House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN) held a telephone press conference on Friday to discuss the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013, passed by the committee last week on a vote of 36 to 10. “At the end of the day, we got a very good vote,” said Peterson. “But we have challenges …
National Cotton Council Farm Bill Comments
The National Cotton Council (NCC) is pleased with the farm bills out of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees this week that make some pretty significant changes in the cotton program to hopefully provide final resolution of the longstanding Brazil WTO case. “The focus has been to try and come up with farm policy for cotton in the new farm …
Interview with National Corn Grower Chairman
Garry Niemeyer of Aurora, Illinois is chairman of the National Corn Growers Association. In this interview, he comments on Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the farm bills out of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and finally making some corn planting progress in the Midwest.
Syngenta Builds on Garst® Seed Legacy
Even as the Syngenta-owned Garst and Golden Harvest® brands are being launched under the revised Golden Harvest brand, Syngenta intends to uphold the quality, reliability and legacy that have become synonymous with the Garst brand and the Garst Seed Advisor. “Roswell Garst’s commitment to customers – to be a trusted advisor in addition to a seed dealer – is the …
Interview with Wells Fargo Agribusiness Head
Wells Fargo recently named Rob Yraceburu as head of its National Food & Agribusiness Division to lead the group’s expansion to untapped markets in the Midwest and East. A fourth-generation family farmer who holds both a bachelor’s in agricultural business and a master’s in agricultural economics from California State University Fresno, he has worked in finance for his entire 28-year …
Study Shows Ethanol Reducing Carbon Footprint
Ethanol Report with Comments from Study Co-author Steffen Mueller and RFA CEO Bob Dinneen A new study indicates that ethanol production is continuing to reduce its energy and environmental footprint. The study, entitled “2012 Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental Technologies”, found that recent innovations in corn ethanol production have resulted in increased yield per bushel even as less …
USDA and EPA Release Report on Honey Bee Health
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. Link to full report. A press conference featuring government officials and …
Interview with GROWMARK Agronomist
Planting progress continues to be slowed by wet and cold weather in most of the major corn producing states. John Grandin, Iowa-based Senior Field Sales Agronomist at GROWMARK, talks about planting progress in his area and advice about nutrient management in these conditions.
Ethanol Energy Use Study – Interview
A new study indicates that ethanol production is continuing to reduce its energy and environmental footprint. The study, entitled “2012 Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental Technologies”, found that recent innovations in corn ethanol production have resulted in increased yield per bushel even as less energy is required for production. Thermal energy use at a typical dry mill ethanol …
USDA and Dairy Industry Renew MOU
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today renewed a historic agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations. The pact extends a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. The Secretary was joined on …
2013 Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference
The future of renewable energy sources was the topic of conversation at the recent Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, featuring speakers from the biofuels industry, trade associations, government and finance, among others speaking at the three-day event just outside of Washington, DC. From the major announcement by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that they were extending …
Becker Underwood Inoculant Technology
Becker Underwood and BASF hosted ag media representatives on April 19, 2013 for a tour of the plant facility in St.Joseph, Missouri with an update on inoculant and polymer technology, as well as progress on the integration of Becker Underwood into the new Functional Crop Care division of BASF. Below are links to audio interviews with all presenters and a …
Fuels America: Biofuels Get Their Green On
Fuels America held a press conference on April 17, 2013 to highlight sustainability improvements from farm to fiber to fuel. During the press call farmers and ethanol industry experts gave a briefing on the increased sustainability measures taken in renewable fuel production from farm to fuel tank. Participants of the call included Fred Yoder, farmer and past president of the …
Ag Workforce Coalition on Immigration Bill
Leaders from the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) held a press conference Wednesday (4/17/13) to highlight the crucial stake American agriculture has in immigration reform. Late last week, a landmark agreement on immigration reform was reached by the AWC, the United Farm Workers (UFW), and key Senators. Participating in the news conference were National Council of Farmer Cooperatives president Chuck Conner, …
Meet New EPA Ag Counselor
The new senior Agricultural Counselor to the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator held a conference call Tuesday (4/16/13) to discuss her background and her role as an advisor at EPA on ways environmental policy may impact growers and the greater agriculture community. Sarah Bittleman accepted the new position with EPA in February after serving Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as USDA Senior …