IFAJ Presents Annual Awards
The Delegate Assembly of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) held online this week presented annual Star awards for excellence. Gil Gullickson received the 2020 AgTech Reporting Award for “Yours, Mine and Ours,” a feature article on outcome-based pricing for commodities that he wrote for Successful Farming. Veteran radio presenter Damien O’Reilly was awarded the 2020 International Federation of …
Planted Acreage up for Corn and Soybeans
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is estimating 92.0 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2020, up three percent from last year, according to the Acreage report released Tuesday. Soybean area planted is estimated at 83.8 million acres, up 10% from last year. The report also shows wheat and cotton acres are down this year. All …
USMCA Implementation Celebration Roundtable
To celebrate the July 1 implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst held a virtual roundtable Tuesday to discuss the importance of USMCA to farmers, rural communities and ag exports. The roundtable was hosted by Farmers for Free Trade, which showed support for USMCA with an 11 state, 4,300 mile …
House Committee Releases Climate Crisis Plan
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis today released a comprehensive plan titled “Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America.” The Climate Crisis Action Plan, released as a majority staff report, recognizes the role agriculture plays in providing valuable climate and ecosystems benefits. Investing in American …
Farm Progress and Husker Harvest Shows Cancelled
For the first time in history, the Farm Progress Show won’t go on. It was announced yesterday that both Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days are being cancelled for 2020 due to rapidly changing conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While state and local officials had expressed support for both shows, Don Tourte, Senior Vice President, Farm Progress said …
Farm Groups Support Climate Solutions Act
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing Wednesday on the Growing Climate Solutions Act, legislation designed to break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices. The bill has the support of numerous agribusinesses and farm organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, and …
Bayer Agrees to Resolve Legacy Monsanto Litigation
Bayer announced a series of agreements reached on Wednesday that will “substantially resolve major outstanding Monsanto litigation, including U.S. Roundup™ product liability litigation, dicamba drift litigation and PCB water litigation” adding that the agreements “contain no admission of liability or wrongdoing.” The main feature is the U.S. Roundup™ resolution that will bring closure to approximately 75% of the current Roundup™ …
ASTA Announces New Leadership and Award Winners
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) held a virtual annual meeting last week where the organization announced new leadership and annual award winners. Members of the FY2020-21 ASTA officer team as of July 1 are: Chair: John Latham, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, Alexander, IA First Vice Chair: Brad May, BASF, Research Triangle Park, NC Second Vice Chair: Jim Schweigert, Gro Alliance, …
Farm Groups Launch Free Stress Management Course
Farm Credit, American Farm Bureau and National Farmers Union today announced the launch of a farm stress management online training course available for the general public. Developed by Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) and University of Illinois Extension (Illinois Extension), the course will help farmers, their families and neighbors identify and cope with stress. It provides participants the skills …