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 …
NCBA Concerns About Beef Checkoff
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met earlier this week with the Beef Checkoff working group and reportedly told them he’s planning on implementing a new checkoff program for the industry by January, 2016. The action would be taken under the 1996 Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act, also called the “generic checkoff act,” and would be separate from and in addition …
My American Farm App
If you want to play My American Farm on your smartphone or tablet, there’s a new app for that. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has released a new version of its popular My American Farm app for iPads, Android tablets and Kindle Fire. The app is available for download on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon. The new version …
House Says Whoa to WOTUS
While everyone else in the world was watching the new Apple products roll out Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives was rolling over a proposed rule that would greatly expand regulation of waters in the United States. A parade of Congressional representatives from both parties spoke up for the bill that would stop the controversial rule proposed by the Environmental …
Quick AFBF Washington Update
While at the John Deere 2014 product launch this week, Chuck spent some time with American Farm Bureau Federation Congressional Affairs specialist Mary Kay Thatcher, who was along for the ride. At my request, he got an update from Mary Kay about what she expects Congress to do before the election, what Farm Bureau’s number one concern is right now, …