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 …
2013 Alltech International Symposium
The Alltech 29th Annual International Symposium picked up where the 2012 Symposium concluded. And that is with the pledge for continuous innovation meeting the agricultural challenge of feeding a growing global population. Chuck and our new summer intern Maggie Seiler were there to cover it. They took lots of pictures and did some great interviews. New audio will be uploaded …
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 …
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 …
Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit
Last week I attended the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit in Arlington, Virginia. The event brought industry leaders together to discuss Activists at the Door: Protecting Animals, Farms, Food and Consumer Confidence. The two-day conference started thought provoking conversations throughout the agriculture community on animal rights, transparency, crisis management and much more. Here you can find audio from the event, …
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 …
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 …
Concluding Press Conf for G8 Open Data for Ag
USDA held a concluding press conference to discuss results prior to the end of the G-8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture. USDA Chief Scientist Dr. Catherine Woteki outlined the federal government’s new Food, Agriculture and Rural data community, which offers a catalog of over 300 data sets as well as numerous apps, tools and statistical products. Listen to …
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 Press Conf. on Open Data for Ag Conference
USDA just held a preview press conference for next week’s G-8 International Conference on Open Data for Agriculture. On the phone with the press were USDA Chief Scientist Dr. Catherine Woteki and Dr. Simon Liu, Director of the National Agricultural Library. There are plans to do live streaming during the conference and people are encouraged to tweet about the conference …
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 …
Chicken Media Summit
Media from across the country were invited to attend the very first Chicken Media Summit. The National Chicken Council and US Poultry & Egg Association sponsored the three day event to inform, educate and create transparency throughout the chicken industry. Attendees got up close and personal with the life of a broiler, touring a hatchery, grower barn and processing plant. …
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 …