting Agriculture Secretary just said in his press conference, “We’ve got a long way to go.”
It keeps life interesting and it’s important to agricultural marketers because of the impact these legislative decisions have on farmers and farming in America. Don’t forget that you can keep up on farm policy by subscribing to the master at Farm Policy.com.
Farmers who plant alternative oilseeds are slated to get some support from the government, well, in the Senate version of the 2007 Farm Bill at least. The version of the bill passed by the U.S. Senate yesterday includes the Commodity Quality Incentive Program, or CQIP.
CQIP, introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), is a provision providing special support to farmers who choose to plant alternative oilseeds. Many experts believe that CQIP will aid in getting healthy oils to food manufacturers in a timelier manner, resulting in healthier food choices for consumers.
According to QUALISOY(TM) — a soybean industry initiative charged with introducing improved soybean traits to the marketplace — ramping up production of new oilseeds can take three years or more and is a costly and risky business for farmers. QUALISOY developed the CQIP concept as the soy industry attempted to provide soy-based trans fat solutions, but found it challenging to convince farmers to grow new varieties.
“For the first few years, new oilseed varieties may not yield comparably to existing oilseed varieties. So the farmer, who is paid on the amount of soybeans per acre, cannot run the risk of growing the healthier oilseed. Quite simply, he cannot ‘bet the farm’ on growing these new seeds,” said John Becherer, QUALISOY CEO.
CQIP protects the farmer from undue risk and encourages trial of these new oilseeds by providing payments directly to farmers who grow the new varieties. The payments expire after four years, the usual time required for production to achieve commercially viable levels.
Qualisoy points out how the need for alternative oilseeds continues to rise as the food industry reformulates products to cater to consumers increasingly aware of the overall health profile of the foods they’re purchasing.
The Senate Agriculture Committee has passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, but the National Corn Growers Association was hoping the bill would include more literature outlining improved risk management tools.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased the Senate Agriculture Committee included a revenue option in the 2007 farm bill, but is disappointed by the committee’s action to strip a key component of the optional revenue-based countercyclical program, the integration with federal crop insurance. It is a missed opportunity to provide a better risk management tool in the new farm bill, said NCGA President Ron Litterer.
Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) included a state triggered revenue countercyclical program – called the Average Crop Revenue (ACR) program – in the package he presented to the committee this week. Included in that package was a requirement to integrate crop insurance with the revenue program.
An amendment accepted by the committee on a voice vote stripped the crop insurance integration from the revenue package. Corn growers support an optional revenue program starting in 2010.
Litterer—on Capitol Hill for the markup—sees the progression of events as a first step in a revenue option to improve the farm bill package. “While we are pleased a revenue package is in the final bill reported out of committee, NCGA is deeply disappointed with this setback,” he said. “The amendment makes the revenue proposal a much less attractive option to growers.”
NCGA has received assurances from Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) that they will work toward a revenue package that is a viable option for corn producers.
The bill is expected to be on the Senate floor the week of Nov. 5.
BASF Agricultural Products set up a nice visit for ag journalists here in Brussels at a great time to get some real news for the farmers back home.
It was announced just yesterday that the European Commission was proposing to eliminate the mandatory ten percent set aside to help increase production for the coming crop year, and possibly permanently. We had the great fortune to be able to spend about an hour with Michael Mann, who is the spokesperson for Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. I filed audio and reports back to farm broadcasters in the states with his comments.
Listen to my report with Michael Mann here:
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In the never ending push by whacko groups to impact American production agriculture there’s a new video out from the folks at Free Range Studios. It’s called The Farm Bill Food Battle. It looks like the same folks who brought us The Meatrix and other humorous but so off base productions. They demonstrate great creativity as I’ve pointed out before. Too bad they can’t channel it to a good cause. Unfortunately their emotional but non-science based ideas probably tempt a lot of gullible people to donate money to them so they can produce more.
It is good for a laugh though. I’m looking forward to enjoying some non-organic, good old fashioned produced by the American farmer food this holiday weekend. I hope you do too.
