Both conventional and organic farmers joined together last week on social media to criticize a video that uses cute kids to attack modern farming practices. The YouTube video was produced by a group called Only Organic and features children acting out a school play singing “Old McDonald had a Farm” with lyrics about pesticides and GMOs and hormones and antibiotics. …
American Agri-Women Veritas Award
During the National Ag Day Celebration of Agriculture Dinner Orion Samuelson received another award. This time Sue McCrum, President of the American Agri-Women presented him with their Veritas Award. The award is given annually to a person who has given public witness to “the pursuit of truth” in accordance with the principles enunciated in the AAW Statement of Philosophy, The …
House Ag Committee Chair at Ag Day Luncheon
National Agriculture Week was a busy one in Washington DC and with the House Agriculture Committee. Chairman Mike Conaway of Texas spoke at the National Ag Day luncheon on Wednesday. “Production agriculture has a wonderful story to tell,” said Conaway. “Problem is you just have to keep telling it over and over and over.” Conaway stressed the need for agriculture …
Wheat Bagel Breakfast with Side of Politics
The National Wheat Foundation and National Association of Wheat Growers hosted a bagel breakfast for Ag Day in DC on Wednesday featuring a panel discussion highlighting topics such as biotechnology, sustainability, Big Data and research. One of the panel participants was Matt Erickson, chief economist for the Senate Agriculture Committee, who talked about Big Data and agriculture. “When you talk …
Rep. Lucas on Protecting Ag
Former House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) stopped by the Agri-Pulse Ag Day kickoff event Tuesday evening and commented on the budget plan unveiled by House Republicans would protect 2014 Farm Bill programs. “The 2014 Farm Bill is primarily mandatory spending for the next five years but there’s a certain amount of discretionary spending, like day to day …
House Panel Hears Testimony on WOTUS
Representatives of agricultural organizations unanimously condemned the proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule during a hearing held Tuesday by the House Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry. American Farm Bureau Federation General Counsel Ellen Steen told the panel that “unless dramatically altered,” the rule will create enormous uncertainty and vulnerability for farmers and ranchers nationwide. “It is impossible to …
USFRA Keeps Growing to Educate Consumers
The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA) recently surpassed 80 affiliates with the addition of nine new industry partners, but board members Mike Geske of Missouri would like to see that grow even higher. “We’re all affected by this same food conversation in the United States,” said Geske during an interview at Commodity Classic. “People want to know their food …
Ag Secretary and EPA Chief at NFU
The heads of both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency spoke to the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention in Wichita Monday. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $97 million in programs to support the continued development of farmers markets, farm to school efforts and rural economies and will also expand risk management tools for specialty crops and …
Thirsty Land Documentary in Production
The director of The Great American Wheat Harvest documentary is back in action with a new project called Thirsty Land. Will there be enough water to survive? “Thirsty Land” is an exciting new documentary that tells the story of drought, its impact on agriculture, communities and the global food supply. “The story of drought needs to be told! Our global …
Monsanto Offers New Cotton Varieties for 2015 Season
While at the 2015 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show, our own Chuck Zimmerman had a chance to chat with Monsanto’s Keylon Gholston, Cotton Product Manager with Monsanto, who provided insight into new cotton technologies and products that will be beneficial to growers. Keylon was excited to further explore the 2015 varieties that Monsanto released in December; “We really want to …