Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) has introduced legislation that he says would “restore integrity to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, to save $36 billion in taxpayer dollars while ensuring those in need still receive benefits.” Roberts found all kinds of little ways to cut SNAP spending waste and fraud that adds up to some substantial …
Leaked USDA Email Makes News
*UPDATED WITH USDA STATEMENT* A leaked email from a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service field office is in the news today as evidence that the Obama administration wants to make the sequester cuts “as painful as possible.” According to the email, the USDA budget office directed the APHIS field office regarding flexibility of spending cuts for aquaculture, “However …
AgFanatics Live From Commodity Classic
The AgFanatics were live from the Commodity Classic in Florida last week where they discussed what’s causing the recent spike in old crop futures and what the next few weeks look like ahead of several key USDA reports. That was Episode #14 in the can already! In Episode #13, the guys discuss what’s been new in the grain markets, possible …
Soybean Farmers Set Policy Course
Voting delegates of the American Soybean Association (ASA) set policy regarding a comprehensive long-term farm bill, as well as additional critical soybean industry priorities, such as exports and trade, transportation and biotechnology, during its annual meeting at the 2013 Commodity Classic last week. “The resolutions process is a great reminder that ASA’s policies come directly from the ground up,” said …
Farm Bill Top Priority for Corn Growers
As it was last year at this time, getting a new farm bill was the top priority for delegates to the National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress policy meeting last week during the 2013 Commodity Classic. NCGA President Pam Johnson says NCGA supports fundamental changes to farm programs that include effective and affordable federal crop insurance to provide assistance only …
Happy 150th Birthday Bayer!
Bayer is celebrating 150 years of “Science for a Better Life.” “Not too many companies really have that heritage and we’re really proud of that because that really describes our long term commitment,” said David Hollinrake, VP of Agricultural Commercial Operations Marketing for Bayer CropScience. While agriculture is just one segment of Bayer, it is a significant one. “Agriculture is …
Obama Picks for Energy and EPA
President Obama announced his picks for Secretary of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency administrator on Monday. The President nominated MIT professor Ernest Moniz as energy secretary and EPA official Gina McCarthy as administrator for the agency. While Moniz is a virtual unknown, McCarthy has served as EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation and her appointment is …
BIVI Invites Swine Vets to Live the Adventure
The annual Boehringer Ingelheim (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar for swine vets was quite the adventure this year. BIVI addressed the issue of vertical transmission of pathogens in swine herds, featuring presentations by members of the BIVI swine vet team and other veterinary professionals. BIVI Director of Swine Technical Services Dr. Tyler Holck is very proud of their team. “It’s a …
Science Behind BASF
For seven years now, BASF Crop Protection has held a pre-Commodity Classic event for ag media to get a peak behind the stage of what the company brings to farmers and a growing world population. This year the event was held at Universal Studios and I would say it’s probably been the best one yet! Can’t wait to see how …
See Propane-Fueled Technology at Classic
If you are heading to Commodity Classic this week, be sure to stop by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) booth to see what is new for the farm from propane. PERC will display new propane-fueled engines for irrigation and register producers for more than $4,000 in propane equipment incentives through the Propane Farm Incentive Program. Producers visiting PERC …