“We are quite pleased that Pioneer offered to be a title sponsor of this program,” says Ken Anderson, NAFB Foundation president. “NAFB is gratified Pioneer recognizes the value of the farm broadcasting profession and is supporting the important work of the foundation with this generous donation.”

With the Pioneer donation, the NAFB Foundation will fund enough for ten internship opportunities. The internship program was originally initiated with funding for three grants and expanded to five grants for 2011 and 2012.

“The internship program underscores the commitment that Pioneer places on providing accurate and timely information to agricultural producers,” says Jerry Harrington, DuPont Pioneer sales and marketing public relations manager. “The grant also complements the efforts Pioneer is making to support the entry of young people into agricultural careers.”

Each grant awarded to NAFB member stations helps provide students an on-the-job experience in agricultural broadcasting — from the production of agricultural information reports to live reporting from agricultural events and activities. Students interested in the internship should contact their local farm broadcaster and encourage him or her to apply for the DuPont Pioneer NAFB Foundation grant.

“This is a big step forward for our internship program,” Anderson says. “Pioneer has been a significant supporter of the NAFB Foundation for a number of years.”

To apply for the $1,000 grant, NAFB members can download and complete an application atwww.nafbfoundation.com. The application process opens in February 2013 and closes in March. New internship programs and existing internships are both eligible for grant funding.

The Pork Checkoff’s event trailer is a mobile kitchen equipped with grills and cooking supplies. It traveled to New Jersey last week to assist in feeding victims of Hurricane Sandy. Contributing to a better quality of life in producers’ communities is one of the six ethical principles of the We Care initiative – a joint effort of the Pork Checkoff – through the National Pork Board – and the National Pork Producers Council. National Pork Board President Conley Nelson says helping those affected by Sandy was a great opportunity for producers to give back to those hit hard by the hurricane and demonstrate that they care for people and their communities.

Producers spent two days in Tom’s River, New Jersey serving pork loins and brat patties before spending the rest of the week in Brick, New Jersey in collaboration with Operation BBQ Relief. In all – nine-thousand servings were distributed to New Jersey residents. Nelson says the Pork Checkoff and America’s pork producers are grateful to the product donations of Smithfield Foods, Johnsonville and Hatfield Brands – which made the relief effort a success.

A coalition of 235 agriculture organizations has sent a letter to Congressional leadership to urge passage of a new five-year farm bill to be signed into law by the end of the legislative session. The letter – addressed to House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer – notes the paramount importance of the legislation. According to the letter – failure to pass a new five-year farm bill before the end of the year will create significant budget uncertainty for the entire ag sector – including the rural businesses and lenders whose livelihoods are dependent on the economic viability of farmers and livestock producers. The letter also addresses the possibility of a temporary extension of current farm legislation – calling it a short-sighted, inadequate solution that would leave those in agriculture crippled by uncertainty.

The coalition undersigning the letter comprised of organizations representing the farming, livestock, specialty crop, feed, rural development, nutrition, health, conservation, woodland owners, municipalities, trade, agricultural research, crop insurance and renewable energy communities.

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance has announced that Ali Velshi – CNN chief business correspondent and anchor of Your Money and World Business Today on CNN International – will moderate this week’s Food Dialogues in New York. The Straight Talk, Straight Answers event will include a series of back-to-back panel discussions designed to answer the questions Americans have on topics related to food – including antibiotics and biotechnology. The event will take place from nine o’clock to 2:30 Central time Thursday. It will bring together farmers, ranchers, industry experts, pundits and media. A live stream of the event is available at  www.fooddialogues.com. The Faces of Farming and Ranching finalists will also be announced – and online voting will commence – Thursday. People can visit fooddialogues dot com through December 15th to learn more about the nine finalists and vote for who they believe best represents those across the country who work to bring food to the table. Votes will be factored into the decision to determine the Faces of Farming and Ranching winners – who will be announced in January.

More than 30 groups representing the agriculture industry have sent letters to the House of Representatives and the Senate to urge them to provide farmers and ranchers with permanent and meaningful relief from the estate tax. At the end of the year – current estate tax relief is set to expire. Exemption levels will drop to one-million dollars per individual and the tax rate will increase to 55-percent. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President J.D. Alexander says that would have a devastating impact on the cattle industry. He says America’s farmers and ranchers are small business owners who cannot afford to foot the bill for government inaction. According to Alexander – the fate of American agriculture and our economic recovery rests on there being certainty in the tax code and continued relief from the burdensome death tax.

