- The U.S. Court of International Trade said that it will review an amicus brief submitted by the National Corn Growers Association and other ag groups in a case it’s considering on tariffs of phosphorous fertilizers imported from outside the country. But farmers, faced with severe shortages and high fertilizer costs, are calling on the Mosaic Company to withdraw the petition that led to the tariffs.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Department has begun accepting applications for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to help people in rural areas get access to high-speed internet. This announcement comes on the heels of the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides another nearly $2 billion in additional funding for the ReConnect program. USDA anticipates issuing a new Notice of Funding Opportunity to make the additional funds in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law available in 2022.
- Blue Diamond Growers, the world’s leading almond marketer and processor, is pleased to welcome Aubrey Bettencourt as President and CEO of the Almond Alliance of California. The depth of Bettencourt’s experience will accelerate the heightened advocacy to protect and promote almond farmers and the industry at large.
- The National FFA Foundation announced its new chair for the Sponsors’ Board during the 94th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Paul Rea, senior vice president, BASF agricultural solutions North America, was named the chair for the upcoming year. Rea, born and raised on a farm in New Zealand, holds a master’s degree from the University of Sydney, graduate school of management and lives in Raleigh, N.C.
- Register now to attend the 2022 American Farm Bureau Convention and catch these funny, motivating and inspiring speakers as they light up the general session stages. The speaker lineup includes comedian Jeff Allen, motivational speaker Jim “Murph” Murphy, and current AFBF president Zippy Duvall.
- Sakata Seed America announces the appointment of Eduardo Flores to the role of Chief Operations Officer for Sakata Seed America, effective November 29th, 2021. Flores will assume responsibility for all of Sakata’s logistics, operations and seed production activity in North/Central America, reporting to John Nelson, Executive Vice-president, and administratively to Dave Armstrong, President-CEO. Flores will be based in Sakata’s Morgan Hill, CA headquarters.
- National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program recently strengthened Team Sorghum, hiring Hailey Gilbreath as communications manager and Jessi Lopez as administrative manager. Current team members Haleigh Erramouspe and Amanda Garcia will also take on new roles.
- World Ag Expo® and E.M. Tharp, Inc. have teamed up for the 15th annual “We Believe in Growing” scholarship, created to support agriculture education. High school seniors from Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern counties are encouraged to apply by January 14, 2022, to be considered. A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to two students who attend a four-year university to major in an agricultural field. The scholarships will be disbursed over four years at $2,500 per year.
- American Agri-Women (AAW) elected its national officers at its 2021 national convention recently in Phoenix, Ariz. AAW, a national coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women, is in its 47th year of advocating for agriculture. Heather Hampton+Knodle of Fillmore, Ill. is the new president.
- Austin Walter, a farmer from Grand Ridge, Illinois, is the 2021 Syngenta#RootedinAg Contest grand prize winner. Online voters and a panel of judges were charmed by Walter’s story of how his grandfather’s influence drove his decision to return to the family farm.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the theme and program of the 98th Agricultural Outlook Forum, a virtual event that will be held on February 24-25, 2022. The 2022 Forum theme is “New Paths to Sustainability and Productivity Growth” and the program will focus on innovations to minimize the environmental footprint of agriculture and ensure sustainability while improving crop yields.
- The National Pork Producers Council announced Bryan Humphreys has been chosen as the organization’s new chief executive officer, effective Dec. 21, 2021, following the retirement of long-time leader Neil Dierks.
