Food and agricultural policy organization AGree sent a letter to Senators Monday urging them to pass the immigration reform bill approved by the Judiciary Committee in order to provide a stable workforce for American agriculture. The bill “presents a huge opportunity for foreign-born agricultural workers who want to build a better future for themselves and their families and for American …
World Pork Expo Turns 25
This week we celebrate the silver anniversary of World Pork Expo, the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, presented by the National Pork Producers Council. Nearly 20,000 pork producers and industry representatives from 39 countries will be in Des Moines this week for the 2013 World Pork Expo. “If you’re looking for products, technology or information, World Pork Expo is the …
Beef Ambassadors Helping Fuel the Team
Team Beef members compete in a variety of activities like the Boston Marathon which demonstrate the value of beef as a nutrition source. In addition to Team Beef members competing in Boston this year, the National Beef Ambassadors were also on hand. I was very glad to learn that our Ambassadors had left shortly before the tragedy that happened there …
Last Call to Apply for 2013 Agvocacy 2.0 Conference
Today is your last day to send in an application for the coolest conference on how to agvocate – the 2013 National AgChat Agvocacy 2.0 Conference. Actually, it’s really the only conference all about agvocating! Can you believe this is the 4th Annual? And it’s going to be “the best ever.” During the Alltech International Symposium I spoke with @DairyCarrie …
Reaction to COOL Decision
USDA has issued the final rule for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), including an amendment to the regulations for muscle cut covered commodities derived from animals slaughtered in the United States. The decision pleased some livestock organizations, but disappointed others. “We are deeply disappointed with this short-sighted action by the USDA,”said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Scott George. …
USFRA Seeking CEO
Here’s a challenge that one of you may be interested in. The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) Board of Directors has announced that it is seeking qualified candidates for a newly approved organizational and staff leadership position, chief executive officer. Prospective candidates may obtain information regarding USFRA and a position description by sending a confidential inquiry to CEOSearch@USFRAonline.org. Applicants …
2013 Agvocacy 2.0 Conference Application Deadline
The deadline is approaching fast for applications to the 2013 Agvocacy 2.0 Training Conference. It’s going to be in Charlotte, NC, August 22-23. I visited with AgChat Foundation Executive Director, Emily Zweber, pictured second from right with our panel group from last week’s Farm Credit Idea Share. She told me about the application process and encourages farmer and ranchers to …
Farm Bill Now?
Last year the rallying cry of agricultural organizations for a “Farm Bill Now” fell on deaf ears in Congress, but this week’s actions by both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to pass a bill is leading to new hope that it might finally happen. “This provides a great reason for optimism we will have a new long-term farm bill …
Senate Farm Bill Markup Today
The Senate Agriculture Committee meets this morning to consider the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, their version of a “Farm Bill.” Yesterday, farm broadcasters meeting in Washington D.C. had the chance to interview a number of representatives from various agricultural and renewable fuels organizations and most of them had something to say about what the House and …
Smartphone Apps to Manage Herd Records
Who would have thought just a few years ago that seeing farmers in the field managing information with their phones would be common place? As this video clip from Certified Angus Beef shows, mobile devices are embraced by farmers and besides helping save them time they are also helping their consumer customers have more confidence in the food they produce. …