Speaker of the House John Boehner says he would vote for the House Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) of 2013. “I’ve got concerns about the farm bill, as I told our members,” Boehner said during the Republican Leadership press conference Wednesday. “But doing nothing means that we get no changes in the farm program, no changes in …
New Study on Food Prices and the RFS
ABF Economics released a new, detailed analysis, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association, showing no direct correlation between the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the overall increase in food prices. Study author John Urbanchuk is managing partner of the agriculture and biofuels consulting firm ABF Economics. Read the full report here.
2013 Fuel Ethanol Workshop
The 29th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop was held in St. Louis, Missouri June 10-13, 2013. The largest ethanol event in the U.S. drew more than 2,000 exhibitors, attendees and speakers to learn about the latest technologies, techniques, procedures and more to help the industry become more profitable and efficient. 2013 FEW Photo Album Opening Remarks: CEO and founder of BBI …
Farmer Cooperatives Washington Conference
The National Council of Farmers Cooperatives is holding its annual Washington Conference this week. GROWMARK Executive Director of Corporate and Government Relations Chuck Spencer talks about the issues they are discussing with lawmakers.
Senate Farm Bill Audio
Comments from Senators on the floor recorded from C-Span2 during final vote on Senate Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 passed June 10, 2013 by a vote of 66 to 27.
Interview with Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)
The Senate has passed a farm bill once again, as it did last year, and now once again the burden falls on the House to pass their version to get the legislation into conference. Representative Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, a member of the House agriculture committee, is hopeful. In this interview, Rep. Hartzler talks about Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk …
World Pork Expo 25th Anniversary
2013 marks the silver anniversary of World Pork Expo, the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, presented by the National Pork Producers Council. Audio and photos will be updated during the course of the event June 5-7 at Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. 2013 World Pork Expo photo album. World Pork 25th Anniversary – National Pork Update – USDA AMS …
AGree Supports Senate Immigration Bill
Food and agricultural policy organization AGree is urging the Senate to pass the immigration reform bill approved by the Judiciary Committee in order to provide a stable workforce for American agriculture. On June 3, the co-chairs of the organization sent a letter in support of the bill to U.S. Senators. Former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman is co-chairman of AGree and …
Press Conference on Disruption of Iowa E15 Sales
An Iowa congressman and a fuel retailer in his state are claiming that the oil companies’ fuel distribution monopoly is forcing the discontinuation of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15) sales during the summer. Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA) joined Linn Coop Oil Company service manager Jim Becthold and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw for a press conference at …
Rural Interests Concerned About Losing Local TV
A number of agricultural and conservation organizations are urging the Federal Communications Commission and Congress to research the impact that impending spectrum incentive auctions could have on television translator service and low power television service in rural areas. Last year Congress authorized the FCC to conduct voluntary spectrum incentive auctions allowing television broadcasters to sell their channels to wireless companies …
Dairy Farmers to REAP Benefits of Waste-to-Energy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture extends the deadline on a program that could see more farmers, especially those in the dairy industry, turning livestock waste into energy. The deadline to submit for funds under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and Dairy Industry Memorandum of Understanding has been extended to to May 31, 2013. During a teleconference moderated by …
Eco Agro Resources Launch
Eco Agro Resources is proud to announce its formation and launch on May 1, 2013. Eco Agro Resources is an Agriculture and Chemical Producer and marketer of the next generation of urease inhibitor and patent pending flagship product, N-YieldTM. David McKnight, CEO states “Eco Agro Resources is made up of 30 team members with over 100 years of agriculture and …
Rep. Peterson Farm Bill Comments
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.