I recently read the book “Remember Roscoe Filburn,” by Douglas J. Lising. I felt that there was a bit of a bait and switch going on but in reality, I guess I just wasn’t paying enough attention. The premise of the book is to revise the Commerce Clause and the basis for Lising’s argument was in 1941, the Commerce Clause was used to force a small Ohio wheat farmer named Roscoe Filburn to burn his crops.
As the story goes, during this time, the federal government was regulating wheat farming under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. The purpose of the Act was to regulate wheat prices by setting quotas on the amounts of wheat produced by farmers. Filburn’s allotment was established at 11.1 acres at a yield of 20.1 bushels per acre (my, hasn’t the industry come along way in production). Despite being told of his allotment, Filburn plated 23 acres and thus harvested 239 bushels of wheat in excess of his allotment. As a result, the government ordered Filburn to destroy his entire crop and pay a fine.
The long and short of it was the federal government argued that under the Commerce Clause, Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce, and agricultural production fell under interstate commerce. Filburn argued that his wheat production did not fall under interstate commerce because it never entered the national marketplace because it the wheat was grown for his personal use. Ultimately, Filburn lost his case.
Lising argues that this is a gross overstepping of the federal government, who today uses this clause to regulate farm and crop subsidies, utility pricing to environmental control and regulations. He says that we need to take back control from the government, and the first step is to propose and ratify a new amendment, the Twenty-eighth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This amendment, he writes, will curtail the power of the federal government and strengthen the independence of the states.
While I agree that the government seems to be a disaster these days (just look at the past two years where they have literally been unable to “balance the budget”) I don’t agree with Lising’s proposed Twenty-eighth Amendment. While he admits he is no scholar, he says his goal is to create a dialogue and awareness regarding the government’s overreach of power, and this he does. However, all in all, I don’t recommend this book unless you are willing to take a similar radical stance to Lising.
It is time for International Green Week in Berlin, Germany. That means that many members of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists are their and having their own meetings. It has been several years since I’ve had the opportunity to attend this massive show.
Thanks to Riitta Mustonen for sharing this photo on Facebook with a description of the seminar she is attending.
IFAJ Freedom of the press seminar going on. Oliver Vujovic (in the middle): “If you have a dangerous information, don’t try to be a star. Share your information with colleagues. Then it doesn’t help if they kill you, the info is already spread.”
“In every country you can increace democracy, and it is the work of journalists.”
An end user’s most important resource is their precision farming dealer. Ag Leader recognizes the importance of their dealer network and that’s why, in 2013, we’re going to introduce you to a few of those dedicated professionals in a series called “Getting to Know Ag Leader”.
To kick things off, we caught up with Todd Peterson of Peterson Ag service in Remington, Indiana:
1. From an agronomy standpoint, what do you consider to be the biggest issues facing growers today?
Being able to maximize profit from every acre by controlling input cost, managing pests and diseases, applying what the crop needs and analyzing data to make good decisions.
2. Tell us about how growers in your area are using precision agriculture.
In my area of row crop corn and soybean production, growers have seen the benefit of many things from precision agriculture from guidance to machine control. SeedCommand and DirectCommand have been big to help reduce seed and input costs, while maximizing yield. Guidance has also played a large part, allowing my growers to cover more acres more efficiently. With the addition of Intellislope, it allows my growers to improve drainage and make these acres more productive.
3. What benefits are growers seeing by using precision ag on their farms? Give us some examples.
With the use of SeedCommand and clutch control, growers have been able to reduce seed cost from overplanting end rows and point rows. In turn, this has increased yield on end rows. With the use of guidance, growers are able to cover more acres in a day with less overlap and skip, as well as less operator fatigue, which allows them to be more productive.
4. What do you believe is on the horizon when it comes to technology and agriculture?
Since technology is an ever-evolving thing, I can’t wait to see what’s next. As we have the ability to better understand and analyze the data we collect, and manage our operations to maximize yield and reduce costs, the possibilities are great.
5. What’s your best piece of advice to a grower who might be looking at using precision ag products?
My best advice for a grower starting to use precision ag, or one that has been using it for a while, is to work with a trusted advisor that has the grower’s interest in mind. As technology moves fast, you have to have a plan of where you are and where you are wanting to go. Precision ag products are great IF you know how to use them and they fit and work for your operation.
Check back next month to “Get to Know” another Ag Leader dealer!
Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.
DISH Network wants everyone in rural America to have internet access. That’s why they launched dishNET last fall. Now they’re going a little further by bundling DISH tv & entertainment with dishNET. They’re also reaching out to rural Americans and various organizations to find ways to capitalize on the economic and educational opportunities that internet access provides.
I found them doing that at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Nashville. DISH Network was conducting a rural access survey to gather information about where and how people are using the internet. I am hoping to find out the results of that survey when it is complete. This is part of a Rural Access Listening Sessions program they’ve started to create a dialogue with rural influencers.
To learn more about what is going on with DISH and dishNET I visited with Brian McIntyre, vice president of broadband at DISH. Brian says that a key message he’s hearing from rural America is the desire to stay relevant. There’s a word we heard multiple times during the AFBF annual meeting. He says that dishNET brings service to rural America on par with that found in urban markets. Plans start as low as $39.99 and include download speeds of up to 10 mbps download. You’ll also get one bill for your tv/entertainment and internet services. Brian also talks about some of the technology upgrades DISH has undertaken in recent years to make their services better.
You can listen to my interview with Brian here: Interview with Brian McIntyre
One of the highlights of the BASF Crop Protection Innovation Symposium for growers this week was Camp Innovation, where they got to see some amazing underground results of fungicide treatments.
Watch Brianne Reeves with BASF walk us through Camp Innovation to see how Headline, Headline AMP and Priaxor make a difference in root health for a variety of crops.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack continues to remind producers to complete forms for the Census of Agriculture – the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation. The 2012 Census of Agriculture will provide the USDA with current information to help ensure an abundant, safe, and accessible food supply for all of America. The Census of Agriculture, said Vilsack, is one of the most important tools for providing certainty to producers and sustaining the unlimited economic potential of rural America.
Currently underway by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Census collects detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture. It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers do business and succeed in the 21st Century.
Census information helps USDA monitor trends and understand the needs in agriculture to better align its products and services. Ways the department used Census data in the past include:
• Helping to ensure the future of the agriculture industry in America, by developing programs and priorities to help new and beginning farmers get started and stay in business.
• Looking at where and how to provide expanded and improved Internet access and services to rural America.
• Illustrating the changing nature and needs of agriculture.
The new Chair of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee is Zach Hunnicutt, Nebraska farmer. Many of you may follow Zach on Twitter @zhhunn. Now you’ll be following his travels in his newly elected position on this important Farm Bureau committee. Here’s Zach doing one of many media interviews at the AFBF annual meeting. I had my turn.
Zach is a Nebraska farmer. He farms with his Dad and brother and they grow corn, pop corn, seed corn and soybeans. He and his wife have been involved with Farm Bureau for several years. He officially took over his duties after the closing board meeting in Nashville. He says he’ll be doing a bunch of travel talking to groups about the activities of his committee and encouraging people to get involved. He will also be very involved in the next round of YF&R competitions that will take place at next year’s annual meeting. With all that travel I asked him if he was well equipped to keep up with his social media channels. Zach packs an iPad and a Droid so he should be in good shape. He says that social media has connected him to a lot of people from all over the country. By staying active he’s making a good agvocate! BTW. Zach is a board member of the AgChat Foundation.
You can listen to my interview with Zach here: Interview with Zach Hunnicutt
