Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) Thursday led a number of her Democratic colleagues in calling on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop the continued delays of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule and highlighted the impact that the uncertainty of the past two years has had on biodiesel industry. Joining Sen. Heitkamp were Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy …
Agriculture Part of New FAA UAS Program
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced new partnerships with industries, including agriculture, to explore the next steps in unmanned aircraft operations beyond the type of operations the agency proposed in the draft small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rule it published in February. The Pathfinder Program includes partnerships with three companies, including Raleigh-based manufacturer PrecisionHawk, which will be …
NCGA Chair Comments on Planting Progress
Corn farmers nationwide planted about one third of the corn acreage nationwide in one week last week according to USDA’s latest crop progress report. The phenomenal progress included an increase of 38% in Nebraska and Illinois, 41% more in Missouri, 45% in Minnesota and an additional 54% of the acreage in Iowa. In this interview, Martin Barbre, Chairman of the …
USDA Announces Conservation Partnership Funds
In Colorado today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of up to $235 million to improve conservation efforts through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Vilsack made the announcement in Denver at a ceremony for the Colorado Pressurized Small Hydropower Partnership Project, a 2015-funded project that focuses on water quantity resource concerns in Colorado. Listen to press conference with …
Avian Flu Cases Multiply in Iowa
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency late Friday in Iowa after four new probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were detected in his state, bringing the total now to 21 farms involving over 16 million birds. That includes one quarter of the number one egg state’s laying hen population, roughly six percent of the national …
Senators Call for Revised WOTUS
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced a bill Thursday that calls on EPA to develop a new “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) proposal. The senators, including John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), jointly introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, directing EPA and the U.S. …
GROWMARK Insect and Disease Update
GROWMARK Insect and Plant Disease Technical Manager Tim Laatsch discusses the latest insect and disease conditions right now in Illinois for wheat and newly planted corn. GROWMARK Crop Update –
NAFB 2015 Washington Watch
Thanks to our friends at Agri-Pulse we have some great audio to share from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Washington Watch. First Doan Award Presented – ARA Supports Food Labeling Act – RFA CEO Talks RFS with NAFB – Mixed Signals on Biotech from EU –
Famous Idaho Potato Tour 2015
The Big Idaho Potato on wheels and Tater Team is back on the road. Track it’s progress here. This is its fourth cross-country tour with a new mission to help local charities across the U.S. In a five-month period, the truck will visit 60 cities, travel 22,087 miles and help dozens of charities better serve their communities. Listen to/download some …
First Anniversary of Bayer Bee Care Center
Bayer CropScience celebrated the first anniversary of their North American Bee Care Center located in RTP, NC. Bayer’s Jim Blome and Becky Langer were joined by Dr. Richard Reich, agricultural services assistant commissioner, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, who spoke of the importance of the Center’s work, public-private partnerships and the importance of agriculture to the North …
2015 Chicken Media Summit
The 2015 Chicken Media Summit took place on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The event brought together journalists, bloggers, dietitians and many others representing the poultry industry. The National Chicken Council and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association brought the unique group together to open the doors for a day of touring a hatchery, chicken farm and processing facility. Great dialogue was started …
White House Climate Initiative Announced
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and presidential advisor Brian Deese visited Michigan State University Thursday to announce a comprehensive national strategy to partner with farmers, ranchers and forest land owners to address the threat of climate change. The new initiative, “Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry”, will utilize voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas …
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 …