Beef, poultry, pork… pick your pleasure. The American Meat Institute is launching a new Web Site to demonstrate how the meat industry responds to consumers and constumers.
The American Meat Institute (AMI) today launched www.TheMarketWorks.org, a new web site showcasing how U.S. meat and poultry industry structure and practices are a response to signals from customers and make the U.S. meat and poultry supply the envy of the world. The site details the Institute’s opposition to legislative efforts to ban meat companies’ ability to own or contract for livestock.
According to the site, a number of bills have been introduced in Congress that would force divestiture of livestock by meat companies who own part or all of their livestock supplies; prohibit marketing agreements between packers and processors; require that a certain percent of livestock be acquired on the spot market; and create a ‘special’ duplicative prosecutor at USDA to look even more closely at these issues. Some groups and lawmakers are arguing for a “competition title” in the pending 2007 Farm Bill that would package these bills together.
“Legislative efforts to place restrictions on the marketing of livestock and meat will dismantle the progress that has created the most abundant and affordable meat supply anywhere in the world,” said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. “Congress needs to let the market work as it has so successfully for so long. We are launching this new web site to help educate lawmakers, producers, consumers and the media about the potential damaging effect of these misguided legislative efforts.”
Included in the new site are 35 studies done over the last two decades that have concluded that the meat industry is dynamic and competitive and that both packers and producers benefit from their ability to enter into contracts. (more…)
The Environmental Defense group now has a farm policy blog called “The Ruminant.” It’s written by Scott Faber who manages the Healthy Farms, Healthy Food Campaign for Environmental Defense.
The slogan for the site is “A daily update on the debates shaping the 2007 Farm Bill.” Thanks to Meg Little for bringing it to my attention. They also have a podcast called Insider Podcast which you can subscribe to in iTunes.
A host of women in the agriculture industry will converge on Washington the week of June 10th for the annual American Agri-Women Agricultural Issues Symposium and Fly-in. This year’s symposium will be centered around immigration reform within the realm of agriculture.
Members of the media and all interested parties are invited to attend the 15th Annual Agricultural Issues Symposium on Monday, June 11, 2007, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 2007 AAW Agricultural Issues Symposium is titled, “Hands for the Harvest – Immigration Reform for Agriculture.” Speakers scheduled include: Craig Regelbrugge, Co-Chair, Agricultural Coalition for Immigration Reform; Jennifer Korm, White House Office of Public Liaison; Karen Williams, on staff with Rep. Adam Putnam, FL. Invited are: Amy Pope on staff of Senator Feinstein and a representative of the League of United Latin American Citizens. This is a complex issue of great importance to agriculture both for production and processing.
The Symposium will be held in Room 107-A of the Jamie Whitten Administration Building at 12th and Independence Avenue from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Members of the public are welcome.
Leaders of American Agri-Women (AAW) from throughout the country will gather in Washington, DC, the week of June 10 for the organization’s annual Washington, DC, Agricultural Issues Symposium and Fly-in. During the week, the group will meet with officials at the US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Energy and the Council on Environmental Quality, and with Members of Congress.
Key issues the group will be working on include endangered species act reform; immigration reform; and promotion of increased production and utilization of renewable fuels.
AAW is the national coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women’s organizations, with over 50 state and commodity affiliate organizations.
Farm Policy blogger Keith Good is really getting into it and doing a great job. I’ve been watching him blog from a European trip he’s on sponsored by the German Marshall Fund (EU Journalism Study Tour).
He’s posting pictures like this one of Ursula Soyez, a Program Officer with the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and Charles Ray of South Dakota Public Broadcasting on a train from Brussels to Amsterdam.
You can even hear an interview that Ursula produced while they were traveling on the train that includes audio with Keith.
We’re proud of what Keith’s doing. He’s a great example of what you can do with new media tools and a passion for a topic.
Kind of sounds like a new Robert Ludlum novel doesn’t it?
