The 30th anniversary of Farm Aid takes place this year, and the co-founders of the concert to benefit family farmers announced this year’s show will take place on Sept. 19. Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp made the announcement at the 17th annual GRAMMY Foundation® Legacy Concert, where the GRAMMY Foundation honored Farm Aid for its ability to harness the power …
USDA Offers Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving beginning farmers and ranchers a little help getting started. This news release says $18 million in grants to educate, mentor, and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers are being made available through the the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “As new farmers and ranchers get started, they are …
NFU Accepting Applications for Beginning Farmers Institute
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is now accepting applications for its 2015 Beginning Farmers Institute (BFI). This news release from the group says the program is open to individuals who are new to farming, in the process of transferring an operation from a relative or non-relative to themselves, or contemplating a career in farming or ranching. “The Beginning Farmers Institute …
Soybean, Biodiesel Groups Blast Biodiesel Import Decision
Soybean growers and their close allies in the biodiesel industry in this country are blasting the U.S government’s decision to allow Argentinian biodiesel easier access to American markets. The American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) say the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ease sustainability requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to fast-track …
Farmers’ Data Could be Big Cash Crop
It’s said that knowledge is power, and now information could be a powerful cash crop for farmers. Attendees of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show heard from Jason Tatge, current president, CEO and co-founder of FarMobile, who sees huge potential for farmers to dictate the sale of their data to large agricultural companies. According …
Farmers Need to Talk with Consumers to Build Trust
Having good conversations with consumers will be key if farmers want to build long-term trust in today’s food system. That was the message attendees of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show heard from Charlie Arnot, CEO of the Center for Food Integrity (CFI). “Farmers are accustomed to fixing things in the next production cycle. …
FAPRI Analyst Provides Crop Outlook at AFBF
The bumper corn crop this year means lower prices for the grain, but feed demand will continue to be strong… while demand to turn grains into biofuels will stagnate. That’s the mixed bag of information attendees of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show heard from Patrick Westhoff, director of the Food and Agricultural Policy …
Grain Shippers to Benefit from Rail Investment
Billions of dollars to improve service on one of the most important railroads for grain producers looks to resolve problems that hurt the grain industry last year. Attendees of the recent American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show heard from Greg Guthrie, director of ag products for BNSF, who updated them them on a $5 billion …
Farm Foundation Forum Topic is Ag Research
Farm Foundation is sponsoring another one of its conversations on topics affecting agriculture. The next free forum, “Tools to Fund Agricultural Research,” will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., with a live audiocast also available free of charge for those who can’t be there in person. For more than a decade, constraints …
‘Farmland’ Star: Perseverance Makes All the Difference
One of the farmers featured in the documentary “Farmland” says being willing to step forward for agriculture can make all the difference when it comes to connecting with consumers about food and feeding their families. That thought comes from Georgia farmer Leighton Cooley. “We take every chance that comes along to let visitors see our farm,” Cooley told Farm Bureau …