Daren Williams, a veteran public relations and marketing leader with significant experience across food and agriculture, has been named to lead the PR and reputation management practice at Curious Plot.
Syngenta Group announced financial results for the first half and the second quarter of 2023. Sales for the first half of 2023 were $17.5 billion, down $0.6 billion or 3 percent year-on-year, compared to an exceptionally strong 2022.
Farm Journal Foundation and the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, with support from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation, celebrated the grand opening of the New York Voice of the Farmer Garden at the Great New York State Fair. The New York Voice of the Farmer Garden, which offers visitors the opportunity to learn about U.S. agriculture and crops grown in New York and around the country, is the very first statewide garden of its kind to open in the country.
DLF, the worldwide market leader in forage and turf seed, announced its acquisition of the Corteva Agriscience alfalfa breeding program effective September 1. This includes Corteva’s global alfalfa germplasm and breeding program, the Alforex Seeds brand name and trademarks including Hi-Gest alfalfa technology, Hi-Ton performance alfalfa, Hi-Salt salinity tolerant alfalfa, and msSuntra hybrid technology, current commercial alfalfa varieties and select Corteva personnel supporting the alfalfa program.
In August, American Seed Trade Association President & CEO Andy LaVigne was re-appointed to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC), a committee jointly managed by the USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. APAC provides advice and information to the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative on the administration’s trade policies. Over the next four years in this role, LaVigne will work to ensure that U.S. agricultural trade policy objectives reflect public and private-sector interests in the global seed marketplace.
Ag Partners Coop, a leading agricultural cooperative and retailer of agricultural inputs, energy, grain, and agronomy services, announced its decision to join The GROWERS Retail Network. This collaboration connects Ag Partners to farmers on The GROWERS App, a cutting-edge digital platform that enables farmers to connect with retailers, explore and purchase input products.
Protect The Harvest is positioning itself for ongoing growth as it focuses on issues associated with food security, agriculture, property rights, and animal welfare. In addition to rebranding efforts that include a new logo, new tagline (A Free and Fed America), and refreshed website, the organization’s leadership is being restructured to accommodate growth and future needs. Effective September 1, Dr. Mike Siemens assumed the role of executive director, with a focus on strategic development, growth and meeting constituent needs. Theresa Lucas McMahan moved from executive director to the newly created chief administrative officer position, focused on organizational effectiveness and operations.
International Fresh Produce Association’s 2023 Washington Conference, September 12-15, is packed with high-impact education, collaboration, and advocacy designed to prepare attendees for influencing the policies and perceptions of produce and floral on Capitol Hill and around DC.
Scouts participating in the recent Pro Framer Crop Tour found sporadic and highly variable yields for both corn and soybeans, especially across the western Corn Belt. According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, soybeans have a much tighter supply situation than corn due to the loss of planted acres. USDA estimates soybean planted acreage fell 4.6 percent year-over-year this spring to the lowest level since 2020.
Producer sentiment was notably lower in August, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index dipped 8 points to a reading of 115. This month’s decline was fueled by producers’ weaker perception of current conditions both on their farms and in U.S. agriculture. The Index of Current Conditions fell 13 points to a reading of 108. The Index of Future Expectations also declined 5 points in August to a reading of 119. This month’s Ag Economy Barometer survey was conducted from August 14-18.
The Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) named 20 industry professionals to its 2023-2024 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) class. This is the largest class of Emerging Leaders since the program’s inception in 2015. The Emerging Leaders Program allows crop insurance and reinsurance professionals to increase their knowledge of advocacy and communications and provides networking experiences with industry leaders.
