Tomato Growers get Expert Help from Doctor App

Jamie Johansen

Home gardeners needing some quick, expert advice about their tomato plants will find it right in their pockets with Purdue Extension’s Tomato Doctor mobile app. The app will help gardeners diagnose problems and offer solutions to get their plants back to a healthy condition, said Janna Beckerman, a Purdue Extension plant disease specialist and content specialist for the app. “Even …

Ag Groups, Apps, Vegetables

AgriLife Extension’s Recipes, Videos & Cooking Schools

Jamie Johansen

The idea of a family sitting down together for a meal may seem passé in today’s fast-paced, drive-through society, but a statewide initiative by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is helping families eat healthier — and together –at mealtime. “The percentage of the food budget spent on away-from-home food has increased steadily since the 1970s and so has the …

Ag Groups, Food

Students Honored for Research at ASTA

Jamie Johansen

College students from across the country had the opportunity to enter American Seed Trade Research Foundation’s Operation Student Exchange. The winning student was announced during a Future Seed Executives 10th Anniversary Reception at ASTA’s recent annual meeting. Leah Ruff’s poster presentation and research was selected this year’s winner and she received the Roger Kruegar Scholarship. The scholarship honors the late …

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Education, Seed

United Fresh Awards Highlight Innovation, Creativity

Jamie Johansen

Attendees to the United Fresh Produce Association’s annual convention and expo in Chicago cast their votes throughout the show for fresh produce innovation and recognized this year’s New Product Awards in five categories. More than 40 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations competed in the categories of Best New Food Safety Solution, Best New Fruit Product, Best New Packaging, Best New …

Ag Groups, Food

Farm Tour Increases Agritourism in South Carolina

Jamie Johansen

On June 21-21 four counties in South Carolina will host the 2014 Catawba Regional Ag + Art Tour. It’s the largest free farm tour in the nation with 48 sites along the tour. It’s a self-guided tour of farms featuring local artisans at each stop, and it’s the only farm tour in South Carolina that features artisans. “Participants on the …

Ag Groups

FuSE Celebrates 10 Years of Training Young Seed Execs

Jamie Johansen

During the 131st American Seed Trade Association’s Annual Convention in Indianapolis, IN. the Future Seed Executives (FuSE) held a joint FuSE/Management Skills committee meeting focused on the Power of Inclusive Leadership. I spoke with FuSE founder and Vice President, Business Development for Gro Alliance, Jim Schweigert, and he shared what lead him to start this group for young professionals in …

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Education, Seed

Top Researchers Share Insights on Food Security

Jamie Johansen

Two World Food Prize winners shared their insights and experiences during a general session at the 131st American Seed Trade Association’s Annual Convention. Each shared what the seed trade industry can do to help feed the growing global population while sitting on a panel and taking questions from attendees. Professor Emeritus of Food Science at Purdue University, Dr. Phillip Nelson, …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Food, Seed, World Food Prize

National Festival Highlights Wheat

Jamie Johansen

Wheat weavers, farmers, bakers, millers and educators will greet visitors to the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) on Saturday, June 14 as part of the Amber Waves of Grain Family Festival. The Festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and highlights the USBG’s summer exhibit on the history and beauty of wheat. The festival includes hands-on activities for children, …

Ag Groups, Wheat

NCGA Thanks President for Signing WRRDA

Jamie Johansen

The National Corn Growers Association thanked President Obama for signing the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. This final reauthorization bill, which will improve the reliability and efficiency of the U.S. inland waterways system, was passed by the House on May 20 and the Senate on May 22. “This legislation provides an important step toward the infrastructure improvements …

Ag Groups, Corn, NCGA, transportation, Water