The public-relations war over lean finely textured beef (LFTB) continued last week as hundreds of Iowa State University (ISU) students joined faculty and state political leaders to slam what they called poisoned media coverage against a safe beef product.

NCBA and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board disagreed over a similar argument regarding the role of the Federation last year before leadership changes at the beef board. Some other groups also have called for the Federation to be broken off from NCBA, but Federation leaders have rejected such requests.

NFU said crop insurance should be maintained and also expanded to cover types of agriculture other than mainly commodity crops. Still, NFU added, “The proliferation of price-based revenue products creates problems in the event of a collapse in prices.”.

Farm Bureau members got a primer on the concept on the opening day of the Farm Bureau’s annual convention. The sun was shining, the waves were rolling, and Hawaii was in its full glory as farmers sat in a convention hall trying to absorb details of the Systemic Risk Reduction Program (SRRP).

In making the announcement, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) officials noted this was the first time US- DA has offered funding specifically for water-quality trading programs. The program offers Conservation Innovation Grants of up to $2 million for an individual project.

Look at that grass, Larry Pratt said during a presentation at the National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA) summer meeting. A historic drought across the southern Plains caused tales echoing in the hallways of painful choices, shared most by ranchers whose name badges included a TX or OK.

The state recognized the challenges in a report last December. The Ag Visions 2030 group declared Californias regulatory system duplicative, conflicting, uncoordinated, inflexible, inconsistently administered or needlessly burdensome. To move ahead, the statewide committee recommended working on ways to reconcile often-conflicting mandates.

Several major farm, commodity and livestock groups see some common ground in a list of principles and policy planks to ensure the biofuels industry grows while enhancing needed feed for livestock.

USDAs chief economist found himself on the spot last Tuesday trying to defend USDAs controversial livestock marketing rule, which senators argued oversteps USDAs authority and will cost the livestock industry dearly.

A jobs and tax-extenders bill that resuscitates the biodiesel tax credit passed the House of Representatives on May 28, but biodiesel producers will still go into June waiting for final action on the credit.