Kenna Lewis, a senior at Cal Poly San Lois Obispo, was named the American Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Collegiate Discussion Meet winner. The meet, designed to simulate a committee meeting to exchange ideas and find solutions to a topic of concern to agriculture, was held last week at the #ShowMeYFR Annual Leadership Conference. Lewis is currently working towards a degree …
Break the Rules at #ShowMeYFR
Lindsay Calvert of the American Farm Bureau Federation told attendees of #ShowMeYFR Annual Leadership Conference to break the rules. Not all the rules, exactly, but the rules of public speaking. Public speaking is the most commonly requested topic for Calvert, whose job is to train Farm Bureau leaders nationwide. Members want to know, how do you connect with an audience? How …
#ShowMeYFR Reaches Young Farmers & Ranchers
The American Farm Bureau Federation hosted their annual Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Missouri this weekend. According to coordinator Marty Tatman, more than 1,100 attendees gathered from across the nation to learn, network, and be inspired. “Advocacy, Leadership, and Motivation were the three key areas that the committee wanted to focus in on this year. So …
AFBF Outlines the Struggle for Crop Insurance
The American Farm Bureau Federation had the opportunity to address the 2016 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting with Congressional Relations and Senior Director, Mary Kay Thatcher. We’ll have to be on our toes this year, she said to Chuck Zimmermann about funding for crop insurance and other ag programs. There has been talk about going back to regular order, …
Enter the AFBF #iAdvocate Photo Contest
The American Farm Bureau Federation is inviting farmer and a ranchers to advocate for agriculture with the newly launched #iAdvocate campaign. To participate, message a picture of yourself holding a white board or sign with the hashtag to the Farm Bureau Promotion & Education Facebook page, along with a brief description of what you’re doing. The ten winning submissions will …
Vilsack Puts Cottonseed Decision in Hands of Congress
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reportedly informed Congress that he has no legal authority to approve a request from cotton growers that cottonseed be designated as an oilseed to qualify for farm programs. The secretary told reporters about the decision Wednesday at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture meeting in Washington DC. In response to press reports, House …
Key Issues Top Farm Bureau’s 2016 Strategic Plan
Farm Bureau’s strategic action plan for 2016 includes several key issues for agriculture, including the government’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) action, protecting farmers’ rights to use biotechnology and trade issue. This news release from the group says the policy issues are a result of deliberations by delegates to the AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention in Orlando. “We will continue …
A Zippy 500th ZimmCast
We wanted our 500th ZimmCast to be something special so we felt it appropriate to spotlight the new president of the American Farm Bureau Federation who has a name that is sure to be unforgettable – Zippy Duvall of Georgia. Yes, Zippy is a nickname, one that Duvall has had from infancy, although he is proud that he has two …
Bipartisan Child Nutrition Reauthorization Passes Senate
There’s not a lot that Republicans and Democrats can agree upon, especially in this election year, but a bipartisan bill that reauthorizes vital child nutrition programs brought them together. Senate Agriculture Committee officials say the “Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016,” reforms and reauthorizes child nutrition programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and …
Economist Reports to #AFBF16
Weak crop prices and a dramatic decline in livestock prices lead to a decrease in the 2015 farm net income, according to an economist from the Federal Reserve Bank, Nathan Kauffman. Since 2013 farm income has actually dropped by 55 percent, Kauffman recently told attendees of the American Farm Bureau Federation‘s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show. “I don’t …