The bell had barely begun to ring in the new school year when complaints starting coming in about USDA’s “healthier” school lunch menu guidelines and the chorus is getting louder. The new guidelines feature lots more healthy fresh fruits and veggies, which is great, but they also cut the portion sizes and the amount of protein served to students, which …
Pork Slogan Target of HSUS Lawsuit
One of the most successful advertising slogans in the world of food is the target of a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture filed on Monday by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The lawsuit charges that the National Pork Board “struck an unlawful backroom deal with a D.C. lobbying organization for the purchase of the iconic …
Passing of Two NAFB Veterans
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting has lost two industry veterans who were long time members of the organizations – Gene Ragan of WTVY in Dothan, Alabama and Mike Carter of KMZU in Carrolton, Missouri. Farmers lost a devoted friend September 21, 2012, when Gene Ragan, at age 88, left this world. He was called “Mr. Agriculture” by the many, …
AFBF Gets Candidate Answers on Ag Issues
The American Farm Bureau Federation got answers from President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in a questionnaire asking the candidates about their positions on energy, environmental regulations, farm labor and more. On farm policy, Obama said he understands the need for a strong farm safety net. “That’s why I increased the availability of crop insurance and emergency disaster …
House Says No to Farm Bill Now
No farm bill for now. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) told reporters last week before Congress called it quits that they would deal with a farm bill after the election because he did not believe there were 218 votes to pass either an extension or new legislation. “The current situation that we face is that we’ve got people …
John Deere Expands 6 Series Tractor Family
John Deere’s expanded family of 6 Series tractors were in the spotlight at the 2012 Farm Progress Show, spanning the spectrum to cover just about any need you have in a tractor. “We have 6D tractors which is our value spec tractor, we have a 6M which is our mid spec tractor – which replaces our 6030-7030 standard tractors, and …
Opposition to California Proposition is Growing
The National Corn Growers Association is the latest group to join a broad coalition opposing California’s Proposition 37, which would require labeling of some food products sold in that state that contain genetically engineered ingredients. “All it’s going to do is add to food costs,” said NCGA president Garry Niemeyer of Illinois. “It is a flawed proposition and its exemptions …
USDA Changing Report Release Times in 2013
USDA is changing the release time of certain key statistical reports beginning in January 2013. The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) will begin issuing several major USDA statistical reports at 12:00 p.m. EDT beginning in January 2013. The current USDA release time of 8:30 a.m. EDT …
John Deere’s New Breed of Gator
John Deere has a brand new species of Gator that is out to chomp the competition when it comes to speed, power and agility. “It’s the Gator RSX850i, our first recreational utility vehicle,” said Product Line Marketing Manager Kevin Lund, who introduced the new Gator at the 2012 Farm Progress Show . “With 62 horsepower and 53 mile an hour …
Call from the Combine for Farm Bill Now
Congress is back in session for a couple of days this week, but all indications are that no action will be taken on a farm bill at this point before the current bill expires. Knowing how fluid the situation in Washington can be, that’s no reason to give up hope yet and National Corn Growers Association president Garry Niemeyer says …