The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has asked the USDA to provide emergency assistance for the nation’s dairy farmers. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said AFBF supported a recent request from 61 members of Congress asking USDA to provide emergency assistance. Duvall noted the U.S. all-milk price fell to $14.50 per hundredweight in …
#GMO Disclosure Bill Signed Into Law
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is now in charge of developing a national mandatory system for disclosing the presence of bioengineered material under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, which was signed without fanfare on Friday by President Obama. USDA has formed a working group to develop a timeline for rulemaking and to “ensure an open and transparent process for …
NRCS Talks Changes at #AgMedia 2016
The USDA National Resources Conservation Program (NRCS) took the opportunity to get the word out about the latest in the program services at the recent Ag Media Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. Jamie Johansen had the opportunity to speak with Mark Rose, Director of NRCS, about the upcoming changes for fiscal year 2017. Rose told AgWired the Conservation Stewardship program …
Biodegradable & Renewable Lubricants by BioBlend
One of the great aspects of the United Soybean Board’s Biobased Stakeholders Dialogue that took place at USDA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. is showcasing the up-and-coming biobased technologies. One of the exhibitors at the event was BioBlend and to learn more about their products, Cindy Zimmerman spoke with Bill Smith. The company makes biodegradable and renewable lubricants. The company, founded …
2016 Wallace-Carver Fellows Announced
Thirty seven students from across the country have been confirmed for the prestigious Wallace-Carver Fellowship. The fellowship, made possible with the support of The World Food Prize Foundation and The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), offers exceptional college students the opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned scientists and policymakers through paid summer internships at leading USDA research centers and offices across …
BioSynthetics Perfecting Soy-based Petro Alternative
BioSynthetics Technologies was a featured company during the 2016 Biobased Stakeholders Dialogue that recently took place at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The company is a USDA transfer partner and during the event spoke about their soy-based motor oil. To learn more, Cindy Zimmerman spoke with Greg Blake who is the company’s director of strategic development. Blake explained that USDA …
#Biobased2016 Helps Build Demand for #Soybeans
Lewis Bainbridge is a farmer from South Dakota who serves on the United Soybean Board and is one of the stars of a new video touting the benefits of biobased products for the nation – Red, White and Biobased. “That video is a neat tie-in to show different partnerships,” he told me during the Biobased Stakeholders’ Dialogue this week in …
Secretary Vilsack Addresses #Biobased2016
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was the keynote speaker at the United Soybean Board 2016 Biobased Stakeholders’ Dialogue at USDA headquarters today. Vilsack was impressed with the wide range of biobased products on display at the event. “You all are helping to transition our entire economy,” he said. He called the whole biobased products initiative over the past several years a …
USDA Announces $8.4 Million For Disadvantaged Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that $8.4 million in competitive grants are now available to support the work of partner organizations that provide training, outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged, Tribal and Veteran farmers and ranchers. The financial support is offered through USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also …
This Independence Day Let’s Think About Our Military
As we prepare for our annual Independence Day celebration this story struck a chord with me. We may not have had the type of military we have today back in 1776 but we had courageous and committed men and women who fought for and won our independence from a tyrannical government. To this day we still have the finest military …