Ag Secy Vilsack Talks SOTU, Trade & Climate

Joanna Schroeder

USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack held a press call yesterday to discuss President Obama’s last State of the Union (SOTU) address. Vilsack, who has served in the capacity of Ag Secretary throughout Obama’s Administration, was in attendance during the speech. He said he is very proud to have been part of an administration that has basically taken the country from …

Audio, politics, Trade, USDA

Updated Website for Senate Ag Committee

John Davis

Knowing what’s going on in the halls of Congress might be just about as important as knowing what’s going on in the acres you tend. With that in mind, the Senate Agriculture Committee launched a redesigned website to help folks stay up-to-date with the important work happening in the committee. The site, which remains located at www.agriculture.senate.gov, will be a …

politics

Agri-Pulse Poll Ranks Top Farmer Issues

John Davis

A new poll from Agri-Pulse shows that national security and terrorism are among the top issues for farmers going into the 2016 election, and in turn, billionaire businessman Donald Trump has a slight lead as their choice for president. This article from Agri-Pulse says the poll, conducted in partnership with the Iowa Soybean Association, shows Trump with a slim lead …

Agri-Pulse, politics

AFBF and NCGA Comment on Year End Legislation

John Davis

Farm groups are reacting to the omnibus spending bill that avoided a government shutdown. Just as it’s being touted as giving some to both Republicans and Democrats, the compromise deal has its ups and downs for agriculture, and Farm Bureau and the National Corn Growers Association have both weighed in on those ag ups and downs. Farm Bureau officials are …

AFBF, Ag Groups, NCGA, politics, Water

Restoration of Crop Insurance Cuts Gets Bipartisan Praise

John Davis

Previous cuts to the federal government’s crop insurance program look to be reversed. The action in the transportation conference report that would restore $3 billion in cuts to crop insurance garnered bipartisan praise from U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. “I appreciate the dedication to America’s farmers shown by our leadership today …

politics

Farm Bureau Offers Election Information Website

John Davis

Farm Bureau believes a well-informed electorate will vote the right ways on issues dear to the organization. That’s why it has launched election16.fb.org, a site the group’s director of advocacy and political affairs Cody Lyon says will keep farmers and ranchers informed. “We wanted to create a website that served three key purposes. First, news that was going on related …

AFBF, politics

Agri-Pulse Partners with Tom Davis

Kelly Marshall

The well-respected source of farm and rural policy information, Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., has grown substantially in the last year.  With their online presence experiencing a boom the company has reached an agreement with respected publisher, Tom Davis.  The plan is to enhance the strategic planning, marketing and sales efforts of the fast growing company. “We are very pleased to have …

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, politics

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Joni Ernst

John Davis

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. Joni Ernst. From her family’s Iowa farm to the troubled lands of the Middle East, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has dedicated her life to the nation’s security: for ample food and against foes. In this week’s Open Mic Interview U.S. Senator Joni Ernst shares her thoughts on proposed legislative action to block the …

Agri-Pulse, Audio, politics

CEO Council on Sustainability and Innovation

Taylor Truckey

Leading agribusiness CEOs, with the assistance of the Bipartisan Policy Center, have announced a new joint effort aimed to identify and promote innovative approaches to improving sustainability in agriculture and food production. The CEO Council on Sustainability and Innovation will officially be launched tomorrow, October 29 by leaders of DuPont, Elanco, Kellogg Company, and Land O’ Lakes. Over the next …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Elanco, politics

Ag Lawmakers Oppose Crop Insurance Cuts

John Davis

While many are praising a budget deal that averts a government shutdown and the prospect of one until after next year’s elections, the deal isn’t being welcomed by many agricultural state lawmakers. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) announced he will vote against the budget deal negotiated behind closed doors because of its raid on crop insurance funding. “I …

Farm Bill, Insurance, politics