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Energy Bill Pleases and Disappoints

Chuck Zimmerman

The farm bill isn’t the only legislation of interest to ag groups right now. In fact, I think I’ve had more email over the energy bill lately. Of course it’s now on it’s way to the President to sign tomorrow morning and who knows when that will happen with the farm bill. Here’s a sample of comments just sent out …

Ag Groups, Farm Policy

Missouri Cattle Industry Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time for the Missouri Cattle Industry Convention. Cindy and I will attending tomorrow afternoon to do a little public speaking workshop for the Missouri Beef Council which meets at the same time. I’ll try to have some pictures for you. Not to make them nervous or anything. The 2007 Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show is just around …

Ag Groups

FAO State of Food and Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

The FAO has released it’s annual State of Food and Agriculture report. This year they’re advocating payments to farmers. The State of Food and Agriculture 2007 explores the potential for agriculture to provide enhanced levels of environmental services alongside the production of food and fibre. The report concludes that demand for environmental services from agriculture – including climate change mitigation, …

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Melissa Sandfort

Penton Media’s BEEF® magazine, America’s leading cattle publication, is collaborating with 12 leading land grant universities to conduct the first Beef Stocker Survey, a national effort to benchmark and characterize the management practices and challenges of stocker operators and backgrounding operations. The confidential survey questionnaire was mailed this month to an extensive list of industry contacts, representative of the segment’s …

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CropLife Rewards Pesticide Excellence

Laura McNamara

The nation’s largest trade organization for agriculture pest management, CropLife, has named the recipients of its annual awards for excellence in pesticide development. The CropLife awards are meant to recognize responsible and effective use of pesticides to provide a safe, affordable and abundant food supply. Fourteen recipients of 2007 CropLife America industry awards were honored in six categories for excellence …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, BASF, Research, Technology

U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Resigns

Chuck Zimmerman

Here in Japan the turmoil at their Ministry of Agriculture precluded our being able to meet with their Minister. Back home it looks like we’ve got a little turnover going on too. I just learned that Mike Johanns has resigned as our Ag Secretary. The picture of him here is from the recent Farm Progress Show. I’ve always been a …

USDA

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Laura McNamara

Railroad Commission of Texas, will test an innovative power generation system on a Texas dairy farm. “The Railroad Commission of Texas is honored to receive funding both from PERC and NRCS,” said PERC Agriculture Advisory Committee member Dr. Steve Jaeger.” The support of both organizations proves we are on the right track to find environmentally friendly technologies for the U.S. …

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Laura McNamara

Illinois, in partnership with Ford Motor Company, is set to play a major role in advancing new clean vehicle technology with the introduction of Ford’s first of its kind E85 Hybrid Escape. Five of the 20 Ford E85 Hybrid’s in existence were delivered to the State of Illinois and the Illinois Corn Growers Association at the Farm Progress Show in …

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Laura McNamara

Monsanto’s DEKALB Genetics and John Deere are supporting the formation of a new grower group for customers in the Great Plains area. The Great Plains Canola Growers Association (GPCGA) will provide representation, education, promotion and leadership support to canola producers primarily in the states of Oklahoma and Kansas. “As a wheat farmer for many years, and now as a canola …

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Laura McNamara

Western bean cutworm will return to Midwestern cornfields this summer. “It has established itself in Iowa; it will not go away,” says Marlin Rice, extension entomologist at Iowa State University. “It is a permanent resident of our corn now.” And with moths captured in Michigan and Ohio in 2007, it appears western bean cutworm is continuing its march east through …

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