Post-Election Implications for Agriculture

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City’s November 12 webinar took a look at the results of the November 3 election and the implications for agribusiness. The panel featured farm policy analyst Sara Wyant, founder of Agri-Pulse Communications; Blake Hurst, president, Missouri Farm Bureau Federation; and Ron Seeber, president and CEO for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association, Renew Kansas …

Debate Mentions Farmers, Discusses Energy

President Donald Trump highlighted his support for U.S. farmers and ranchers during the presidential debate with Democrat challenger Joe Biden Thursday night. President Trump said he gave “28 billion dollars to our farmers,” when asked what he would do to make China pay for its lack of transparency about the coronavirus. “They devalued their currency and also paid up. And …

Farmers in the Democratic Debate

Farmers got about two minutes of airtime during the Democratic presidential candidate debate Wednesday on MSNBC. South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg was asked whether he would continue the “farm subsidies” that President Trump has authorized to help farmers struggling from the impact of the trade war with China. “We shouldn’t have to pay farmers to take the edge off …

Presidential Speeches at 91st National FFA Convention

President Donald Trump addressed the 91st National FFA Convention Saturday in Indianapolis. Outgoing National FFA president Breanna Holbert of California gave her retiring address shortly after President Trump spoke. Listen to some of both their speeches here.

ZimmCast 578 from Ag Week in DC

This podcast includes National Ag Day comments from Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, interviews with American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), and comments from the newly appointed chief ag negotiator for USTR, Gregg Doud. You can find lots more audio and photos from all of …

2018 Agri-Pulse Policy Summit

The Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit held March 21 in Washington, D.C. to learn more about important trade policies, the farm bill and new revolutions in food production. Confirmed speakers include Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, Ranking Member Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Agricultural Trade, and Food Assistance Ray Starling, and USDA Under …

National Ag Day 2018

The 45th celebration of National Ag Day in Washington D.C., March 20, 2018. Events, organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA), include presidential proclamation, National Press Club panel on The Consumer, the Farmer and Sustainability and Taste of Ag reception at the Library of Congress. This year’s theme is Agriculture: Food for Life.  Highlights of the day included an address …

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Ethanol Interests Shout Opposition to RIN Price Cap

As concerns began to grow late last week that the Trump Administration was leaning toward a cap on prices for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) to appease oil refinery interests, biofuel interests went into high gear to get the word out about how that action would devastate the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). A White House meeting was reportedly set for today …

Ag Policy Update: Farm Bill, Budget Deals & Trade

The Missouri Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference took place over the weekend. I was able to attend with my husband and had great intentions to not ‘work.’ But when I heard topics being discussed that are timely and others might learn from, I couldn’t help but pull out my recorder and gather some content. Missouri Farm Bureau’s Director …

Perdue Discusses State of Rural Economy

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue briefed members of the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday on the current state of the rural economy and USDA’s farm bill priorities. Secretary Perdue was asked about a number of issues impacting different areas of the nation, including sorghum, nutrition programs, dairy, specialty crops, trade, FMD vaccine, getting undersecretaries approved by Congress, labor and immigration, broadband access, …

Senators Speak Out to Approve Northey Nomination

After nearly four months of having the nomination of Iowa’s Bill Northey to the U.S. Department of Agriculture held up by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) brought it up on the Senate floor Wednesday and called on other colleagues to back him up. Northey was nominated to be USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation in …

National Thanksgiving Turkey Presented to POTUS

National Turkey Federation Chairman Carl Wittenburg presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey named “Drumstick” to President Trump. The turkeys were raised with the involvement of 4-H members from Douglas County, Minnesota: Kodi Bundermann, Kayla Egenes, Katie Kent, Christina Kuismi, and Kerryn Lund under the supervision of the Wittenburgs. The names for the birds were suggested by school children through the Minnesota …

Trump Commits to Agriculture in Iowa

President Donald Trump stood among various models of John Deere and Case IH farm equipment as he pledged to boost agriculture exports, loosen federal regulations on the agriculture industry, and support ethanol and biofuels yesterday while speaking to a crowd of about 250 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Listen to the full speech here: President Trump at …

ASTA Annual Convention to Focus on Policy

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Annual Convention June 21-24 in Minneapolis will focus on science and policy issues related to the development and free movement of quality seed worldwide, according to ASTA president and CEO Andy LaVigne. Special sessions and tours planned for the week include an Opening General Session panel on consumer food trends and a tour of …

Agriculture Secretary Nominee Hearing

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing March 23 for former Georgia Governor Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III who has been nominated by President Trump to serve as Secretary of Agriculture. During the hearing, Perdue outlined his four overall goals as agriculture secretary – to maximize opportunity of agriculture to create jobs, prioritize customer service every day, ensure a safe …