U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the appointment of Erin Morris as the next Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which operates under the Department’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area.
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2025 Communications Award winners named at this year’s Communications Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, include 16 standout states. The competition recognizes state Farm Bureau professionals from across the country for their exceptional work in communications.
The president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) said his organization fully supports the Trump administration’s effort to forge a new trade relationship with India, and corn growers urge the administration to include corn and corn co-products, such as ethanol and its byproducts, in any final agreement with the South Asian country.
National Farmers Union Foundation (NFUF) announced this year’s recipients of its prestigious annual scholarship awards. Applications for the 2026 scholarship awards will open in December 2025. For more information about the scholarships, visit the NFU website at nfu.org/scholarships.
The Ag Media Council earlier this year created a “state of the industry,” report to measure producer sentiment as we move into the second half of 2025. The survey asked a series of essential questions, including expected levels of growth, areas of investment, technology adoption, risk management, debt, and much more. The survey results will be presented on May 22 at 1 p.m. central. This webinar is free to NAMA members and non-members. Register here.
The Auburn University College of Agriculture and Campus Dining recently added four new container farms to its vertical farming operation. The four new farms, outfitted in shipping containers, are from AmplifiedAg, a leader in indoor agriculture. Auburn now has six container farms in operation year-round, each designated either for growing, propagation or short-term cold storage. Together, the facilities can yield 25 times more than field production.
The United States Peanut Federation (USPF) applauds the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture for passing Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson’s budget legislation that focuses on Investment in Rural America. Chairman Thompson’s proposed bill contained several important provisions for the U.S. peanut industry, including an increase in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) reference price, an update for base acres, marketing loan increase, and payment limitations that reflect increased costs of production. This legislation was passed by the House Agriculture Committee last night and will soon be considered on the House floor.
The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) is pleased to announce the addition of Sydney Van de Meulebroecke as its new Manager of Bioproducts Policy. In this role, Van de Meulebroecke will support the advancement of PBPC’s federal policy agenda, bringing valuable expertise in sustainability, regulatory affairs, and stakeholder engagement to PBPC’s growing advocacy efforts. She will work closely with PBPC members to address policy challenges and promote the growth of the plant-based products industry.
The Renewable Fuels Association announced the addition of two innovative companies, Nelson Baker Biotech and Verdova, as new associate members. Their expertise in biotech engineering solutions and field-level agricultural data will further strengthen RFA’s efforts to advance renewable fuels through technology, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
