Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney put his focus on agriculture and rural policy on Tuesday with the release of an agricultural policy white paper and a visit to an Iowa farm. Romney’s “vision for a vibrant rural America” includes tax policies to support family farms, expanding agricultural trade, achieving energy independence by 2020, and creating a commonsense regulatory environment. “The …
Meet the New NCBA Communications Director
Members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) probably know Chase Adams, who has been a farm broadcaster with KBHB radio in Sturgis, South Dakota for the past eight years. But, Chase just left the Black Hills behind him and moved inside the Beltway to become the new Director of Communications for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), filling …
Iowa BASF Great Grower Happy With Yields
The Iowa harvest is coming along well ahead of schedule according to the latest USDA numbers – 56% of corn harvested compared to 8% average for this time of year and soybeans are 54% harvested compared to 21% average. The condition of the crops is not as bad as some of the Corn Belt states, although nearly half the corn …
Celebrating National Co-op Month
Each October, cooperatives across the United States celebrate the cooperative difference, business model and the contributions of cooperatives to their communities during National Co-op Month and this year continues the celebration of 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives with the slogan “Cooperative enterprises build a better world.” As one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, GROWMARK has been celebrating all …
Fund Established for Injured Kansas Grains Exec
A farmer, friend and colleague of the agriculture industry is in critical condition at a Springfield, Missouri hospital and a fund has now been set up to help his family with related expenses. Kansas Corn and Sorghum Growers executive director Jere White was involved in a motorcycle accident on September 28 in northwest Arkansas. Jere is an avid motorcyclist and …
Farm Co-ops Set Records in 2011
October is National Cooperative Month and 2012 is the the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives, so it is extra special to celebrate record farm cooperative income in 2011. USDA released the latest statistics today, showing that farmer, rancher and fishery cooperatives posted record sales of $213 billion and $5.4 billion in net income, surpassing the previous record sales year …
NAFB Foundation Offers Farm Broadcast History Prints
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Foundation has commissioned the first of a series of high quality artwork entitled “Farm Broadcasting Through the Decades” to celebrate the role of farm broadcasting in the lives of farmers, ranchers and rural communities. “We want to highlight the relationship of farmers with farm broadcasting,” says Ken Anderson, President of the NAFB Foundation. …
Senator Roberts Urges FDA to Approve Aflatoxin Waivers
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) is urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to quickly approved waivers to allowing blending of corn with aflatoxin to increase the feed supply for livestock producers hard hit by ongoing drought. In a letter sent to FDA’s Department of Health and Human Services last week, Roberts noted that aflatoxin is impacting the quality of the …
USDA Lowers Grain Stocks
USDA’s Quarterly Grain Stocks report out this morning shows declines in stocks of corn, soybeans and wheat compared to this time last year. The report shows corn stocks down 12% from September 2011, soybean stocks down 21% and all wheat stocks down 2%. Old crop corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2012 totaled 988 million bushels, soybeans totaled …
“Fuels America” Campaign Launched
In the face of increasing calls to waive the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard, biofuel industry stakeholders today announced a major new communications campaign to educate consumers and policy makers about the benefits of renewable fuel to America’s economy, energy security and environment. The new coalition – Fuels America – includes several agricultural organizations in addition to ethanol companies and groups …