Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue traveled to Omaha yesterday to swear-in new Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach in his home state. “Greg Ibach will bring experience and integrity to his new role at USDA, and carries with him the knowledge he’s gained in the dozen years he has served as Nebraska’s Director of Agriculture,” said Secretary Perdue. …
Animal Ag Bites 10/30
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association released their fifth video in its media campaign to promote comprehensive tax reform. This latest video spotlights sixth-generation Florida rancher Cary Lightsey, who was forced to sell one of his family’s ranches to pay a death-tax bill after his father’s passing. The dairy checkoff has awarded the $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to …
2017-18 National FFA Officer Team Elected
Students from Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Oklahoma were elected to serve on the 2017-18 National FFA Officer team. Breanna Holbert, an agricultural education major at California State University of Chico, made history as the first female African American elected as National FFA president. Her fellow officers include: National Secretary – Erica Baier, agricultural education major at Iowa State …
USFRA Supporting Food Evolution Movie
The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is supporting a new film that offers an independent investigation into biotechnology that concludes GMOs may well be a force for good to feed the world. Food Evolution, which is now streaming on Hulu, was commissioned by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), and directed by Academy Award®-nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy. “The …
Secretary Sonny Attends First FFA Convention
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue attended his first National FFA Convention this week and held a press conference to take questions about various topics, prior to addressing the group’s opening general session. Perdue appeared at the press conference with six members of the FFA policy committee. “I’m looking at our House and Senate Congress behind me here,” Perdue joked. The secretary …
House Ag Chair Says Farm Bill on Track
House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway (R-TX) says they are moving forward with work on the 2018 Farm Bill. “Still on track for late for fourth quarter (this year) or early first quarter of next year,” said Conaway during a conference call with reporters Wednesday. “We’re going to be ready on the committee…when floor time opens up.” Rep. Conaway was …
National FFA Kicks Off Today
Today is the official start of the 90th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, but the blue coats have been seen around the city for the past week, since the national officer team joined state and local officials last Thursday in a welcoming ceremony that included turning the downtown Indy canal blue. This year, the theme of the convention and expo …
Today is Full of Bologna
Today is National Bologna Day and the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) has joined with the Beef Checkoff to celebrate by unveiling a new guide to bologna that tells you everything you could ever want to know about this lunch time staple that originated in Bologna, Italy as a variation of mortadella. It can also be spelled baloney, …
Registration Open for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018
Like the song from “A Chorus Line” says, ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference is a singular sensation, a thrilling combination, and a one of a kind experience, and it’s scheduled to be held May 20–23, 2018 once again in Lexington, Kentucky. An idea, even in its root meaning, is “to see.” Da Vinci, Einstein, Edison, the Wright brothers, Tesla, Bell, …
SMART Farmer Rochelle Krusemark
Rochelle Krusemark is a Minnesota grain and soybean farmer, a state and national soybean board and USFRA board member, wife, mother and grandmother – all at the same time! Obviously a busy lady, Rochelle squeezed in time as she was watching her two toddler grandsons to tell us what being a SMART farmer means to her, and why she is …