tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524385568083921922026-07-24T00:59:33.922-05:00Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom KarstTom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.comBlogger5821125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-60110761139470265682018-05-01T13:21:00.002-05:002018-05-01T13:21:17.460-05:00

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - In preparation for School Lunch Hero Day, the non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has announced winners of national awards recognizing an exceptional school nutrition director, manager and employee for their efforts. This Friday, May 4, schools nationwide will celebrate all school nutrition heroes for their dedication to expanding access to healthy school meals

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-75505992962120667252018-05-01T13:15:00.001-05:002018-05-01T13:15:12.568-05:00

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement in reaction to the arrival at the U.S. border of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States: “Children and families fleeing horrific violence who reach our borders have a right to claim asylum. The United States has an obligation under domestic and international law to fairly

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-60629663539819245112018-04-17T13:30:00.001-05:002018-04-17T13:30:44.037-05:00

Statement of CSPI President Dr. Peter G. Lurie CSPI welcomes today’s introduction of the Food Labeling Modernization Act by Senators Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Ed Markey. The bill, a companion to legislation introduced last week by Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr., and Rosa DeLauro represents a much-needed overhaul of food labeling regulation. American families are

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-12889052071136488972018-04-17T13:29:00.002-05:002018-04-17T13:29:47.336-05:00

Federal Bill Would Make Grocery Labels Simpler, Clearer, and More Informative WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Consumers Union, the advocacy division of Consumer Reports, today announced its support for the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2018, federal legislation that would make it easier for consumers to make informed, healthy choices about the packaged groceries they buy, eat, and serve their families.

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-88908137383742683952018-04-17T13:28:00.003-05:002018-04-17T13:28:46.336-05:00

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2018 – The following statement on today’s release of the 2018 Farm Bill by the House Agriculture Committee may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Today’s release by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) assures America’s farmers and ranchers that congressional

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-34061224467382419872018-04-17T13:27:00.001-05:002018-04-17T13:27:07.880-05:00

Washington, DC, April 13, 2018 – Yesterday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) presented a draft farm bill to America’s farmers and ranchers that would eradicate the nation’s largest voluntary working lands conservation program, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The Chairman’s press materials claim that the bill is prioritizing working lands conservation by “

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-90958779066542908532018-04-11T15:48:00.001-05:002018-04-11T15:48:50.863-05:00

Statement of CSPI President Dr. Peter G. Lurie CSPI welcomes today’s introduction of the Food Labeling Modernization Act by Senators Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Ed Markey. The bill, a companion to legislation introduced last week by Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr., and Rosa DeLauro represents a much-needed overhaul of food labeling regulation. American families are

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-64036271783753509142018-03-14T16:31:00.003-05:002018-03-14T16:31:36.973-05:00

Urges Congress to fund stress assistance in the upcoming farm bill WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14, 2018) – The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) applauds the introduction of a bipartisan bill (HR 5259) that would provide critical resources for farmers experiencing emotional, physical, and financial distress. The STRESS Act, led by U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), would

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-20812760040830381412018-01-29T16:15:00.000-06:002018-01-29T16:15:05.194-06:00

Statement of CSPI Vice President for Nutrition Margo G. Wootan More than 80,000 Americans have filed comments with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to oppose its proposals to weaken school nutrition standards, including a proposed three-year delay of the next phase of sodium reduction in school meals and a possible elimination of any further decreases. We stand with them in urging the

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-895814605372747912018-01-29T12:26:00.002-06:002018-01-29T12:26:44.744-06:00

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds our nation’s farmers and ranchers that the deadline for the 2017 Census of Agriculture is one week away. Producers should respond online at www.agcounts.usda.gov or by mail by February 5. The online questionnaire offers new timesaving features. The Census of

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-88338540143940143112018-01-20T04:45:00.001-06:002018-01-20T04:45:21.873-06:00

CFS call on the Trump Administration to make food safety an essential service WASHINGTON—Today is the deadline for government funding approval. As government agencies brace for a shutdown, Congress holds food safety in their hands. In response, Jaydee Hanson, senior policy analyst for Center for Food Safety issued the following statement: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees roughly

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-49890534814865934602018-01-09T22:32:00.001-06:002018-01-09T22:32:13.129-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 9, 2018 – Delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention today unanimously re-elected AFBF President Zippy Duvall. Delegates also approved measures to help assure a prosperous agricultural and rural economy in the coming year and beyond. Resolutions approved by farmer and rancher delegates from across the nation ran the gamut of issues,

