November 2015 was the biggest volume month in history for MGEX, with a total volume of 272,202. This surpassed the previous record set in August by more than 6,000 and is a 39 percent increase from November 2014. This marks the fifth time this year MGEX has reported a monthly volume greater than 200,000, doing so for the first time …
Sustainable Farmer Award Applications Sought
Bayer CropScience is seeking young agricultural producers that demonstrate leadership and excellence in the areas of business and environmental sustainability through the 2016 Young Farmer Sustainability Award. Any farmer or rancher age 40 and under who receives at least half of his or her income from farming and farm-related ventures is eligible to apply. Applications may be accessed and completed …
Globetrotting Ag Secretary
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is continuing his world travels this week in Europe after visiting Cuba, Japan and China in the past few weeks. Vilsack has been in Brussels, Belguim already this week and is heading to Paris now to address international dignitaries and stakeholders on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), climate change, and global food security. While …
NAFB Hall of Famer Johnnie Hood Passes
So sad to hear that legendary southern farm broadcaster Johnnie Hood passed away suddenly the day after Thanksgiving at the age of 72. Johnnie was one of our very first friends in NAFB, back in the day when he served as president in 1985 at the midpoint of his career as a radio farm broadcaster on WPTF in Raleigh, North …
AFBF 97th Annual Meeting Coming up Soon
The American Farm Bureau Federation 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show is just around the corner now in Orlando, Florida, on January 11, 2016. With the simple theme “The Future of Agriculture,” the 2016 meeting will feature “Shark Tank” investor Barbara Corcoran giving the keynote address. There will also be many educational workshops as well as the full trade …
#Thankful4Ag Today and Everyday
As we contemplate our full plates and full bellies on Thanksgiving, remember that all the food we are blessed to have in this country is brought to you by farmers and ranchers, with a lot of help from our Creator. Thanksgiving blessings to all!
Coalition Urges Congress to Maintain Farm Safety Net
Nearly 50 organizations representing agricultural interests sent a letter last week to Congressional leaders urging them not cut crop insurance or other farm programs through the omnibus appropriations act. “The crop insurance program is the lynchpin of the farm safety net and is crucial to the economic security of rural America,” reads the coalition’s letter to Congress. “The crop insurance …
Update from @Better_Seed at #NAFB15
It’s always a pleasure for me to catch up with the sweet and lovely president of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), Risa DeMasi. We’ve been friends for three years now since she started her journey in the leadership of ASTA and it’s been really exciting to watch her grow into such a great spokesperson for such an important industry. …
CFI Study on Consumer Trust in Food
New research from the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) shows that improved transparency increases consumer trust in food. CFI CEO Charlie Arnot says they surveyed 2,000 people to discover which attributes are most important to consumers when it comes to trust-building transparency – policies, practices, performance or verification. “What consumers really want to know more about is practices,” said Arnot. …
Thanksgiving Dinner Just $5 Per Person
Where in the world can a person get a sumptuous meal of turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk all for about five dollars? Only in the good ol’ US of A, thanks to the great productivity of our …