Thanks to @AFBFMace (Mace Thornton, American Farm Bureau Federation) we’re getting some information from the Farm Foundation Forum on Animal Welfare as it relates to Production Agriculture. The session this morning in Washington, DC has started as you can see from his Blackberry photo. Here’s who’s on the program: Paul Shapiro, Senior Director of the Humane Society of the United …
Founding Farmers Founded By Farmers
When you go to any type of farm meeting you can be pretty sure you’ll be fed well. NAFB’s Washington Watch is no different. This year we all were treated to a fine meal at Founding Farmers. At Founding Farmers we believe that everyone benefits by knowing more about the source of the food they eat. We understand the journey …
Soybean Request For Referendum Starts Today
A request for referendum campaign kicks off today on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. USDA is conducting it and producers have four weeks to participate. According to the United Soybean Board: The request for referendum will determine whether U.S. soybean producers want a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act …
Water Quality and Climate Protection
These smiling faces are (l-r) Dennis Nuxoll, Director of Government Relatisons, Jim Baird, Mid-Atlantic States Director and Jennifer Morrill, Director of Media Relations, American Farmland Trust. They were smiling at the NAFB Washington Watch Issues Forum. I asked what’s new at AFT. Jim started out by saying, “We’re the No Farms/No Food people.” He says that people are waking up …
USCP Selects Broadhead + Co
To help it build domestic demand the United Sorghum Checkoff Program has selected Broadhead + Co to launch a new campaign. As part of these efforts, Broadhead + Co will provide domestic marketing strategy for the new sorghum checkoff program. Initially work will focus on growing the use of sorghum for ethanol and as well as opening new edible-uses markets …
A-FAN Asks NAFB To Help Tell Farmer’s Story
Roger Berry is Field Director for the Alliance For The Future of Agriculture in Nebraska. He was one of our luncheon speakers here at the NAFB Washington Watch today. Roger’s presence was very timely when you consider some of the things going on in Nebraska and in Washington, DC right now that are affecting farming. I spoke with Roger after …
Swine Flu Links
It is a beautiful day in Washington, DC. Glad to make it finally. The Potomac River was lined with people out biking, walking, boating and having a picnic. I couldn’t resist a short run out on the Mall in front of our Nation’s Capitol. The WX Channel said 92 degrees when I landed. That’s hotter than I’ve been in since …
Lamb Checkoff Program Passes By 85%
Over 85% is the approval percentage of lamb producers, feeders, seedstock producers, and first handlers of lamb and lamb products who voted in a national referendum, Feb. 2-27, 2009, and approved the continuation of the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order, commonly known as the Lamb Checkoff Program. Of the 1,971 valid ballots cast, 1,678 or 85.1 percent favored the …
Farmer Tweets
Just in case you’re wondering if your company should be involved in social media, let me give you another example. This comes from Iowa Farm Bureau. It’s all about a farmer who’s on Twitter to help promote agriculture. I’m really glad to see how Farm Bureau is getting into the online conversation. In fact, I’ll be speaking to their gathering …
Virgil Smail Executive Director of USCP
Virgil Smail has been named the Executive Director of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. With a strong history of industry and commodity association management, Smail will bring great experience and leadership to the USCP. As President and CEO of the American Institute of Baking, Smail was responsible for drastically expanding institute programs and worked with a Board of Directors representing …