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-18845586156443596062018-01-09T22:26:00.001-06:002018-01-09T22:26:52.035-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 9, 2018 – Delegates at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention elected members to serve as board and committee leaders for the organization. AFBF President Zippy Duvall and Vice President Scott VanderWal were re-elected to two-year terms. Bryan Searle, president of Idaho Farm Bureau, and Ron Gibson, president of Utah Farm Bureau, were elected to

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-25003272563237493952018-01-08T23:42:00.003-06:002018-01-08T23:42:53.130-06:00

Trump Promotes Rural Development Initiative in Speech to Farm Bureau Members NASHVILLE, Tenn., January, 8, 2018 – President Donald Trump today unveiled a major initiative designed to strengthen a rural economy that has lagged urban areas in recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-2008. Trump signed two executive orders that fund and streamline the expansion of rural broadband access after an

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-7941202541971144522018-01-08T23:40:00.001-06:002018-01-08T23:40:07.040-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 8, 2018 – A panel of Farm Bureau members who farm organically discussed the challenges and rewards of choosing organic farming at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Panelist Tom Schwarz, an organic farmer from Bertrand, Nebraska, who currently serves on AFBF’s Organic and Direct Marketing Issue Advisory Committee, said

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-17662454081085739772018-01-08T16:48:00.002-06:002018-01-08T16:48:34.007-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 8, 2018 – Gene editing holds the potential to revolutionize agriculture, according to expert speakers at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Addressing farmer and rancher attendees in separate workshops, the University of Florida’s Dr. Kevin Folta and Dr. Alison Van Eenanaam with the University of California, Davis, coupled

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-7489455952175673562018-01-07T21:07:00.001-06:002018-01-07T21:07:05.537-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall called on farmers and ranchers to redouble their efforts to advocate for agriculture, even as the current administration has begun moving to undo some of the regulations that have burdened them for years. “We have had a seat at the table with the Trump administration,” Duvall told nearly 7,000 farmers

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-31304458240307100982018-01-07T21:01:00.002-06:002018-01-07T21:01:59.523-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – Trade relationships are the foundation for creating economic prosperity between nations, the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said at the opening session of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show in Nashville. MacAulay, who is the first Canadian agriculture minister to speak to

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-76470484702766162982018-01-07T20:54:00.002-06:002018-01-07T20:54:13.307-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – State Farm Bureaus were presented awards at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. The awards recognized excellence in implementation of outstanding member programs and membership achievement in 2017. The Pinnacle Award, the highest honor a state can be awarded for program and membership achievement, was given to

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-62569784199643757512018-01-07T20:53:00.002-06:002018-01-07T20:53:24.170-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – The American Farm Bureau Federation presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to Sen. James Inhofe, and the Farm Bureau Founders Award to Kenneth Dierschke during AFBF’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. AFBF established the Distinguished Service Award in 1928 to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving the

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-77266363866025343032018-01-07T20:52:00.003-06:002018-01-07T20:52:41.122-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – “The world truly is led by those who show up,” Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn told over 750 attendees at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show in Nashville. Chinn challenged members of the audience to say yes when opportunities arise, otherwise others may tell your story in a less-favorable light, she

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-38124441403967331132018-01-07T20:51:00.001-06:002018-01-07T20:51:24.467-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – Passing a disaster assistance bill for agriculture will set the stage for the next farm bill, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) told workshop attendees at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Ideally, lawmakers will address contentious issues related to cotton and dairy programs in the disaster bill and “get them out of

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-84829374538896828802018-01-07T20:50:00.002-06:002018-01-07T20:50:46.007-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – U.S. grain prices and crop demand for 2017-2018 will likely show no major changes, according to Dr. Keith Coble, former chief economist for Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans and the head of the Agricultural Economics Department at Mississippi State University. Coble spoke to workshop attendees during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-24337804464240932302018-01-07T20:50:00.000-06:002018-01-07T20:50:01.916-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 7, 2018 – Current North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations are a lot like a Sumo wrestling match, according to Ted McKinney, under secretary of trade and foreign agricultural affairs for the Agriculture Department. He said there is an extraordinary amount of posturing in the circle, but he is hopeful that the United States, Canada and Mexico will meet in the

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152438556808392192.post-37316464221123652612018-01-07T20:49:00.001-06:002018-01-07T20:49:07.559-06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 7, 2018—Last year ended on a good note, and the 2018 outlook for livestock and poultry sectors is positive overall, according to James Robb, director and senior agricultural livestock economist for the Livestock Marketing Information Center. There are, however, concerns for both markets as uncertainty looms around trade agreements, Robb told workshop attendees at the

Tom Karsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115665844045888046noreply@blogger.com0