- The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has named 10 outstanding agricultural journalists to participate in the 2023 IFAJ/Corteva Agriscience Master Class. The 13th annual Master Class will be held in conjunction with IFAJ’s World Congress in Calgary, Alberta from 24 to 26 June 2023. Master Class participants will then participate in the 2023 IFAJ World Congress to be held in Olds, Alberta from 27 June to 3 July 2023.
- The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City will honor two of the region’s leading agricultural figures on May 18 at a luncheon in the Chamber Board Room in Kansas City’s historic Union Station. The 2023 honorees are Dr. Marty Vanier, K-State National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, Manhattan, Kansas, and Blake Hurst, owner, Hurst Farms and retired president of Missouri Farm Bureau.
- The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) elected new officers at their Annual meeting on March 7 in Orlando, Florida. Bernard Peterson from Loretto, KY was elected chair. Bernard raises winter wheat, corn and soybeans along with his brothers and nephew.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will hold its biannual Data Users’ Meeting April 18 from 1-4:30 p.m. CT at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City – Omaha Branch. A virtual attendance option will also be available. The meeting is free and open to the public. The Data Users’ Meeting is held to share recent and pending statistical program changes with the public and to solicit input on these and other programs important to agriculture.
- For the first time, American Farmland Trust has awarded over $1 million dollars in grants in a single year to 190 farmers across the country through the Brighter Future Fund (BFF) and the New England Farmer Microgrants Program (NEFMP). This adds to the $3.5 million awarded since 2020.
- The Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) partnered with Alabama Ag Credit, First South Farm Credit, Autauga County Famers Federation and Dallas County Farmers Federation to donate Peanut Proud peanut butter to the communities in Dallas and Autauga counties devastated by tornadoes in January 2023.
- During its quarterly Board Meeting, the Western Growers Executive Committee announced it will bestow D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California CEO/President and Chairman of the Board John D’Arrigo with the 2023 Award of Honor. The Award of Honor is Western Growers’ highest recognition of achievement and is given to individuals who have contributed extensively to the agricultural community.
- Families, educators and anyone wanting to follow in the footsteps of farmers and ranchers can now pull on their boots for another exciting agricultural adventure with the latest publication from Feeding Minds Press, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s publishing venture. “Farm Boots” tells the story of several farm families as they work and play throughout the year, in boots for every kind of weather and activity.
- The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (NCERC at SIUE) is pleased to welcome Steve Ward, PE as its new project management engineer. In his new role, Ward will oversee research projects in NCERC’s pilot- and demonstration-scale research laboratories while working directly with clients from across the world who come to the center to perform scale-up of commercial-bound biotechnologies
- Over 50 leading ag and food organizations representing all aspects of the food supply chain are asking Congress for Trade Promotion Authority in order to advance new tariff-reducing trade agreements, according to Farmers for Free Trade. The letter notes that when it comes to trade agreements with tariff reduction, the United States is falling behind global economic competitors including China and the European Union.
