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 …
Farm Bureau’s Women in Ag Survey to Gauge Goals, Needs
Farm Bureau wants to know more about the goals, aspirations, achievements and needs of women in American agriculture. That’s why the group’s Women’s Leadership Program has launched the “Women in Ag” survey for all women who are farmers, ranchers, farm/ranch employees, employed in agricultural businesses, pursuing ag-related higher education or supportive of agriculture in other ways. “This comprehensive survey is …
Election Aftermath Thoughts
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) may well speak for all of America with its statement following Election Day 2014 – Time to Get to Work! “Washington may look different come January, but fundamentally, things have not really changed,” said NCGA president Chip Bowling of Maryland. “There is no sign that the gridlock of the past few years will diminish. …
Make Your Voice Count – VOTE!
It’s Election Day and we all have a lot at stake with current issues facing the industry, including farmers and ranchers. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says voting is not only a right but a duty for America’s farmers. If you haven’t voted yet, make sure you do – if you have, good for you!!!
Farm Bureau Opens Online Registration for Convention
The American Farm Bureau Federation has opened online registration for its 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 10-14, 2015, in San Diego. “The 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show offers a preview of the future of agriculture,” said John Hawkins, AFBF’s senior director of conventions and events. “The IDEAg Connect Conference, thought-provoking educational workshops, and precision agriculture …