*Important UPDATE 2:30 pm Central* He is reported to be doing well, but prayers are requested for National Association of Farm Broadcasting Executive Director Tom Brand who suffered a “serious heart attack” yesterday, according to the NAFB office. NAFB president Mark Oppold informed the membership of the organization by email that Tom is doing fine and is at Heartland Regional …
Second Amendments Entertain NAFB
During the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch program we had entertainment provided by the Second Amendments. I almost forgot I had this video on my iPhone. But it’s worth sharing. If you like Dire Straits, Sultans of Swing, then listen to the Second Amendments version! 2013 NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album
Broadcasters Support Farm Broadcasting
The roots of agricultural broadcasting run deep in broadcast history, starting with the first stations on the air in the 1920’s airing weather and market reports for farmers and ranchers. By 1922, the USDA reported that 35 of the 36 stations licensed by the Commerce Department had been approved to broadcast USDA markets! Since farm broadcasting has been such an …
Senate to Consider Farm Bill Today
The full Senate is slated to begin consideration today of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 passed last week by the agriculture committee. “This is the biggest jobs bill we will pass in any Congress,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) meeting with farm broadcasters last week. “It’s time to get it done.” Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) also …
Ag Committee Chairs Visit with NAFB
An optimistic Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman met with farm broadcasters on Wednesday morning, the day after her committee passed a new farm bill called the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013. “This is the biggest jobs bill we will pass in any Congress,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “It’s time to get it done.” Stabenow says the majority …
Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Meets with NAFB
This morning U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack met with attendees of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch. As is a “tradition” now, he posed with us in the USDA office building. He then spent quite a while talking with us and answering questions. You can find more photos in my online photo album. Of course the focus …
Senate Farm Bill Markup Today
The Senate Agriculture Committee meets this morning to consider the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, their version of a “Farm Bill.” Yesterday, farm broadcasters meeting in Washington D.C. had the chance to interview a number of representatives from various agricultural and renewable fuels organizations and most of them had something to say about what the House and …
Farm Bill Top Issue at NAFB Washington Watch
As both the House and Senate Agriculture committees are marking up their versions of a farm bill this week, that was the number one issue for farm broadcasters meeting in the nation’s capitol for their annual Washington Watch. Mary Kay Thatcher with the American Farm Bureau Federation sees few major differences between the two committee drafts released last week. “If …
Interview with NAFB Mike & Andy Show
This year’s coordinators of the NAFB Washington Watch program are Mike Hergert, Red River Farm Network (left) and Andy Vance, Feedstuffs. NAFB just held a business meeting for members and our event organizers gave us an overview of the program. I got Mike & Andy outside the room after the meeting to talk about this year’s agenda which you can …
NAFB Watching Washington
It’s time for National Association of Farm Broadcasting members to gather in Washington, DC for their annual Washington Watch program. It has been a few years since I’ve attended but thanks go out to GROWMARK for making it possible this year! We’ll kick off activities this afternoon with the Issues Forum. It’s kind of like a mini Trade Talk with …