The World Food Prize Foundation announced the selection of Dr. Swati Nayak as the 2023 Recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application, Endowed by The Rockefeller Foundation. Nayak is recognized for her innovative approach to engaging farmers in demand-driven rice seed systems, from testing and deployment to access and adoption of climate-resilient and nutritious rice varieties.
Farm Foundation, an accelerator of practical solutions for agriculture, is pleased to announce the call for nominations for its 2024 annual suite of awards celebrating significant achievements in the agriculture and food sectors.
A modest rebound in U.S. wheat production and supplies is improving the outlook for profitability among grain elevators that store wheat. Futures market carries have improved for all three major classes of wheat and the buy basis is widening following a bigger harvest. The larger harvest follows two years of poor production and a historic run of inverted futures markets that sapped profitability for storing wheat. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the major risk to elevators in the year ahead is a sharp rally in wheat prices.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a call for nominations to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. Members of the public are invited to submit nominations for themselves or other qualified experts by October 10, 2023.
The following awards were presented at the Mid America CropLife Association Annual Meeting recently. A total of five awards were presented including: Ambassador of the Year – Michelle Kilper; Educator of the Year – Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien; Media Award – Bob Quinn, WHO Radio; Industry Vision – Steve Petersen, Gowan USA; and Dean Roy Distinguished Service – Aaron Locker, Helm.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers honored U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), and U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) with their AEM Champion of the Industry Award. The award, presented for the third time in the association’s 125+ year history, recognizes members of Congress from both sides of the aisle for their steadfast support of the equipment manufacturing industry and their efforts to advance bipartisan, commonsense solutions to the country’s toughest challenges.
Young readers can embark on a swashbuckling adventure to learn where potatoes come from in “Potatoes for Pirate Pearl,” the newest title from Feeding Minds Press, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s publishing venture.
American Seed Trade Association is excited to welcome Martha Malapi as Director, Seed Health & Trade. Martha transitions into the role as Ric Dunkle prepares for retirement after more than 15 years with ASTA and 35 years handling phytosanitary issues in state and federal government. Martha joins ASTA after 10 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a number of roles, including Branch Chief of APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services.
RFD-TV, in partnership with FarmHer, Inc., is proud to announce the selection of Kirbe Schnoor and Janie Johnson as its new television hosts for FarmHer and RanchHer, two shows returning to primetime on Rural America’s Most Important Network in 2024. Kirbe Schnoor will take the lead as TV host for FarmHer, and Janie Johnson will run point as the TV host for RanchHer.
Northern Soy Marketing (NSM) recently held its inaugural Midwest Crop Tour in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska for group of Southeast Asian buyers. The team of 13 international buyers included professionals employed in their companies’ procurement, purchasing, market research, supply chain and other divisions. The companies represented on the tour include some of the largest purchasers of soybeans in Southeast Asia: Charoen Pokphand, Japfa, Thai Vegetable Oil and more.
John Schneider, a veteran digital marketing strategist with a focus on delivering services that generate business impacts, has been named senior vice president of digital and engagement at Curious Plot. In the role, Schneider will be leading a fast-growing team that provides digital and media services to the entire spectrum of clients in food, agriculture and companion animal care.
Early reports from agricultural operations in Florida’s Big Bend region indicate production losses caused by Hurricane Idalia fall in an estimated range of $78.8 million to $370.9 million, according to University of Florida economists. Some 3 million acres of agricultural lands were in the storm’s path, including row crops like peanuts and cotton, dairy and poultry farms, aquaculture operations and more.
The 26th annual Plains Peanut Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23 in Plains, Georgia, home of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. The event highlights the harvest of its cash crop, peanuts, which has big potential across the globe by providing a sustainable and nutritious product and fighting malnutrition. Georgia leads the nation in annual peanut production, accounting for nearly half of all the peanuts grown in the United States.
