The start to today’s National Ag Day Activities was coffee in the USDA Atrium. We’ll be back here for dinner this evening and to hear from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The Secretary has become a regular on AgWired lately. This morning our program was moderated by Orion Samuelson and our speaker was Krysta Harden, USDA Chief of Staff. …
Ag Secretary Hits Right Notes at Classic in Nashville
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was interrupted by applause several times during his address at the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville Friday as he hit the right notes for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum producers. Someone in the crowd shouted “Amen” when Vilsack said, “This country also needs a new generation of farmers,” noting that something needs to be done about …
Know Your Farmer Know Your Food Compass
I couldn’t participate in today’s USDA webinar about their latest project but did get this information to share. Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan unveiled the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business and community …
First USDA Planting Guess
Our ZimmPoll question this week is about what you think will be planted this year (just for corn and soybeans, with our apologies to the wheat and cotton growers), and USDA’s Chief Economist gave his answer at the 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum last week. “We’re estimating corn plantings at about 94 million acres, the largest plantings since 1944,” said Joe …
Historic Gathering of Agriculture Secretaries
This is one Agricultural Outlook Forum I really wish I could have attended just to see most of the past and present Secretaries of Agriculture gathered on one stage together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pictured here are the eight secretaries who took part in a panel at the forum last Thursday moderated by …
Sec. Vilsack Applauds Ethanol Producers
This morning Ag Secretary Vilsack spoke to the 2012 National Ethanol Conference. I’m sharing Cindy’s story that is also posted over on our sister site, Domestic Fuel: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressed his personal strong support and gratitude for the ethanol industry during an address at the National Ethanol Conference on Friday. “We owe ethanol producers in this country a …
Time For 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture
It’s that time again. The 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture is underway. The first step is the National Agricultural Classification Survey (NACS) which asks landowners whether or not they are farming and for basic farm information. This is used to determine who should receive a 2012 Census of Agriculture report form. So, yeah, you’ve got to fill out two surveys. …
USDA to Mark 150th Anniversary at 2012 Outlook Forum
Eight former agriculture secretaries will help celebrate the 150th anniversary of USDA as they participate in a historic plenary panel at the 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum, which will be held Feb. 23-24, 2012, in Arlington, Va. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will give the keynote address at the forum and moderate the panel which will feature any and all of the …
National FFA Meets With Secretary of Agriculture
I have a concern about this announcement from the FFA. With more than 100,000 new farmers needed over the next few years, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the young leaders of the National FFA Organization a challenge in 2011. “I would like you to with your fellow students and the adult leadership of the organization to develop a series …
Vilsack Announces USDA Streamlining at AFBF Meeting
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’ …