The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its 15th “Book of the Year” award to author Kiki Thorpe for “How to Grow a Monster.” The award was presented at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 103rd Convention.
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The American Farm Bureau Federation presented awards to state Farm Bureaus at the organization’s 103rd Convention, which runs through Jan. 12. The awards recognize excellence in implementation of outstanding member programs and membership achievement in 2021.
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Farmers and people in rural areas are more comfortable talking about stress and mental health challenges with others. Stigma around seeking help or treatment has decreased in rural and farm communities but is still a factor, according to a new research poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
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Member farmers from the American Farm Bureau Federation will participate in a roundtable on Thursday, Jan. 6, about the impact of the proposal to repeal and replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). The event is hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse and Colorado Farm Bureau Vice President James Henderson will join several other farmers attending the roundtable to explain why this rule is so consequential for agriculture.
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The Convention team is closely monitoring updates to Covid guidance and restrictions from the CDC, State of Georgia and City of Atlanta and will notify staff and attendees via the Convention App, Website, and email as appropriate. On Dec. 21, 2021, the City of Atlanta re-instated an indoor mask mandate, which may be enforced against individuals in certain circumstances. It is advisable to wear a mask indoors and always carry a mask while in Atlanta.
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I work with veterinarians who research influenza—the flu—in Ohio. They spend days at county fairs taking nasal swabs from pigs and blood samples from people who work with pigs. They follow the spread of disease from animals to people and from people to animals. Pigs that get the flu run fevers, become lethargic, and sometimes have respiratory symptoms, just like people. Veterinarians often recommend vaccinating animals to prevent flu and other diseases.
More than 10 years ago, these veterinarians told me a pandemic was due. They expected something like the 1918 flu, which caused millions of deaths worldwide. They thought an influenza outbreak would start in animals and move to people—a typical zoonotic disease.
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American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the “Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain.”
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Female farmers and ranchers might be outnumbered in the field at times, but they make an outsized impact on women who want to follow them into leadership positions on and off the farm.
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Are you unable to attend the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention in Atlanta, Jan. 7-12? Consider registering for the virtual event. Select workshops and sessions will be broadcast live with most available for on-demand viewing on the convention virtual platform.
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The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with more than 60 other agriculture groups, sent a letter today to the Biden administration requesting that agricultural workers be exempted from travel restrictions from South Africa. The “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease 2019” prohibits travel for individuals from several countries, including South Africa, due to concerns over the omicron variant. The letter also requests flexibility in regard to the “Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which limits entry into the United States to only those fully vaccinated with a CDC-approved vaccine with limited exceptions.
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Among farmers and ranchers, very few topics are being discussed as much as the skyrocketing cost of fertilizer and increasing concerns regarding availability. Given that fertilizer costs account for approximately 15% of total cash costs in the U.S., fertilizer prices are the number one issue on farmers’ minds as they begin to set up purchases for the 2022 growing season. Unfortunately, the fertilizer sticker price farmers in some areas are reporting is up more than 300% and delivery times are anyone’s best guess. We’ve seen this before, in 2008. During the 12 months ending in April 2008, nitrogen prices increased 32%, phosphate prices increased 93% and potash prices increased 100%. Prices remained there through 2009, then dropped, ultimately returning to pre-2007 levels by the end of 2009. That price surge was associated with strong domestic and global demand, low fertilizer inventories and the inability of the U.S. fertilizer industry to adjust production levels. This time around, those same factors are at play, along with several others that add an extra layer of uncertainty.
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The Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council (ANPC), which includes the American Farm Bureau Federation as a member, released a report today highlighting initiatives and progress being made by farmers to reduce nutrient loss across the Mississippi River Basin. The report includes information from 16 states and the results will be presented at the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force (Task Force) Virtual Meeting on Dec. 14.
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The end of the year is quickly approaching, and as I reflect on the time, I am thankful for each person I have met and for the resiliency farmers and ranchers continue to show in the face of every challenge. Although the pandemic is not fully in the rearview yet, I have been grateful for opportunities to get back on the road safely this last year, and meet face-to-face with Farm Bureau members around the country.
In Louisiana, I saw how partnerships with land-grant universities are helping to keep rice and crawfish farmers in businesses through new varieties and growing methods. I heard how Farm Bureau’s advocacy work in 2020 to help crawfish farmers saved local farms.
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The YF&R program helps young Farm Bureau members shape their future and American agriculture through leadership development and personal growth opportunities. Three competitions enable members to showcase their leadership experience, communication skills and successful business plans as they compete against the best of the best from each state Farm Bureau.
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The American Farm Bureau Federation joined eight other organizations in reaching out to United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai in advance of the upcoming 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), which will focus on the future work of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to call for needed reforms.
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