USDA Under Secretary Michael T. Scuse held a telephone media call today to highlight the need for a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill to promote U.S. agricultural exports. Joining him was Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast Executive Director Tim Hamilton and Dave Ramirez, Export Sales Director of Ohio-based Trophy Nut.
USDA Press Conferences
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held two press conferences the week of December 9, 2013 on two totally different subjects, but both times he was asked his thoughts about Congress not getting a farm bill done. On December 11, Vilsack was joined by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in announcing a joint “Farm-to-Fleet” venture to make biofuel blends part of …
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at NAFB
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the 70th National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Annual Convention in Kansas City on Friday. The Secretary centered his comments around the RFS announcement, record levels of exports, drought issues and the farm bill. He also answered questions from the broadcasters. Listen to or download the entire one hour press conference: 2013 NAFB Convention Photo …
MGEX November Crop Call
USDA issued its November Crop Production forecast on Friday, calling for a record corn crop of just a hair under 14 billion bushels. During the Minneapolis Grain Exchange conference call on the report, Mike Krueger of The Money Farm commented on both the new production forecast and the new WASDE report.
MGEX September USDA Crop Call
USDA issued its September Crop Production forecast on Thursday, calling for a slight increase in corn production, a three percent decrease in the soybean crop and another one percent drop in cotton production. During the Minneapolis Grain Exchange conference call on the report, Louise Gartner of Spectrum Commodities, commented on both the new production forecast and the new WASDE report.
USDA Awards Conservation Funds
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and NRCS Chief Jason Weller held a telephone press conference Tuesday to announce the award of Conservation Innovation Grants. Vilsack and Weller also took a number of questions from reporters, most of which centered around the need for passage of a new farm bill.
Ag Secretary Speaks to Growth Energy
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed the Growth Energy Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. Tuesday morning, focusing on passage of a new five-year “food, farm and jobs bill” and maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Listen to or download Sec. Vilsack’s remarks here:
Agriculture Secretary at IA Farm Bureau Summit
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation 2013 Economic Summit on Monday, July 22, in Ames, Iowa. The secretary touched on a number of topics including climate change, conservation, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the need for a long term food, farm and jobs bill. Afterward, Vilsack held a press conference where he answered questions …
Commentary on USDA Acreage Report
Despite the challenging planting conditions this spring USDA is saying that farmers have planted the most corn and soybean acres ever, according to Friday’s Acreage report. Considering what the spring has been like, the numbers are being met with some skepticism by market watchers in particular. “It’s a shockingly big number and it will be questioned,” said Jack Scoville of …
House Subcommittee RFS Hearing
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing Wednesday on the
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 …
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 …
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 …