New Holland Construction Equipment Media Event

New Holland brought together media representatives from the construction industry to see the company’s product line-up and learn how the agriculture and construction segments have been integrated internally. Please enjoy and use our photos and interviews. More interviews will be added as they are produced. New Holland Construction Equipment Media Event Photos YouTube video of Abe Hughes talking about Integration …

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 …

American Meat Institute Statement on COOL Decision

USDA has issued the final rule for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), including an amendment to the regulations for muscle cut covered commodities derived from animals slaughtered in the United States. “It is incomprehensible that USDA would finalize a controversial rule that stands to harm American agriculture, when comments on the proposal made clear how deeply and negatively it …

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 …

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 …