WASHINGTON (June 24, 2009)—The Hand that Feeds U.S., a project aimed at educating urban media about the importance of U.S. agriculture, has received an enthusiastic welcome from the farming and ranching community it hopes to defend.

Early support for the project, which launched last month, ranges from family farmers to small businesses and agricultural groups nationwide. It has even gotten letters of support from farmers as far away as Australia.

The positive response is a good indication that The Hand that Feeds U.S. is fulfilling its original purpose-creating a platform for U.S. farmers and ranchers to tell their stories, talk about the need for U.S. agriculture, and counter those who have been critical of U.S. agriculture in the past.
[READ THE FULL STORY]
 

PORTALES, N.M.—Recessions usually mean big business for peanut producers as shoppers flock to low-cost, high-protein foods like peanut butter. 

But a highly publicized salmonella outbreak early this year linked to the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), combined with a 2008 bumper crop, has left peanut producers and businesses alike in a less than favorable position.

"For a while there, one bad apple had spoiled consumer confidence, and the timing couldn't have been worse," said Jimmie Shearer, CEO of Portales-based Sunland, Inc., which produces high-end peanut butter varieties. "Our industry, from the producers to the processors, will see a big hit this year."
[READ THE FULL STORY]
 

Name: Terry Wanzek Title: State Senator, 29th District Age: 52 Location: Jamestown, N.D. (pop. 14,680) Claim to Fame: An expert on farming and farm policy Highlights: Mistruths spread by ag opponents almost cost him his political career.

Hear from Terry

An elected official, Terry Wanzek is well known and well liked around North Dakota. In fact, the state senator from Jamestown has represented the people of the 29th district since 1995—except for one interrupted term in 2005.

That's when a political opponent went on the attack and demonized Terry for his full-time career, riding a wave of misinformation into political office.

No, Terry is not a lobbyist with a checkered past, or a CPA helping large corporations find tax loopholes. Terry is a farmer, long thought to be one of the most admirable professions in the world.
[READ THE FULL STORY]