April is Community Banking Month, and the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) is celebrating the nation’s community banks for their unparalleled role in helping America grow by lending to local farmers, ranchers and agricultural enterprises and serving as financial first responders to the agricultural economy. “Community banks are essential to the overall health and financial success of rural America …
USDA: Number of Organic Producers Hits Record
The number of organic producers in the U.S. has hit a record. This news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says there are 19,474 certified organic operations in the United States and a total of 27,814 certified organic operations around the world. According to data released by the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), the number …
RFD Radio Network Moves Frazer to Director Position
Illinois-based RFD Radio Network (RFDRN) moves Rita Frazer to Director of Network and Audio Services, as the company gets ready to say goodbye to a retiring Alan Jarand. This news release posted on AgriMarketing.com says Frazer will oversee all RFDRN operations, including programming and affiliate relations for the network and FarmWeekNow.com/RFDRN digital platforms that include its mobile app, daily e-newsletter, …
Elanco ‘HATCHes’ Egg Plan to Fight Hunger
Elanco has teamed up with the Kroger Co.’s Central Division, Rose Acre Farms, Gleaners Food Bank and Midwest Food Bank to help fight hunger by providing eggs to undernourished people of all ages. This company news release says HATCH is an innovative partnership of community leaders, government officials, association representatives and food shoppers that will provide one egg to a …
Coolbean the Soybean Teaches Science
A new e-book is teaching kids to think likes scientists. Coolbean the Soybean, now available as an interactive book for grades 3-5, helps children learn about agronomic, crop and soil sciences. Author Shawn Conley is an agronomy professor and the Soybean and Wheat Extension Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I wanted to develop a fun, yet educational, tool to …
COTTON USA Campaign Shows Everyone Loves Cotton
COTTON USA shows that everyone loves cotton in its new global advertising campaign. This year’s campaign has the slogan “I Love My Cotton” and cast five individuals from different corners of the globe, wearing cotton in different ways. “These portraits reflect the authenticity and passion unique to COTTON USA: the singular mark that symbolizes purity of fiber, quality of fabric …
Farm Bureau: Food Prices Up About 1%
Shoppers are paying a bit more for their groceries this spring. A new survey from Farm Bureau shows that meat and orange juice are the biggest contributors to an increase of 60 cents of a $53.87 grocery bill on 16 food items, or about of 1 percent, in the group’s Spring Picnic Marketbasket survey. “Several meat items increased in price, …
Commodity Prices Greatest Challenge Facing Farmers
A new poll of farm credit leaders says commodity prices are the greatest challenge facing farmers in 2015. This news release from AgriBank says weather and the Farm Bill are also near the top of the list of challenging issues for ag producers. More than 61 percent of the directors — from the boards of 17 Farm Credit lenders in …
Farmland Wins PR Week’s Campaign of the Year Award
The FARMLAND documentary took top billing in the PR Week Awards’ Arts, Entertainment & Media Campaign of the Year category during the awards ceremony in New York last week. The awards recognize creative excellence in public relations programming and are viewed by the public relations industry as one of the highest honors. The national film release was supported and led …
Growers Sought for Sorghum Checkoff Board
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board will have four positions become vacant at the end of this year, including two positions from Kansas and the other two from an at-large seat and the other a Texas sorghum grower. As organizations in Kansas certified to nominate producers to serve on the Board, the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers …