FB Challenge Moves Into Judging Phase

Lizzy Schultz

Entry submissions are now closed for the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) third annual Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge, and AFBF is pleased to announce that they have received 355 applications from 39 states. “We are ecstatic and pleased with the great applications and innovations occurring in rural communities across the country!” said Dr. Lisa Benson, AFBF’s director of rural development. “We …

AFBF, Agribusiness

Senate Advances #GMO Labeling Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Not intimidated by anti-GMO activists throwing $2000 in “Monsanto Money” on the floor, the U.S. Senate Wednesday voted 65-31 to limit debate on a bipartisan National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard that would preempt individual state laws to require labeling of foods containing genetically engineered ingredients. With cloture invoked, the Senate is expected vote on final passage as early as today. …

AFBF, ASTA, Audio, Biotech, Corn, Food

4th of July Cookout Costs Still Under $6/Person

Lizzy Schultz

An informal survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) dug into the cost of summer cookout season. The survey looked into the cost of Americans’ favorite foods for the Fourth of July, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and chocolate milk, and found that, while the food products will cost slightly more this …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Food

Industry Pleased with #GMO Labeling Compromise

Cindy Zimmerman

Leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday announced a bipartisan compromise on GMO labeling legislation in advance of the pending implementation of a state law in Vermont. “Our marketplace – both consumers and producers – needs a national biotechnology standard to avoid chaos in interstate commerce,” said Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) about the compromise reached with Ranking …

AFBF, Biotech, NCGA

Support for #RFS from @FarmBureau

Kelly Marshall

Randy Caviness was only one of many to testify before the EPA that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) must continue to operate was it was defined almost a decade ago. “EPA’s decision not to follow the intent of Congress in the 2007 RFS is highly disappointing to all of agriculture,” said Caviness, who also serves as a member of AFBF …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol

AFBF Launches Online Peanut Butter Game

Lizzy Schultz

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, along with the National Peanut Board and state peanut producer and industry organizations, have launched Operation Peanut Butter, a new online game from My American Farm. Geared for students in grades 3-5, the game allows students to follow peanuts from the field to the peanut butter on their sandwiches. “While playing Operation Peanut …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Education

Farm Bureau Celebrates Supreme Court Victory

Kelly Marshall

A unanimous Supreme Court ruling was handed down yesterday.  The law of the land says landowners may challenge the federal government and the Army Corps of Engineers over improper regulations designed to protect water. Landowners have attempted many times to challenge Corps rulings known as jurisdictional determinations, but the government successfully argued that those determinations were not “final agency actions” …

AFBF, Ag Groups, EPA, Water

Miss America Visits First Peas to the Table Winner

Kelly Marshall

Congratulations to Carrie Smith’s third-grade class for winning the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s First Peas to the Table Contest.  The third graders from Cason Lane Academy in Murfreesboro, Tennessee will soon be receiving their grand prize– a visit from Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell. Miss Cantrell joined the Foundation in launching the First Peas to the Table Contest …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Education

AFBF Concludes Farmers Want Data Control

Kelly Marshall

The American Farm Bureau Federation has released the results of a survey that shows America’s farmers and ranchers want to control their data.  The survey also showed that farmers believe a cooperative-style central repository for their information would be the best way to control security and ensure its value. “We asked our members what they thought about data, and it …

AFBF, Ag Groups, data

Ag Foundations Reach Students at USA Science Festival

Lizzy Schultz

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA) and Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation were able to provide important information about where food comes from to approximately 9,000 students and families through their booth at this year’s USA Science & Engineering Festival. The festival, held every two years, is the nation’s largest STEM education event of its kind, with total …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Beef Checkoff, Education