Despite the challenging planting conditions this spring USDA is saying that farmers have planted even more corn than last year and the most acres in 77 years, according to Friday’s Acreage report. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2013 is estimated at 97.4 million acres, up slightly from last year. This represents the highest planted acreage in the United …
Rural Radio Dream Realized
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. In this week’s program we’ll learn more about the newly announced Rural Radio channel on Sirius XM. I visited with Randy Bernard, CEO, Rural Media Group, who says that a full time satellite channel of rural news and information has been a dream of Patrick Gottsch, Founder of Rural Media Group, Inc, for years. …
Corn Growers Provide Trade Negotiation Advice
During a House Committee on Small Business hearing this week in Washington, National Corn Growers Association President Pam Johnson provided policy recommendations for the U.S. Trade Representative on growing export opportunities, particularly the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). “Agricultural producers succeed when industry and government work side-by-side,” NCGA President Pam Johnson said during …
Senate Passes Immigration Reform
Unlike last week’s farm bill vote in the House, it was no real surprise to see the Senate pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation Thursday by nearly the 70 vote margin supporters had predicted. And the email reactions from agriculture groups are coming in fast – again, unlike last week when prepared statements on farm bill passage had to be furiously …
John Block Reports
One of my all time favorite U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture is John Block. Here he is speaking on a panel at last fall’s NAFB convention. John is currently Senior Policy Advisor in the law firm of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC and serves on numerous boards. He also produces a long running commentary, John Block Reports from Washington. His …
Concerns About Ag Provisions in Immigration Bill
As the Senate prepares to vote on comprehensive immigration reform today, Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) took to the floor Wednesday evening to detail some of his concerns about the farm worker provisions in the bill and amendments that he wanted to see added. The Georgia senator’s main issues center around requirements under the “Blue Card” program the new legislation would …
Contestants Came Far & Wide For WLAC Competition
The World Livestock Auctioneer Championship took place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s Annual Convention. Auctioneer’s from around the world who qualified for the event traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to compete and take in the convention. Chuck caught up with Garrett Jones from Los Banos, California, who was a contestant in the auctioneering championship. Garrett qualified in the top …
Multiplier Effect of IFAMA Student Involvement
A panel at the Student Summit luncheon at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum last week showcased the “multiplier effect” that IFAMA has for the industry. It also shows the tremendous commitment of Novus International to bringing along future talent. Tomas Murtagh has been with Novus International for five years now as a business and financial …
New Effort to Repeal Death Tax
While all eyes were on the farm bill in the House last week, Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) re-introduced legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, better known as the death tax. “We don’t think death should be a taxable event,” said Thune, Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and member of the Senate Finance …
Embracing Change Throughout The Beef Community
The beef community is no stranger to change. Understanding it may not always be easy, but embracing it is key. During the recent 2013 Livestock Marketing Association’s Annual Meeting and World Livestock Auctioneer Championship attendees heard multiple times about different changes in the industry. Technology is one of those changes that improves efficiency and makes it easier for cattlemen to …