Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met earlier this week with the Beef Checkoff working group and reportedly told them he’s planning on implementing a new checkoff program for the industry by January, 2016. The action would be taken under the 1996 Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act, also called the “generic checkoff act,” and would be separate from and in addition …
USDA Invests in Specialty Crop Producers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack while in Miami, Florida announced nearly $118 million in grants to strengthen markets for specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops. The grants were authorized through the 2014 Farm Bill as part of an effort to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and provide resources to strengthen American agriculture. Sales of …
Zimfo Bytes
MGEX announced the results of its annual Board of Directors (Board) election, held October 2, 2014. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association kicked off the 2015 Fall Membership Drive. Deere & Company announced changes to its senior leadership team that will take place after the retirement of James A. Israel, president of John Deere Financial – the company’s global financial services …
Heading Home from Italy
It’s time for the AgriBlogger to head back to ZimmComm World Headquarters from Italy. I’ve had a fantastic few days with some fellow ag bloggers from Italy, England and Brazil and the New Holland team. We’ve talked Expo Milano 2015, visited CNH Industrial Village, a diesel engine plant and lots more. This is our team outside the CNH Industrial Village. …
Verdesian Life Sciences Aquires QC Corporation
QC Corporation is the sixth company to be acquired by Verdesian Life Sciences – a company according to founder and CEO JJ Grow – that is focused on nitrogen and phosphorus, two extremely important inputs for farmers. The combined company will continue to be owned by and have the capital backing of Paine & Partners. Financial terms of the transaction …
Farmland Makes Its Streaming Debut on Hulu
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Moll’s feature length documentary, Farmland, is now available to stream on the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service. Beginning today, Farmland will be available exclusively on the platform for four weeks – providing viewers with the opportunity to stream Farmland from their connected TVs, Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, laptops, tablets and mobile devices. During …
Riding Out The Storm
For anyone who has ever lived in the country, you know what an old storm cellar looks like and may have spent an hour or two huddled in one, waiting out a tornado. The house we lived in when I was born, and the house my brother lived in when he first got married, both had storm cellars. As kids, …
Zimfo Bytes
The 2014 edition of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) welcomed 42,800 attendees earlier this month, including both ministers of agriculture. The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) released its latest book, Feeding a Hungry World, chronicling the Center’s history and impact during its first 40 years. The World Food Prize announced that the 2014 Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award …
2015 National Beef Ambassadors Selected
Rachel Purdy (Wyoming), Will Pohlman (Arkansas), Alicia Smith (Texas), Kalyn McKibben (Oklahoma), Demi Snider (Ohio) were chosen as the 2015 National Beef Ambassador Team at the annual National Beef Ambassador competition, which is funded in part by the beef checkoff and managed by the American National CattleWomen, Inc, contractor to the beef checkoff. Contestants from throughout the country vied for …
Everglades Ag Conservation in Action Preview
If you have ever wanted to see the Florida Everglades up close and personal – here is your chance. The Conservation Technology and Information Center’s 2014 Conservation in Action Tour is exploring the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) October 14-15 to hear the tale of farmers working with the entire ecosystem in mind. CTIC executive director Karen Scanlon says the tour …