It was a bipartisan biofuels day at the Farm Progress Show Wednesday. First, six Republican members of Congress from Illinois, Iowa and Indiana held a Biofuels Summit at the show to discuss the importance of ethanol and biodiesel to the region and the challenges being faced by the biofuels industry. House Biofuels Caucus Co-chair Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) was joined …
Benson Hill and CropTrak Collaborate for Sustainability and Innovation
Benson Hill, Inc. today announced a relationship with CropTrak that allows them to accelerate collection of agronomic data to improve product performance and farm sustainability. The CropTrak relationship provides the technological infrastructure to accelerate this connection and further positions Benson Hill as a leader, providing the ingredients needed to deliver more healthy and sustainable food and feed products. “Our collaboration …
Illinois Farmer Mental Health Grant Announced at #FPS21
During the 2021 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week, state officials led by Gov. JB Pritzker announced a grant award of $500,000 to increase farmer stress-related mental health initiatives statewide. The Illinois Department of Agriculture applied for the grant in coordination with Southern Illinois University Medicine Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development and University of Illinois …
Conversation with Secretary Vilsack Webinar
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joins Farm Journal Editor Clinton Griffiths Thursday September 2 at 2:00 pm Central for conversation and audience questions in a town hall-style virtual event webinar. During this very special Farm Journal Farm Country Update, Secretary Vilsack will discusse policy priorities, COVID assistance, trade, climate, market transparency and goals for the upcoming year. Click here …
RIP NAFB Member Brian Allmer
Farm broadcasters around the country are saddened to hear about the passing of Brian Allmer, 55, of Briggsdale, Colorado on Thursday, August 26. Brian was always involved in agriculture; managing the family farm, working at Lextron Animal Health, Colorado Equipment and then for 1010 KSIR radio. He was a trailblazer in ag radio, creating The BARN™ (Brian Allmer Radio Network), …
On a Mission to Find AgriTech Startups
Good Company, Agoro Carbon Alliance, Strauss Israel, Smart Agro Fund, alongside LeumiTech, Meitar, ERB and AWS have launched their AgTech Mission seeking startups that re-envision how food and other agricultural products are grown, harvested, packaged, stored, transported, processed and sold. Startups may be focused on all sectors of the “operation system” of food – to be more efficient, sustainable and …
Minnesota Ethanol Champion Addresses ACE
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) may be from a more suburban area of Minnesota, but she clearly recognizes the value of agriculture and biofuels to her state. “I care about ethanol because I care about good ag and energy policy in this country,” said Craig during remarks today before the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference. “Ethanol drives rural investment, it …
Taxing Concerns for Cattle Producers
One of the biggest concerns of cattle producers meeting last week at the Cattle Industry Convention is the potential negative impact imposing new transfer taxes would have on them. “Everybody’s talking about it being a death tax, but it actually occurs on gifting as well,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President Todd Wilkinson of South Dakota. “If they …
Beef Checkoff Celebrates 35 Years
It was 1986 when the beef cattle industry came together in an effort to help itself as prices were plummeting and consumer demand was flagging. A rancher from Wacahoota, Florida by the name of Jo Ann Smith was named as the first chair of the newly formed Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB). Fast forward 35 years and today beef prices are …
Marty Smith Honored for Year as NCBA President
To say that Florida rancher Marty Smith had an unusual year as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is an understatement. “It was damn tough,” said Smith during an interview at the Cattle Industry Convention last week in Nashville. Smith was honored for his service to NCBA during the annual Board of Directors meeting, and he had the opportunity …