Soil Health Action Plan Unveiling to be Webcast

The Soil Health Institute (SHI) will unveil the Soil Health Action Plan at 9 a.m., May 18, at the First Amendment Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045. The event will also be webcast live. To join the webcast, visit https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/219/21021. The nationwide plan evolved after four years of stakeholder input, beginning with the …

Nebraska Press Conference on Mexico Grain Trade

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts asked grain industry officials from Mexico and the United States join him Tuesday for a press conference to highlight the importance of Mexico to U.S. agriculture and how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both countries. Representatives from the Nebraska Corn Board, the U.S. Grains Council, and the National Corn Growers Association joined …

DMI Launches Undeniably Dairy Campaign

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, in partnership with Dairy Management Inc, held a press conference this afternoon to detail its launching of Undeniably Dairy, the first industrywide campaign of its kind to grow consumer confidence in dairy products. The call featured dialogue from Amber Horn-Leiterman, Wisconsin dairy farmer and Chair, National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, Barb O’Brien, President, …

NCBA Reacts to Regained Access to China

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) held a media conference call and Q&A session to discuss the historic reopening of the Chinese market to American-produced beef this morning. Speaking on the call were Craig Uden, NCBA President, and Kent Bacus, NCBA Director of International Trade and Market Access. “We’re very excited about this development, it’s another step closer to restoring …

Secretary Perdue Announces USDA Changes

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced a reorganization of USDA yesterday that includes the creation of a new undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, which was approved in the most recent farm bill. As part of the reorganization, Perdue also announced that the department’s Rural Development agencies would be elevated to report directly to the secretary of agriculture “in …

Swift Navigation, Carnegie Robotics Announce Duro

Carnegie Robotics and Swift Navigation have announced the first of their joint projects, the Duro – a dual frequency RTK GNSS receiver that is a ruggedized version of Swift Navigation’s flagship Piksi™ Multi receiver. Built for outdoor operations, Duro combines a rugged enclosure with centimeter-accurate positioning at a breakthrough price. Read more about Duro, and download this interview with Swift …

Soil Health Institute to Unveil National Soil Health Action Plan

The Soil Health Institute (SHI) will unveil the Soil Health Action Plan at 9 a.m., May 18, at the First Amendment Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045. The nationwide plan evolved after four years of stakeholder input, beginning with the Soil Renaissance in 2013. Agricultural industry thought leaders, farmers, ranchers, scientists, government agency …

SMART Farmer John Deere

On this week’s episode of the SMART Farmer podcast series we speak with Bev Flores, Media Relations manager for John Deere. John Deere started innovating for farmers back in 1837; His plow designs helped pioneers break through rich Midwest soil. Bev recently took part in a U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance panel at the 2017 National Ag Day event in …

Perdue Shows Ethanol Support During Iowa Visit

Sonny Perdue made his support for renewable energy and ethanol clear during a visit to Iowa last week, telling a local FFA chapter that “renewable energy, ethanol is here to stay…you have nothing to worry about.” Listen here: Secretary Perdue visited Couser Cattle Company in Nevada, Iowa, where he was presented with a custom made corn products display and a …

Ethanol Report on Trade Issues and Trump Administration

This week on The Ethanol Report, we get a Washington update from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen, focusing on recent trade developments and the Trump Administration. Dinneen comments on President Trump’s first 100 days, the potential for Brazil to reinstate a 20% tariff on U.S. ethanol, how Terry Branstad could help the ethanol industry trade situation with …

ASTA Annual Convention to Focus on Policy

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Annual Convention June 21-24 in Minneapolis will focus on science and policy issues related to the development and free movement of quality seed worldwide, according to ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne. Special sessions and tours planned for the week include an Opening General Session panel on consumer food trends and a tour of …

Brazil Holds Off On US Ethanol Tariffs

Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) has postponed a decision on whether to reinstate tariffs on U.S. ethanol until next month. Brazilian sugarcane and ethanol producer associations had proposed reinstating the ethanol import tariffs following a recent surge in shipments coming in from the United States. Brazil was the top destination for U.S. ethanol in March, according to RFA, with …

Branstad Draws on Ag Experience in Confirmation Hearing

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad drew on his agricultural trade and ethanol experience, as well as his 30 year friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. When asked by Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE) what he will do to get more U.S. chickens to China, Branstad agreed that China needs to have “a …

Meet the New NAMA President

The 2017 AgriMarketing Conference held last week in Dallas, Texas is the annual meeting for the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA). The conference also marked the changing of the guard for NAMA  as a new president took over leadership of the organization, so the team sat down with outgoing president Matt Coniglio of Penton Agriculture/Farm Progress and incoming president Amy Bradford …

Precision Laboratories Partners with Monsanto

Precision Laboratories announces a partnership with Monsanto to include an adjuvant in Roundup Ready PLUS® Crop Management Solutions. Intact™ drift reduction agent is available for the 2017 crop season and can provide growers and applicators additional confidence with on-target application. “This partnership is a benefit to growers who want to take the next step toward the most effective use of …