Billions of dollars to improve service on one of the most important railroads for grain producers looks to resolve problems that hurt the grain industry last year. Attendees of the recent American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show heard from Greg Guthrie, director of ag products for BNSF, who updated them them on a $5 billion …
AFB Women’s Leadership Program Elects Chair
Members of the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program elected Sherry Saylor, an Arizona row crop farmer, to a two-year term as chair of the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. Saylor and her husband, Rick, are partners in R&S Farms, where they grow cotton, wheat, alfalfa, and barley. Saylor, pictured here on the right with outgoing chair Terry Gilbert …
‘Farmland’ Star: Perseverance Makes All the Difference
One of the farmers featured in the documentary “Farmland” says being willing to step forward for agriculture can make all the difference when it comes to connecting with consumers about food and feeding their families. That thought comes from Georgia farmer Leighton Cooley. “We take every chance that comes along to let visitors see our farm,” Cooley told Farm Bureau …
Water Availability is Growing Concern
A growing population, increasing environmental demands and climate change are combining to pose long-term questions for water availability, especially in the western part of the United States, and California in particular. “I’m not an engineer, I don’t have a PhD, I’m just a farmer,” said California Farm Bureau president Paul Wenger during a workshop on water availability at the American …
Ag Reacts to SOTU
A freshman Senator from Red Oak, Iowa brought the Republican response to the president’s State of the Union address last night home to the farm. “As a young girl, I plowed the fields of our family farm,” said Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) during her moment to represent the new Republican majority in the Senate. “We were raised to live simply, …
Field to Market Update at AFBF
An alliance for sustainable agriculture is giving farmers, companies and ag organizations what they need to measure sustainability and meet the needs of a booming global population. During the American Farm Bureau Federation’s recent 96th Annual Convention, Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market, the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, talked about the tools available to help farmers track their progress …
Farm Bureau Supports Military Veteran Farmers
The American Farm Bureau annual meeting in San Diego featured a workshop for convention attendees on why creating effective mentorship relations for veteran farmers is so important. “Dedicated, Disciplined and Determined” highlighted some of the work of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. According to Michael O’Gorman, executive director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, a few years ago there were more than …
Next AFBF Convention in Orlando
As the 96th annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention wrapped up this week, Florida Farm Bureau president John Hoblick was welcoming members to head for the 97th in the Sunshine State. “We’re really excited about convention coming to Florida, it’s been about 12 years since we’ve been to Florida,” Hoblick said about next year’s convention in Orlando. During the business …
Foundation for Agriculture’s Book of the Year
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its eighth annual “Book of the Year” award to Margaret McNamara for “The Apple Orchard Riddle.” In this playful and humorous story, the students learn a lot about apples and apple orchards – including how apples are harvested, how cider is made, and what the different varieties of apples are – while …
AFBF Young Farmer Chair is 1st Generation
Jon Hegeman of White Plains, Alabama was elected as the new chairman of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers committee at the convention in San Diego. He will take over as chairman in February and serve for one year, also serving a one-year term on the AFBF board of directors. Hegeman and his wife Amy are first generation …