Farmers Present Case for Immigration Reform

Cindy Zimmerman

The Partnership for a New American Economy and the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform released a report Tuesday entitled “No Longer Home Grown: How Labor Shortages are Increasing America’s Reliance on Imported Fresh Produce and Slowing U.S. Economic Growth.” The report found that the share of fresh fruits and vegetables imported and consumed by American families has grown by almost …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio, labor

Best Food Facts Web Widget Available

Chuck Zimmerman

The Center for Food Integrity has created a new widget that can be used on any website to help people get answers to food questions. You can see how one version of the widget looks at the bottom of this post. I just submitted one about roast beef and got this immediate answer. I’ll update this post when I get …

Ag Groups, Food

Randy Krotz Appointed CEO of USFRA

Chuck Zimmerman

Congratulations to our good friend Randy Krotz. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) announced that its board of directors has appointed Randy Krotz as chief executive officer, effective immediately. A recognized leader in the agribusiness community and active on his family farm in Kansas, Krotz joined USFRA as vice president of development in 2013 and most recently served as …

Ag Groups, USFRA

AgChat Foundation Searching for Executive Director

Chuck Zimmerman

The AgChat Foundation is looking for a new Executive Director. Interested? Better know your agricultural social media stuff! “Retiring” from the position is the first AgChat Foundation ED, Emily Zweber. “Since her hiring in 2011, Emily Zweber has been a crucial member of our team here at AgChat, serving as our Executive Director. During her tenure, she has been a …

Ag Groups

Vote now – Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a chance to support young agricultural bloggers. It’s the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition or YoBloCo Awards. The entries are all in and it’s time for the public to vote. It’s a very simple process too. You can vote here. The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), in collaboration with FARA, Yam-Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, SPC, …

Ag Groups, Farming, International, Social Networking

Florida Dairy Farmers Release New iPad App

Jamie Johansen

Kids, adults and educators alike can now learn about dairy farming in an exciting way through the Florida Dairy Farmers new iPad app, SunnyBell’s Florida Dairy Farm Adventure. The free app that can be downloaded from iTunes, is a fun, interactive romp through a Florida dairy farm. SunnyBell – a little calf who longs to be an important part of …

Ag Groups, Apps, Dairy

Grassley and Ag Reject Japan’s TPP Offer

Cindy Zimmerman

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) took time between votes today to join with several agricultural organizations and voice strong opposition to Japan’s negotiating position in the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership to exclude a number of agricultural products as part of a final agreement. “Japan seems to believe that they’re entitled to keep five sacred agriculture products off the table,” said Grassley, who …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, NCBA, Pork, Trade, Wheat

NCGA CEO to Retire

Cindy Zimmerman

After 14 years of leading the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), CEO Rick Tolman has decided it’s time to retire – so take a good look at this photo here because it was the last Commodity Classic for Rick as CEO. The announcement was made today from NCGA that Rick told the NCGA Corn Board earlier this week that he …

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, NCGA

Fresh Produce Sales Up in 2013

Jamie Johansen

United Fresh Produce Association released the 2013 Year in Review edition of the FreshFacts® on Retail report, which examines overall retail trends in produce for the past year. The report shows that during 2013, the produce department averaged more than $47,000 per week per store, which was up 4.8 percent over the previous year. The FreshFacts® on Retail report, produced …

Ag Groups, Food, Produce, Vegetables

Ag Leaders Set to Speak at Indoor Ag Conf.

Jamie Johansen

The second annual Indoor Agriculture Conference, May 14 – 15, 2014, not only highlights some of the industry’s top technological advances, it also offers attendees access to its top professionals. Speaking on subjects ranging from window farming to food security and lighting systems, the Indoor Agriculture Conference features two full days of education on controlled environment technologies, aero/hydro/aquaponic best practices …

Ag Groups, Events