During events at the 2012 World Food Prize taking place in Des Moines, DuPont announced an enhancement to the Global Food Security Index that was commissioned by DuPont and developed by the Economist Intelligience Unit (EIU). The tool was designed to capture the impact of changes in global food prices at the national level. In response to the rising cost …
Iowa Hunger Directory Unvield at WFP
To kick of the 2012 World Food Prize in Des Moines, the 6th annual Iowa Hunger Summit took place. The summit brings attention to issues related to hunger, poverty and malnutrition and is the largest gathering of hunger related organizations based in Iowa. During the luncheon portion of the event, Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad designated October 16 as Dr. …
Report on Global Agricultural Productivity
Today the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) released its 3rd annual Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report) during the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. The GAP Report details efforts to increase global agricultural productivity, and notes that despite gains, it may not be enough especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and other regions to meet demand. During a …
Bayer and the Bees
When a honey bee lands on a flower, she is helping to feed the world. Didn’t really think about it like that did you? In fact, honey bees are vital to agriculture and our food supply, and many bee populations have been dwindling at an alarming rate. This is why Bayer CropScience has launched a program to save the bees. …
NCGA’s Request for RFA Waiver Comment Period Extension Granted
In response to a request by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a 15 day extension of the comment period on the requests for a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). NCGA filed for an extension on August 30, 2012 and applauded EPA’s decision. The waiver was requested so corn growers and other energy crop farmers …
AFBF and NFU Heads to MC Farm Bill Now Rally
Two agricultural organizations that are often on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to policy will be the leaders of this week’s Farm Bill Now rally in the nation’s capitol. The presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union will join together as masters of ceremony for the rally on Wednesday, September 12, at 11:00 …
Join the Farm Bill Now Coalition Rally in DC
As Congress gets back to work this week, the Farm Bill Now Coalition is ramping up for a rally the morning of September 12, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. With 46 groups and growing, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Pam Johnson of Floyd, Iowa said the rally is building on the momentum of the past …
Syngenta Promotes Safety Benefits of Atrazine
Have you visited the Oasis yet? Syngenta recently launched the website “Saving the Oasis” to promote the safety of using atrazine. During the Farm Progress Show, Cindy Zimmerman caught up with Ann Bryan of Syngenta to learn more about the campaign. The website features several documentaries: “Atrazine and Water,” “Atrazine and Safety,” and “Atrazine and Food Safety”. The goal of the …
Key Tips for 2013 Growing Season
There was a lot of talk during the Farm Progress Show this year about the epic drought and how it was impacting growers across the country. Brent Wilson, DuPont Pioneer technical services manager, was out interacting with growers and when talking with them heard quite often that they just want to put the epic drought of 2012 behind them. That …
Become a Carbon Farmer
Do you ever sit around your kitchen table and contemplate other crops you might like to grow? Here is a novel idea – grow carbon. What you ask? Growers across the country are becoming carbon farmers as highlighted in the documentary film Carbon Nation. The film touts itself as a “climate change solutions movie that doesn’t even care if you …