Thursday, March 26, 2015

NACAA 2015 AM/PIC Registration Now Open - Magazine in the Mail

Early-Bird Registration for the 2015 AM/PIC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (July 12-16, 2015) - is now officially open and will run through May 15, 2015.  The April, 2015 edition of The County Agent was placed in the mail today.  Realizing that it may take several days for the magazine to travel across the country and be in everyone's hands - an electronic copy of the magazine can be found at http://www.nacaa.com/countyagent/2015-01.pdf.  This edition of the magazine highlights AM/PIC activities and includes the registration form.  On-line registration can also now be completed at the following link https://okzyhxiuzf.formstack.com/forms/?1959638-MIUG7m8VIw
 
This link can also be accessed at the NACAA website at www.nacaa.com  underneath the AM/PIC logo where it says "2015 AM/PIC Registration".
 
In the printed edition of the magazine soon to arrive in the mail, there is one modification to the registration form which has been made in the online version (as well as in the on-line registration).  The Soils Pre-Tour mentioned in the magazine - was supposed to have a spot on the registration form (page 36) to pay the registration fee.  The line was inadvertently left out of the printed magazine.  If you plan to submit a paper copy of your registration forms and plan attend this pre-tour - you will need to go to the magazine link listed above - and download the revised registration form - which shows this change.  As mentioned above, this change has already been added to the on-line registration, so for the 85-90% of you who register on-line....there is no change, the option to participate in the Pre-Tour is listed.
 
Please let me know if you have any questions or problems with the online registration process.  We do our best to make sure there aren't any "bugs" in the registration system, so if you find any, please let me know and I'll do my best to get it fixed as quick as possible.
 
 
 

NACAA Executive Director
Scott Hawbaker
6584 W. Duroc Road
Maroa, IL 61756
Phone: 217-794-3700
Fax: 217-794-5901
Email: nacaaemail@aol.com
Web: http://nacaa.com

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Recording of Public Relations & Ag Issues Webinar on GMO now available

The recent Webinar held by the Public Relations & Ag Issues Committee on "GMO's" is now available at http://breeze.wsu.edu/p7pwkr5s0em/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

This Webinar - along with other webinars held by NACAA in the past can be found at:  http://www.nacaa.com/countyagent/Webinars.php

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Ag Issues & Public Relations Webinar - March 18th at noon PST

Ag Issues & Public Relations Webinar - March 18th at noon PST

Webinar Topic: GMO
Food Choices and GMO.
Genetically engineered crops, better known as GMOs, have become an item of interest and controversy for consumers, farmers, food companies and policy makers. What are the concerns from the consumer perspective and what are scientists saying about GMOs? How is food labeling impacting consumer choice and purchasing patterns? Join this session to explore the history of GMOs and why they are an important part of food production today. Identify foods commonly containing GMOs and understand the risks and benefits of genetic engineered crops from different perspectives of nutrition, crop yield, and the environment.

Understanding the Facts and Issues Surrounding Genetically Engineered Crops and Foods.

Are current engineered crops safe and beneficial?  Are they being used in a sustainable manner?  How are they regulated by the federal government? Can they coexist with organic crops?  And what do consumers really know about them?  This talk will cut through the rhetoric espoused by proponents and opponents of GE crops and provide the facts surrounding the current GE crops grown in the United States.  While answering each of those questions, Greg Jaffe will bring the Center for Science in the Public Interest's unique science-based consumer perspective to this topic in a way that is both informative and relevant to different professionals involved in agriculture.    

March 18th at noon PST

To participate on March 18th – please log-in to http://breeze.wsu.edu/foodchoice/

About the speakers

Diane Smith is WSU Extension Regional Food Access and Nutrition Specialist for Skagit and Whatcom counties in western Washington. Her work includes community food planning, nutrition education and health promotion. Recent ballot initiatives on GMOs and food labeling raised questions from local residents which prompted Ms. Smith to explore the subject to help better understand the risks and benefits of GMOs and provide information to consumers to help in their decision-making process.  

Gregory Jaffe is the Director of the Project on Biotechnology for the Center for Science in the Public Interest (“CSPI”), a non-profit consumer organization located in the United States.  Mr. Jaffe came to CSPI in 2001 after a long and distinguished career in government service as a Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division and as Senior Counsel with the U.S. EPA, Air Enforcement Division.  He is a recognized international expert on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety and has published numerous articles and reports on those topics.  He was worked on biosafety regulatory issues in the United States and throughout the world, including the countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Nigeria.  He was a member of the Secretary of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture from 2003-2008 and was reappointed for a new term in 2011.  He was also a member of FDA’s Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee from 2004-2008.  Gregory Jaffe earned his BA with High Honors from Wesleyan University in Biology and Government and then received a law degree from Harvard Law School. 

For questions –please contact National Agricultural Issues & Public Relations Chair Don McMoran at dmcmoran@wsu.edu or by calling Don at (360) 428-4270, ext 225