When National FFA Advisor Dr. Steve Brown talked to the thousands of students in attendance at the recent convention, he summed up the mission of FFA in three simple words – purpose, passion and persistence. “We also talked about being “FFA Proud,” said Brown in an interview with Jamie Johansen. “They’re here for a purpose, to learn about agriculture and …
Ag Groups Urge President to Reject Biofuels Cuts
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and several other agricultural sent a letter to President Obama last week asking him to intervene with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its proposed cuts in the 2014 volume obligations for the Renewable Fuel Standard. “The blending targets and the methodology in your administration’s proposed rule are already causing significant harm to the biofuel …
Soybean Farming Challenges
During the recent Bayer CropScience Corn and Soybean Future Forum in Germany, soybean producers talked about the challenges ahead for farmers. American Soybean Association board member Richard Wilkins of Delaware believes that the most pressing challenges facing farmers right now include the need for deregulation of new technologies, public perception, and trade disruptions. At the same time, Wilkins believes that …
USDA Seeks Input on New Beef Checkoff
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking input on the development of a new industry-funded promotion, research and information order for beef. The new order would be in addition to the existing beef checkoff program, providing American beef producers with more resources for the marketing of their products and research to help strengthen the country’s beef industry. “Beef industry representatives …
Listening Sessions Planned on Pollinator Strategy
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA are hosting two public listening sessions this month for stakeholders to provide input to assist the Pollinator Health Task Force in development of a federal strategy to protect honey bees and other pollinators. The Task Force is asking for input on the types of activities that could be part of the strategy, including …
ADAMA Wins Agrow Award
ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd. (formerly Makhteshim Agan Industries) was recognized this week for its global brand launch, winning the international Agrow Award for Best Marketing Campaign. Earlier this year, the crop protection company launched the new name and uniform global brand for all of products, including MANA. Adama, which is the Hebrew word for “earth”, was chosen to signify the …
USFRA to Participate in NY Times Event
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) is bringing the voices of farmers and ranchers to the New York Times “Food for Tomorrow” conference next week. USFRA will host a breakfast and panel discussion entitled “Big Ag, Big Food: How Being Good for the Environment Is Not about Size” at 8:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, November 12 at the Stone …
Film Introduces FFA to Custom Harvesting
Members of the National FFA Organization had a chance to learn more about the “Great American Wheat Harvest” and even get to see the documentary film or buy the DVD. The film was showing all week last week at the Kentucky Science Center for FFA members, according to producer/director Conrad Weaver, who talked to students about it and answered their …
Tyson Urges FFA to Tell #MyAGStory
At the 87th annual National FFA Convention last week, Tyson Foods was encouraging FFA members to share their stories via social media, using the hashtag #myAGstory. “So much of the population of America today has no idea what life on the farm is like, they don’t understand how their food’s made,” said Tyson Foods President and CEO Donnie Smith, who …
2014 Ag Exports Officially Set Record
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its final total for fiscal year 2014 agricultural exports and they are indeed a new record. The final tally was a big $152.5 billion, an increase of $11.5 billion or eight percent from last year’s record $141 billion. “American farmers and ranchers have once again achieved another year of record exports Agricultural exports …