Archie Manning was a well-known quarterback in the 70’s and 80’s, playing for the New Orleans Saints for ten years, then the Houston Oilers and the Minnesota Vikings – but these days he is better known as Eli and Peyton’s daddy. Archie, pictured here with Senior Vice President of BASF Crop Protection Nevin McDougall, provided some words of wisdom about …
Talking Social Media at Farm Bureau Convention
Social media showed up on the program at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting program a number of times. One of the sessions, “Social Agriculture: Social Media’s Role in the Industry,” featured Zach Hunnicutt, AFBF YF&R Committee; Katie Pinke, PinkePost.com; Ryan Goodman, AgricultureProud.com and Janice Person, Monsanto. I visited with Janice about their session which was moderated by Melissa …
Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Concludes
The members of the American Farm Bureau Federation held their voting delegates meeting today to set policy for the coming year. The meeting was presided over by President Bob Stallman who then met with the press one final time for questions. Bob says that although there were a number of language changes in existing policies most of the day was …
BASF Opens Fields of Opportunity for Growers
About 275 growers from all over the nation have been learning about new “Fields of Opportunity” from BASF Crop Protection this week while getting a break from winter weather on Ft. Lauderdale beach. “We’ve got growers as far away as the Pacific northwest,” says BASF Vice President for Crop Protection Paul Rea. “The universal theme from all those growers is …
Should We Sit Down with HSUS in Common Cause
Many eyebrows were raised during Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s speech at the AFBF convention yesterday. It was really a stand out moment in an otherwise pretty good speech and I wonder what you think about it. The photo is from his press conference following the closing session. Sec. Vilsack was talking about creating strategic alliances and reaching out to …
Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture Awards
During the closing session of the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting the organization presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, to Ambassadors Dr. Richard Crowder and Dr. Kenneth Quinn. AFBF established the Distinguished Service Award to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving agriculture. With more than 40 years of experience in the agriculture …
Captain Mark Kelly Inspires Farm Bureau Members
Keynote speaker Captain Mark Kelly, retired astronaut, gave an inspiring speech to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. He was funny while also providing uplifting stories from his career and life with his wife Gabrielle Giffords, former member of Congress. One of his key messages was to have a goal, plan hard and then work hard to accomplish it. …
ABFB General Session Organist Retiring
For twenty six years Nancy Faust has been playing the organ for the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting general sessions. She plays before during and after keeping everyone entertained and adding to the whole experience. I spoke with her briefly just before the closing session of this year’s meeting. She has made a decision to retire now because she …
Deere Harvest ID Cotton at Beltwide
We told you about John Deere’s Harvest Identification, Cotton when it was first introduced last year at Beltwide Cotton Conferences. This year we got an update from Janae (formally Althouse) Tapper on this precision harvest technology and grower adoption of it. “John Deere harvest identification is really important to the cotton growers so they can understand how many modules are …
Bayer CropScience Honors Cotton Growers for Yields
Bayer CropScience and FiberMax® cotton are looking for more members to join the FiberMax One Ton Club™. “More than 410 growers who’ve achieved 2,000 pounds of cotton to the acre on at least 20 acres, doing that with more than 27 varieties,” Jeff Brehmer, U.S. marketing manager for FiberMax, told attendees of the Beltwide Cotton Conference, highlighting the high yields …