Winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced final general session at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 91st annual meeting. Scott and Mendy Sink of Virginia won the Excellence in Ag Award. They received a 2010 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Dodge, and free registration to the YF&R Leadership …
Justice Department Investigating Monsanto
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking information from Monsanto about the company’s soybean traits business. According to a press release from Monsanto, the Justice Department “has issued a civil investigative demand (CID) requesting information on its soybean traits business, primarily seeking a confirmation that, as Monsanto has previously indicated, farmers and seed companies will continue to have access to …
Record Crop Production in 2009
Despite weather challenges in 2009, American farmers produced record corn and soybean crops. According to USDA’s crop report out this morning, U.S. corn for grain production is estimated at a record 13.2 billion bushels, up 2 percent from the November 1 forecast, and 1 percent above the previous record of 13.0 billion bushels set in 2007. U.S. grain yield is …
YouTube Farmer New YF&R Chair for AFBF
American Farm Bureau Federation 91st Annual Meeting Photo Album A dairy farmer who is a YouTube hit with his original “Water ‘n Poo” song is the new chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Will Gilmer of Alabama was elected as by the committee as chairperson for 2010 and will take over those duties in …
Georgia Ag Commissioner Honored for Service
The longest serving agriculture commissioner in the nation was honored by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) at the annual meeting in Seattle on Monday. AFBF president Bob Stallman presented the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award to Tommy Irvin who has served as Georgia’s commissioner of agriculture since 1969. Irvin has 51 years in public service. He served in the …
Bradshaw Leaves Them Laughing
Football great Terry Bradshaw encouraged thousands of farmers and ranchers to keep smiling during an address at the 91st American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting on Monday. Bradshaw talked about his horses and owning 58 head of Angus cattle that he bought in Kansas. “I had 60 but cougars got two of them,” he said. Then he talked about his …
Farmers Exchange Ideas
American Farm Bureau Federation 91st Annual Meeting Photo Album An Illinois farmer won the top prize in the Farmer Idea Exchange competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation 91st annual meeting on Monday. Paul Berbaum of Champaign (pictured here with his wife Shirley) came up with the “Auger Dolly” to easily move an auger from place to place. As the …
AFBF President Meets the Press
In his annual press conference, American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman answered questions from reporters about every thing from climate change and animal rights to crop insurance and estate taxes. With opposition to cap and trade legislation in Congress a major focus at the meeting, Stallman was asked what kind of climate change legislation he would support. “A lot …
Farm Bureau Petition: “Don’t CAP Our Future”
Hundreds of Farm Bureau members were signing their names to a banner telling Congress “Don’t CAP Our Future” at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting in Seattle Sunday on the trade show floor. American Farm Bureau has been collecting signatures on a petition opposing the Climate Change bill being considered by Congress that they believe will create an …
#afbf10 Tweetup Number One
The first of two American Farm Bureau Federation “tweetups” was held at 3 pm in the #afbf10 annual meeting trade show. More that a dozen regular Twitter posters in the ag industry showed up at the Monsanto booth at 3 pm to meet each other in person and exchange tweeting tips. For those of you on the Twitter fringe, tweetups …