Several former U.S. Agriculture secretaries are calling on Congress to pass the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). This news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says TPP will create new opportunities for American-grown and American–made products in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. By opening new markets in Japan, Vietnam, and other countries, we are giving our producers access to new …
PERC Unveils Website on Propane Safety on the Farm
A new website is giving kids more information about how to be safe around propane on the farm. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) unveiled the interactive site – propanekids.com/agsafety – that includes fun and educational videos, science experiments, and activities aimed at children ages 12 and under. “Our Amazing Farm,” the latest addition to the PropaneKids.com site, features …
Farmers Union Shows Farmers’ Share of Thanksgiving Dollar
The share of your Thanksgiving meal dollar that goes toward farmers is less than 20 cents. This news release from the National Farmers Union (NFU) says that’s just a little more than the usual farmers share of nearly 16 cents of of every dollar spent on retail food items throughout the rest of the year. “Farmers and ranchers today are …
GROWMARK Becomes Partner for STEM Event
Some ag students could be better prepared to compete in the job market in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers thanks to a partnership between the Illinois Agriculture Leadership (IALP) Class of 2016 and GROWMARK. The two paired up to host a Job Interview Career Development Event for high school students from around the state on November 17, at …
USDA Looks to Expand Export Markets with MAP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has handed out the fiscal year 2016 award funds for its program for commerical export markets for U.S. goods. This agency news release says the Market Access Program (MAP) will provide more than $170 million that focuses on consumer promotion, including brand promotion for small companies and cooperatives, and is used extensively by organizations …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. Debbie Stabenow. In this week’s interview the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee discusses a challenging agricultural agenda. With time running out on the congressional calendar, Stabenow feels an urgency to find compromise on GMO labeling and COOL trade laws. Stabenow discusses a potential compromise child nutrition reform and defines the TPP …
Farm Bureau Creates ‘The Buzz’ Over Educational Game
A new educational game offered for free by Farm Bureau is creating quite the buzz about pollinators. This news release from the group says “The Buzz,” a new interactive and educational game, recently released by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, educates users on the power of pollinators and reinforces science learning expectations by having learners explore pollinator habitats …
USDA Sec & Deputy on Trade Trips to Japan & Africa
USDA’s top two officials are talking trade this week in two different regions. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is traveling to Japan Nov. 19-21, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden is going to Africa, Nov. 17-20. Secretary Vilsack will be meeting with Japanese officials to discuss the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership and the strong history of trade between the U.S. …
New Board Leadership at USFRA
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has elected new leadership. The group, which is dedicated to leading national consumer dialogue on how America’s food is grown and raised, says the vote was taken at USFRA’s annual meeting. The newly elected board leadership includes the re-election of Nancy Kavazanjian as chairwoman. Kavazanjian, a soybean farmer from Wisconsin representing the United …
Vilsack to Lead Food & Ag Delegation to Cuba
For the first time in more than 50 years, a U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will visit Cuba. Secretary Tom Vilsack, accompanied by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon and U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell of Alabama, Suzan DelBene of Washington and Kurt Schrader of Oregon, travels to Havana November 11-14, marking the first official U.S. Department of Agriculture visit to Cuba …