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Farm Bill Workshops Underway

By Jean Paul McDonald, Farms.com

The 2014 U.S farm bill is being rolled out, and it’s bringing changes for farmers and ranchers - especially dairy and grain producers. To help adjust to some of these changes, farmers are encouraged to participate in a series of workshops that are being held in their home states.

Attending the education workshops will help prepare American farmers to make informed decisions about participating in farm bill programs. The purpose of the workshops are to provide producers with a better understanding of the new programs, and what decisions they’ll need to make for their farming business.

Changes for grain farmers: farmers will have to choose between obtaining agriculture risk coverage or price loss coverage income support programs. One program is based on revenue, while the other one is based on commodity price. Previously, grain farmers got direct payments, regardless of yield or price of acreage. The biggest change for dairy farmers is the new insurance program.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has already announced that it plans to host its farm bill workshops through the month of August. The cost to participate is $10, which also covers lunch. More information about the workshops can be found on the University of Maryland Extension office website at extension.umd.edu/locations.

Workshops are sponsored by: the Missouri Department of Conservation Private Land Services, Quail Forever, Natural Resource Conservation Services, Farm Service Agency and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

The farm bill is a five-year piece of legislation that deals with food and farm programs. The bill passed the U.S. House and Senate in February 2014. President Barack Obama signed it into law Feb. 7, 2014. The previous farm bill was signed in 2008 and expired in 2012. The 2014 bill expires in 2018.


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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