Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) this week launched “a new era in American conservation efforts with an historic focus on public-private partnership.” Vilsack and Stabenow announced the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Tuesday during a visit to the Saginaw Bay watershed of the Great Lakes agricultural region. “This is an entirely new approach …
Oregon GMO Bans Hurt All Farmers
Last week, two Oregon counties voted overwhelmingly to ban the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops. The initiatives in Josephine County and Jackson County, which border California, passed by as much as a two to one margin. “This isn’t Monsanto or Syngenta, these are local farms that have been farming the way they have chosen here in the valley for …
Africa: Land of Opportunity
Africa: Land of Opportunity was a very popular session during the Alltech International Symposium. The session was chaired by Aidan Connolly, Alltech, who opened the session with some remarks about the African marketplace. Following that opening the session included multiple panel discussions like this one featuring, Fu Wenge, Chinese Ministry of Agriculture; Mark Lyons, Alltech; Julie Borlaug Larson, Texas A&M …
Alltech Scientists Speaking Out
The agricultural media covering the Alltech Symposium this week heard from several key scientists during a lunch session. This provided an opportunity to meet them and ask them questions in an informal setting outside of their on stage presentations. First up was Becky Timmons, Alltech Global Director of Applications Research and Quality. Becky loves to talk about algae and the …
School Lunch Food Fight
A school lunch food fight is underway between House Republicans and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee FY 2015 bill approved this week would establish a waiver program for schools having trouble with provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Subcommittee chairman Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) says the program is resulting in rising costs for schools …
Alltech Precision Agriculture Philosophy and Vision
Chief Scientific Officer for Alltech, Dr. Karl Dawson, caught my attention with his presentation at the Alltech Symposium titled, “What if we put true precision in “Precision Agriculture?” The focus was on animal agriculture, something most people don’t associate with the term precision agriculture. But as you’ll hear him say in an interview I conducted with him it is a …
USDA Chinese Trade Mission
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse led a mission to promote U.S. biofuels and agricultural product exports in northeast China May 5-13. The mission was part of President Obama’s “Made in Rural America” export and investment initiative, designed to help rural businesses and leaders take advantage of new investment opportunities and …
Alltech Founder Dr. Pearse Lyons Reminsces
In this week’s program I’m sharing a conversation with one of my favorite entrepreneurs, Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech, at the company’s annual Symposium. Since I’ve had the opportunity to attend the annual Alltech Symposiums I’ve told many people that it is the best conference I’ve ever attended that’s put on by a single company. That is still true this year. …
Alltech Medal of Excellence to Dr. Norman Borlaug
Julie Borlaug Larson, granddaughter to Dr. Norman Borlaug, was on stage this morning to accept a posthumous Alltech Medal of Excellence award for the “Father of the Green Revolution.” The award was presented by Aidan Connolly, Alltech. “Through his adaptation of new wheat technologies and improved crop management practices, Dr. Borlaug saved more than a billion people worldwide from starvation,” …
Alltech Press Conference
Following this morning’s opening general session at the Alltech Symposium, (l-r) Dr. Mark Lyons, Dr. Pearse Lyons and Lopez Lomong participated in a press conference. This provide media a chance to ask them quite a few questions. I’m sharing one Q&A with each of them for you. First up I have Lopez Lomong. I asked him his thoughts on the …