We called him legendary back in 2009, and he was inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame in 2005. Cliff Mitchell, one of the great farm broadcasters, passed away on his 89th birthday March 30. Cliff is remembered for his service to the NAFB Foundation auction as auctioneer and as host of Aunt Sara’s Partyline. Those who were privileged guests …
More Beans and Cotton, Less Corn and Wheat
The first estimate for crop plantings this year by USDA is calling for less corn and wheat but more soybeans and cotton. The 2017 Prospective Plantings report based on farmer surveys estimates that corn planted area for all purposes in 2017 will be 90 million acres, down 4 percent or 4.0 million acres from last year. Soybeans planted area for …
Perdue Moves Toward Confirmation
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today moved the Trump Administration one step closer to a full cabinet by voting to favorably report nominee Sonny Perdue to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, which means he will now be considered by the full Senate for confirmation. Committee chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) is pleased Perdue’s nomination is …
Crappie Fishing and Ethanol
We went fishing for this edition of the ZimmCast and caught it on Grenada Lake, Mississippi at the Mississippi State Championship, one stop on the 2017 Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail. The Renewable Fuels Association is a title sponsor of the tournament, along with Bass Pro Shops, and it has the support of Missouri Corn Growers and American Ethanol …
SMART Farmer Lauren Schwab
This edition of the SMART Farmer podcast comes from National Ag Day in Washington D.C. last week where USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching representative Lauren Schwab talked about SMART Farming. Lauren, who is known as FarmGirlWCurls on Twitter and Facebook, loves sharing her love of piglets on social media and educating non-farmers about the business. She talks about how …
Water for Food Welcomes Experts to Share Ideas
A record 100 speakers and global experts will be gathering together next month to help find solutions to the world’s pressing water and food security needs at the 2017 Water for Food Global Conference April 10-12 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, farmers, faculty, students, thought leaders and industry experts will explore “Water for Food Security: …
Busy Week for Ag on the Hill
National Ag Week was a busy one for agriculture on Capitol Hill. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Kevin Skunes of North Dakota spent the week visiting Congressional offices on behalf of both the corn growers and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). “Ethanol is our number one priority,” said Skunes. “We need to have this outlet for …
Perdue Gets His Ag Secretary Hearing
Accompanied by his four children and 14 grandchildren, former Georgia Governor Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III finally had his confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday and will hopefully be confirmed shortly. “I know there was some anxiety over whether there would be a secretary of agriculture nominee,” Perdue began. “I must say with all the humility I can muster …
GROWMARK Proud to Support Ag Day
GROWMARK and its FS member companies are proud to be one of the major sponsors of National Ag Day every year, according to corporate relations manager Amy Bradford who attended this year’s event. “This is one of the events that we support in a big way financially,” said Bradford. “It’s just important for us to support the farmers who are …
2017 Doan Award Announced
The winner of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation’s prestigious Doan Award is Dustin Hoffmann, farm broadcaster with KLGR Radio in Redwood Falls, Minn. Hoffmann’s winning entry titled, Yearly Cattle Vaccinations in Southwest Minnesota, focused on herd health management, detailing the care and low-stress treatment of the calves. The Doan was announced at the conclusion of the Agri-Pulse Farm …