This morning Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, U.S. Department of Agriculture, sat down with a panel of veteran farmers and veteran training organizations for a live Google+ Hangout to discuss opportunities available through USDA for returning service members who are looking for long-term careers in farming, ranching and agriculture. Joining Deputy Sec. Harden for the discussion was Dave Paulk, owner of …
Ag Lenders Study from @BASFAgProducts
BASF has released the results of a 2015 study examining the role and influence agricultural uncertainties, such as volatile markets, weather, and disease, have on the current agricultural-lending landscape, and how growers can plan to place themselves in the best position to receive a loan. BASF surveyed agricultural lenders, asking them about their outlook for next year, and how they’re …
Illinois Farm Bureau Celebrates 100th Anniversary
The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is celebrating its 100 anniversary in 2016 and during the Farm Progress Show, kicked off its celebrations with a press conference where President Rich Guebert discussed some of their milestones, upcoming celebratory events, and highlights of key areas of emphasis for the organization. Guebert noted that one reason they were formed was to help Illinois …
GROWMARK Plans New Young Farmer Program
As a young farmer herself with her husband, Heather Thompson knows first-hand some of the challenges facing the new generation of agriculture. “My husband and I are just getting back to our own family farm operation,” says Thompson, who is Young Producer Programs Manager for GROWMARK. Some of the challenges new young farmers face include farming with multiple generations, financial …
How @BASFAgProducts Helps Farmers #GrowSmart
The BASF Ag Products “Grow Smart” strategy is able to help farmers all over the country. At a field day last week in Tennessee, BASF Technical Marketing Manager Caren Schmidt talked about the high yield Grow Smart small plot replicated trial programs. “We’re in the second year in a corn-soybean rotation program in 15 locations from North Dakota to Mississippi …
How @BASFAgProducts Helps Champions
Georgia farmer Randy Dowdy gives a lot of credit to the “smarter people” he consults who have helped him become a high yielding corn grower. Among those people are his trusted BASF Ag Products advisers. Chris Maurer has been a BASF sales rep in Georgia for the past 16 years and it has been his pleasure to be part of …
Keeping the Farm in the Family
We are seeing fewer and fewer young people returning the their family operations and just because you are blood doesn’t mean you have a right to the farm. Succession planning is one step many families forget about when it comes to the future. AgriLegacy is a growing Midwest company whose main focus is helping farm families keep the farms in …
Champion Corn Grower at @BASFAgProducts Event
He’s only been farming for less than ten years, but already Randy Dowdy of Valdosta, Georgia has made quite a name for himself by making history last year with a yield of nearly 504 bushels per acre in the National Corn Yield Contest. During a BASF media event in Tennessee this week, Dowdy talked about his philosophy when it comes …
Farm Income Forecast Lower
Farm sector profitability is forecast to decline for the second straight year, according to the latest report from USDA. Net cash income is forecast at $100.3 billion, down about 21 percent from 2014 levels. Lower crop and livestock receipts are the main drivers of the change in 2015 net cash farm income from 2014, while cash production expenses are projected …
More Internet on the Farm
A new USDA-NASS report shows that internet access on the farm continues to grow. According to the Computer Usage and Ownership report, 70 percent of U.S. farms and ranches now have access to internet, up three percent from 2013. DSL remains the most popular method for accessing internet, accounting for 30 percent of all farms and ranches with internet access. …