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. …
Disappointment Over Senate GMO Labeling Vote
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 …
StollerUSA Asks Producers to Farm Different
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 …
Agri-Pulse Presents 2016 Doan Award
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 …
TPP is a Priority for SoyGrowers this Week
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 …
CTIC Hosting Summer Tour In Idaho
The team at the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) was on hand during the 2016 Commodity Classic, using the event as an opportunity to spread the word about their search for a new Executive Director, as well as their upcoming Conservation in Action Tour. The CTIC board of directors is searching for a new executive director, as former director Karen …
GMO Answers Stands Up For Science
The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the controversial legislation surrounding GMO labeling were hot discussion topics at the 2016 Commodity Classic, with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressing the issue during the event, as well as several commodity groups. In the trade show, the Council for Biotechnology Information (CBI) had a booth dedicated to GMO Answers, an …
AFBF Asks Courts to Stop Sage Grouse Overreach
The American Farm Bureau Federation together with the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, the Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association have petitioned the court to stop the federal use of land management to exclude millions of acres from grazing. Currently these lands are being used for only one purpose, to provided habitats for the greater sage grouse, despite …
Soil Health Partnership Participation Explodes
Twenty-five more farms have joined in on the groundbreaking research effort from Soil Health Partnership (SHP) that could change the way farmers take care of their land. SHP works to test and measure farm management practices that improve soil health, such as growing cover crops, practicing conservation tillage like no-till or strip-till, and using sophisticated nutrient management techniques. The program’s …
The Great Grain Marketing Debate
Grain marketing was at the center of many educational sessions during the 2016 Commodity Classic, as the stressful state of the economy has made it imperative for farmers to have a clear understanding of grain marketing. One session at this year’s event, the Great Grain Marketing Debate, offered attendees a valuable panel discussion on grain marketing strategies for 2016. One …