Bipartisan, bicameral Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation was introduced today in Congress that would put negotiations for new trade agreements that could benefit agriculture on the fast track. The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan …
Farmers and Ethanol Supporters Meet With Hillary
During her visit to Iowa this week, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton discussed issues important to agriculture with a group of farmer leaders, including former National Corn Growers Association president Pam Johnson (pictured) and former Iowa agriculture secretary Patty Judge. “We had about an hour with her and had a very good discussion with her,” said Judge who is co-chair …
Congresswoman Dishes on Nutrition
As a lifelong Missouri farmer and a former nutritional science teacher, Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) has a bone to pick with the 2015 Dietary Guideline’s Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) report. In a recent letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Hartzler and 70 House colleagues said the report strayed “from purely nutritional evidence and venturing into …
Propane Program Pays Off for Growers
The Propane Farm Incentive Program paid off for participants last year, according to the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC). PERC reports that participants of the program, which provides up to $5,000 toward the purchase of new propane-powered irrigation engines, reduced their per hour energy costs by more than 40 percent in 2014 compared with their previously owned diesel-fueled irrigation …
USDA Official on the Road for Trade
USDA officials have been on the road this year meeting with agricultural stakeholders around the country to talk about the importance of Trade Promotion Authority for the president in expanding international markets for U.S. products. USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Alexis Taylor was in California a few weeks ago and today she was in Florida. …
Agri-Marketing Conference Preview
In just a week agricultural marketers and students from around the country will be gathering in Kansas City, MO for the 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference. The ZimmComm team of Cindy, Jamie and Taylor and myself will be there bringing you all the play by play action. I spoke with the Chair of this year’s conference, Christine Hart-Nieland, Brighton Agency, about what …
Industry Adjusting to Lower Farm Equipment Sales
Sales of farm tractors and combines are continuing their downward trend this year and the industry is adjusting after several good years in a row, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). “The last five years have been pretty darn good years and we were at pretty high levels of equipment sales,” said AEM Senior Vice President and Ag …
Ag Conservation Easement Funding Available
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Natural Resources Conservation Service chief Jason Weller have announced the availability of $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). “Conservation easements are an important tool to help these landowners and partners voluntarily provide long-term protection of our nation’s farmland, ranchland, wetlands and grasslands for future generations,” said Vilsack. …
USDA Releases Prospective Plantings Report
The much-anticipated 2015 Prospective Plantings released by USDA today shows declines expected in corn, wheat and cotton acres this year, with only a modest increase in soybean acreage. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2015 is estimated at 89.2 million acres, down 2 percent from last year. If realized, this will be the third consecutive year of an acreage …
Rural Electric Tackles Diversity & Internet Access
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with former Congresswomen from my home state of Missouri, Jo Ann Emerson. She currently calls Washington, D.C. home where she holds the title of first female CEO for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). “I am very excited to be selected by the Board of Directors of the NRECA to serve …