NPPC Calls Proposed GIPSA Rule a “Disaster”

Cindy Zimmerman

Go to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) homepage and you will see a prominent link to information about the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule with the bold headline “Proposed GIPSA Rule a Disaster.” Strong words from the organization, but that is how many producers feel about the rule that they believe will limit their ability …

Audio, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, Pork, USDA

NCBA Urges Producer Comment on GIPSA Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is urging all producers, from the biggest to the smallest, to get engaged in the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule and make their voices heard. “Every producer should be concerned because the trickle down effect from everything that’s going to result from this rule is going to impact the way we …

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA

Vote for Your Fav Farmer’s Market

Cindy Zimmerman

Have you cast your vote for your favorite farmer’s market yet? American Farmland Trust (AFT) is tracking the votes for its America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest with an online leader-board of the top 20 markets in each of four categories. The lists of boutique, small, medium and large markets track up-to-the-minute results during the final month of voting, which closes …

Farming

GIPSA Rule Causes Concern For Pork Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

When Iowa hog farmer Sam Carney got his first look at the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule released on June 22, he was shocked. “I thought it would be something to get rid of vertical integration,” Sam says. “And to me, this is just something that looks like they’re encouraging vertical integration.” Sam is president of …

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, Pork, Poultry, USDA

GIPSA Rule Could Set Beef Industry Back 25 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

At least one pure bred Angus breeder is concerned that the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule could set the beef industry back 25 years. Bill Rishel of North Platte, Nebraska is president of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association and owner of Rishel Angus. He’s among the nation’s top Angus breeders and was one of the first to …

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA

Cattle Producer Wants Long Term Analysis of GIPSA Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

Will cattle producers be helped or hurt by the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) regulation that is intended to provide protection for producers against unfair, fraudulent or retaliatory practices in the livestock business? That is the question that many in the cattle business are asking now, less than two months after the rule was proposed. Many of …

Audio, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA, Video

Meat Meets Colbert

Cindy Zimmerman

A word of advice to agricultural lobbyists – throw your media training out the window if you agree to do an interview with Stephen Colbert. American Meat Institute President J. Patrick Boyle was the main dish Tuesday night on the Colbert Nation “Know Your Lobby” segment, which profiles lobbying organizations. “Although I’ve had a lot of tough interviews in my …

Food, Media

Cattle Feeder Concerned With GIPSA Proposed Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) proposed rule that was published in June is causing quite a bit of concern among cattle feeders, who would be impacted right along with every other aspect of the meat and poultry industry. I talked about the issue with Jerry Bohn, general manager of Pratt Feeders in Kansas, who will be taking …

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA

Register for Export Exchange

Cindy Zimmerman

Registration is now open for the Export Exchange 2010, an international trade conference focused around the export of U.S. coarse grains and the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The event is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association and the U.S. Grains Council and will bring together more than 150 international buyers of U.S. DDGS and coarse grains …

Ethanol, Grains, RFA, USGC

Busy BASF

Cindy Zimmerman

Playing catch-up here on news from the past week out of BASF Crop Protection First, the company recently released “Top Plots: Episode 2” starring award-winning corn and soybean farmer Gary Porter of Mercer, Missouri. In the video, Porter shares how he began farming with his father in the 1970’s in an area not known for deep fertile crop ground – …

BASF