Agricultural Research Service (ARS) geneticist Edward Buckler is the first person to receive the National Academy of Science’s (NAS) Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences. Buckler will be recognized for pioneering the use of large-scale genomic approaches linking genes with the crop’s physical traits. This work is giving plant breeders’ better access to key genes and reducing the time needed …
USDA Seeks Nominees for American Egg Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for individuals to serve on the American Egg Board for the 2018-2019 term. Any non-exempt egg producer within the 48 contiguous U.S. and the District of Columbia may be nominated. Egg producers owning 75,000 or fewer laying hens may request an exemption from participation in the egg …
Secretary Perdue Hosts Bipartisan Breakfast with House Agriculture Leaders
Secretary Sonny Perdue hosted a bipartisan breakfast with agriculture leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The breakfast marks the first time Secretary Perdue has met with the leaders, which include: Representatives Michael Conaway, (Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, TX-11), Collin Peterson (Ranking Member, MN-07), Robert Aderholt (Chairman of the House Appropriations …
Farm Bureau Welcomes Decision to Improve NAFTA
The American Farm Bureau Federation thanked the Trump administration today for its decision to pursue renegotiation over withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement. The full text of the letter from AFBF President Zippy Duvall is below: “Thank you for your recent decision to choose the path of renegotiation for the North American Free Trade Agreement, rather than withdrawal. …
Georgia Peanut Commission Attends Georgia School Nutrition Meeting to Promote Peanut Consumption
The Georgia Peanut Commission attended the Georgia School Nutrition Association’s annual meeting April 20-22 in Jekyll Island, Georgia, to educate school foodservice personnel about peanuts and peanut butter, as well as encourage consumption in schools across the state. During the three-day meeting, school nutrition professionals attended educational seminars, visited with food service industry representatives and received recognition for outstanding performance …
Farm Bureau Responds to President’s Tax Plan
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farmers and ranchers need a tax code that promotes the business of farming and ranching and recognizes the unique financial challenges we face. Farm Bureau welcomes a pro-business approach to tax reform, but any tax reform proposal must treat all businesses fairly. Most farm and ranch businesses …
Bipartisan Congressional Letter Voices Support for Tackling of Canada’s Protectionist Dairy Practices
Adding to the groundswell of recognition that Canada’s protectionist dairy policies are harmful to U.S. dairy exports, a bipartisan group of 68 members of the House of Representatives wrote to President Donald Trump yesterday urging him to insist that Canada comply with its dairy trade commitments, including those under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). At a time when questions are arising about the future of the …
National FFA Organization Awards More Than $2.7 Million in Scholarships
The National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation has awarded more than $2.7 million in scholarships to 1,884 recipients. This was made possible thanks to the generosity of 115 sponsors. More than 8,300 students applied online for the scholarships, with many of the applicants being considered for multiple awards. Approximately one in every four students who applied was awarded a …
USDA Removes Database on Animal Mistreatment
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture shut down a database that includes information about mistreated, injured, or killed farm animals. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service cited privacy concerns in taking down the website information. A CNN Dot Com article quotes an animal activist group saying the agency bowed to pressure from groups that don’t want the information …
Farmers Share of the Food Dollar is Still Low
A Farm Journal report says some consumers may still look at grocery store prices and think farmers are making a lot of money off the commodities they produce. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report says for every dollar that consumers spend on food, farmers and ranchers get approximately 17.4 cents. The remaining 82.6 cents of every dollar goes to things …