At the 13th International Conference on Precision Agriculture (ICPA) in St. Louis this week, Dr. Ken Sudduth, USDA-ARS Research Agricultural Engineer and president of the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA) welcomed the opening plenary session. During Dr. Sudduth’s remarks he gives a report on the ISPA and encouraged attendees from 28 countries to help start affiliated groups in their …
AEM and Agri-Pulse Team Up for Summit
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers, in conjunction with Agri-Pulse Communications, is sponsoring a Rural Infrastructure Summit prior to the start of Farm Progress Show on Monday, August 29 in Ames, IA. The Summit will address how we develop new, innovative ideas to solve the infrastructure challenges that rural America faces today and in the future; both in the day-to-day operations …
#GMO Disclosure Bill Signed Into Law
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is now in charge of developing a national mandatory system for disclosing the presence of bioengineered material under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, which was signed without fanfare on Friday by President Obama. USDA has formed a working group to develop a timeline for rulemaking and to “ensure an open and transparent process for …
Marketing Peanuts to Millennials
Southern Peanut Growers Executive Director Leslie Wagner and National Peanut Board Senior VP of Marketing Ryan Lepicier teamed up at the opening session of the 18th Southern Peanut Growers Conference to talk about what they are doing to market peanuts to the important millennial generation. “Those of us who have millennials in their life know that they get their information …
#Peanut Growers Already Preparing for 2018 Farm Bill
It may seem like the last farm bill process just ended, because it did only two years ago, but already farm state legislators and agricultural organizations are looking ahead to starting the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations. Bob Redding of The Redding Group, who represents peanut farmers on Capitol Hill, talked about the preparations for 2018 at the 2016 Southern Peanut …
Bayer Pleased with EU Approval of Balance™ GT Soybeans
One of the three soybean traits just approved by the European Union is Balance™ GT (Event FG72), developed by Bayer and MS Technologies. According to Frank Terhorst, head of the Seeds business unit of Bayer’s Crop Science division, the Balance™ GT trait confers tolerance to both isoxaflutole (an HPPD inhibitor) and glyphosate herbicides. “The new Balance™ GT Soybean Performance System …
House Ag Chairman Addresses #2016SPGC
Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) told farmers at the 2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference this past weekend in Miramar Beach, Florida that preparations will start next year for the 2018 Farm Bill. “My goal is, as is the goal of every ag chairman, is to get it done before the current one expires, not have to have short term extensions and …
I AM @USFRA – @FarmBureau VP Scott VanderWal
South Dakota crop and livestock farmer Scott VanderWal was elected Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) earlier this year and in that role now serves on the board of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). VanderWal is pleased with how USFRA has brought so many agricultural organizations together under one big tent to address consumer concerns …
#FoodDialogues to Celebrate MN #Water
If there is one issue that impacts everyone on the planet, it is water. That’s why the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) in collaboration with the Farm and Food Alliance of Minnesota, will host a Food Dialogues next week in Minneapolis called “A Celebration of Minnesota’s Waters.” “We’re addressing this as a celebration of water but also working to …
Bayer Disappointed with Monsanto Rejection
Bayer AG officials are “disappointed in Monsanto’s decision to reject its increased all-cash offer of USD 125 per share” made public last week. Monsanto’s Board of Directors unanimously rejected Bayer’s proposal as “financially inadequate and insufficient to ensure deal certainty.” The offer represents a 40 percent premium over Monsanto’s closing share price on May 9, 2016. In addition, Bayer has …