The American Seed Trade Association‘s newly-branded Field Crop Seed Convention kicks off its first year next week in Orlando. The convention will host seed industry professionals from over 30 countries for educational sessions, networking and the Seed Expo. “We’re excited about it,” said ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne during an interview at the recent NAFB Trade Talk. “We’ve got …
Farm Bill Extension and Funding Reaction
Congress this week passed a continuing resolution that includes an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill until Sept. 30, 2024. Agriculture groups and companies at the NAFB Convention gave their reactions to the move and what it will mean for negotiations next year. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) praised the government funding package that also extends the Livestock Mandatory …
Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford on First TIME100 Climate List
Land O’Lakes, Inc. President and CEO Beth Ford was included on the inaugural TIME100 Climate list announced this week, recognizing the 100 most innovative leaders driving business climate action. The list was curated from nominations and recommendations made by industry leaders and partner organizations, assessing the candidates on a variety of factors, including recency of action, measurable results, and influence. …
Farm Broadcaster Howard Hale Passes
Sad to hear of the passing of broadcasting legend Howard Hale, 87, a 38-year member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. This photo from our files is Howard at the 2017 NAFB Convention. According to NAFB: Farm broadcasting was a second career for Howard Hale, after spending his “first career” selling life insurance, raising livestock and horses, and working …
Rest in Peace Ken Tanner
A great Southern farm broadcaster will be laid to rest today in North Carolina. Former NAFB president Ken Tanner passed away last month at the age of 83. While no official obituary has been published, there will be a Mass of Christian Burial for Ken today in Cary, NC at St. Michael the Archangel Church. Ken was one of the …
Agri-Pulse Newsmakers Charts New Territory
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine entered its third week last week, the new weekly agricultural video program Newsmakers from Agri-Pulse released episode five, with Sen. John Thune (R-SD) offering his thoughts on solutions to inflation, why the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is vital to U.S. agriculture, and how biofuels can help make the U.S. less dependent on Russian oil. …
Passing of Jerry Passer
Sad to share the news that longtime farm broadcaster Jerry Passer died over the weekend. He would have been 79 years old today, born on Feb 17, 1943, in Wells, MN. Passer was a veteran of the US Navy where he served as a corpsman for 4.5 years in Washington D.C. at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. After his time in …
Biodiesel Industry Honors Mike Adams
Recently retired farm broadcaster Mike Adams was honored by the biodiesel industry this week at the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. Adams was presented with the Biodiesel Impact Award. “As I look back, I remember those soy diesel days,” said Adams. “It made so much sense to me I couldn’t understand why anyone would ever be against …
Passing of Lee Kline
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting announces the passing of 58-year emeritus member Lee Kline at age 91. Growing up on a farm near Conrad, Iowa, his first on-air experience came in the summer of 1950 at WMT Radio, where he had been awarded the WMT Farm Scholarship and later graduated from Iowa State University in 1951 with a degree …
Passing of Ed Czerwien
Well-known cattle market analyst Ed Czerwien, 70, Amarillo, passed away January 3 after fighting ALS for more than three years. Ed is an emeritus member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) and was a Livestock & Grain Market News Reporter for the USDA in Amarillo, TX until he retired. After retiring, he started up CZ Cattle Market Analytics …