National Potato Promotion Board Makes Big Updates

Kelly Marshall

The United States Potato Board is no more.  Instead the board has chosen Potatoes USA as their new business name. This new update comes as a result of a recently created mission and strategic plan to “strengthen demeaned for U.S. potatoes.”  The organization promotes potatoes in all their forms and hopes to make potatoes exciting!  Their new goals include making …

Ag Groups, Potato

Discovering FARMLAND Offers Virtual FieldTrip

Kelly Marshall

As the generations become further removed from agriculture and farms become more technologically advanced the gap between the two is ever widening.  The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and Discovery Education are working to bridge that gap with a program designed to give students a firsthand look at modern agriculture–Discovering FARMLAND.  Now the two programs are offering a live education …

Ag Groups, Education, USFRA

Two Essay Contest Winners Awarded on Ag Day

Lizzy Schultz

Another agricultural award recipient present in Washington, D.C. on National Ag Day was Emily Dougherty, one winner of the Annual Ag Day Essay Contest. The Annual Ag Day Essay Contest encourages students in 9th-12th grade to submit a written or video essay. This year’s contest theme was “Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet.” The winner of the video essay content …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, FFA, University

Meet the 2016 Charles Eastin Award Winner

Lizzy Schultz

Christina O’Brien, Norz Hill Farm, Bridgewater, NJ, was awarded the 2016 Charles Eastin Award for encouraging communications between rural and urban audiences. The award was presented at the Celebration of Agriculture Dinner held at USDA in Washington, D.C. on National Ag Day, March 15, 2016. O’Brien is involved with many organizations, keeping her focus on spreading the message of agriculture …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio

Ag Day Address from John Deere Economist

Jamie Johansen

The annual National Ag Day Celebration of Agriculture Dinner took place at the USDA building this year and Orion Samuelson graced goers with his unforgettable voice and career-long commitment to agriculture. JB Penn, Chief Economist, John Deere was honored to serve as the evenings keynote speaker, but even more humbled to be introduced by an icon in American agriculture. “We …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, John Deere

National Ag Day Meet & Mingle

Jamie Johansen

The National Ag Day Meet & Mingle Lunch took place in Washington D.C. drawing attendees to the Dirksen Senate Building for lunch and to once again hear from the legendary Orion Samuelson, WGN, who served as the events emcee. Chad Garone took to the mic representing the Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) and the 2015 class of Outstanding Young Farmers. …

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Audio, politics

Disappointment Over Senate GMO Labeling Vote

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite the best efforts of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Bill in a 48-49 vote today, blocking advancement of the legislation that would create a voluntary federal standard for labeling foods with genetically modified ingredients. Roberts expressed his disappointment at the inability to come to agreement on …

AFBF, Ag Groups, Biotech, Corn, Food, GMO, NCGA

StollerUSA Asks Producers to Farm Different

Lizzy Schultz

One of the most popular learning sessions at the 2016 Commodity Classic was StollerUSA’s “Farm Different to Break Through Yield Barriers” roundtable discussion, where a panel of growers who have seen continually increasing yields discussed specific cultural and management practices they use to increase yields. “The session is set up to have some of our growers themselves speak, instead of …

Ag Groups, Audio, Commodity Classic, Crop Protection

Agri-Pulse Presents 2016 Doan Award

Jamie Johansen

Yesterday during the Agri-Pulse Farm to Fork Politics discussion and reception the annual Doan Award was presented to Ben Nuelle, Iowa Agribusiness Farm Network. The award is sponsored by Agri-Pulse and was presented by Senator Pat Roberts from Kansas and Greg Akagi current National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) president. The Doan recognizes and encourages excellence in reporting agriculture. The …

Ag Groups, Agri-Pulse, NAFB

TPP is a Priority for SoyGrowers this Week

Kelly Marshall

The Trans-Pacific Partnership and its impact on the soybean growers of this nation is a top issue for the American Soybean Association.  Their annual spring meeting is being held this week in Washington D.C. and President Richard Wilkins has taken the opportunity to highlight what the agreement will mean to producers in a down farm economy. “We recognize that with …

Ag Groups, ASA, GMO, Trade