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Fast Track Back on Track

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. House passed Trade Promotion Authority Thursday by a vote of 218-208 getting fast track back on track and most agricultural organizations are very pleased. “The House’s bipartisan passage of trade promotion authority legislation brings us a step closer to completing ambitious trade negotiations around the world,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. “We must break down …

AFBF, NCGA, Trade

NCGA Drone Demo

Cindy Zimmerman

National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling got a first-hand drone demo in his home state of Maryland last week. The demonstration was one of several educational tours for NCGA board members highlighting advances in technology and sustainability, as well as diversified farming operations. Bowling, left, got a lesson in flying an unmanned aerial system from Matthew Creger of Maryland-based …

Corn, NCGA, Precision Agriculture

Confusion over TPA

Cindy Zimmerman

Votes on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) were held Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives, but for many it was unclear what exactly happened – did it pass or didn’t it? Yes and no. The actual Trade Promotion Authority bill passed, but the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) portion of the bill that was separated out in the House, supposedly as …

NCGA, politics, Trade

Agriculture Reacts to WOTUS Final Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

Agricultural organizations are analyzing the final Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule released today to determine whether it answers the concerns they have raised about the impact the regulation would have on farmers and ranchers, but most express reservations. “We are undertaking a thorough analysis of the final WOTUS rule to determine whether the Environmental Protection Agency …

AFBF, EPA, NCBA, NCGA, Water

Industry Pleased with White House Pollinator Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

Last June, President Obama called for an interagency Task Force to create a Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. Tuesday, the Task Force released its strategy, under the joint leadership of EPA and USDA. Industry reaction to the plan, which outlines actions to be taken by more than a dozen other federal agencies and departments, …

ARA, Bayer, Bees, Environment, EPA, NCGA, pesticides, pollinators

First USDA Crop Estimates

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report released today includes the first estimates for crop production this year. Overall, the report is projecting wheat production to be higher and corn and soybeans lower this season. All wheat production is projected at 2,087 million bushels, up 3 percent. Corn production is projected at 13.6 billion bushels, down 586 million …

Corn, NCGA, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

NCGA Offers eLegacyConnect Member Benefit

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association is offering a significant discount on a great service for today’s farmers. As many of us become “wiser” we know we need to start thinking about things like succession planning and transition. The service is eLegacyConnect. Succession planning is, or should be, a high priority for most American farmers. According to the USDA, 70 percent …

Ag Groups, Corn, NCGA

Phenomenal Corn Planting Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

A week ago corn planting was running behind schedule but thanks to the very latest precision technology corn farmers are now 17% ahead of the five year average with 55% of the crop in the ground, according to the latest crop progress report. The phenomenal progress included an increase of 38% in Nebraska and Illinois, 41% more in Missouri, 45% …

Audio, Corn, Farming, NCGA

2nd Annual Fields-of-Corn Photo Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association has just kicked off its second Field-of-Corn Photo Contest. The entry period is May 1-November 30, 2015. The National Corn Growers Association is calling on photographers to help tell the story of farming field corn in America. The goal is to capture high-resolution photos of growing corn from seed to harvest, the women and men …

Ag Groups, Corn, NCGA, Photography

Mixed Signals on Biotech from EU

Cindy Zimmerman

Mixed signals regarding biotech crops coming from the European Union last week have left representatives of the agriculture community shaking their heads. First the EU announced it would allow member nations to ban the import of food and feed containing biotech ingredients, and then a few days later announced the approval of 17 biotech traits for import. “I’m just characterizing …

AFBF, ASA, Audio, Biotech, Exports, International, NCGA