Brownfield’s Steever Interviews President Obama

Cindy Zimmerman

Brownfield Ag News anchor and former NAFB president Tom Steever got a 20 minute interview with President Obama this week on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal and what it means for agriculture. “So this is really a big deal,” the President told Brownfield Ag News Tuesday, “and the key to getting it passed is just making sure that people …

Trade

Push for TPP Approval is On

Cindy Zimmerman

President Obama met with agriculture and business leaders on Tuesday as the push to get Congress to approve the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) begins. “History of free trade agreements with reference to agriculture will tell us that agriculture is a winner every time,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a press conference about the agreement. “TPP is going to be …

Audio, Exports, International, USDA

Lots of Reaction to TPP

Cindy Zimmerman

Seems like everyone has something to say about the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement reached by negotiators meeting in Atlanta for more than five days, even though few details have been released. U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman does say that agriculture is a big winner under the agreement. “Tariffs will either be eliminated or greatly reduced or quotas will be significantly …

AFBF, ASA, Audio, Beef, Corn, NCGA, Rice, Trade

Keep an Eye on Ceva Animal Health

Cindy Zimmerman

Ceva Animal Health is set on becoming a major player in the swine industry within the next five years. The global company was just created in 2000 in France, and the North American operations started in only 2005, but already Ceva has experienced a five fold growth increase. Craig Wallace, Ceva CEO and North American Zone Director, says growth in …

Animal Health, Audio, Swine

Foundation Helps @GROWMARK to Give Back

Cindy Zimmerman

Investing in the future of agriculture and feeding the hungry are the main goals of the GROWMARK Foundation, which supports a variety of causes and organizations dedicated to those aims. Foundation manager Amy Bradford says they focus on five key areas. “Agriculture in general, education, leader development, supporting other cooperatives, and priority community needs,” said Bradford, who adds that the …

Audio, GROWMARK

Global Crop Insurers Meet in KC

Cindy Zimmerman

Agricultural leaders from more than 30 nations have been meeting in Kansas City this week to discuss the challenge of feeding a growing world population and how crop insurance can help farmers accomplish this goal. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack welcomed the International Association of Agricultural Production Insurers (AIAG) and provided his perspective on the importance of crop insurance for both …

Insurance, International

NAMA Professional Development Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

NAMA announced the winners of this year’s Professional Development Awards at the recent Fall Conference in Denver. Each year, NAMA recognizes industry leaders in the areas of marketing communications, sales and public relations. The 2015 Marketing Communications award recipient is Christine Hart-Nieland, Senior Account Manager at Brighton Agency. An agri-marketing veteran of nearly 25 years, today Chris is on the …

Agencies, NAMA

Staff Changes at NCGA

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has made some staffing realignments to place a renewed emphasis on demand under the newly created Market Development Department. The Market Development team adds two new members from current staff as Max Starbuck and Susan Powers join that department. In his new role, Starbuck will serve as Director of Market Development and focus on …

Ag Leader, Corn, NCGA

Bayer Luke Bryan Farm Tour Kicks Off

Cindy Zimmerman

The 7th annual Luke Bryan Farm Tour, sponsored by Bayer, kicks off this week with his first concert in Ft. Wayne, Indiana at M&J Farms tomorrow. Bryan, the son of a peanut farmer from Georgia, launched the tour in 2009 as a way to highlight and celebrate the contribution farmers make to improving lives. “Farmers enrich our bodies and lives …

Agribusiness, Bayer

EPA Updates Farmworker Standards

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released updated farmworker standards to provide health protections under the law similar to those already afforded to workers in other industries. “We depend on farmworkers every day to help put the food we eat on America’s dinner tables—and they deserve fair, equitable working standards with strong health and safety protections,” said EPA Administrator Gina …

Audio, Farming, labor