This morning U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue provided opening remarks to a coalition of stakeholders to launch a series of regional listening sessions targeting the expansion of broadband access in rural America. You can watch the recording here or listen below. USDA has had programs for years to assist with local and regional broadband efforts but there is still …
China Imposes Import Fee on U.S. Sorghum
China’s Ministry of Commerce has imposed a “temporary antidumping measure” on U.S. sorghum imports, requiring a deposit of almost 179 percent on the value of sorghum shipments starting today. National Sorghum Producers president and CEO Tim Lust says they are “deeply disappointed” in the action. “National Sorghum Producers, alongside our producers, stakeholders and partners, has cooperated fully with China’s antidumping …
Role of Corn Farmers in High Octane Fuel Future
During a House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on “High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles” Friday, an Illinois corn grower outlined how farmers are now growing what can be the the high-octane fuel of the near future. Illinois farmer Paul Jeschke testified that high-octane midlevel ethanol blends would “benefit society and rural communities by lowering prices at …
Student NAMA Chapters Compete & Learn
The number of hours Student NAMA Chapters put into the national marketing competition in preparation for the Agri-Marketing Conference each year is countless. However, that endurance, research and simple practice pay off. The University of Wisconsin-Madison brought home this year’s first-place honors with their marketing plan for a ready-to-drink protein enhanced thickened wine called Good Life. Thickened wine? Yes, you …
Senators Excited About Prospects for TPP Revisit
Farm state senators came out of a meeting with President Trump Thursday very optimistic about the future for agricultural trade. Republican Senators Pat Roberts of Kansas, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse of Nebraska held a press conference after the meeting and all agreed it was very productive, but the potential for re-entering the Trans Pacific …
The Best of the Best at #NAMA18
The Best of the Best were recognized at the 2018 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, MO. Once again, Max Armstrong emceed the coveted awards ceremony were companies and agencies are honored for their creative efforts. We also were able to induct Max into the Golden Mic Club where he shared his perspective on changes he has seen over the years …
Trump Discusses Agricultural Trade Issues
Governors and senators from agricultural states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, North and South Dakota had a meeting with President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today to discuss recent trade actions and how farmers may be impacted. In a press availability prior to the start of the meeting, President Trump talked about NAFTA, China, the European Union, …
House Ag Committee Unveils Agriculture and Nutrition Act
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) today introduced the first draft of a new farm bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). ““The farm bill keeps faith with our nation’s farmers and ranchers through the current agriculture recession by providing certainty and helping producers manage the enormous risks that are inherent in agriculture,” said Rep. Conaway. …
WEDA Acquires Friend Management Systems™
Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) announced today that it is acquiring Friend Management Systems™ (FMS), pairing two leading providers of management consulting and professional development services for equipment dealers. Friend Management is a Canadian-based management consulting firm providing leadership development and peer-to-peer learning to agricultural, consumer, and golf equipment dealerships in Canada, United States and Australia. The company is also …
Growing Asian Market Benefits U.S. Soy
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) hosted its 13th SE Asia Soy Food Symposium and Ag Supply Chain Asia 2018 events in Surabaya, Indonesia, bringing together all stakeholders in the soy food industry in that region. Among those participating were exporters of United States soy products like Bob Sinner, President of SB&B Foods, Inc. in North Dakota. Sinner has been …