The National Farmers Union (NFU) wants Congress to take action on currency manipulation. In a Huffington Post guest column, NFU President Roger Johnson makes the case there needs to be enforceable language against the practice in all trade deals moving forward, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). “Currency manipulation has become our trade competitors’ favorite maneuver for skirting massive trade deals …
Borlaug Award Winner Pioneers Sustainability in Rwanda
An American working in the African nation of Rwanda is being recognized for his work in sustainability. The World Food Prize Foundation awarded its 2015 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application to Eric Pohlman, whose work with farmers has made it possible for smallholders in Rwanda and other developing African countries to escape hunger and poverty and improve …
Exploring Crop Insurance & Conservation Practices
Crop insurance provides an important risk management tool for farmers, especially in the short term. Conservation practices look to the long term to reduce farmers’ risks. Our friends at Farm Foundation will hold another one of their free forums on Thursday, Oct. 8, to examine how the relationship of crop insurance and conservation practices has evolved over the years, and …
Poll Shows Support for Change to Endangered Species Act
A new poll shows that Americans are in favor of some updates to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Farm Bureau cites a Morning Consult poll that shows most people in the U.S. believe the law is outdated and needs to be revised. The survey shows: · 63 percent of Americans support modernizing the ESA; · 62 of Americans believe the …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with ASA president Wade Cowan
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Texas farmer Wade Cowan, President of the American Soybean Association. In this interview you’ll hear a farmers perspective on global trading relationships, the threat of a government shutdown and biotech labeling legislation. Cowan spent time with the Chinese officials last week in New Orleans and is optimistic for more productive discussions between the two …
Ag Groups React to EPA Farmworker Standards Update
Ag groups are reacting to the Environmental Protection Agency’s final revisions to the Worker Protection Standard. The American Farm Bureau Federation worries the government is getting away from a science-based approach in guarding against risk. “Farm Bureau shares the agency’s desire to protect workers, but we are concerned that the agency is piling regulatory costs on farmers and ranchers that …
Corn Growers Thank Boehner for his Leadership
Speaker of the House John Boehner has announced his retirement, effective Oct. 30, 2015. The National Corn Growers Association thanked Boehner for being a friend to agriculture, with NCGA President Chip Bowling saying: “We are grateful for Speaker Boehner’s leadership in so many areas, including service on the House Agriculture Committee, and his work for a more transparent and productive …
Research Reveals Consumers’ Transparency Wants
New research is revealing consumers’ attitudes towards transparency from today’s food system. The information will be revealed at the upcoming Center for Food Integrity (CFI) Food Integrity Summit, Nov. 17-18 in New Orleans. “Transparency is no longer optional. It’s a consumer expectation for those in today’s food system,” said Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity. “We are …
CROP Hunger Walk Organizer to Receive Humanitarian Award
A man who walked so others could eat will be recognized with a humanitarian award. This news release from the World Food Prize says the Rev. Russell “Russ” Melby, a long-time Iowa organizer of Church World Service CROP Hunger Walks, will receive the 2015 Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award will be presented to the during the Iowa Hunger …
College Aggies Online Scholarship Program
College students with an interest in agriculture will have the chance to get a real education and some real money to pay for education. The Animal Agriculture Alliance is launching its College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship competition Sept. 28th. “This year’s College Aggies Online participants are really in for a rewarding experience,” said Alliance President and CEO Kay Johnson Smith. …