The current status of the EPA’s Clean Water Rule, formally known as Waters of the United States or WOTUS, is a big topic of discussion at the 2015 Farm Progress Show in Illinois this week. The rule was blocked by a federal judge last week in response to a lawsuit filed by 13 state attorney generals, but National Corn Growers …
Talking Soybean Issues at #AgMedia
The American Soybean Association booth at the Ag Media Summit came complete with president and farmer Wade Cowan of Texas to talk about some timely issues for the industry. I got to talk with Wade about last week’s passage of the Safe and Affordable Food Labeling bill and the role soybean growers played in helping to educate lawmakers about the …
Senator Heidi Heitkamp Honored by ASA
The American Soybean Association has honored Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) with the Soy Champion Award for her outstanding public advocacy for soybean farmers. As a member of the Senate Ag Committee, Heitkmap has done considerable work for biodiesel, farm programs, and trade and transportation. “Senator Heitkamp has proven herself to be a strong voice for North Dakota soybean farmers,” said …
Ag Urges Senate to Pass TPA
Senate Republicans and agriculture industry leaders held a press conference in Washington today to discuss the ways new trade deals could benefit the agriculture community and urge passage of the bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. Senators speaking on behalf of TPA included Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) …
Senate Ag Grain Standards Act Hearing
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing Tuesday to review the U.S. Grain Standards Act, which has provisions that expire this year. The act authorizes USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service to establish marketing standards for a variety of grains and oilseeds and was last reauthorized in 2005. “Predictability and transparency are key to maintaining a global …
Mixed Signals on Biotech from EU
Mixed signals regarding biotech crops coming from the European Union last week have left representatives of the agriculture community shaking their heads. First the EU announced it would allow member nations to ban the import of food and feed containing biotech ingredients, and then a few days later announced the approval of 17 biotech traits for import. “I’m just characterizing …
Global Soybean Stakeholders in China
Representatives from U.S. soybean organizations are in China this week joining their counterparts from several other countries to discuss the biotech-approval process there. United Soybean Board (USB) chairman Bob Haselwood of Kansas, the American Soybean Association (ASA) president Wade Cowan of Texas, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) chair Laura Foell of Iowa teamed up with their fellow soybean …
Ag Groups Support Non-GMO Label Bill
Agricultural organizations are voicing support for the bi-partisan Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act introduced in the U.S. House Wednesday by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G. K. Butterfield (D-NC). The bill includes a new provision to allow those who wish to label their products as GMO-free to do so by through an accredited certification process. “Our goal for this …
ASA Awards at #Classic15
The American Soybean Association (ASA) presented several awards during the annual banquet at Commodity Classic last week. Steve Berger from Wellman, Iowa received the 2015 National Conservation Legacy Award, designed Along with ASA, the program is co-sponsored by BASF Crop Protection, Monsanto, Corn & Soybean Digest magazine and the United Soybean Board/Checkoff. ASA presented Dr. Jim Specht, emeritus professor of …
#Classic15 Presidents
The tradition of Commodity Classic emcee Mark Mayfield interviewing the presidents of each organization continued this year. Left to right are Mayfield, National Sorghum Producers chairman JB Stewart of Oklahoma, National Association of Wheat Growers president Paul Penner of Kansas, American Soybean Association president Wade Cowan of Texas, and National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling of Maryland. Listen to …