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 …
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 …
Vilsack and LaHood Press Avail
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood officially extended for five years an agreement between USDA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help develop viable biofuels for the aviation industry. The two secretaries signed the agreement Monday (4/15/13) at the Advanced Biofuels Summit at Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland. Vilsack and LaHood held a press availability after …
Growth Energy Capitol Presser
Members of Growth Energy are on Capitol Hill this week to meet with legislators regarding the benefits of the ethanol industry. In particular, participants will discuss the value of E15, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the issues surrounding Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). The Growth Energy leadership team, CEO Tom Buis, and Co-Chairmen of the Board General (Ret.) Wesley Clark …
Elanco Expands Committment in China
Elanco is investing approximately $100 million to purchase a minority equity stake in China Animal Healthcare Ltd., one of the leading players in the animal health industry in the People’s Republic of China. The investment expands Elanco’s commitment to China, with the goal of providing innovative, safety-enhancing food production solutions to help meet the growing food demands and nutritional needs …
Farm Bureau Propsal for Farm Bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a farm bill proposal to Capitol Hill this week that offers a diverse mix of risk management and safety net tools to benefit a wide range of farms and it saves $23 billion compared to the cost of continuing the current program. “We’ve tried to look at providing farmers a three-legged safety net stool …
Interview on Catfish Inspection Program Repeal Effort
An effort to repeal the Catfish Inspection Program that was included in the 2008 Farm Bill apparently has widespread support in Congress and with a variety of agricultural companies and organizations. National Fisheries Institute spokesperson Gavin Gibbons says the program has already proven to be a waste of taxpayer dollars. “If you look at the Government Accountability Report for the …
2013 National Ag Day
National Ag Day activities took place in Washington, DC in various locations including an evening banquet at USDA. You’ll find links to plenty of audio and photos from all the events. The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) will host National Agriculture Day on March 19, 2013. This will mark the 40th anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in …
BASF 2013 Science Behind Event
BASF hosted the 7th annual Science Behind BASF media symposium in conjunction with the Commodity Classic. Below are links to photos and audio files from that event and other BASF activities at Classic. BASF at 2013 Commodity Classic Photos Audio files:
Sequester and Agriculture Explained
Sequester is scheduled to take effect on March 1 and so far Congress has made no effort to prevent the across the board spending cuts from taking place. I talked with GROWMARK government affairs director Chuck Spencer to find out more about this monster called Sequester. Listen to my interview with Spencer here:
2013 Annual Meat Conference
The Annual Meat Conference is hosted by the American Meat Institute and Food Marketing Institute. 2013 Annual Meat Conference Photo Album