A freshman Senator from Red Oak, Iowa brought the Republican response to the president’s State of the Union address last night home to the farm. “As a young girl, I plowed the fields of our family farm,” said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) during her moment to represent the new Republican majority in the Senate. “We were raised to live simply, …
Trait Deregulation Clears Way for BASF Engenia™
We’ve been talking with BASF about Engenia™ herbicide since 2012 and now that USDA has deregulated a dicamba-tolerant trait for cotton and soybeans the path has been cleared for the exciting new product to be offered for growers this year. According to our friends with BASF, a registration decision for Engenia herbicide to control broadleaf weeds post-emergence in dicamba-tolerant cotton …
Next AFBF Convention in Orlando
As the 96th annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention wrapped up this week, Florida Farm Bureau president John Hoblick was welcoming members to head for the 97th in the Sunshine State. “We’re really excited about convention coming to Florida, it’s been about 12 years since we’ve been to Florida,” Hoblick said about next year’s convention in Orlando. During the business …
USDA Deregulates Dicamba-Tolerant Traits
USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced “determinations of nonregulated status for Monsanto Company’s (Monsanto) soybeans and cotton that are resistant to certain herbicides, including one known as dicamba.” Monsanto officials say the decision to deregulate Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans and Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton “will provide farmers with more consistent, flexible control of tough-to-manage broadleaf weeds.” …
AFBF Young Farmer Chair is 1st Generation
Jon Hegeman of White Plains, Alabama was elected as the new chairman of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers committee at the convention in San Diego. He will take over as chairman in February and serve for one year, also serving a one-year term on the AFBF board of directors. Hegeman and his wife Amy are first generation …
San Diego Sun Sets on AFBF Convention
The sun was just going down over the bay in San Diego when we walked out of the convention center at the conclusion of the business meeting of the 96th annual American Farm Bureau convention Tuesday after voting delegates approved resolutions for the coming year. AFBF president Bob Stallman held his traditional end of the meeting press conference with the …
AFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Awards
Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention Monday. Chris and Rebekah Pierce of Kentucky won the Achievement Award, recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their farming or ranching operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. They are the …
FDA Official Provides Update at AFBF
Food and Drug Administration Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor provided an update on the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) at the American Farm Bureau convention this week in San Diego. Taylor says his agency is focusing on three broad themes in implementing the 2011 law: the farm-to-table approach, practical common standards, and holding imports to the same standards …
Ag is Target for Guest Worker Audits
Agriculture has a target on its back when it comes to compliance with guest worker regulations, according to Eileen Scofield an immigration law attorney who held a workshop at the American Farm Bureau annual meeting this week. “Currently there’s three agencies that focus on employers but for ag in particular there’s about five or six other separate laws which are …
Navy Seal Thanks Farmers and Ranchers
Navy Seal Commander Rorke Denver, author of “Damn Few,” drew a connection between agricultural and military warriors in his keynote address before the 96th annual American Farm Bureau convention in San Diego. “When people are hungry, they go to war,” said Denver. “So, here’s the deal, if you do your job, I don’t have to do my job. Denver says …