The Missouri Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference took place over the weekend. I was able to attend with my husband and had great intentions to not ‘work.’ But when I heard topics being discussed that are timely and others might learn from, I couldn’t help but pull out my recorder and gather some content. Missouri Farm Bureau’s Director … Read More
Missouri Farm Bureau Listening Session on #FarmBill18
The Missouri Farm Bureau held their annual meeting earlier this week and a highlight for many was the discussion on the 2018 Farm Bill. In a packed house, a Focus on the Farm Bill Seminar took place with Capitol Hill decision makers and thought-leaders in Missouri agriculture. Panelists: – Ranking Member House Ag Committee, Congressman Collin Peterson – Missouri Congresswoman … Read More
Trade, Farm Bill & Taxes…Oh My!
Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst represented the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) at last week’s NAFB Trade Talk. As you can guess, trade, 2018 farm bill and tax reform we key issues we discussed. When it comes to NAFTA renegotiations, Hurst said, “U.S. agriculture can see some benefits from this renegotiation. We can see changes to phytosanitary rules. We … Read More
Videos Demonstrate Ways Farmers Protect Water
Iowa farmers are known for not just growing food, fiber and fuel, but for doing it well. Their fertile soils, combined with varied terrain and a lot of Mother Nature mean farmers face challenges when it comes to keeping nitrates where they belong. The Iowa Water Quality Initiative has been a big part of helping farm families use innovative, science-proven … Read More
WOTUS Strikes Back
Farmers and ranchers will need the force to be with them as the EPA has struck back with an even more extreme version of the Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS). Known as the Chesapeake Blueprint, the new rules will severely regulate and burden farms, possibly removing thousands of acres from production agriculture. The American Farm Bureau Federation is once … Read More
New Risks, New Rewards for Farmers and Big Data
Privacy concerns are still forefront in farmers minds even with the substantial benefits of new technology and the associated A”big data.” Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst explained farmer concerns to the House Agriculture Committee during a hearing this week. Hurst, a board member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, was asked to testify on innovation and its implications for … Read More
AFBF Releases More EPA Overreach Maps
The American Farm Bureau Federation has released even more maps to help visualize the EPA’s overreach in the new WOTUS rule. The maps show how the government intends to radically expand its jurisdiction over land, highlighting the fact that nearly all of the total acreage for the four states illustrated would full under EPA jurisdiction. The maps prepared by Geosyntec Consulting show … Read More
MO Farm Bureau Speaks Out Against WOTUS
The Missouri Farm Bureau has put together interactive maps to give a feel of how the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that goes into effect this weekend will impact the state. Well over 95% of the state of Missouri will qualify as a water of the U.S. under this rule. I spoke with Blake Hurst, president of the … Read More
Farm Bureau Maps Show EPA Increasing Authority
New maps released by Farm Bureau shows the federal government is massively increasing its authority at the cost of American producers. This news release from the group says the Environmental Protection Agency will radically expand its jurisdiction over land use if its controversial Waters of the United States rule takes effect as expected Aug. 28. That expansion comes even as … Read More
Farm Bureau: Ag Could Really Soar with Drones
Farm Bureau says agricultural drones could really help farmers and ranchers soar to success. This news release says the group submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that focused on performance-based standards for the FAA’s rule on the “Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.” “Drones are the next evolution in American agriculture,” said Dale Moore, AFBF executive … Read More