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 …
FMC Display Shows Results in 2012
New Display (TM) cotton harvest aid from FMC Corporation showed good results in limited use last season and the company is now looking forward to expanded use this season. Rusty Mitchell gave us some of the technical details about Display already, Randy Childress then talked to us about the results he saw last year in the field. Randy covers west …
Ag Sec. Vilsack Addresses AFBF Annual Meeting
After it was announced today that Tom Vilsack has agreed to serve a second term as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture he addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. He started out talking about the challenges in rural America and “urged farmers and producers take advantage of innovation, job creation partnerships and to share their story of a modern, innovative, …
Agriculture To Be On Display at Smithsonian
Think about putting your farm on display in a museum. You can. The American Farm Bureau Federation is working with the Smithsonian to create a new exhibit focused on agriculture. This spring, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is reaching out to farmers, ranchers and American agri-business to build a collection that reflects modern agricultural practices. Curators are seeking …