Representatives of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials last week to express concerns on behalf of member conservation districts regarding the proposed “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. In this interview, NACD President Earl Garber talks about the meeting and their concerns about the proposed rule.
NPPC Comments on Breakdown of TPP Talks
The National Pork Producers Council continues to carefully watch negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and expressed disappointment in the outcome of meetings last week with the Japanese. In this interview, NPPC Vice President and Counsel for International Affairs Nick Giordano talks about what happened last week and why the issue is so important to U.S. pork producers.
Water for Food Global Conference
Mobilizing new data gathering capabilities to improve global water and food security is the subject of the sixth annual Water for Food Global Conference, hosted by the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska in association with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Oct. 19-22 in Seattle, Wash. The event is the premier gathering of …
USDA Unveils New Risk Management Programs
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled the new programs included in the 2014 Farm Bill to help farmers better manage risk. The new programs, Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), represent the end of direct payments by offering farmers protection when market forces cause substantial drops in crop prices and/or revenues. Producers will have through early spring …
Iteris Launches ClearPath Ag™ Select
Iteris, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ITI), a leader in providing intelligent traffic management and weather information solutions, has released ClearPath Ag™ Select, an expanded Application Programming Interface (API) for iOS, Android and other computing platforms that provides access to high-resolution weather information and mapping visualization for real-time decision support. ClearPath Ag Select™ is based on Iteris’ ClearPath Ag cloud platform, which …
RFA CEO Comments on Ethanol Issues
In this interview, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen discusses the recent Quad County Corn Processors cellulosic ethanol production grand opening, the record corn crop and ethanol production this year, new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ad campaigns and whether EPA will change the 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations that are under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review.
GOP Ag Commissioners on Federal Overreach
Members of the Republican Agriculture Commissioners Committee hosted a conference call Monday to discuss the impact of federal overreach on agriculture in the United States and back the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in calling for the proposed “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule to be withdrawn. Speaking on behalf of RACC were Iowa Secretary of Agriculture …
USDA Conservation Grants Announced
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $15.7 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) to 47 organizations that will help develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate innovation in private lands conservation. The Secretary made the announcement while visiting a farm in Moline, Illinois. The grants are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Those receiving the grants …
USDA Crop Report Comments
USDA has increased its estimate of both the corn and soybean crops this month, building on already forecast record highs. Corn production is forecast at 14.4 billion bushels, up 3 percent from both the August forecast and from 2013 and yields are expected to average 171.7 bushels per acre, almost 13 bushels an acre higher than last year. Soybean production …
Conservation Easement Program Investments
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday that $328 million in conservation funding is being invested to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the nation. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical wetlands and encourage producers to keep lands in farming …
Hereford Genetic Summit
Missouri State University’s Darr Agricultural Center served as home for the American Hereford Association’s Hereford Genetic Summit. Hereford breeders from across the country gathered to talk about what tomorrow’s consumers want, how the economic drivers of the beef industry come into play for breeders, what genetics commercial producers are seeking and responsibilities of seedstock producers. Hereford Summit Photo Album. Using …
iCropTrak 5: Farming App with On-Board Analytics
Cogent3D has released iCropTrak 5 – an “on-board” processing for mobile analytics farming application that is based on technology originally developed for the military. This technology is a bit different than many that are based in the “cloud” or on your desktop. iCropTrak version 5 performs all the processing needed on your iPad and in the field or wherever you …
Eco Agro Resources Introduces PENXCEL Technology Platform
U.S.-based Eco Agro Resources has expanded its portfolio with a delivery system for active ingredients in the agricultural fertilizer market, announced today at The Fertilizer Institute annual meeting in San Francisco, California. PENXCEL™ Technology is a unique formulation system developed to deliver fertilizer additives for dry and liquid fertilizer. The delivery system drives active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the …
2014 IFAJ Congress
The British Guild of Agricultural Journalists hosts the 2014 IFAJ World Congress in Scotland September 4-7 with the theme Innovations from a Small Island showcasing British food and farming to the global media. 2014 IFAJ Congress Photo Album Welcome to 2014 IFAJ Congress in Scotland – 2014 IFAJ Congress Wrap – Farming in Scotland –
Bayer CropScience Opens New Facility
Bayer CropScience has opened a new center for biologics and vegetable seed research and development in West Sacramento, California. On September 3, Bayer CropScience executives joined with community leaders for grand opening ceremonies at the new facility. Among those taking part were global Bayer CropScience CEO Liam Condon, North American president and CEO Jim Blome, West Sacramento site manager Mike …