Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran headlined a weekend discussion at the American Farm Bureau national convention titled “What’s the latest on the upcoming Farm Bill?” Moran said it was a great opportunity to speak before Farm Bureau members regarding the upcoming farm bill, the farm safety net, and the importance of protecting the rural way of life across America. “I’ve …
Farm Bureau Re-elects President Zippy Duvall
Sets Agenda for 2018 Delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention unanimously re-elected AFBF President Zippy Duvall. Delegates also approved measures to help assure a prosperous agricultural and rural economy in the coming year and beyond. Resolutions approved by farmer and rancher delegates from across the nation ran the gamut of issues, from trade to regulatory reform, …
Pork Checkoff Delivers ROI
U.S. pork producers receive a positive return on their Pork Checkoff investment. USDA requires a return-on-investment (ROI) analysis every five years with Cornell University handling the review. National Pork Board vice president of strategic communications Kevin Waetke is gratified with the response. Response The ROI study evaluates all aspects of the Pork Checkoff. Evaluation Waetke says this value message has …
SUDIA Rebrands to Reflect Market-Focused Mission and Innovation
The Dairy Alliance Represents 2,100 Dairy Farmers Across Nine Southeast States The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA) has new leadership, new branding and a new name — The Dairy Alliance. This change represents the new vision and mission of the organization. The Dairy Alliance has an emphasis on market-focused partnerships that proactively promote and protect the interests of 2,100 dairy farm families in the Southeast. The new …
U.S. Pork Farmers Get Outstanding Return on Checkoff Investment
A 2017 study says U.S. pork farmers get a very positive return on their checkoff investment. The study was done by Harry Kaiser at Cornell University. 91 percent of the pork farmers who took part in the November survey acknowledge their overwhelming support of the pork checkoff, knocking opposition levels down to just three percent. The National Pork Board commissions …
Idaho “Ag-gag” Law Dealt a Blow in Court
Idaho’s so-called “Ag-gag” law prevents recording devices from being brought on farms or into slaughterhouses without the owner’s consent. But now, a provision of that law was struck down by a three-judge appeals court panel. The panel said in its decision that criminalizing the undercover videotaping violates the constitutional right to free speech. A DTN report says Idaho state lawmakers …
Winter Wheat Growers Holding on Through Cold Snap
The nation’s winter wheat growers have learned through experience to be prepared for more trouble ahead. Much of the nation has been in a deep freeze for the past several days. Hard red winter wheat growers in Kansas and Oklahoma are already not expecting to have a large crop this year. They’ve been battling lower prices because of a large …
U.S. Ethanol Production Near Capacity but Constraints Limit Growth
As demand for ethanol has increased, the number of ethanol plants in the U.S. has quadrupled since 1999. A USDA report says the growth in the number of ethanol plants has been driven by the Renewable Fuels Standard, which was first enacted in 2005. The initial increase in plant numbers after 2005 led to some plants not producing at their …
Farmers Explore the Challenges and Rewards of Organic Farming
A panel of Farm Bureau members who farm organically discussed the challenges and rewards of choosing organic farming at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Panelist Tom Schwarz, an organic farmer from Bertrand, Nebraska, who currently serves on AFBF’s Organic and Direct Marketing Issue Advisory Committee, said organic was a viable option for his …
Supreme Court Weighs Arguments in Water War
Lawyers for Florida asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to reject a special master’s report denying the state relief in its long-running dispute with Georgia over water flow into the Apalachicola River. “This court has never had a situation where it’s recognized a state as being injured. It’s recognized that the upstream state is wasting a resource and it’s …