Global Soybean Stakeholders Discuss Biotech

Representatives from U.S. soybean-farmer-led organizations held a telephone press conference Thursday from China where they will be joining their counterparts from several other countries to discuss the biotech-approval process there. United Soybean Board (USB) chairman Bob Haselwood of Kansas, the American Soybean Association (ASA) president Wade Cowan of Texas, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) chair Laura Foell of …

Industry Addresses New H5N2 Outbreaks

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) provided an update on highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza outbreaks via a press conference this morning. This comes after the recent confirmed case on an Iowa egg farm. USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford, CDC Medical Officer Dr. Alicia Fry and USDA Southeast Poultry Research Director David Swayne …

2015 National Agri-Marketing Conference

The 2015 National Agri-Marketing Conference was held April 15-17 in Kansas City with the theme “Growing Greatness”. The conference included a variety of networking sessions, industry speakers, and breakout sessions, as well as the annual Best of NAMA awards ceremony and Connection Point trade show. Photos: 2015 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album Audio: GROWMARK Highlights Intern Program at NAMA – #NAMA15 …

Biofuels Supporters Meet With Hillary Clinton

During her visit to Iowa this week, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton discussed the Renewable Fuel Standard with farmer leaders and America’s Renewable Future co-chair Patty Judge, former Iowa lieutenant governor and agriculture secretary. America’s Renewable Future, an Iowa-based coalition formed to educate presidential candidates about biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

AgWorks Software’s New Relationship with CDMS

AgWorks Software, LLC, a leading provider of unified agronomy management software for Agri-Business Retailers, announced a new partnership today with CDMS, Inc. to provide crop protection compliance information within AgWorks’ new unified agronomy software. Greg Duhachek, President of AgWorks says “CDMS represents the most complete and accurate compliance data available today and I am excited to bring access to this …

Cong. Vicky Harzler Interview

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and 70 House colleagues recently called for the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) to be based on sound nutritional science and not areas such as sustainability and tax policy. In this interview, Rep. Hartzler discusses her view of the recent DGA advisory committee report that recommends less meat in the diet. She also talks about …

USDA Official on the Road for Trade

USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Alexis Taylor has been meeting with agricultural stakeholders around the country to talk about the importance of Trade Promotion Authority for the president in expanding international markets for U.S. products. Taylor was in Florida this week and she’s also visited with producers in California, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania. In this …

Propane Program Pays Off for Growers

The Propane Farm Incentive Program paid off for participants last year, according to the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC). In this interview, PERC agricultural director Cinch Munson talks about successes of the 2014 program which provides up to $5,000 toward the purchase of new propane-powered irrigation engines.

Reaction to Prospective Plantings Report

The 2015 Prospective Plantings released by USDA shows declines expected in corn, wheat and cotton acres this year, with only a modest increase in soybean acreage. Randy Martinson with Progressive Ag, who provided commentary on the report for the Minneapolis Grain Exchange crop call, was surprised by some of the numbers.

USDA Announces Ag Conservation Easement Funds

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Natural Resources Conservation Service chief Jason Weller have announced the availability of $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

USDA Extends ARC and PLC Deadlines

USDA has extended by one week the deadline for producers to choose between Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), the safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill. The final day to make the decision, update yield history or reallocate base acres will now be April 7, 2015. Val Dolcini, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) …

2015 ACE Fly-In

The 2015 American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) brought the troops to Washington D.C. this week to talk with our Nation’s leaders about the importance of the Renewable Fuels Standard. The troops were a diverse group of growers, manufactures, retailers and others in the industry with a keen interest in renewable energy. Photos from the event can be found here: 2015 …

Doane Releases Planting Intentions Survey Results

Doane’s 2015 Planting Intentions Survey was released to subscribers and clients Friday, March 20th. Results from this year’s survey show a continuation of recent trends toward more soybeans and less corn acreage. Last year’s corn acreage declined significantly in 2014, down 4.8 million acres from the 2013 level, just a bit more than the 4.5 million acre decline implied by …

2015 National Agriculture Day

National Agriculture Day was March 18, 2015 but events celebrating farmers and ranchers lasted throughout the week in Washington DC, starting with the Agri-Pulse Farm to Fork Politics Kickoff. Agri-Pulse Farm to Fork Politics Photo Album National Ag Day Photo Album Agri-Pulse Farm to Fork Politics – Rep. Lucas on Protecting Ag – Wheat Bagel Breakfast with Side of Politics …

Iowa Ag Summit

Nine potential Republican presidential candidates were asked their opinions on various agricultural issues at the Iowa Ag Summit in Des Moines on March 7. >The summit was organized with the support of America’s Renewable Future, a quasi-political campaign for the RFS introduced earlier this year which intends to approach all potential presidential candidates individually and invite them to visit and …