Reducing the tax burden on cattlemen and women has always been a top priority for NCBA and the beef cattle community. NCBA has been fighting for full and permanent repeal of the estate tax for decades. At a minimum – Alexander says NCBA supports extending the exemption level of five-million dollars per person and the top rate of 35-percent until permanent repeal is achievable.

Alexander says NCBA will continue to make this issue a top priority until there is certainty in the tax code and rural America is relieved from the devastating effects of the estate tax. NCBA believes eliminating the death tax is an important step in stimulating the nation’s economy. Alexander notes uncertainty in the tax code – specifically with the estate tax – creates an unnecessary burden for farmers and ranchers who are forced to set aside valuable resources for estate planning instead of investing in the expansion of their family business.

Here is the final Crop Progress Report for Missouri in 2012.

Agricultural Summary

Rainfall across the state limited harvest and fieldwork progress but a welcome sight for livestock producers with low stock water supplies. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supply was 17 percent very short, 31 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Topsoil moisture in the southeast district was rated 13 percent surplus.  Subsoil moisture supply was 43 percent very short, 36 percent short, and 21 percent adequate.  Ground worked fall tillage was 75 percent, 1 day behind last year, and 13 days ahead of the 5 year average (normal) of 60 percent.

Field Crops Report

Soybeans harvested advanced 10 points to 89 percent, 7 days behind last year, but 2 days ahead of normal. Cotton harvested was 89 percent, 5 days behind last year, but 1 day ahead of normal.  Sorghum harvested was 92 percent, 2 days ahead of last year, and 10 days ahead of normal. The sorghum harvest was virtually complete across the northern third and southern third of the state.  Winter wheat planted was 91 percent, 1 day behind last year, but 14 days ahead of normal.  Winter wheat emergence was 69 percent, 3 days behind last year, but 6 days ahead of normal. Wheat condition was 2 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 57 percent good, and 5 percent excellent.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition were 29 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 30 percent fair, and 14 percent good. Supply of hay and other roughages was 45 percent very short, 35 percent short, and 20 percent adequate.  Stock water supplies were 39 percent very short, 37 percent short, and 24 percent adequate.  Winter hay and water supplies remain a concern for some producers.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were normal to 5 degrees above average.  Precipitation averaged 0.75 of an inch statewide.  The northwest district averaged 1.38 inches.

Final Crop Progress and Condition

This is our final Crop Progress and Condition for the 2012 reporting season. We will resume reporting Crop Progress and Condition in April 2013.

Many renewable energy advocacy groups are prepared to work with the Obama Administration and the new Congress to continue advancing U.S. energy policy. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen says both President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney publicly supported the Renewable Fuels Standard and agreed energy independence was an important national goal. Dinneen says ethanol supporting 400-thousand American jobs and reducing U.S. oil imports from the Persian Gulf by 25-percent for the past 12-years is just the beginning of what biofuels can accomplish.

Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis says he appreciates the support of the President and his Administration over the past four years – and the renewable fuels industry is looking forward to working with them and Congress in a bipartisan manner to help expand market access for biofuels. Now that the election is over – Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow says Americans could not be more clear they want Congress to work together to create jobs and reduce the deficit. When thinking about the farm bill – Stabenow says if Congress can work together – it will create the trust and momentum necessary to overcome gridlock and solve the challenges the nation faces.

The majority of people in California voted against Proposition 37 – regarding the labeling of genetically modified food – on Tuesday – but advocates for labeling have promised their fight isn’t over. Most of this optimism from advocates comes from the fact their ballot measure received 4.3-million votes. Now they are collecting signatures to put a similar measure on the ballot in Washington state for 2013. Food Democracy Now Executive Director Dave Murphy says his group believes this is a dynamic moment for the food movement – and they are moving forward. The battle in California did have implications for the nation because it could have led to a reduction in the use of genetically modified crops – which account for more than 80-percent of the corn, soybeans and sugar beets grown in the U.S.

For this reason – food and biotechnology companies collected 46-million dollars to defeat the measure – while supporters of Prop. 37 raised 9.2-million dollars. Supporters say they have a right to know what is in their food and that genetically engineered crops have not been adequately tested. But the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t require labeling of food for the pure fact that it is genetically modified. The big question now is if food firms will make their own changes – such as voluntarily labeling or reducing the amount of genetically modified crops they use.