There’s a chemistry to the flavor of food but most growers simply aren’t set up for the intense process of studying and improving the tomatoes they grow, according to University of Florida horticultural science professor Harry Klee who has been researching the chemicals that contribute to tomato flavor. “Most everyone agrees there’s a huge problem with the commercial tomato and …
Get Ready to “Farmer Up” at #Classic17
Are you ready to Farmer Up at Commodity Classic 2017? Well, you better get ready ‘cuz it’s just around the corner now, coming up March 2-4 in San Antonio, Texas. Attendee surveys indicate that networking with other farmers is a highly rated experience at Commodity Classic. “Commodity Classic attracts thousands of America’s best farmers from across the nation—and they all …
Two Years of @CIRBdc Emerging Leaders
This is the second year of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) Emerging Leaders Program and it was so popular last year that this year’s class is almost double in size. Jim Konstanty, PartnerRe, was a member of the first ELP class and we followed up with him this year to see how the program helped him. “It’s really …
MGEX Breaking Records
MGEX reached its highest open interest total of all-time yesterday, closing the day at 91,935 and surpassing the previous record by more than 1,300. It is the best open interest total in the 135 year history of the Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO). Each day of the last two weeks has been a top three day, …
Meet @CIRBdc Crop Insurance Coalition Members
The Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau coalition members have been instrumental in being a voice for the industry on Capitol Hill. Representatives from four of those coalition partners joined the CIRB annual meeting last week to talk about what they do to advocate for crop insurance. The panel included Ed Elfmann with the American Bankers Association; Kay Rentzel of the …
Policy Forecast at #CIRB2017
Last year at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) annual meeting, there were still lots of candidates for president and Informa Economics Senior VP Jim Wiesemeyer talked about what they might mean to the future of agriculture. This year, he only had to focus on the one who actually made it to the White House. “It’s a great time …
Benefits of Membership in @CIRBdc
For over 50 years, the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) has provided advocacy and support services for the industry and membership has never been more important. American Farm Bureau Insurance Services Vice President and General Manager Tim Green says CIRB is focused on maintaining the risk management tools that farmers and ranchers need. “We all have the same end …
Outgoing @CIRBdc Chair Had a Great Year
Shari Bane of COUNTRY Financial had a challenging but fabulous year as chair of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau. “CIRB had a lot of challenges and it was instrumental that we had a trade association with a coalition of partners across the ag industry dedicated to crop insurance and rural America to get through a tough year,” said Bane. …
New @CIRBdc Chair Honors Former RMA Admin
New Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau chairman Ron Rutledge of Farmers Mutual Hail had the pleasure of presenting the inaugural Distinguished Service Award to now former USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) administrator Brandon Willis. “Brandon has been a friend of the industry who has been very supportive and worked very hard with us and we really wanted to give him …
Wheat and Sorghum Producers Honor Sen. Roberts
The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee was honored by both wheat and sorghum producers this week in Washington. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) was presented with the National Sorghum Producers 2017 “Friend of Sorghum” Congressional Award in recognition of his long-running work representing the U.S. Sorghum producers. “Senator Roberts is a formidable champion for U.S. farmers,” said Don Bloss, NSP …