Blaze a Trail is the theme for the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show January 31 – February 2 in Phoenix, AZ. Prior to the actual kickoff of the event will be the 25th Anniversary of Cattlemen’s College, the opening general session speaker will be Ree Drummond the Pioneer Woman, and attendees will also hear from former MLB …
National Biodiesel Conference to Celebrate 25 Years
The biodiesel industry is heading to Fort Worth January 22 – 25 for the silver anniversary of the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo. “Every conference we’ve sponsored has been an exciting event for our industry,” said National Biodiesel Board (NBB) CEO Donnell Rehagan. “But this one is obviously going to be special as we take the opportunity to not only …
2018 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention
The 99th American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show was held in Nashville January 6-9 2018. President Trump addressed attendees along with AFBF president Zippy Duvall, and Canada’s minister of agriculture. The majority of the main activities at the AFBF convention were live-streamed and archived, photographed and audio filed, through the Farm Bureau convention media guide. Here …
SMART Farmer Podcast 2018
Welcome to the first SMART farmer podcast of 2018! In 2017, we interviewed 22 farmers and ranchers and other agriculture industry people from across the country for the SMART farmer podcast to learn how they use the latest technology in their production of food and fiber for the world, like poultry barns with environmental controls on smart phones, using GPS …
ZimmCast with MN Soybean
Tom Slunecka is one of the first people ever to be featured in a ZimmCast, back in 2005 when he was executive director for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC). That organization became Growth Energy in 2008, and Tom has been executive director for Minnesota Soybean, which includes both the state Growers Association (MSGA) and the Research & Promotion …
2017 SMART Farmers
In 2017, the very first SMART Farmer podcast was introduced. It has featured interviews with the people who use data and technology to be more sustainable and to help build a smarter version of the American farm and ranch. SMART Farmer Katie Brenny – Podcast debut featuring interviews with USFRA CEO Randy Krotz and Katie Brenny, a beef producer from …
USFRA Promotes Food Evolution in Times Square
As New Year’s Eve revelers fill Times Square this weekend, towering over them will be a jumbotron advertisement for the movie Food Evolution being promoted by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). Food Evolution was commissioned by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), and directed by Academy Award®-nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy. It can be found on Hulu, iTunes, …
Ethanol Report on 2017
All in all, 2017 was a pretty good year for the ethanol industry with a new advocate in the White House and record production. Among the highlights of the year, increased exports despite Brazil taking a protectionist stance against ethanol imports, EPA releasing new RVO numbers on time, and ethanol champions rally to protect the RFS and win. In this …
Ethanol Report on RFS2 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago this month, just days before Christmas, President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act which greatly expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to include up to 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022. The expansion became known as RFS2, like the sequel to a big movie that had just been released two …
Last Minute Gift Ideas from USFRA
If you are looking for last minute gift ideas, the U.S. Farming and Ranching Foundation may have the answer. The foundation is a nonprofit organization associated with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) with the mission of supporting sustainability and consumer education in American culture. And it is the way that individuals can donate to support that cause by …
Soil Health Partnership Grows Program
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is expanding its program thanks to a large investment made by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and matched by other donors. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) director of soil health and sustainability Nick Goeser says the grant represents one of the largest investments ever made in soil health. “It will allow us …
SMART Farmer Jerry Flint
Jerry Flint may not technically be a farmer, but he did grow up on a farm in Ohio and his entire career has been focused on delivering new innovations to smart farmers. In addition to being vice president of regulatory affairs for Dow DuPont Agriculture Division, Flint is also first vice chair for the American Seed Trade Association, and his …
Soybean Growers Lose $1.6 Billion Annually to SCN and SDS
Diseases like Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) continue to plague soybean growers to the tune of $1.6 billion per year, based on USDA 2016–2017 marketing year projection for average soybean price of $9.10 per bushel. Those two diseases contribute to the largest number of bushels lost for soybean farmers, who sometimes don’t even realize disease is …
Iowa Corn Looks to Increase Corn Use in Plastics
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board is one step closer to expanding the corn market after receiving a new patent application on a proprietary production method using corn in the industrial manufacturing of monoethylene glycol (MEG). Most MEG is produced from fossil fuels, with the exception of some bio-MEG made from sugarcane ethanol and sourced from Brazil. Consumers are driving a …