Winners of the 2017 National Agricultural Proficiency Awards were announced during the sixth general session at the 90th National FFA Convention & Expo. Awards were given in 47 categories. Agricultural Communications—Entrepreneurship/Placement Kolt Buchenroth—Ohio Kolt Buchenroth of the Kenton-OHP FFA Chapter in Ohio began his career in agricultural communications when he was offered a job at WKTN Radio as the agriculture …
Senate Confirms Ibach For Top USDA Job
The National Pork Producers Council applauded the Senate confirmation of Greg Ibach for a key position in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was approved by voice vote. Ibach, who is director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, was picked by President Trump to be undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. “Director Ibach will be a great asset at USDA …
Florida Fall Cattlemen’s Conference & Allied Trade Show
The 2017 Florida Fall Cattlemen’s Conference & Allied Trade Show will be held November 9 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala. Some of the topics to be discussed include Rumenology 101, hay evaluation, and feed by-products. There will be a live market calf evaluation and also a market outlook. The event runs from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Eastern. …
Trump Calls For Speeding Up Lake Okeechobee Dike Work
With the White House pointing to ties between President Donald Trump and Gov. Rick Scott, repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee might be done more quickly than anticipated. Trump on Thursday directed Mick Mulvaney, the chief of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to accelerate the work. “The administration, working closely with Florida Gov. Rick …
Bloomberg Speculates Illegal Spraying Caused Dicamba Injuries
Illegal spraying seems to be the cause of a majority of crop damage earlier this year from dicamba-based herbicides. Given that BASF sold enough dicamba herbicide to cover roughly 52 percent of the dicamba-tolerant acres planted in Arkansas, Bloomberg speculates that a large quantity of off-label dicamba could have been used to fill the gap. Such versions of the herbicide …
USDA Offering $5 Million in Farm to School Grants
The Department of Agriculture is offering $5 million in grants to schools through the USDA Farm to School Program. The program has been awarding grants to schools and communities since 2013. Farm to School refers to efforts that bring locally or regionally produced foods into school cafeterias. USDA says that also includes hands-on learning activities such as school gardening, farm …
Conaway Supports House Guest Worker Bill
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway offered his approval to a bill that would bring reforms to agriculture labor. Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee approved the Ag Act, which supporters say would replace the flawed H-2A guestworker program. Conaway says the bill would help provide farmers with access to a legal, steady supply of workers. Saying it’s time for a …
Dairy Industry Applauds Introduction of School Milk Nutrition Act
The nation’s dairy industry applauded the introduction of a bipartisan bill this week that would help reverse the decline in milk consumption in schools. The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association say the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2017 would make permanent the administrative changes in the school lunch program proposed earlier this year by the …
Congress Member Questions Trump’s Ability to Withdraw From NAFTA
Wisconsin Representative Ron Kind, a Democrat who represents a district of dairy farmers, is questioning President Donald Trump’s ability to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement. Kind said this week: “Constitutionally, I think the president would be on pretty shaky grounds if he tries,” according to Politico. Congressman Kind made the comments during a speech to the National …
Misbranded Dairy Imitations Mislead Americans
Require Enforcement Action, NMPF Tells FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s recent comments about the need for strong federal oversight of food labels are exactly what is needed to address the misleading labeling and branding of imitation dairy products, the National Milk Producers Federation said. In a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, …