Following President Obama’s directive last week to take additional steps to support struggling producers, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today announced new measures that will help livestock and crop farmers in drought-stricken areas of the country. Vilsack announced new flexibility and assistance in USDA conservation programs to get help to livestock producers as the most wide-spread drought in seven decades …
RIP Beloved Farm Broadcaster Dix Harper
Our beloved friend and veteran farm broadcaster Dix Harper went to his eternal reward today, surrounded by his devoted wife and members of their church family. Many of us have been following the journey of Dix and his wife Harriet after he was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of this year. She has been keeping friends and family up …
House Ag Committee Chair at Peanut Conference
Peanut growers are very happy with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) for his work in crafting a farm bill that is very different than the Senate bill in that it addresses the needs of southern farmers. Speaking at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City Beach on Saturday, Rep. Lucas (R-OK) went through the process of how …
Peanut Growers Gather to Work and Play
The 14th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference kicked off Thursday with the usual scoop of southern hospitality at the ice cream registration reception. Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler is very excited about this year’s meeting of the Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi peanut producers. “It’s our biggest conference we’ve ever had, largest attendance. We’ve got more sponsors, we’ve …
Time for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference
The SPGC blog is ready for the 14th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference being held Thursday through Sunday, once again at the Edgewater Beach Resort, Panama City Beach, Fla. This will be the 5th year that the annual conference of peanut growers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi will be covered start to finish on this blog in photos, audio …
Be Ready for “Farm it Maybe” to Go Viral
Watch out “Farming and I Grow it” guys – there’s a new kid on video and he just “maybe” the next YouTube sensation for agriculture. L’il Fred performs “Farm It Maybe” a parody of “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen inspired by the now famous Kansas brothers’ video. Be sure to check out the lyrics – here’s a sample: …
Drought Drawing National Attention
The widespread drought is now garnering national attention, with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today meeting with President Obama on the situation and giving a press briefing at the White House. Calling it the “most serious situation we’ve had in 25 years,” Secretary Vilsack said the president is fully informed about the damage being inflicted by the weather on crops …
NCBA Comments on EPA Dust Standard
The Environmental Protection Agency agreed with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and withdrew its proposed Livestock Reporting Rule late last week. Now, NCBA is hoping EPA will also agree on the dust standard. NCBA testified at an EPA hearing in Philadelphia Tuesday in opposition to any attempt to lower the coarse particulate matter (PM) standard as part of the …
Corn Growers Heading to Hill With Message
Corn growers are heading to Capitol Hill this week with a message – they want a farm bill NOW! “All of the NCGA corn farmers, 127 delegates are in Washington DC, and we’re going to present our message that we want a farm bill now,” said National Corn Growers Association president Garry Niemeyer of Illinois. “And hopefully we’re going to …
Getting to Know BASF’s Nevin McDougall
Nevin McDougall has been the Senior Vice President, Crop Protection for BASF North America for three years now and his face should be familiar to many in agriculture who have attended Commodity Classic during that time, but he has actually been with BASF since the American Cyanamid acquisition. “Really, with legacy company, I’ve been with BASF for 19-20 years,” he …