In a year in agriculture with this many ups and downs, good information becomes an even bigger commodity. That’s why the USDA is sending out its end-of-year surveys soon. Cindy caught up with Bob Bass, the Director of National Operations for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) during Trade Talk at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention, and …
The Advantage of AgVantage FS
The first stop on the GROWMARK media tour through Iowa last week was in the little town of Chapin, just south of Mason City, where the main work horse grain facility of AgVantage FS is located. The facility handles 10-12 million bushels a year – about 40% of the co-op’s total. “We’re an operating division of GROWMARK,” explained Grain Marketing …
Cost About Same to Gobble Up Thanksgiving Dinner
It will cost you about the same to gobble up your Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner this year as it did last year. “Our meal for 10 people that includes a 16-pound turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries, relish tray, pumpkin pie… the whole nine yards… this year we think is going to cost us $49.48. And that’s only about 28 cents more …
NPPC Talks Trade Agreement With EU
Trade and pork exports were among the topics addressed by the National Pork Producers Council during Trade Talk at National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. Nick Giordano, Vice President and International Trade Counsel for NPPC, sat down with me to discuss NPPC’s role in protecting US pork producer’s interests both inside the US and abroad. “National Pork Producers Council is …
EPA Denies Ethanol Waiver Request
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied a petition by the governors of poultry producing states that would have waived the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and its requirement for ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. In its decision to deny the request, EPA said Friday that the RFS itself is not causing economic harm and that suspending the standard would …
USFRA Press Conference
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance held a press conference to allow questions from reporters about the annual meeting that took place in New York and the Food Dialogues that was conducted yesterday. It was the third Food Dialogues and is available on the Food Dialogues website to watch if you missed it. I moderated our press conference this morning …
Farm Bill’s Effect On US Grains
You may believe the farm bill doesn’t effect you, but you might be surprised to find out that it covers more than you think. It was a hot topic during National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk. While sitting down with U.S. Grains Council’s President and CEO, Tom Sleight, I was reminded how intricate this farm bill is. “It’s an …
Final Panel Thoughts from USFRA Food Dialogues
Here are the panelists from the last session of today’s New York Food Dialogues. Wow. It was a long day of very interesting discussion. This panel’s topic was Biotechnology (GMO’s) and Your Food. There were some very real contrasts in what some of the panelists as well as the audience thought of various specifics. In my opinion we got a …
Faces of Farming & Ranching Announced
The finalists in the USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching program were announced today at the New York Food Dialogues. Those finalists include: Chris Chinn (Missouri), Will Gilmer (Ala.), Daphne Holterman (Wis.), Brenda Kirsch (Ore.), Tim Nilsen (Calif.), Eric McClam (S.C.), Katie Pratt (Ill.), Bo Stone (N.C.) and Janice Wolfinger (Ohio). More than 100 applications were received from passionate, dedicated …
Second Panel From the USFRA Food Dialogues
The second panel discussion of the USFRA New York Food Dialogues has concluded. The topic was the use of antibiotics and food. Backstage I caught up with a several of our panelists. I spoke with Dr. Keith Ayoob, pediatric nutritionist, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Dr. Christine Hoang, DVM, MPH, CPH, assistant director of the Division of Scientific Activities of …