The 2014 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa featured record crowds, record booths, record entries in the Junior Nationals and the world’s largest pork burger. The event, which is sponsored by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), is the world’s largest pork industry trade show. Click here to view the 2014 World Pork Expo photo album. Audio features from …
2014 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference
The National Corn Growers Association 2014 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference was held June 2-4 in Louisville, Kentucky. 2014 CUTC Photo Album Promoting Kentucky Bourbon – NCGA President Kicks off CUTC – Gen 1.5 – Corn Fiber to Ethanol – Edeniq Stresses Cellulosic Ethanol is Here –
Oregon FB on County GMO Bans
Last week, two Oregon counties voted overwhelmingly to ban the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops. The initiatives in Josephine County and Jackson County, which border California, passed by as much as a two to one margin. “This isn’t Monsanto or Syngenta, these are local farms that have been farming the way they have chosen here in the valley for …
New USDA Conservation Investments
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chief Sustainability Officer at The Kellogg Company Diane Holdorf and North American Agriculture Program Director at The Nature Conservancy Sean McMahon hosted a media call today to announce substantial investments in conservation projects across the country. The program was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and will be up and running beginning …
USDA Defends Healthier School Lunch Program
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, William S. Wallace, General, U.S. Army (Retired), James A. “Jamie” Barnett, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) and School Food Service Director Donna Martin of Burke County, Ga. participated in a media call today to “discuss efforts by some Members of Congress and special interest groups to undermine childhood nutrition standards and the effect that would have …
USDA Ag Trade Mission to China
USDA just concluded a trade mission to China promoting U.S. biofuels and agricultural products. Kelly Davis with Renewable Fuels Association, Jim Miller of Growth Energy and Roger Johnson president of National Farmer’s Union all participated in the trade mission and held a press conference today to discuss the results. Opening comments:
WRRDA Conference Committee Member Interview
The Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) conference report was released by House and Senate negotiators on Thursday. The legislation is designed to “strengthen the nation’s transportation network, keep America competitive in the global marketplace, and reform and streamline the way we move forward with improvements to our ports, locks, dams, and other water resources infrastructure.” Conference committee member …
Ethanol Rail Safety
In the last few weeks there have been two derailments of trains carrying crude oil, one in Virginia and one in Colorado, the latest in a string of rail accidents over the past year from Canada to Alabama. While crude oil has been the common denominator in these accidents, ethanol has been caught in the cross fire despite its nearly …
Senators Speak of Biodiesel Uncertainty
U.S. Senators including Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined the National Biodiesel Board on Wednesday to release the results of a national survey highlighting uncertainty in the biodiesel industry as a result of policy setbacks in Washington this year. The senators called on the Administration to …
2014 Animal Ag Alliance Summit
The 13th annual Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit was held May 8-9, 2014 in Crystal City, Virginia with the theme “Cracking the Millennial Code.” Program highlights included panels on sustainability, antibiotics, farm size, and animal care, as well as expert advice from chefs, restaurants, retailers and trade media on food issues and trends. 2014 AAA Stakeholders Summit Photo Album College …
Deepwater Wind Announces Right Whale Protection
This morning the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and Deepwater Wind held a media teleconference to announce an agreement to implement additional protections for marine mammals, including the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Speakers included: Tricia K. Jedele, RI Advocacy Center Director, Conservation Law Foundation Jeffrey Grybowski, CEO, Deepwater Wind Michael Jasny, …
Officials Discuss RFS with Farm Broadcasters
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA administrator Gina McCarthy both talked about the proposal to lower volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) with members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting meeting in Washington DC this week.
Roboflight Interview
RoboFlight is a global company that deals in data acquisition including UAV platforms as well as full scale aircraft and satellite systems. Beyond the agricultural industry, RoboFlight also works in security, search and rescue, utilities, mining and insurance. Chuck interviewed Phil Ellerbroek, Global Director of Sales for RoboFlight, and he shared more about the company. RoboFlight acquired Aerial Precision Ag, …
Call to Reform Immigration for Farm Workers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined President of the United Farm Workers Arturo Rodriguez and President of Nisei Farmers League Manuel Cunha today on a conference call to discuss the importance of commonsense immigration reform for California’s agriculture economy and rural communities. There are over 81,033 farms in California that sell approximately $33.9 billion in agricultural products. Immigration reform would provide …
2012 Census of Agriculture Report
USDA released the majority of data collected for the 2012 Census of Agriculture on Friday. The data was released at noon via webcast. There are now 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres of farmland across the United States, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agriculture …