ARA Honors AGCO Operator of the Year
The 2017 Operator of the Year, sponsored by AGCO Corporation, Andrew Myburgh of Aberdeen, South Dakota, was honored at the recent Agriculture Retailers Association (ARA) annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Originally from South Africa, Myburgh is a Certified Applicator at the Wheat Growers in Aberdeen, where he treats 40,000 acres of fields and is often requested by name. Now a …
Ethanol Report on RFS2 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago this month, just days before Christmas, President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act which greatly expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to include up to 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022. The expansion became known as RFS2, like the sequel to a big movie that had just been released two …
Last Minute Gift Ideas from USFRA
If you are looking for last minute gift ideas, the U.S. Farming and Ranching Foundation may have the answer. The foundation is a nonprofit organization associated with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) with the mission of supporting sustainability and consumer education in American culture. And it is the way that individuals can donate to support that cause by …
Zimfo Bytes 12/22
Ninety-nine percent of U.S. farms are family farms, and they accounted for 90 percent of farm production in 2016, according to America’s Diverse Family Farms – 2017 Edition. Farming is still overwhelmingly comprised of family businesses. More than a third of farms have multiple operators, and larger farms are more likely to have multiple generations of farm operators. Farm households in general …
Seasons Greetings from IFAJ
This greeting comes to you from the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). Best wishes to all IFAJ members for a warm holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous 2018. Thank you for your vital work in helping farmers feed their families, their communities and the world. Best Regards, Owen Roberts President, IFAJ
GROWMARK Reports 2017 Numbers, Names Directors
GROWMARK reported $7.3 billion in sales for fiscal year 2017, up from $7.0 billion in 2016. The company shows a pretax income of $91 million, down from $116 million the previous year. “The fiscal year was not without its challenges, with economic conditions putting continued pressure on farm net incomes,” said GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin. “Warm winter weather lowered demand …
Brownfield Mobile App Features Local Grain Markets
Midwest farmers now have another source for local grain prices. The Brownfield Mobile application, available to iPhone and Android users, now provides cash bids and basis levels for the five nearest grain elevators when farmers enter a zip code. Data is updated after the close of the Chicago Board of Trade each day. The free app is available from iTunes …
Ag Responds to Tax Reform Passage
Our House of Representatives again passed the GOP Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, H.R. 1 (115) today after a re-vote. And agriculture is beginning to chime in. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) praised House passage and said, “Today, Congress has delivered the fairer, simpler tax code that American families and small businesses deserve. This historic tax relief package …
CBB Names Scott Stuart to CEO Position
The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB) has named Scott Stuart of Colorado as the new chief executive officer, effective February 1, 2018. “The beef industry is very complex,” notes Brett Morris, CBB chairman from Ninnekah, Oklahoma. “Scott has the background and understanding to bring all those pieces together to help producers meet their goal of promoting beef and …