At the BASF Ag Media Summit today, BASF North America Crop Protection Senior VP Nevin McDougall outlined the continued R&D investment his company is making to bring new agricultural products to market. “Our global investment is upwards of $2 million a day in agricultural research,” said McDougall. “Many of those research projects have direct application to North America.” That translates …
Welcome to the 2014 BASF Ag Media Summit
The semi-annual BASF Ag Media Summit is being held this year in the home state of the crop protection division, North Carolina. We are in the beautiful Raleigh-Durham metro area near the campus of Duke University and the opening reception and dinner was held at a venue celebrating the Tar Heel State’s farming heritage in the tobacco industry. Bay 7 …
It’s Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Day!
Any Mizzou, Jay Hawk or Husker fans are welcome to skip this post because today is Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Day! Iowa Governor Terry Branstad made that official by signing a proclamation today declaring June 9, 2014 as Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Day, with members of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board in attendance. Iowa Corn is a proud sponsor of the University …
Agri-Pulse Hires NAFB Scholarship Winner
Young farm broadcaster Spencer Chase is now an associate editor for Agri-Pulse. A broadcast and news editorial journalism graduate of South Dakota State University, Chase is originally from a farm near Wolsey, South Dakota where his family raises crops and livestock. He served as a summer intern with Agri-Pulse in 2013, covering agricultural policy issues on Capitol Hill, interviewing lawmakers …
DOT Grants Livestock Haulers Exemption
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted a one-year exemption for truck drivers hauling livestock and poultry from an hours-of-service rule that took effect last July 1. The regulation requires truck drivers to take a 30-minute rest break after eight hours of service, which for drivers transporting livestock and poultry includes the hours of service loading and unloading animals. …
COOL Update at World Pork Expo
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) provided an update on mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) during World Pork Expo this week. “We’re very concerned that if the current rule later this summer is ruled out of compliance by the WTO, the Canadians and Mexicans will then have a right to retaliate,” said NPPC Vice President John Weber of Iowa, …
Iowa Congressman Visits WPX
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) paid a visit to World Pork Expo last week to talk with producers and learn more about the issues they are facing right now. The congressman represents the 4th district of the state in the northwest corner, bordering Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, and he is a strong advocate for livestock producers. During the farm bill …
Hog Swine-asty Theme at WPX
Uncle Pig-Sty and the whole Hogerson clan were happy, happy, happy at World Pork Expo as Automated Production Systems presented Hog Swine-asty for this year’s theme. You gotta admit that is clever and that’s a fact, Jack. Every year these folks have a different theme for their tender whole roast hog and it’s always a highlight for me. Despite being …
Ag Secretary Announces PEDv Action at WPX
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited World Pork Expo in his home state of Iowa Thursday to announce federal actions to help combat porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV). For one, Vilsack says there is now a Federal Order requiring the reporting of new detections of these viruses to its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or …
Pork Urges Trade Deal Without Japan
Pending trade deals, particularly the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), will be among the topics on the plate – along with lots of barbequed pork! – at the World Pork Expo this week. Just last week, the National Pork Producers Council joined with dairy, wheat and rice organizations in calling on the Obama administration to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations …