Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has announced an impressive list of more than 65 agricultural supporters to make up his new Agricultural Advisory Committee. The list includes Congressional agriculture committee leadership, state agriculture secretaries, governors and former governors of key agriculture states, and industry leaders of all stripes. According to the Trump campaign, “the committee will provide pioneering new ideas …
Vilsack Named Possible Democrat #Veep
The media and the Twitterverse spread the news quickly Wednesday that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is considering Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as her running mate, but the buzz about that potential has been around for almost a year in the ag world. Last August, Vilsack introduced Secretary Clinton at an Iowa campaign event where she discussed agricultural issues with …
Is the Trump-Pence Republican Ticket Good for Ag?
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think about the Senate’s GMO Disclosure Bill? The Senate has passed it’s version of the GMO Disclosure Bill followed by the House passing the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, and the President is expected to sign the bill into law soon. However, 40 percent of voters believe the legislation is bad …
GROWMARK FS Members Meet With Paul Ryan
Twenty five GROWMARK FS general managers, board presidents, young farmer customers, and board and staff members were able to meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan earlier this week at his office in the Capitol. Speaker Ryan outlined seven points of his agenda for next year, and attendees were able to discuss several issues important to the System, including GMO labeling. …
NCGA Takes Farmers to Trade School
Last week’s National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Trade School brought more than 50 farmers, ranchers and representatives of state agriculture associations to Washington in order to deepen their knowledge about trade issues and drum up support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on Capitol Hill. “Trade policy has a significant impact on me as a farmer. The success of my business …
Agri-Pulse Poll Shows Growers Ready to Act on Prices
Soybeans won’t be sitting in the bin much longer, says a new farm opinion survey by Agri-Pulse. The $2 per bushel rise in market prices has Iowa producers getting rid of last year’s inventory. “Thirty-seven percent of respondents said a price of $10.25 would compel them to sell their 2015 crop while another 12 percent said $10.75,” Wyant said. “Ten …
FB Members Testify on EPA Concerns
Earlier this week, three Farm Bureau members testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry regarding the involvement of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the ongoing Chesapeake Bay cleanup. Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Richard Ebert, former Ohio Farm Bureau President Terry McClure, and Florida Farm Bureau member Kate English, all testified before the subcommittee that they believe …
Will FSMA Produce Regs Prove Costly to Small Farms?
Most of us involved in agriculture have become familiar with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that was introduced in 2011 as the FDA’s new method of regulating the growth, harvesting, and processing of agricultural goods. While the aim of this new regulatory system is to increase food safety and reduce the prevalence of foodborne illness, there are some aspects …
Candidate Trump Addresses #Farm Labor Issues
Like Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump also had the opportunity to address the issue of immigration as it relates to farm labor during a CNN town hall forum Tuesday night. Wisconsin dairy farmer John Pagel explained to Trump that the state’s dairy industry “is being challenged right now by having a labor force dependent on an immigration …
Candidate @TedCruz Addresses #Farm Labor Issues
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas had the opportunity to address the issue of immigration as it relates to farm labor during a CNN Town Hall forum Tuesday night. Jason Vorpahl, who operates a 2800 head dairy farm in Wisconsin, questioned Cruz about the issue. “We offer a competitive wage and offer full benefits to all our employees,” …