- Brian Ahrens has been named UPL Head of U.S. Ag Sales. In this role he will oversee all divisions of the U.S. sales division and identify new market strategies to further UPL’s growing U.S. manufacturing business.
- The Missouri Hemp Association LLC has announced a collaboration with Bela Vida Nurseries, Inc. Through the collaboration, MHA and Bela Vida will be working to research and develop hemp genetics, as well as working on propagation, planting, and harvesting techniques. The mutual goal of the collaboration is to further develop the hemp industry in the state of Missouri and beyond and to help farmers be successful.
- Iron Solutions is adding an “Other Equipment” feature to its popular IronGuides® equipment appraisal platform, adding more than 600 new types of equipment to its valuation software, based on actual sales reports from dealers and auctions across North America.
- The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased to welcome ClearFlame Engine Technologies as the organization’s newest Associate Member.
- The American Soybean Association has hired Virginia Houston as the newest member of its Washington, D.C.-based government affairs team. She will start June 1 with the industry’s national policy organization.
- For many FFA members, the academic year is coming to an unforeseen end as schools have moved online across the nation to mitigate COVID-19’s spread in the U.S. This means that in-person events like chapter banquets and state FFA conventions are not happening as planned this spring. However, state FFA associations are adapting to the issue by moving convention sessions and activities online. To see how other state FFA associations are handling their conventions, visit the state association webpage on FFA.org and click on a state to visit the association’s website.
- U.S. farmers are expected to produce 1.25 billion bushels of winter wheat this year, according to the Crop Production report released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Also in the Crop Production report are updates to the Jan. 10 estimates for corn and soybeans. The 2019 corn production estimate was reduced from 13.69 billion bushels to 13.66 billion bushels, and the 2019 soybean production estimate was reduced fractionally from the previous estimate. The Crop Production and other reports are available at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications.
- UnitedAg announced the 2020 recipients of the Agribusiness Education Foundation’s educational scholarship. The member-owned agricultural trade association awarded sixty students from agricultural communities across California and Arizona a combined $75,000.
- he American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, has opened online applications for the 2021 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Detailed eligibility guidelines, the competition timeline, videos and profiles of past winners are available at fb.org/challenge. Applications must be received by midnight Eastern Daylight Time on July 31, 2020.
- The Animal Agriculture Alliance recently hired Emily Solis as communications specialist, beginning May 11. In this role, Solis will work to execute the Alliance’s issues management and communications strategy.
- The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has selected Control Union Certifications North America (CUC) to implement an independent, third-party verification program for the Trust Protocol system. CUC was chosen from six applicants following a thorough selection process. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will launch in June 2020. Ahead of the June launch date, the Trust Protocol was recently added to Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers and materials. For more information, please visit https://TrustUsCotton.org.
