Archive for June 2011
Wheat Farmers Urge Quick Passage of Pending FTAs
June 29, 2011
A statement from Wayne Hurst, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers and a wheat farmer from near Burley, Idaho, and Don Schieber, chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates and a wheat farmer from near Ponca City, Okla.
Pesticide Permit Bill Approved by Senate Ag Committee
June 24, 2011
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would overturn duplicative and onerous new permitting requirements for pesticide applications.
NAWG President Testifies to STB on Rail Competition Concerns
June 24, 2011
A strong and proactive Surface Transportation Board (STB) is necessary to help agricultural shippers and others who are captive to one railroad line receive fair rates and good service, NAWG President Wayne Hurst told that Board’s Members at a hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Talk Of Productivity, Regulation Reform at Biotech Hearing
June 24, 2011
Agricultural applications of biotechnology can help feed the world and preserve resources, but the regulatory process the technologies must go through is problematic, witnesses said Thursday at a meeting of the House Agriculture Committee’s subcommittee with jurisdiction over the technology.
Grower Testifies on Making Farm Programs More Efficient
June 23, 2011
Producers’ experiences with USDA’s local offices working to deliver farm and conservation programs can be dramatically improved by streamlining programs and using more Internet and cell phone communication, Washington state wheat farmer Brett Blankenship testified to the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday.
NAWG President Testifies to STB on Rail Concerns
June 22, 2011
A strong and proactive Surface Transportation Board (STB) is necessary to help agricultural shippers and others who are captive to one railroad line receive fair rates and good service, NAWG President Wayne Hurst told that Board’s Members at a hearing on Wednesday.
Bill on Duplicative Pesticide Permits Approved by Senate Ag
June 21, 2011
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) applauds the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee’s approval Tuesday of H.R. 872, which will remove duplicative and onerous new permitting requirements for pesticide applications.
House Passes FY2012 Spending Bill With Cuts, Harmful Changes
June 17, 2011
The House of Representatives passed its agriculture appropriations bill by a largely partisan, 217 to 203 vote Thursday afternoon following a week of intense debate and maneuvering.
Major Ag Coalition Write U.S. Leaders on Farm Budget Cuts
June 17, 2011
A coalition of 113 agriculture organizations wrote the three highest ranking U.S. officials this week to express strong opposition to disproportionate cuts to agriculture programs in the quest to reduce the country’s debt load.
USDA and USAID Break Ground on New Lab to Focus on Ug99
June 17, 2011
USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) broke ground this week on a state-of-the-art greenhouse in St. Paul, Minn., that will play a key role in expanding the U.S. capability to address the global threat of Ug99 and other plant rusts.
Folic Acid Factoid
June 13, 2011
Enriched grains are Americans’ primary source of folic acid, which has been shown to reduce specific types of neural tube birth defects.
Commodity Leaders Meet With USDA, EPA Heads on Concerns
June 10, 2011
NAWG President Wayne Hurst, a wheat farmer from Burley, Idaho, traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to participate in a meeting of commodity leaders with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson.
Rail Bill Mark-up Postponed, But Advocacy Continues on the Hill
June 10, 2011
A planned mark-up of S. 158, the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2011, was postponed this week due to a large amount of other business on the Senate Commerce Committee’s schedule.
U.S. Wheat Video Focuses on Importance of Export Development
June 10, 2011
A new video released this week by U.S. Wheat Associates aims to educate policy stakeholders about the vital importance to wheat producers and the U.S. economy of maintaining strong export market development programs.
Research Factoid
June 8, 2011
More than 75 percent of U.S. wheat acres are grown with seed varieties developed by public research programs.
Hurst Talks EPA, Rail, Crop Conditions
June 8, 2011
Listen to a short conversation with NAWG President Wayne Hurst, a wheat producer from Burley, Idaho, on a meeting he had June 7 with Ag Secretary Vilsack, EPA Administrator Jackson and other commodity leaders. Hurst also talks about the importance of rail reform to wheat producers and what he’s hearing from the countryside as wheat harvest begins.
House Appropriations Approves Dramatic Cuts to Ag Spending
June 3, 2011
The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would deeply cut from the agriculture and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) budgets in FY2012, particularly in the area of agriculture research.
Commerce Committee to Mark-up Rail Reform Bill on June 8
June 3, 2011
A pending railroad reform bill is set to be considered by the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, June 8, at 10 a.m., though rail shippers have concerns that amendments to it could dilute its impact when enacted.
MyPlate Replaces Food Pyramid, Has Significant Grain Portion
June 3, 2011
Members of the U.S. “grain chain” applauded on Thursday the introduction of a new healthy eating icon, dubbed MyPlate, which highlights the importance of grains to a well-balanced diet.
oops, this is a monthly archive
