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, …
Farmer Veteran Coalition to Hold Stakeholders Conference
Organizations that support military veterans pursuing food, farming, and agricultural careers will gather in November to hold a stakeholders conference. The event will be hosted by the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC), in coordination with the Drake University Agricultural Law Center (ALC), November 14-15, 2014 at Drake University Olmsted Center in Des Moines, Iowa. The conference is being held to “empower …
C’mon Let’s Ditch the Rule, Okay?
American Farm Bureau Federation has just published an animated video that helps describe what this whole Ditch the Rule campaign is all about. The two-and-a-half minute movie explores how EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed “Waters of the U.S.” rule is regulatory overreach and unnecessary. “This video offers a fresh take on a serious subject of concern to …
IDEAg Fests Coming up in August
The IDEAg Minnesota Farmfest and IDEAg Dakotafest are both coming up in the month of August and both offer new and improved media facilities. Farmfest is scheduled for Aug. 5-7, at the Gilfillan Estate in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, and Dakotafest is Aug. 19-21, at Schlaffman Farm in Mitchell, South Dakota. They are two of the IDEAg branded farm shows that …
Farm Groups Dissatisfied with WOTUS Explanations
Despite increased efforts by Environmental Protection Agency officials to explain and defend the proposed Waters of the United States rule, farm groups continue to have concerns. The American Farm Bureau Federation this week sent Congress a comprehensive document that responds to inaccurate and misleading comments made about the rule by EPA acting assistant administrator for water Nancy Stoner in a …
Ag Groups Take Issue with Interpretive Rule
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy’s promise that under the proposed rules defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA) “all normal farming practices are exempt – period” may be falling on deaf ears in the agriculture community. McCarthy is visiting Missouri this week to explain the proposed rules but she faces an uphill battle from the …
EPA Wants to “Ditch the Myths” About WOTUS
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy held a conference call with media this morning in advance of her trip to Missouri this week to talk about the proposed Waters of the United States rule, or WOTUS. “I’m hoping that this trip helps us ‘ditch the myths’ and misinformation,” said McCarthy in an obvious reference to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s …