Alliance to Feed the Future’s Communicator of the Year

Jamie Johansen

The Alliance to Feed the Future has announced that Diana Prichard is the second recipient of its Communicator of the Year Award. The award, given in collaboration this year with the American Meat Institute, recognizes effective and innovative new voices that are enhancing the public dialogue about modern food production through multi-channel communications, including social media. Prichard, a farmer and …

Ag Groups

ASTA CSS Focus on Pollinators

Leah Guffey

There has been an increasing focus on pollinators lately, but the Pollinator Partnership has been working on pollinator health issues for the past 18 years with a diverse set of partners. Partnership executive director Laurie Davies Adams was on a panel focused on keeping pollinators safe during ASTA CSS in Chicago this week providing an update on the organization’s latest …

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Bees, pollinators, Seed

Samuelson Honored by American Agri-Women

John Davis

Award-winning ag broadcaster Orion Samuelson has been honored by the American Agri-Women (AAW) with its VERITAS award. This AAW news release says the group handed at the award at its 39th annual convention in Ohio. Its VERITAS award is the highest award given to a non-member. It is given annually to a person who has given public witness to “the …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness

Simplot CEO Speaks at ASTA CSS

Leah Guffey

The opening session of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS and Seed Expo was highlighted by keynote speaker J.R. Simplot president and CEO Bill Whitacre. Since inventing the first viable frozen french fry the J.R. Simplot Company, has become one of North America’s largest, privately held food and agribusiness companies, with over $4.5 billion in annual sales. Simplot has …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed

New Chairman of the Ag Retailers Association

Chuck Zimmerman

Now that we’ve heard from the past Chairman let’s hear from the new Chairman of the Agricultural Retailers Association. He’s Dave DuFault, Simplot, pictured on the left presenting a gift to now past Chairman Gary Farrell. Before the ceremonies took place I talked with Dave. In the coming year Dave says ARA will continue to move forward with the ResponsibleAg …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, ARA, Audio

Past Chairman of the Ag Retailers Association

Chuck Zimmerman

He’s now the past Chairman of the Agricultural Retailers Association. He’s Gary Farrell (pictured left), Ag Enterprise Supply, who passed the gavel to the new Chairman, Dave DuFault, Simplot at the annual meeting in New Orleans. Prior to the ceremonies I visited with Gary and asked him what he was most proud of accomplishing during his term. He says it …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, ARA, Audio

2015 Designated as International Year of Soils

John Davis

The United Nations has designated 2015 as the International Year of Soils (IYS) to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of healthy soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions. Soil Renaissance, a group led by our friends at Farm Foundation, is celebrating IYS and its first year in existence as a movement to make soil health the cornerstone …

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation, Soil

Ag Retailers Having Fun

Chuck Zimmerman

Ag Retailers having fun and raising money for the ARAPAC! That was the action last night at the Agricultural Retailers Association Convention & Expo. Once again this year, Chad “Cracker” Johnson, was the auctioneer who did a masterful job managing the auction. By the way, Chad is a Gator Grad! That’s important to know. 2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo …

Ag Groups, ARA

NSP & USCP Announce New Hires

Jamie Johansen

National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program announced the hiring of two employees to its national headquarters in Lubbock, Texas, and the hiring of one southeast regional director. “We are excited to welcome these talented new individuals to team sorghum,” said NSP and USCP CEO Tim Lust. “Each are uniquely qualified individuals that will be an asset to …

Ag Groups, sorghum

An FFA Welcome to Ag Retailers Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Attendees to the 2014 Agricultural Retailers Convention were welcomed this morning by two of the Louisiana state officers of the National FFA. On the stage were Christen Wall (l) and Nicole Roofner. Christen talked about her family alligator farm and Nicole gave us an invocation. Both are high school seniors but already have plans for what they want to do …

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, FFA