Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) this week launched “a new era in American conservation efforts with an historic focus on public-private partnership.” Vilsack and Stabenow announced the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Tuesday during a visit to the Saginaw Bay watershed of the Great Lakes agricultural region. “This is an entirely new approach …
Oregon GMO Bans Hurt All Farmers
Last week, two Oregon counties voted overwhelmingly to ban the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops. The initiatives in Josephine County and Jackson County, which border California, passed by as much as a two to one margin. “This isn’t Monsanto or Syngenta, these are local farms that have been farming the way they have chosen here in the valley for …
YoBloCo Awards Announces Top 12 Bloggers
The YoBloCo Awards, the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition, have announced the top twelve bloggers. The jury has made its decision and the winners of the YoBloCo Awards have been selected. We are excited to unveil the Top 12 Bloggers of the Awards! The actual 9 Winners will be announced at the Prize Giving Ceremony of the competition, which will …
A Timely New Holland True Blue Salute
Get your fingers in gear to tweet or post a #ThankYou along with #TrueBlueSalute and make a donation to the Fisher House Foundation courtesy of New Holland. The company will make a $1 donation for each one up to $10,000! In grateful recognition of the bravery, service and sacrifice of the nation’s military and first responders, New Holland has announced …
DC Lamb Jam Competition Announces Best of Show
Last week, Executive Chef Rodney Scruggs, along with Chef de Cuisine Matt Baker and the team at Occidental Grill, earned “Best in Show” with their winning lamb “dagwood” sandwich at the annual D.C. Lamb Jam, besting 20 other top chefs from the region. Sponsored by the American Lamb Board, the event drew more than 500 hungry fans to Eastern Market …
Grant Contest to Support The Good Growth Plan
Syngenta announced a contest for creative ideas that will support one or more of the six measurable commitments of The Good Growth Plan. The Good Growth Plan Grant Contest will award one Grand Prize of $20,000 to help the winner implement the idea. Also, three runners-up will receive $10,000 each for the same purpose. Deadline for submissions is July 14, …
Africa: Land of Opportunity
Africa: Land of Opportunity was a very popular session during the Alltech International Symposium. The session was chaired by Aidan Connolly, Alltech, who opened the session with some remarks about the African marketplace. Following that opening the session included multiple panel discussions like this one featuring, Fu Wenge, Chinese Ministry of Agriculture; Mark Lyons, Alltech; Julie Borlaug Larson, Texas A&M …
Fun in the Sun
This is what a holiday weekend timeout looks like for the AgriBlogger. Along with buddy, Gary Cooper, AgNet Media, we re-stocked our freezers with two days of Gulf of Mexico fishing. Just think big red snapper, amberjack, mingos, triggerfish. Fun in the sun with the best water conditions we’ve had this year. So, now it’s back to work for the …
Zimfo Bytes
The Senate Thursday evening passed by unanimous consent a bill designed to help California and other Western states through one of the region’s worst droughts on record. The American Soybean Association welcomed the passage by the Senate of the conference report of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced a collaboration with Smithfield Foods …
Time to #DitchTheRule and Let it Go
After the flooding here in Pensacola, FL a couple weeks ago I was afraid the EPA would declare my concrete driveway a “Waters of the U.S.” and not allow me to drive on it. Sounds stupid doesn’t it? But if you’re a farmer there is nothing stupid about what the EPA is doing with the proposed “Waters of the U.S.” …