The Environmental Protection Agency has violated the personal privacy of tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers, according to a unanimous ruling issued Friday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in a lawsuit brought by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) over EPA’s release to environmental groups of …
New Poll Shows Strong Support for TPP Agreement
A new poll from Morning Consult shows most voters favor fair trade. Which is something the American Farm Bureau Federation said all candidates should keep in mind as a congressional vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement comes closer to reality. “Most Americans support free trade,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said, “and most farmers do, too. Exports …
USDA Assisting #Dairy Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to purchase millions of pounds of surplus cheese to aid both hungry families and dairy producers. The purchase of approximately 11 million pounds of cheese, valued at $20 million, will assist food banks and pantries across the nation, while reducing a cheese surplus that is at its highest level in 30 years. …
“Farmer of the Year” Contest Announced
Farmers’ Almanac and American Farm Bureau Federation are partnering together to recognize three farmers or ranchers as “Farmer’s Almanac Farmer of the Year.” The 200th Collector’s Edition of 2017 highlights the hard work and dedication of farmers who bring food to our tables. The edition contains their stories, along with the announcement of a contest designed to recognize some of these …
Farm Bureau Seeks Emergency Dairy Aid from USDA
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has asked the USDA to provide emergency assistance for the nation’s dairy farmers. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said AFBF supported a recent request from 61 members of Congress asking USDA to provide emergency assistance. Duvall noted the U.S. all-milk price fell to $14.50 per hundredweight in …
#GMO Disclosure Bill Signed Into Law
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is now in charge of developing a national mandatory system for disclosing the presence of bioengineered material under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, which was signed without fanfare on Friday by President Obama. USDA has formed a working group to develop a timeline for rulemaking and to “ensure an open and transparent process for …
I AM @USFRA – @FarmBureau VP Scott VanderWal
South Dakota crop and livestock farmer Scott VanderWal was elected Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) earlier this year and in that role now serves on the board of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). VanderWal is pleased with how USFRA has brought so many agricultural organizations together under one big tent to address consumer concerns …
President Expected to Sign #GMO Disclosure Bill
The U.S. House today approved the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard by a vote of 309 to 117. The legislation, which preempts individual state laws to require labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients, was passed by the Senate last week and is expected to be signed by President Obama. “I have said this is the most important food and …
AFBF Announces New CFO
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has announced that Brett Hom, a finance professional with more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, will serve as the organization’s new chief financial officer (CFO). Once he joins the staff on July 11, Hom will develop financial strategies and measure their performance in relation to the organization’s goals and objectives, …
Ag Groups Praise Senate Vote on #GMO Labeling
The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food (CFSAF), which has been actively campaigning on behalf of food and agriculture groups for a sensible national labeling standard for genetically modified foods, was one of the first organizations to praise Senate passage of the Roberts-Stabenow compromise legislation. “The Senate has provided all Americans a transparent and consistent system of disclosure that will give …