The Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Senator Pat Roberts, made comments during the Agri-Pulse reception last night. I got to visit with him briefly afterward. Senator Roberts says the idea of trying to get urban America better understand where their food comes from is “a mountain we’ve been trying to climb for years …
USFRA Hold Food Dialogues Prior to National Agriculture Day
In conjunction with the second annual agricultural appreciation reception held by Agri-Pulse the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance held a special edition of their Food Dialogues titled, “The Future of Food and Farming.” The panel tried to deal with the question, “Is technology in agriculture creating environmental improvements and economic growth or perpetuating public fears?” That seems like a loaded …
Sending Animal Agriculture Offshore Would Increase Food Costs
Leading off a press conference during Commodity Classic for the United Soybean Board was Vanessa Kummer, Chair. The topic was Consumer and Food Safety Costs of Offshoring Animal Agriculture (pdf). This is a Soybean Checkoff funded study. Also pictured on stage are Lewis Bainbridge, USB Director (seated) and André Williamson, Agralytica, (standing) the company that conducted the study. Paying more …
Know Your Farmer Know Your Food Compass
I couldn’t participate in today’s USDA webinar about their latest project but did get this information to share. Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan unveiled the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business and community …
The Growing Problem of Food Waste
Food waste is a growing problem. That was the message from Kai Robertson, Director, Food, Beverage & Agriculture Practice, BSR, during the Bayer CropScience Ag Issues Forum. I visited with Kai right after her presentation. She startled many of us attending when she presented a statistic from EPA (estimate) that more than 67 billion pounds of food end up in …
Happy St. Valentine’s Day
Happy St. Valentine’s Day. Yes, there is an “St.” on the front of that or at least there used to be. Bottom line is that it’s a day for romance and to say “I love you.” I’ve always been big on flowers. Just ask Cindy. This is our 36th St. Valentine’s Day! I think I should have invested in a …
Waiting For Massive New Feed/Food Safety Regulations
The feed industry is facing “the mother of all laws,” the Food Safety Modernization Act. That’s according to Richard Sellers, American Feed Industry Association, one of the sponsoring organization this week for the combined International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo. Pictured are staff members from AFIA including Richard on the left. Richard says this law, which has not yet …
Hard Rock at Poultry Expo
I did not expect to see Hard Rock Cafe at International Poultry Expo but they are. Apparently Hard Rock has been working with IPE to produce a commemorative pin for the show for years. I spoke with Jennifer Waxman, Sales & Marketing Manager, about how Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta is working with the show this year. Jennifer says that besides …
Cattle Producers Raise Money To Feed Steaks To Soldiers
Cattle producers raised a lot of money to help the All American Beef Battalion (AABB) feed steaks to our soldiers. During the Mile High Classic Red Angus Sale on Sunday, Jan. 8, in Denver, Colo., joint owners of the bull, Crs Diamnd 21 Gun Salute, donated him back to the cause and raised another $24,250 for AABB – totaling nearly …
Lunch Meat Company Launches Musical Promotion
Here’s a promotional campaign with a lot of meat. Maybe you’re not ready for that Idol show yet? Try the “Be a Star on Broadway” contest courtesy of Land O’Frost and Camp Broadway. Land O’Frost, the nation’s largest family-owned packaged lunch meat company, wants homes across America to be “alive with the sound of music” by offering young performers a …