After nearly four months of having the nomination of Iowa’s Bill Northey to the U.S. Department of Agriculture held up by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) brought it up on the floor Wednesday and called on other colleagues to back him up. Northey was nominated to be USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation in September …
ZimmCast 573 – Cattle Convention and Classic
While at the Cattle Industry Convention last week in Phoenix, Jamie decided to hijack the ZimmCast and chat with her sister and business partner Joanna Wilkinson, who is also the creative director for ZimmComm. Jamie introduces us to Joanna and talks about the convention and the customized virtual newsroom that we built for that event. I proceeded to hijack the …
Third Class of CIRB Emerging Leaders
The third class of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau’s (CIRB) Emerging Leaders Program is the biggest yet, bringing the total number of program alumni and participants now to 17. The program is designed for professionals in the crop insurance industry that seek to increase their knowledge and hands-on experience with key issues with the goal of building the next …
Perdue Discusses State of Rural Economy
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue briefed members of the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday on the current state of the rural economy and USDA’s farm bill priorities. “We’re in a very different situation than when you last contemplated a farm bill,” said Perdue in his opening remarks. “The state of the rural economy is fragile.” Secretary Perdue was asked about a number …
CIRB is Focused on the Farm Bill
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) was in the neighborhood so he stopped by to say hello at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) annual meeting in Scottsdale last week and posed for a photos with members, including chairman Ron Rutledge, Farmers Mutual Hail. Rutledge says this year is an important one for the crop insurance industry in Congress with a …
Water For Food Charts the Way Forward
The Water for Food International Forum last week ended on a high note as more than 40 high-level participants from around the globe shared their vision for and commitment to how the private and public sectors can work toward expanding access to irrigation. Kicking off the very large round table discussion was World Food Programme Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, Distinguished Fellow …
Adams Joins American Ag Network
Our favorite Mike will soon be back behind the mic. The American Ag Network is excited to announce Mike Adams is joining the network team with a new hour-long weekday show, Adams on Agriculture. This national agricultural talk radio show will feature a mix of commentary on agricultural issues and interviews with decision makers such as members of Congress, USDA …
CIRB Honors Mary Kay Thatcher
After over 30 years with American Farm Bureau Federation, the name Mary Kay Thatcher has become well known in the agriculture world. But as of January 31, Thatcher retired from AFBF and is now looking forward to her next challenge doing federal relations for Syngenta. Mary Kay has been a regular speaker at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) …
USDA Deputy Censky Visits #CIRB2018
U.S Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky visited the 2018 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau annual meeting this week in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Our crop insurance program here in the United States is the envy of countries around the world,” said Censky. At the same time, he admitted that the 2018 farm bill will be facing budget challenges. “The dollars are …
Reaction to President Trump’s SOTU
President Donald Trump made no direct mention of agriculture in his first State of the Union address, but he did address important issues for agriculture and rural America including infrastructure and immigration, trade and taxes. Trump called on Congress to “produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment that our country so desperately needs,” …