Next week, February 20-27, more than half a million students will celebrate the role of agriculture in our daily lives. National FFA Week encourages students to raise awareness and share the message of agriculture throughout the country. The week, chosen to encompass George Washington’s birthday, runs Saturday to Saturday. The weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, was designated by the …
USB Educates Growers on Global Markets
The United Soybean Board (USB) invites soybean farmers with a desire to take a look at their customers beyond the elevator and to learn more about the soy checkoff’s role in marketing U.S. soy, to take part in their See for Yourself program. Tina Holst, Chilston, Wisconsin soybean farmer, took advantage of this opportunity last year and I caught up …
ACA Names Christina O’Brien as Award Recipient
Christina O’Brien has been an outstanding advocate for agriculture and now she is being recognized for her efforts. The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is awarding her the Charles Eastin Award for 2016. This award is for an individual who works to accurately communicate between rural and urban audiences. She will be honored at a Celebration of Agriculture Dinner at …
Break the Rules at #ShowMeYFR
Lindsay Calvert of the American Farm Bureau Federation told attendees of #ShowMeYFR Annual Leadership Conference to break the rules. Not all the rules, exactly, but the rules of public speaking. Public speaking is the most commonly requested topic for Calvert, whose job is to train Farm Bureau leaders nationwide. Members want to know, how do you connect with an audience? How …
Our Important Voice
From the time Roger Rickard was 13 years old he was driven by causes and has been politically minded ever since. His experiences along the way lead him to start Voices in Advocacy and write a book, “7 Actions of Highly Effective Advocates.” He brought his expertise to the stage addressing attendees of the 2016 National Young Farmers & Ranchers …
#ShowMeYFR Reaches Young Farmers & Ranchers
The American Farm Bureau Federation hosted their annual Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Missouri this weekend. According to coordinator Marty Tatman, more than 1,100 attendees gathered from across the nation to learn, network, and be inspired. “Advocacy, Leadership, and Motivation were the three key areas that the committee wanted to focus in on this year. So …
New T5 Series Debuts At #NMFS16
The T5 tractor series from New Holland has been re-engineered for 2016, and two brand new models were debuted at the 2016 National Farm Machinery Show. Todd Debock, New Holland Brand Marketing Manager, was on hand during the show to give a detailed tour of the new tractors, as well as a thorough overview of the customizable features available with …
WOTUS Strikes Back
Farmers and ranchers will need the force to be with them as the EPA has struck back with an even more extreme version of the Waters of the U.S. Rule. Known as the Chesapeake Blueprint, the new rules will severely regulate and burden farms, possibly removing thousands of acres from production agriculture. The American Farm Bureau Federation is once again …
New Holland Ag Introduces PLM RTK+
During this week’s National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, New Holland formally introduced the PLM RTK+ correction program, the first cellular-delivered RTK correction signal on the market, and several representatives were on-hand to discuss the diverse array of features and benefits this technology will offer producers across North America. “The big idea is that as our farmers and producers …
Preview of CIRB Annual Meeting
Leaders in the crop insurance business are gathered in California for the annual meeting of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau. To get a preview before the activities started I spoke with Michael Torrey, Michael Torrey Associates. His company represents and manages CIRB. Before looking ahead Michael talks about the challenging last year for the industry when critics were trying …