American Farm Bureau Federation director of media and advocacy training Johnna Miller conducted a workshop for members of the American Seed Trade Association during CSS 2014 on how to effectively communicate with the media. Johnna says farmers and ranchers have a great story to tell, but it’s not always easy for them to do. She hopes attendees walk away from …
Ag Groups Call for Longer Tax Extensions
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 378-46 Wednesday night to approve HR 5771, which reinstates a host of tax incentives for 2014, setting up a potential Senate vote in the coming days. The package includes items important to farmers and ranchers such as Section 179 and the biodiesel tax credit, but agricultural interests would like a more long-term solution. “Farmers …
No Agriculture in Obama Immigration Action
President Obama made good on his promise to make changes in the nation’s “broken” immigration system, but there’s no mention of agriculture or farm workers in his plan. “In practical terms, we do not expect the president’s initiative to help America’s farmers deal with the real labor challenges they face,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman in a …
Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey
Your turkey dinner this year with all the fixings is just a little bit higher this year, but still under $5 per person – something to be thankful for, indeed! The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 29th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 …
AFBF Talks Policy Issues at NAFB
New congress, WOTUS, second beef checkoff, and what to do about COOL were a few of the topics that American Farm Bureau Federation executive director for public policy Dale Moore discusses at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting last week. “We are excited that we have a lot of new leaders – seasoned leaders – coming in,” said Moore of …
Coalition Calls for Tax Extenders in Lame Duck
The Broad Tax Extenders Coalition today launched a new effort focused on the lame duck session and spearheaded by over 400 nonprofit groups, associations, and coalitions, including the American Farm Bureau Federation. The group urges Congress to work together during this end of the year session to extend, enhance, or make permanent a number of expired and expiring tax provisions …
Big Data Privacy Agreement
A coalition of major farm organizations and agriculture technology providers today announced an agreement on data privacy and security principles. The agreement was designed to encourage producers to use the full range of innovative, technology-driven tools and services to boost productivity, efficiency and profitability of agriculture with more assurance that personal data will be protected. The organizations and companies that …
Young Farmers & Ranchers to EPA: ‘Ditch the Rule!”
Producers who will be the future of agriculture are telling the federal government to keep an unpopular water rule from having a future of its own. This news release from Farm Bureau says the group’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee wants the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to ditch the proposed Waters of the U.S. …
Slight Decrease in Corn, Increase in Beans
The November crop forecast from USDA calls for a slightly lower corn crop but a slightly higher soybean crop. Corn production is now forecast at 14.4 billion bushels, just a bit lower than last month, but still three percent higher than last year, with yields now expected to average 173.4 bushels per acre. If realized, this will still be the …
Ag Groups Urge President to Reject Biofuels Cuts
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and several other agricultural sent a letter to President Obama last week asking him to intervene with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its proposed cuts in the 2014 volume obligations for the Renewable Fuel Standard. “The blending targets and the methodology in your administration’s proposed rule are already causing significant harm to the biofuel …