Iowa no-till corn and soybean farmer, Rolland Schnell, was one of the many farmers from states throughout the Midwest who trekked south to Panama for the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) Aquaculture Educational Opportunity. During the event we spent a day at the Panama Canal getting a full glimpse of the important role infrastructure plays …
Letter to Trump Highlights NAFTA Successes
The recent words of Donald Trump concerning the U.S.’s withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) prompted more than 130 food and agriculture industry organizations to send a letter to the President. Members of the food and agriculture community wanted to highlight the importance of the trade agreement and to urge him to continue to build upon that success. …
U.S. Soy Meets Demand of Growing Aquaculture Industry
As the fastest growing animal protein, aquaculture is the center of conversations beyond the circle of animal agriculture. And the most common circle these days discussing aquaculture is soybean. The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) joined forces to host the 2017 Aquaculture Educational Opportunity in Panama City, Panama. U.S. soybean growers, researchers and aquaculture experts …
Strategic Communications Director Retires from FFA
Members of the FFA community will miss Bill Stagg, 40 year director of strategic communications of the National FFA Organization. Stage has announced that he will retire at the end of this month. He has been with the National FFA Organization since November of 1978, dedicating his life to the motto “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living …
Most Ag Groups Pleased with Ag Secretary Choice
The agriculture industry had to wait until right up to the end to learn Trump’s choice for Secretary of Agriculture, but now that he’s nominated former Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue, the agriculture groups seem generally pleased. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association calls him “an excellent pick” to head USDA. “As a lifelong agri-businessman and veterinarian, as well as the two-term governor …
U.S. & Cuba Trade Workshop at #AFBF17
Cuba has become a near and dear topic for me since visiting the country a few months ago with fellow ag media. The people of Cuba are eager to normalize relations with their big neighbor to the North opening trade and opportunities for U.S. agriculture. During the 2017 American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show experts gathered …
Food Safety Rule Session at #AFBF17
Bob Ehart, senior policy and science advisor with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), spoke to farmers and ranchers during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2017 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show on the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). NASDA and AFBF simply want to ensure farmers have the tools needed to meet these …
Alltech Selected to Host ARC Intern
The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) has announced Alltech will host the ARC intern in the spring and summer of this new year. ARC member Susanna Elliott of Alltech plans, among other traditional duties, to utilize the intern to assist with communications efforts surrounding its ONE: Alltech Ideas Conference, an event that attracts more than 3,000 leaders in agriculture from nearly …
2016 NCGA Corn Contest Winners Announced
This year’s entires into the National Corn Growers Association 2016 National Corn yield Contest showed some of the highest results ever, with a record five entries surpassing the 400 bushel per acre mark. Six production categories mean there is no overall winner, but the top three entries in each of the six categories averaged more than 375 bushels per acre. When …
4-H and AFBF Partner for Ag Education
The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National 4-H Council have announce a new partnership to support agricultural education. The partnership will highlight the impact of agriculture on our everyday lives, as well as encourage youth to be excited about the industry and empower them with opportunities to improve the world around them. “For more than a century, 4-H has …