Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is in Europe this week meet with European agricultural and trade officials and other industry stakeholders. Vilsack is visiting with officials in Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, and Dublin to discuss the expansion of agricultural trade, the importance of agriculture’s role in the U.S.-European Union (EU) Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), and the benefits the trade agreement …
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 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 …
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 …
Farm Bureau Ditch the Rule Initiative
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed “Waters of the US” rule was published in the Federal Register last week – all 111,000 words of it. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) responded with just three words – “Ditch the Rule”. Farm Bureau is calling on its members to bring the rule to the attention of local, state and federal lawmakers.
President Obama Comments on TPP in Japan
President Barack Obama met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo this week and commented Wednesday on talks regarding the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement. Obama said he believes the two sides can come together on an agreement but when asked by a Japanese reporter about specific agricultural commodities, such as rice and beef, provided few details.
Interviews From Capitol Hill
During National Agriculture Day and American Coalition for Ethanol Fly-in activities last week, we were able to interview three lawmakers from the Midwest about issues important to agriculture. Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois discusses ethanol and the RFS, his experience working on the farm bill, and the water resources development bill. Freshman Lawmaker Learns & Teaches on Farm Bill – …
Interview with RFA CEO from DC
In this interview, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen discusses the latest from Washington DC, including what he is hearing about the EPA proposal to lower the RFS, the latest anti-RFS ad campaign from Big Oil, rail delays impacting ethanol shipments, getting the tax credits for advanced biofuels reinstated, USDA plans to continue to support ethanol, and enthusiasm …
2014 ACE Biofuels Beltway March
The 6th annual Biofuels Beltway March organized by the American Coalition for Ethanol was held March 25-26, 2014 in Washington DC. Over 80 supporters representing 15 states heard from officials with USDA, EPA, and the White House and then visiting the offices of more than 120 members of Congress. 2014 ACE Biofuels Beltway March photo album Big Turnout for ACE …
National Ag Day Celebration
The celebration of 2014 National Agriculture Day in Washington DC included events March 25-27. Ag Day is celebrated annually to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture. National Ag Day photo album Farm to Fork Politics photos …
Borlaug Statue Unveiling
A statue of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug was installed March 25, 2014 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on what would have been the great agricultural scientist’s 100th birthday. The leadership of the United States Congress, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Governor Terry E. Branstad of Borlaug’s home state of Iowa, and Amb. Kenneth M. Quinn, who chaired …
Norman Borlaug Statue Comments
The State of Iowa will install a bronze statue of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug in the U.S. Capitol on March 25, which is both National Agriculture Day and the centennial anniversary date of the Father of the Green Revolution. The statue was displayed during the World Food Prize Borlaug dialogues last October, where World Food Prize president Kenneth Quinn, also …
Ag Groups and Grassley on Japan’s TPP Offer
The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations are drawing to a conclusion, but Japan wants to exclude a number of agricultural products as part of a final agreement. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and several agricultural organizations held a press conference today to discuss why that is unacceptable and to urge the administration to reject Japan’s offer. In addition to Sen. Grassley, …