Since the renegotiation of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement in 2010, private crop insurance company returns have significantly decreased, says a new study by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Current returns are inline with standard established by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, averaging around 1.5 percent- a decrease of 12.6 percentage points. “The federal crop insurance program is the cornerstone …
2017 Golden ARC Awards Contest is Open
The Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) has announced this year’s Golden ARC Awards contest is now open and public relations professionals may submit their 2016 work by April 15, 2017. Entries may be submitted in their entirety through the online portal with an entry fee of $175. Both ARC members and nonmembers are eligible, but non-member prince is and additional $190 …
Soybean Growers: Crop Protection Pays Off
While weed and pest management remains a priority for growers across the country, the latest and most comprehensive crop protection technologies are not cheap to purchase or implement, and many growers have begun to question whether or not it’s going to be possible to see returns on the costs associated with seed treatments, especially with prices remaining so low. Shawn …
Engaging Urban Youth in Ag
Engaging youth in agriculture is an important part of fueling the future of the industry, and a presentation surrounding this necessary, complex concept took the spotlight during the 2017 Bayer #AgVocacy Forum last week. One of the presenters was Bev Flatt, a young farmer from Tennessee who seeks to share her passion and knowledge of farming with other young people. …
The AgLaunch Startup Station Debuts at #MSFGS17
A new program that debuted during the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show was the AgLaunch Startup Station. This idea caught my eye as an entrepreneur and AgNerd because the potential for new technologies and startup companies is huge, I tell you, HUGE. I sat down with Pete Nelson, Chairman/CEO, Ag Innovation Development Group, to learn about the AgLaunch innovation platform. …
USFRA Offers Unique 360˚ Look at Farming
At the recent South Beach Wine & Food Festival, a national event showcasing the talents of some of the world’s most renowned chefs and culinary personalities, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) shared a one-of-a kind experience with event goers. Through USFRA’s new 360-degree video, which utilizes a virtual reality (VR)-style headset, booth visitors had a chance to experience life …
Host Organizations Address #Classic17
National Sorghum Checkoff Program opened Commodity Classic with a big announcement– their partnership with DuPont Pioneer has yielded results. “Today I’m pleased to share with you that, as a result of that partnership, we’ve made a discovery that is the first step, the first hurdle cleared in accelerating the sorghum breeding process,” said Cleve Franks, sorghum research scientist at DuPont Pioneer. …
Funding the Next Ag Food Revolution
There is no question that the world is entering a new agricultural food revolution, with new technological innovations remaining necessary in order to solve the many current and future problems facing global food security and sustainability. Several panelists were brought in during the 2017 Bayer #AgVocacy Forum to discuss how the industry is going to be able to fund the …
House Ag Committee Chair to Speak at Classic
U.S. Congressman Mike Conaway, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, will give an address at Commodity Classic on Friday, March 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Conaway represents 29 counties in the 11th congressional district of Texas– his native state. He also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Premanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “We are …
Ag Groups & Ethanol Discuss Common Ground
At the National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen sat down with representatives from the corn and livestock industries to talk about the current state of the farm economy, the policy impact of historic surpluses, and moving past food versus fuel. Dinneen discussed common ground with National Corn Growers Association CEO Chris Novak and National …