It’s actually a Commodity Classic Learning Center session on “Perspectives on the 2007 Farm Bill” that was sponsored by John Deere. Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse Communications, was the moderator of a panel on this subject that featured Mark Halverson, Democratic Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and Chip Conley, Former Senior Economist, House Agriculture Committee.
I’m not even going to try to summarize their comments. That’s why I record these interviews! I interviewed Sara afterward to find out what these experts see for the coming farm bill, especially as it relates to the three commodity groups meeting here.
Listen to my interview with Sara here:
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It looks like there’s a new player in the farm policy game. The Farm and Food Policy Project will be conducting a press conference in Washington, DC on Monday, January 22 to release a report titled, “Seeking Balance in U.S. Farm and Food Policy.”
A broad alliance of agriculture, anti-hunger, faith-based, public health, rural, and conservation groups call for a new generation of farm and food policies to address the nation’s most pressing challenges. The Farm and Food Policy Project (FFPP) is a collaboration of diverse organizations united by the common vision of a more sustainable food and agricultural system for the United States. The FFPP facilitated a consensus building process culminating in a joint farm bill declaration that has now been endorsed by over 350 organizations. This declaration - Seeking Balance in U.S. Farm and Food Policy – will be released at the news/phone conference.
Presenters Include:
Linda Berlin, Society for Nutrition Education
Scott Faber, Farm Policy Campaign Director, Environmental Defense
Ralph Grossi, President, American Farmland Trust
Allen Hance, Senior Policy Analyst, Northeast-Midwest Institute and Coordinator, Farm and Food Policy Project
Ferd Hoefner, Policy Director, Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Savi Horne, Director, Land Loss Prevention Project, North Carolina
My man Keith Good just keeps getting gooder. Now he’s using audio and making interviews on FarmPolicy available on a new blog site called Ag Policy Soup.
“Ag Policy Soup” is a blog that features audio interviews with U.S. farm policy experts on specific topics that are impacting the current political environment and future direction of domestic agricultural policy. Ag Policy Soup is brought to you by FarmPolicy.com, Inc.- publisher of The FarmPolicy.com News Summary.
The inaugural edition of Ag Policy Soup highlights the concept of revenue based farm programs and is now available at www.agpolicysoup.blogspot.com. Ag Policy Soup is a free webpage and new posts and interviews can be expected about twice a month.
You can hear his first interview here (10 min MP3). Next up Keith is to podcast this thing.
The Farm Progress Show is underway and the weather is beautiful. Chuck and Laura will be contributing to the photo album this week.
Aggie Lancer
Laura McNamara interviewed Aggie-Lance creator and founder, Mark Jewell.
They talk about the new company and what Mark's trying to do which includes providing an online opportunity for companies to connect with free lancers.
I just found out that I’ll be live blogging AgNite during the Republican National Convention. This is going to be very cool and a lot of fun. There’s an impressive list of companies and organizations already supporting this opportunity to showcase American agriculture to a national audience.
Wow. What a morning here at the BASF Media Summit. After doing some live video streaming, interviews, pictures and recordings we got to have lunch with USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Bruce Knight.
Last week I had the pleasure to spend a couple of half day sessions doing some media production training with Jennifer Morrill at 
This morning NAFB members are getting fully updated on the farm bill as well as other issues here in the Russell Bldg. First up on our program was Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, who was looking a little tired as he took the podium.
Farmers who plant alternative oilseeds are slated to get some support from the government, well, in the Senate version of the 
The Senate Agriculture Committee has passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, but the 
Beef, poultry, pork… pick your pleasure. The American Meat Institute is launching a new Web Site to demonstrate how the meat industry responds to consumers and constumers.
The 
A host of women in the agriculture industry will converge on Washington the week of June 10th for the annual American Agri-Women Agricultural Issues Symposium and Fly-in. This year’s symposium will be centered around immigration reform within the realm of agriculture.
Kind of sounds like a new Robert Ludlum novel doesn’t it?
It looks like there’s a new player in the farm policy game. The 
My man Keith Good just keeps getting gooder. Now he’s using audio and making interviews on 
Laura McNamara interviewed Aggie-Lance creator and founder, Mark Jewell.
