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 …
Find the Iowa Corn Farmer at RAGBRAI
If I wasn’t getting on the agriblogging highway next week I’d like to be on RAGBRAI. Not going to happen this year. But we can enjoy the social media content that I’m sure will be coming. Iowa Corn has a unique promotion going on that’s tied in with the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa called Find the Farmer. …
Soy Checkoff Request for Referendum Results
USDA just announced the results of the request for referendum on the Soybean Research and Promotion Program. There were 355 request-for-referendum forms received, of which only 324 were valid, from Farm Service Agency offices. The 355 forms represent 0.06 percent of all eligible U.S. soybean farmers. That result falls short of the 10 percent needed to prompt a referendum. “These …
American Ethanol Winning Races
Ever since I met Ryan Hunter Reay as the driver for the Indy Team Ethanol Car I’ve been following him as his racing gets better and better. He showed it this weekend when he roared to a dramatic finish and won the Iowa Corn Indy 300, presented by Dekalb. He’s pictured here with board members of Iowa Corn. With the …
2014 Cooperative Communicators Winners Showcase
Want to see who the winners are in this year’s Cooperative Communicators Association Communications Contest? Here’s where you can see the best writing, publication, photography and more. Welcome to the 2014 Winners Showcase This showcase features all of the winning entries in this year’s CCA Communications Contest. Here you’ll find the best of the best of cooperative communications, from writing …
McCarthy’s Comments on WOTUS in Missouri
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy addressed the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City yesterday. Her goal was to defend and explain the Administration’s proposed rules defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). In a media call on Wednesday before her trip concerns were expressed from those in attendance. During her speech yesterday, she …
USFRA Seeking New Faces
The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance is seeking the newest crop of farmers and ranchers for its Faces of Farming & Ranching program. “We’re very proud of the improvements our farmers and ranchers are bringing to America’s food supply and we think it’s imperative that they have a strong voice in addressing consumer questions,” said Randy Krotz, chief executive officer …
Vetter Confirmed Speaker at USGC Annual Meeting
International trade policy, and current developments in agricultural trade with China, will be in the spotlight as recently appointed chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, Darci Vetter, addresses the U.S. Grains Council’s 54th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, July 28-30, 2014. Helping implement the North American Free Trade Agreement, resolving agricultural trade issues with …
Immigration Reform Action Day
A coalition of leading business, manufacturing, and agriculture groups – including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Partnership for a New American Economy, Business Roundtable, the American Farm Bureau Federation, AmericanHort, the National Association of Manufacturers, and Western Growers – held a Day of Action for immigration reform today. The group held a national press conference in Washington and events in …
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 …