The 2023-24 class of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is the largest yet since the program started in 2015, and also the most diverse, including professionals from all aspects of the insurance business. The ELP allows crop insurance and reinsurance professionals to increase their knowledge of advocacy and communications and provides networking experiences with …
Harnessing Ag Tech for Sustainable Ag
As the agricultural landscape grapples with macro issues such as extreme weather, economic pressures, and evolving consumer demands, growers are compelled to not only prepare for challenges but also adapt their entire business models. Harnessing Ag Tech for Sustainable Ag was the title of a panel at the recent VISION Conference that explored how cutting-edge agricultural technology serves as a …
Talking Policy at #CattleCon24
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Executive Committee last week approved the organization’s policy priorities for the year which focus on advocating for the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, protecting cattle producers from federal regulatory overreach, and defending the U.S. cattle industry against external attacks. NCBA’s policy priorities include: Secure reauthorization of the animal health provisions in the 2018 Farm …
Clean Fuels CEO Optimistic as Industry Faces Headwinds
On the MainStage at the 2024 Clean Fuels Conference, Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen, provided a state of the industry report noting that it is a very transformative time for clean fuels, biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. “We are facing a serious headwind right now with the low RVOs set by the EPA as part of …
Amazon Web Services Supports VISION
Cross-Industry Insights: Accelerating Ag Tech Advancement and Adoption was the title of one of the panels at the recent VISION Conference, taking a look at how different industries might be addressing challenges parallel to those in agriculture. Ram Devarajulu, Cambridge Consultants, moderated the panel which included Ron Osborne, Amazon Web Services (AWS); Cassie Edgar, McKee Voorhees & Sease PLC; and …
Alltech Ponders World Without Cows at #CattleCon24
“Are we better off in a world without cows?” It might be a strange question to ask in the middle of a convention with 8,000 cattle industry stakeholders, but it is one that is being asked on the global level when it comes to addressing climate change – and one that two filmmakers sought to answer in a documentary that …
Beef Advocates Recognized During CattleCon24
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) selected Alli Fender, owner of Flying F Ranch in San Diego, California, as this year’s top beef advocate. Fender was honored as the Advocate of the Year for the positive example she sets for other beef advocates by sharing her journey in ways that connect with people outside of her immediate beef community. Through …
CIRB Elects Rinkenberger as 2024-25 Chairwoman
Lindsey Rinkenberger, COUNTRY Financial®, is the new chairwoman of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) for 2024-2025. She stepped into the role at the conclusion of the CIRB Annual Meeting last week in Scottsdale, Arizona. Rinkenberger served as the director of commercial agribusiness underwriting operations at COUNTRY Financial® since 2020. Prior to that she held various positions at the …
Agriculture Community Mourns Loss of Bill Northey
The tributes began pouring in as soon as the shock wore off Monday when the news broke that former Iowa Agriculture Secretary and USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey had died at the age of 64. The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) where Northey served as CEO shared the news of his passing. “The state of …
USDA Officials Visit CIRB Annual Meeting
Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, and USDA Risk Management Agency Administrator Marcia Bunger visited the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) Annual Meeting last week in Scottsdale, Arizona, ahead of this week’s National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) conference. Bonnie discussed USDA’s commitment to supporting farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. …