During her visit to Iowa this week, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton discussed issues important to agriculture with a group of farmer leaders, including former National Corn Growers Association president Pam Johnson (pictured) and former Iowa agriculture secretary Patty Judge. “We had about an hour with her and had a very good discussion with her,” said Judge who is co-chair …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Mitch McConnell
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Congressional leaders return to Washington this week with an agenda bordered by trade, appropriations and a pushback against overregulation. The Kentucky Republican sees opportunity to work with the Obama administration on Trade Promotion Authority and cyber-security legislation, but expects push back over regulations that GOP leaders will try …
EPA Sets Timeline for Biofuels Volumes
Under a court settlement with the oil industry, the Environmental Protection Agency will now release the 2015 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for biofuels by June 1, 2015, and issue the final 2014 and 2015 RFS blending targets by November 30, 2015. In addition, EPA will also release and finalize 2016 numbers this year. The agency failed …
Congresswoman Dishes on Nutrition
As a lifelong Missouri farmer and a former nutritional science teacher, Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) has a bone to pick with the 2015 Dietary Guideline’s Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) report. In a recent letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Hartzler and 70 House colleagues said the report strayed “from purely nutritional evidence and venturing into …
Propane Program Pays Off for Growers
The Propane Farm Incentive Program paid off for participants last year, according to the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC). PERC reports that participants of the program, which provides up to $5,000 toward the purchase of new propane-powered irrigation engines, reduced their per hour energy costs by more than 40 percent in 2014 compared with their previously owned diesel-fueled irrigation …
USDA Official on the Road for Trade
USDA officials have been on the road this year meeting with agricultural stakeholders around the country to talk about the importance of Trade Promotion Authority for the president in expanding international markets for U.S. products. USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Alexis Taylor was in California a few weeks ago and today she was in Florida. …
Remembering Russell Pierson
Farm broadcasting pioneer and former NAFB president Russell Pierson passed away last week at the age of 103 and he was remembered at an Oklahoma City funeral service Monday by many friends and fans. “He hired me in 1974 and trained me to be a farm broadcaster,” said another former NAFB president, Ken Root, who delivered a eulogy at the …
Industry Adjusting to Lower Farm Equipment Sales
Sales of farm tractors and combines are continuing their downward trend this year and the industry is adjusting after several good years in a row, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). “The last five years have been pretty darn good years and we were at pretty high levels of equipment sales,” said AEM Senior Vice President and Ag …
Agri-Pulse’s Wyant Named a Top Woman in Media
Congratulations to our good friend Agri-Pulse founder and President Sara Wyant who has been named to the annual Folio: “Top Women in Media” recognition in the Entrepreneurs category. She will be recognized at a June awards ceremony at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. Wyant was the only agricultural media professional included in this year’s awards, which also honored …
Blessed Good Friday to All
In observance of Good Friday ZimmComm New Media offices are closed today. The team wishes everyone a very happy Easter and Easter season. We’ll be back in action on Monday. “Christ of Saint John of the Cross” is a painting by Salvador Dalí made in 1951 based on a drawing by the 16th-century Spanish friar John of the Cross.