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End of the USDA Telephone Newsline

Cindy Zimmerman

This week will mark the end of an era as the USDA Radio Newsline will no longer be available via the telephone starting tomorrow. I can remember recording that newsline on a reel-to-reel machine just like this one when I first started in the business back in 1980. At that time, the newsline was also sent out on small reel-to-reel …

Media, USDA

NASS Census Division Director at NAMA

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced it will publish the 2012 Census of Agriculture full report on May 2. The announcement was made this week as NASS Census and Survey Division Director Renee Picanso was attending the National Agri-Marketing Association conference in Jacksonville, Florida. “Agribusinesses are highly represented here and they are definitely big users …

Audio, NAMA, USDA

Deputy Sec. of Ag Stresses Need for Communication

Jamie Johansen

The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Hardin addresses the crowd during the Ag Day banquet. Her words push us to communicate beyond ourselves and connect the dots for those across the country who have yet to hear the good news about agriculture. “Most of you who know me, know that I am a farmers daughter. That is my first identity. …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, USDA

Corn Growers: Plantings Down, But Plenty of Stocks

John Davis

This year’s corn plantings are expected to be down this year, but growers say there will be plenty of stockpiles for all needs. While soybean plantings are expected to be a record, the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show that American farmers expect to plant 3.7 million fewer acres of corn this year, down four percent from 2013. But …

Corn, Ethanol, NCGA, USDA

USDA Forecasts Record Soybean Plantings

Cindy Zimmerman

According to the USDA 2014 Prospective Plantings report released today, farmers are intending to plant an estimated 81.5 million acres of soybeans in 2014, up six percent from last year and an all-time record high if realized, surpassing the previous record of 77.5 million acres planted in 2009. Planted acreage intentions for soybeans are up or unchanged in all states …

Audio, Corn, Soybean, USDA, Wheat

Agri-Pulse Kicks Off National Agriculture Week

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Agriculture Day celebration in Washington DC has events spread across three days – and really it should be more because it is officially National Agriculture Week. We started it all off with a bang, thanks to the Farm to Fork politics session sponsored by our friends with Agri-Pulse, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary of business this year …

Ag Day, Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, Audio, USDA

Vilsack at NFU Announces Small Farmer Help

Cindy Zimmerman

During an appearance at the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new and expanded efforts to connect smaller farmers and ranchers with USDA resources that can “help them build stronger businesses, expand to reach new and larger markets, and grow their operations.” In a press conference from the NFU convention …

Ag Groups, Audio, Farming, USDA

Vilsack Thanks Farmers for Security, Farm Bill

John Davis

He’s been a regular fixture at Commodity Classic, with this year his fifth appearance at the annual gathering of corn, wheat, soybean and sorghum growers. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s message to those gathered in San Antonio at this morning’s general session was how thankful he is for many things. “It is awfully nice to come here today to talk …

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

Vilsack to Address Commodity Classic

John Davis

The growers of the Nation’s biggest crops will once again host the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for their biggest meeting of the year. For the fifth time in a row, Tom Vilsack will deliver the keynote address to Commodity Classic, the annual convention and trade show for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers. This news releases says Vilsack speaks to …

Agribusiness, ASA, Commodity Classic, Corn, Events, NCGA, sorghum, Soybean, USDA