- The Crop Production report published on Dec. 9, 2021, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) did not contain forecasted pecan production estimates. Also, NASS will not publish the Pecan Production report in January 2022 that typically contains preliminary acreage, yield, production, price, and value estimates. The costs associated with these estimates in recent seasons have been funded through a cooperative agreement, which was not renewed. As a result, NASS is suspending these estimates. This change does not impact the forecast published in the October Crop Production report or the annual estimates that are included in the Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts Annual Summary, which will be released on May 4, 2022.
- The National Corn Growers Association and its members are proud to support three scholarship programs for three distinct audiences. Qualified students will receive scholarship funding for the fall 2022 semester. The deadline is January 31, 2022.
- During the 2020-2021 crop year, California walnut growers and handlers worked together with the California Walnut Board and California Walnut Commission to advance the industry in new ways. Growers produced a record crop of 785,000 tons, a 20 percent gain over the 2019 crop.
- Dustin Johansen, Director, Business Development Enterprise Solutions, Farm Journal, was elected chairman of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City at the group’s annual meeting held December 7. Ron Seeber, who serves as CEO Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, and Renew Kansas Biofuels Association was elected vice chairman.
- Grower groups including the American Soybean Association, National Cotton Council and American Farm Bureau Federation are raising questions about data released Dec. 21 by EPA regarding reported dicamba off-target complaints during the 2021 growing season. Growers are concerned with the potential of significant gaps in the data provided by the agency.
- Culver’s Thank You Farmers Project has now raised over $3.5 million since its creation in 2013. So far in 2021, the program has raised $500,000 toward its mission of advocating for the positive impact agriculture has on the world.
- Megan Clark of Grand Mound, Iowa has been named the national winner of the 2022 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members. The theme of this year’s contest was “What, in your opinion, has changed for the better in the agricultural industry as a result of the pandemic?”
- Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business will partner again with the American Seed Trade Association to offer the ASTA Management Academy. The program will be Feb. 15-17 on the university’s campus.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting the 2021 Farm Producer Study to improve knowledge and understanding of agricultural producers and help USDA improve services to them. A brief questionnaire will mail this month to approximately 75,000 U.S. agricultural producers across the country. Taking no more than 10 minutes to complete, the questionnaire asks participants for demographic and basic farm information. Producers can respond securely online at www.agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The deadline for response is Jan. 18, 2022.
- At a time when the advanced biofuel arena is on the cusp of several growing market opportunities, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is excited to announce Donnell Rehagen, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board as the biofuel keynote speaker at the 2022 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit.
