With debate on the next farm bill expected to begin in earnest next year, the make-up of the House Agriculture Committee will be significant – and after yesterday’s election there will be lots of new faces. While Chairman Collin Peterson was re-elected, he will no longer be chairman with the Republicans in control. What is really amazing is that 16 …
Zimfo Bytes
Pioneer Hi-Bred is adding 29 new soybean varieties to its 2011 lineup. Winfield Solutions, LLC is keeping the tradition of the Careers in Agriculture Scholarship Program, by announcing that scholarships worth $1,000 will be awarded to 10 high school seniors and 10 first- or second-year college students who demonstrate scholastic achievement, leadership in agriculture and a perceived ability to contribute …
Three Weeks Until GIPSA Comment Deadline
Livestock producers – and anyone in the meat industry, including those who eat it – have just three weeks left to make comments on the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule designed to “provide significant new protections for producers against unfair, fraudulent or retaliatory practices,” according to USDA. As of right now, nearly 13,800 comments have been …
Talking Social Media With Beef & Dairy Farmers
Hey AgWired fans. You know social media is our “thing” so it was fun to do a presentation on the subject with my friend (and client) Billy Frey this morning at the Alltech Global 500. I joined Alltech’s, Billy Frey, on stage to present what social media is and encourage and beef and dairy farmers to use these new channels …
Novus’ Green Acres is the Place to Be
Novus International’s Green Acres Farm is the place to be this Saturday when they hold a ribbon cutting at the facility in Montgomery City, Missouri. The ceremony will be followed by a Fall Festival with food, entertainment and fun activities for the whole family. The research farm, located about an hour or so from Novus global headquarters in St. Charles, …
MGEX Reports Higher October Trading and New Team Member
The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) reports that trading volume in October was up significantly over a year ago. According to MGEX, October futures and options trading volume was 149,923 contracts, a 33 percent increase over the same period a year ago. Total exchange open interest was up 39 percent over October of last year, led by a strong increase in …
Former Congressman Named Growth Energy President
Growth Energy has announced former congressman Jim Nussle as new president and chief operating officer of the ethanol organization, effective November 1. Jim Nussle (pictured on the left with Growth CEO Tom Buis) is a former eight-term Congressman from Iowa and served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush. He has served on …
Get Out and VOTE!
Hopefully everyone reading this will be wearing one of these “I Voted” stickers by the end of today – well, assuming your polling place has them. Mine didn’t this morning and I was quite disappointed. It’s kind of like getting ashes on Ash Wednesday – wearing it is a reminder to others of what day it is. Much is being …
AFBF Annual Convention Agenda Shapes Up
Topics ranging from environmental policy and food safety to the 2012 farm bill and use of social media by farmers and ranchers highlight a slate of conferences during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 92nd annual meeting, Jan. 9-12 in Atlanta, Ga. “Successful farming and ranching in the 21st century involves managing a vast amount of knowledge and information on a …
New Logo For National Corn Growers Association
The National Corn Growers Association has unveiled a new logo or brandmark. This will take some getting used to since the “old” one was in use for decades. But I like it. How about you? “In August, we reached a record membership level of 36,216 individual dues paying members,” said NCGA President Bart Schott, a corn farmer in Kulm, N.D. …