In a break from tradition, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists has just announced their 2008 Star Prize winners for writing. You can read their stories via links on the IFAJ website.

Treena Hein from Canada is the winner of the prestigious 2008 IFAJ Star Prize for Agricultural Journalism, sponsored by John Deere. The winning article, “Up with hemp,” was published in 2007 in the January/February issue of the magazine, Small Farm Canada.

Runner-up in the competition is Justin McCarthy from Ireland with an article on Brazilian beef production published in the May 26, 2007, issue of Irish Farmers Journal. According to the judges, it is “well written, well documented with good investigative techniques.”

You can also see the entries in the 2008 Star Prize for photography but I guess those winners will be announced at the IFAJ Congress next week.

The writing contest is sponsored by John Deere and the photography contest is sponsored by DeLaval.

Cindy and I are leaving a week from today to attend the 2008 IFAJ Congress. We get started in Austria and wind up in Slovenia. I’d like to say an early thank you to our sponsors for AgWired coverage of this year’s event. For the 4th year in a row, Pioneer Hi-Bred is a sponsor and this year we welcome 1st time sponsor, Novus International.