The proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule was a big topic of discussion at last week’s National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. Andy Vance with Buckeye Ag Radio has some great coverage from the event, including an interview with USDA chief economist Joe Glauber about the proposed rule. Secretary Vilsack continued to say …
Chicken Whisperer Promotes Healthy Flocks
If you want to raise chickens in your backyard, the Chicken Whisperer is the man for you! Kind of reminds me of the old radio spoof Chickenman – “He’s everywhere, he’s everywhere!” Mild mannered Andy Schneider has made himself into the go-to expert on raising backyard poultry. He is host of an Internet radio show and is also a contributor …
USDA/DOJ Public Workshop Panels
Friday’s joint USDA/DOJ public workshop was a marathon with potentially over 2,000 people participating. You can follow some of what happened in my archived CoverItLive stream and the press conference featuring Sec. Vilsack and AG Eric Holder. For those of you who couldn’t attend, couldn’t listen to the live stream or need the audio for your reports or broadcasts I’m …
USDA/DOJ Public Workshop Press Conference
Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Eric Holder held a press conference this morning during a break in the USDA/DOJ public workshop in Ft. Collins, CO. I’m posting the full audio from it here for you. I’ve got lots of audio and story ideas for after today. I think getting photos, audio and live streaming to the over …
Legislators Question USDA Objectivity On GIPSA/Workshops
The forums and USDA/DOJ public workshop I’ll be attending in Ft. Collins, CO get more interesting by the minute it seems like. Today a letter was sent to Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack from Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Tom Coburn (R-OK) expressing some concerns about a USDA official helping to …
Some Groups Support GIPSA Rule
We’ve been hearing a lot from producers and organizations with concerns about the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule, but there are some groups in favor of the rule. The most vocal is R-CALF USA, led by CEO Bill Bullard, who calls the proposed rule “critical” to help “an industry in crisis.” Bullard contends that the rule …
USDA/FFA Lesson Plans
The USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service and FFA are teaming up to develop new tools for classrooms to “help promote agricultural and statistical literacy among kindergarten through 12th-grade students.” “By including these materials in the classroom curriculum, teachers can help students better understand statistics and their importance to the farming community, rural America and society as a whole,” said Dr. …
NPPC Calls Proposed GIPSA Rule a “Disaster”
Go to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) homepage and you will see a prominent link to information about the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule with the bold headline “Proposed GIPSA Rule a Disaster.” Strong words from the organization, but that is how many producers feel about the rule that they believe will limit their ability …
NCBA Urges Producer Comment on GIPSA Rule
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is urging all producers, from the biggest to the smallest, to get engaged in the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule and make their voices heard. “Every producer should be concerned because the trickle down effect from everything that’s going to result from this rule is going to impact the way we …
GIPSA Rule Causes Concern For Pork Producers
When Iowa hog farmer Sam Carney got his first look at the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule released on June 22, he was shocked. “I thought it would be something to get rid of vertical integration,” Sam says. “And to me, this is just something that looks like they’re encouraging vertical integration.” Sam is president of …