It’s time for some livestock industry forums in Ft. Collins, CO. I’m attending the first one which is the NCBA/NPPC GIPSA Rule Press Briefing. We’re in the Hilton for this session. I’ll be attending another one later this evening too. It looks like we’ve got people rolling in and the room is set up for a big crowd. Media are …
Little River Band Provides Cool Change For Commodity Classic
All right Commodity Classic. Now you’ve got my attention on the whole entertainment thing. CC just announced that the Evening of Entertainment will feature the Little River Band. Described as “the best harmony band in the world,” the Little River Band is in its thirty-fifth year of producing and performing hit making music. The group has sold over 25 million …
NCBA President Urges Piecemeal Approach To GIPSA Rule
He’s a western Illinois cattle and hog producer and also has a feed yard. He’s Steve Foglesong, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. I spoke with Steve today for our series on the proposed GIPSA rule making. The picture is Steve during a press conference at this summer’s Cattle Industry Conference. He says that when you read the proposed …
Bethany Shively Moves To NACD
Bethany Shively is on the move from her position with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Beginning this coming Monday you can find her at the National Association of Conservation Districts as their new Communications Director. Congratulations Bethany!
GIPSA Rule Hot Topic At Next USDA/DOJ Workshop
The next USDA/DOJ public workshop on competition in the livestock industry is scheduled for next week in Ft. Collins, CO, and I will be attending. The session will be held on Friday and there will be a separate session the evening before hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and National Pork Producers Council which I will also be attending. …
No-till Cotton Provides Conservation Opportunity
During the Conservation in Action Tour one of our farm stops was the Carter Farm where we met Jon Black (pictured left). He gave us a presentation on no-till cotton which he is standing in. I caught up to him on the phone afterward since we didn’t have time for an interview there. Jon says continuous no-till farming is the …
Corn Farming While Protecting The Environment
Not all the farmers I met during the Conservation in Action Tour were making presentations. One of them was Wayne Kirby, Virginia corn farmer and Chairman of the Virginia Corn Board. Wayne says a lot of people are interested in agriculture in their area and especially what’s happening with the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. Wayne says he’s glad to be …
Representing Diverse Farm Interests In Chesapeake Bay Area
One of our Conservation in Action Tour bus speakers was Katie Kyger Frazier, V.P. Public Affairs, Virginia Agribusiness Council. Her group represents agriculture and forestry interests on the state level with over 40 different commodity organizations as members. She says that farmers unify around what’s best for the industry and the Chesapeake Bay area restoration project has really brought diverse …
Precision Ag Evangelist
Harold Reetz is one of the board members for the Conservation Technology Information Center and has formed Reetz Agronomics. I spoke to him following the CTIC board meeting. He says he just retired after 28 years with the International Plant Nutrition Institute. But he’s not retired from working. In my interview you’ll hear about some other things he’s involved in. …
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship System
Representing The Fertilizer Institute on the Conservation in Action Tour was Kathy Mathers, V.P. of Public Affairs. I spoke to Kathy during the Conservation Technology Information Center board meeting that followed the tour to Nutrient stewardship is on the top of the list for TFI according to Kathy. She says they’re promoting the 4R Nutrient Stewardship System which means using …