Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Jeff Swanhorst, chief credit officer for AgriBank. Lower farm income is already affecting farm balance sheets and raising concerns about operating loans. This interview includes tough questions and straight answers on the sufficiency of the new farm bill and crop insurance to help farmers manage risk, the outlook for farmland prices, and how lower …
USDA Urged to Enforce Buy American for School Lunches
Fifty agricultural trade associations, farmer co-ops and agribusinesses want the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enforce buy American provision when it comes to school lunches. After an investigative report showed some school districts were spending tax dollars on imported Chinese canned fruit, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives urged Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to strengthen enforcement of the …
#ASTACSS Economic Outlook from Dan Basse
Back by popular demand for the fifth year, AgResource Company president Dan Basse presented his economic outlook for agriculture at the opening general session of the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo on Tuesday. In his fact-filled 90 minute presentation, Basse talked about a “world awash in grain” with record global wheat and soybean crops and second largest corn crop. …
AAEA Offering Beautiful Stocking Stuffer
The American Agricultural Editors’ Association has created the perfect stocking stuffer. The AAEA Professional Improvement Foundation is offering a desktop calendar featuring beautiful, award-winning photographs. Each photograph comes with its backstory printed behind the page. The calendar is provided as a “thank you” gift for new and renewing members. Additional copies may be purchased for $14, shipping included. Proceeds support …
Wrap-up of #ARA2015 by President/CEO
Palm Desert, CA is a place you really have to want to go to. It is beautiful but can take some effort to travel to. But apparently a lot of Agricultural Retailers Association members really wanted to attend their annual conference. According to Daren Coppock, ARA President/CEO, attendance was strong. Much stronger than they even hoped for. In my last …
Manolovits Named AGCO Operator of the Year
Brian Manolovits, ag operator for Wilbur Ellis hailing from Mott, N.D., was selected as the 10th Annual Operator of the Year. Manolovits earned the top honor at the 2015 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference and Expo held Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 in Palm Desert, California. “I am honored to be selected as AGCO’s Operator of the Year from among …
Let’s Talk Gun Control
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your opinion of EPA rule for biofuels volumes?” Last week the EPA released a final rule for biofuels volumes under the Renewable Fuels Standard for 2014-2016, which increased the obligations for refiners to use ethanol, biodiesel and advanced or cellulosic biofuels. It looks like voter opinion is all over the place. Many still …
Soybean Leader Loves LibertyLink Real Yield Radio
This soybean grower is not using the LibertyLink system (yet). But when he listens to Cindy on Bayer CropScience’s LibertyLink Real Yield Radio it has him thinking. Real Yield Radio is the radio portion of the current Bayer CropScience campaign airing nationally. The grower is Greg Anderson, Nebraska soybean grower and industry leader. Greg is currently serving on the National …
Bill Tomson Added to Agri-Pulse Editorial Team
Bill Tomson is being welcomed to the editorial team at Agri-Pulse. He will be working with the firm as a contributing editor. Tomson has been writing for Politico, covering food and agricultural issues. Prior to that he was employed by Dow Jones and worked as a reporter for their flagship publication, the Wall Street Journal. Tomson’s career began in the 1990s …
BASF, NAAA Give Scholarships to Future Ag Aviators
BASF has joined the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) to provide scholarship to two students who have chosen the challenging career path of an aerial applicator. Colin Lowry of Ephrata, Washington, and John Nienhuis of Lawton, North Dakota, received Agricultural Aviation Scholarships from NAAA and BASF of $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. The two winners were honored during the 49th Annual …