The very first Doan award honoring Excellence in Reporting Agriculture was presented at Washington Watch this week to Michelle Rook, managing farm director at WNAX in Yankton, SD. The Doan is named after Stewart Doan, a farm broadcaster and senior editor at Agri-Pulse, who passed away suddenly in May 2012. He was known for his passion for politics and determination …
GROWMARK Crop Update
Another 10% of the nation’s corn crop was planted last week, bringing the total now a couple of points ahead of last year but still behind the five year average. According to the latest progress report from USDA, farmers now have 19% of the corn crop in the ground and two percent has emerged, most of it in non-Corn Belt …
NCGA Staff Changes
The National Corn Growers Association has made some staff changes designed to emphasize market development and sustainability. For one, NCGA will begin an immediate search for a Vice President of Market Development, who will be responsible for managing marketing initiatives to build demand for ethanol, livestock feed, biobased products and food uses of corn. In addition, NCGA announced that Fred …
USDA Presents Climate Change Initiative
In a speech Thursday at Michigan State University, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack introduced “Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry”, an initiative that will utilize voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors. “American farmers and ranchers are leaders when it …
Farm Team Goes to Bat
The St. Louis Cardinals’ new roster this season includes some homegrown talent from the Show-Me State. Missouri Farmers Care (MFC) and the St. Louis Cardinals are proud to bring to Busch Stadium the Farm Team, comprised of mascots Captain Cornelius, Simon the Soybean, and Sweet Bessie. The Farm Team is part of the “Race to the Plate” educational campaign to …
Global Soybean Stakeholders in China
Representatives from U.S. soybean organizations are in China this week joining their counterparts from several other countries to discuss the biotech-approval process there. United Soybean Board (USB) chairman Bob Haselwood of Kansas, the American Soybean Association (ASA) president Wade Cowan of Texas, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) chair Laura Foell of Iowa teamed up with their fellow soybean …
Senate Committee Passes TPA Bill
The Senate Finance Committee yesterday passed Trade Promotion Authority legislation by a vote of 20-6. Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said the action “marks a pivotal moment for international trade policy and reflects years of true bipartisan work.” “We thank Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden for their leadership in introducing this important piece of legislation to extend trade promotion …
Vilsack Flips Switch on New Solar Farm
On Earth Day, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack flipped the switch to symbolically activate USDA’s first solar array project in the National Capital Region. The 1.6 Megawatt (MW) solar farm, located at the George Washington Carver Center (Carver Center) in Beltsville, Maryland, is the largest solar array on federal property in this region. This project, which is part of a larger …
Happy #EarthDay
Seeing lots of Earth Day messages on social media today reminding the other 98% of the population that farmers and ranchers do Earth Day every day. Here’s one from the GROWMARK FS system. We are celebrating Earth Day today by going to the beach – it’s a gorgeous day here!
High Path Avian Flu Topic at Chicken Summit
The 2015 Chicken Media Summit is being held this week in Maryland, organized by the National Chicken Council and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. Among those in attendance is our own Jamie Johansen, along with bloggers, journalists, dietitians and leaders in the poultry industry from all over the country. Yesterday the event featured tours of a hatchery, broiler barn and …