The full Senate is expected to begin work on a new farm bill today, but the question is will the House ever do the same? In a telephone press conference on Friday, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN) admitted they will have challenges facing us when whenever they do get the bill to the floor, but he …
Senate to Consider Farm Bill Today
The full Senate is slated to begin consideration today of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 passed last week by the agriculture committee. “This is the biggest jobs bill we will pass in any Congress,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) meeting with farm broadcasters last week. “It’s time to get it done.” Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) also …
Alltech International Welcome Reception & Dinner
The Alltech International Welcome & Reception featured world class entertainment again this year with musical performances by students involved in the University of Kentucky, Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition. Our musical performances were announced by Dr. Everett McCorvey. However, a favorite each year is having all the dinner attendees led in the singing of the song of Dublin, Molly Malone. The …
Dear World: Agriculture
Robert Fogarty, photographer and founder of Dear World, may not think he’s changing the world but I might disagree. He takes pictures of people who are changing the world but in the process he’s doing his part to do the same. So who is Robert Fogarty and what is Dear World? We aren’t changing the world, but we take pictures …
Cotton in the Committee Farm Bills
The National Cotton Council (NCC) is pleased with the farm bills out of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees this week that make some pretty significant changes in the cotton program to hopefully provide final resolution of the longstanding Brazil WTO case. “The focus has been to try and come up with farm policy for cotton in the new farm …
Senate WRDA Passage Important to Corn Growers
The Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by a wide margin on Wednesday paving the way for upgrades to the inland waterways system important for farmers. The National Corn Growers Association Chairman Garry Niemeyer says those inland waterways, in particular the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, are an important route for moving our corn to markets worldwide. “It’s …
2013 Agvocacy 2.0 Conference Application Deadline
The deadline is approaching fast for applications to the 2013 Agvocacy 2.0 Training Conference. It’s going to be in Charlotte, NC, August 22-23. I visited with AgChat Foundation Executive Director, Emily Zweber, pictured second from right with our panel group from last week’s Farm Credit Idea Share. She told me about the application process and encourages farmer and ranchers to …
Social Connections to GROWMARK
GROWMARK and FS are excited to make it easier than ever to make connections on social media. “We are excited to add social features to our website,” says GROWMARK Corporate Digital Strategic Development Manager Heather Thompson. “Users will now see the ability to like and follow GROWMARK and FS right on our homepage.” That includes links to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, …
Ag Committee Chairs Visit with NAFB
An optimistic Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman met with farm broadcasters on Wednesday morning, the day after her committee passed a new farm bill called the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. “This is the biggest jobs bill we will pass in any Congress,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “It’s time to get it done.” Stabenow says the majority …
Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Meets with NAFB
This morning U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack met with attendees of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch. As is a “tradition” now, he posed with us in the USDA office building. He then spent quite a while talking with us and answering questions. You can find more photos in my online photo album. Of course the focus …