Ag Groups Congratulate President on Re-election, Ask for Bi-Partisan Support for Farm Bill 

The results of Tuesday's presidential election may have pleased some and disappointed others, but the reality remains that the business of legislating and policy making marches on. 

Numerous agriculture groups responded to the re-election of President Barack Obama with congratulations and expressions of hope that members of both parties would work together to adopt sound agricultural and fiscal policies.

Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federations summed up the tenor of the messages.  "A number of important issues lie ahead of us, both for our nation, and for American agriculture. It is vital that, under the president's leadership, all our elected officials come together in a bipartisan fashion to resolve the challenges we face."

You can read more of Stallman's statement by clicking here.  You can also read statements from other major agriculture organizations by clicking on their names below.

CropLife America

Growth Energy

National Corn Growers Association

National Farmers Union

Renewable Fuels Association

FSA Establishes New Acreage Reporting Requirements for Cover Crops 

Francie Tolle, executive director for Oklahoma Farm Service Agency (FSA), reminds producers of the importance of the new reporting requirements for perennial forage crops and all fall seeded crops.

Producers of perennial forage crops (grass, hay, alfalfa, and pasture) must submit a 2013 acreage report for those crops by November 15, 2012. Producers of fall seeded grains (including winter wheat) and canola must submit a 2013 acreage report for those crops by December 17, 2012.   This is also the same date for these crops to be reported to your crop insurance agent when carrying federal crop insurance. For the 2013 crop year only, late-filed fees will not be assessed if reported by June 30, 2013.

"We often receive requests for information about how farmers and ranchers protect the soil and water resources of our nation. Producers with cover crops or other crops which protect the soil through the winter months should be recognized for their contribution to a better environment," said Tolle. "When they report those crops to us by the new deadlines, we will have the statistics to show this important impact." 

Click here to read more. 

National Pork Board Meets to Approve 2013 Budget

The worst drought to hit the United States since the 1950s is prompting the National Pork Board to consider adding some marketing muscle to its 2013 budget before giving it final approval next week. The board meets in Des Moines Monday through Wednesday.

"The drought has changed the landscape for pork producers," said National Pork Board President Conley Nelson, an Algona, Iowa, farmer and pork production executive. "Record-high corn and soybean prices have driven hog-production costs to record levels, resulting in significant financial losses. As a result, many farmers have marketed some of their animals earlier than they would have otherwise and kept fewer young female pigs for breeding.

"That means there is more pork on the market now than normal and that by spring there will be less pork on the market than usual. The National Pork Board is in a position to help its farmers now and in the spring with some additional promotional support, and that is what the board will address next week."

You can read more of this story by clicking here.  

Social Media Just the Tool for Communicating Compelling Beef Industry Message

Daren Williams, executive director of communications for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, is the point man for their highly-successful Masters of Beef Advocacy Program. He spoke recently at the Texas Cattle Feeders Association annual convention in San Antonio. Williams made the case for using social media to communicate the positive, compelling message the beef industry has to tell.

"The importance for us to have a compelling message about why people should choose beef will win or lose the campaign we are in right now for the hearts and minds of Americans and the role of beef in a healthful diet. And we can take that message directly to them through the internet."

He says that message is resonating with consumers on the internet.

"And that's talking about what we do as a community-a community of people, a very diverse community of people who come together to raise the world's best beef in the most sustainable way... Nobody raises beef more sustainably than we do in the Unites States. We produce 20 percent of the world's beef with seven percent of the world's cattle. That's phenomenal, what you guys do. "

Click here to read more from Daren Williams or to listen to the latest Beef Buzz.  

Survey Respondents Confident Agriculture can Increase Productivity

A majority of consumers and growers agree that modern agriculture can achieve two critical goals simultaneously: Feed the world's growing population while demonstrating responsible stewardship.

More than 80 percent of the growers and nearly 70 percent of the consumers who participated in a recent BASF survey were confident that growers will be able to strike a balance between producing enough food for the planet and preserving it for future generations. "Technology and knowledge advancements" were cited by both groups as the primary reasons for their confidence.

"Technology is and will continue to be the number one driver behind our ability to meet the demands of a growing population in a way that stewards resources," said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Operations, BASF. "We know there is no room for failure-we have to make it happen. This is what drives our commitment to invest $2 million a day in research and development on innovations that will help growers preserve the land and maximize yields."  

You can read more by clicking here.

Farm Foundation Launches Blog to Broaden Ag and Food System Conversations

Farm Foundation, NFP, launched a new blog, AgChallenge2050 for agriculture and food system stakeholders to share their perspectives about food and agriculture issues.

"As an organization dedicated to bringing people together to seek common ground, and as a non-advocacy provider of objective information and analysis, we want to encourage a rich and exciting discussion about the future of agriculture. It is in that spirit that we are launching AgChallenge2050 as part of our Dialogue Project," says Neil Conklin, President of Farm Foundation, NFP.

"We want to bring a diverse group of thought leaders together to identify common ground on which to build the future. We look forward to hearing everyone's voice in the conversation," he adds.

Please click here to read the rest of this story. 

Ahead- Farm Broadcasters in Kansas City, OSU Outlook Forum in Stillwater and Oklahoma Farm Bureau in Oklahoma City

As we write this email on this Thursday morning- we are at the Crown Center in Kansas City for the 69th Annual Convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters- a group that we have been a part of for almost 40 years. What makes these annual gatherings so unique are the large number of farm and agribusiness leaders who come to this meeting, with the expectation that they will do several dozen interviews with radio and TV and now even web based broadcasters that will then carry that message back to farmers and ranchers. The Presidents of the American Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union, The National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association are just a few of the farm group leaders that are present- you add execs from Monsanto, John Deere,  Dupont, Bayer and probably a dozen more ag related companies- and you have the dynamics of this meeting.  Before today is over- we will have completed 25 to 30 interviews on a wide range of subjects- and will be sharing that wisdom with you in the days to come.

Besides this event in Kansas City- we will wanted to remind you of a couple of other happenings on our calendar- one comes up tomorrow in Stillwater- the OSU Rural Economic Forum that will be held on campus- good set of speakers that will tackle some important issues that will be facing Oklahoma in the days to come. Click here for our calendar listing to learn more- the link in the calendar listing will get you over to where you can see the agenda- you will have to register at the door- but that is an option for this meeting.  

Finally- we will be getting back to OKC tomorrow to be a part of the 2012 Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention and trade show- to be held in downtown OKC at the Cox Convention Center. Opening General Session Headliner will be the Senior Senator from the state of Oklahoma- Jim Inhofe- and there will are several other top speakers on their program- plus the delegates will be busy setting policy for the coming year and the group will take time to celebrate the accomplishments of their members as they present several awards at the Saturday night banquet- click here for more details as found on the OFB website.