As we say farewell to 2016, we also say goodbye to our ZimmPoll. For the past six years we have brought you a weekly poll on current events and issues impacting agriculture. The first ZimmPoll took place in November 2011 and asked the question, “How do you think agricultural interests will fare in the new Farm Bill?” Since then we …
Sec Vilsack Says Diversity in Ag Key to Future
Diversity was the simple message Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shared with FFA members at the 89th National FFA Convention. He encouraged each young person to be proud of our history in agriculture and to use their voice to tell that inspiring story. “I am here first and foremost today to thank FFA for it’s commitment to diversity. Each of you …
Zimfo Bytes
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed four members to serve on the United States Department of Agriculture Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. The International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) is accepting applications for participation in the 2016 Student Case Competition. Farm Journal Media unveiled a new beef market strategy at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association conference Kent Nutrition Group, Inc., (KNG) …
Iowa Congressman Visits WPX
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) paid a visit to World Pork Expo last week to talk with producers and learn more about the issues they are facing right now. The congressman represents the 4th district of the state in the northwest corner, bordering Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, and he is a strong advocate for livestock producers. During the farm bill …
Ag Groups React to Farm Bill Conference Report
House and Senate agriculture leaders on Monday released their conference report on a new five-year farm bill that pleases some agricultural interests who just want to get it done, but distressed others. According to a news release from the House Agriculture Committee, the compromise bill “contains major reforms, including eliminating the direct payments program, streamlining and consolidating numerous programs to …
Farm Bill Now?
Last year the rallying cry of agricultural organizations for a “Farm Bill Now” fell on deaf ears in Congress, but this week’s actions by both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to pass a bill is leading to new hope that it might finally happen. “This provides a great reason for optimism we will have a new long-term farm bill …
FARRM Bill Amendments: What Made the Cut
More was proposed than adopted, but in the end, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, better known as the FARRM bill, moved out of the House Agriculture committee with 43 amendments (see a complete list of what was approved, defeated, withdrawn and tabled here from our friends at Agri-Pulse.com). One of the more significant amendments that passed kills …
FARRM Bill Passes out of Committee
They said they would get the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act out of committee in one business session come “hell or high water” and they did it. It took nearly 15 hours to go through some 100 amendments and did not end until just shy of 1:00 am Eastern time, but the final roll call vote to recommend …
Zimfo Bytes
Nominations are now open for 2012 inductees into the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Hall of Fame. The 2012 Farm Progress Show will present the latest agricultural technology across even more show exhibit area with the latest expansion at its Boone, Iowa, show site. Larry Mitchell has been named administrator of USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. Valent BioSciences Corporation …
Cattlemen Want Livestock Out of Farm Bill
As Congress considers a 2012 Farm Bill, the top priority for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is to eliminate the livestock title, according to NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts. “The livestock title was new to the farm bill in 2008 and it brought us things like Country-of-Origin-Labeling, a national animal ID system and the GIPSA proposed rule …