Alexa Lamm Receives Borlaug CAST Communication Award

Chuck Zimmerman

Today the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) used Zoom to announced that the 2020 Borlaug CAST Communication Award goes to Alexa Lamm, an Associate Professor of Science Communication at the University of Georgia. With a long list of accomplishments as a scientist, educator, and writer, Dr. Lamm is recognized nationally and internationally as an acclaimed research scholar. Colleagues …

Ag Groups, Audio, Technology

Ag and Biofuel Groups Ask Congress for COVID-19 Relief

Cindy Zimmerman

America’s top biofuel and farm advocates are calling on Congress to ensure the next round of COVID-19 relief includes U.S. ethanol and biodiesel production. A joint letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was signed by the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the National Biodiesel Board, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers …

Ag Groups, ASA, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Corn, Ethanol

Coalition Wants Rural Infrastructure in Future COVID-19 Relief

Cindy Zimmerman

The 258 members of the Rebuild Rural coalition are asking Congress for increased rural infrastructure funding in any future COVID-19 relief packages. In the letter, the coalition called on Congress to: “Ensure that our rural communities have access to: clean and safe drinking water and wastewater facilities, secure and dependable surface transportation, reliable and affordable power, healthcare, housing, and broadband …

Ag Groups, Infrastructure

NAMA #COVID19 Feedback Survey Results

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Agri-Marketing Association just completed a simple survey of members with questions about their plans/intentions for the coming quarters of the year as well as the rest of the year as a whole. I thought they had great participation with 212 respondents. Here are a couple of the questions with tidbits from the results. You can see the full …

Advertising, Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, Marketing, Media, NAMA, Podcasts, Public Relations

Analysis Shows U.S. Agriculture Reducing Emissions

Cindy Zimmerman

American agriculture is more environmentally sustainably than ever. A new analysis of updated data from both USDA and EPA shows U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to reduce per-unit greenhouse gas emissions. All told, the U.S. agricultural sector accounts for less than 10% of total U.S. emissions. That’s less than the emissions from the transportation, electricity generation and industrial sectors. Globally, …

AFBF, Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Animal Agriculture, Sustainability

ARA, CLA and TFI to Co-Locate in 2021

Cindy Zimmerman

CropLife America (CLA), The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) will be co-locating their offices to Arlington, Va., beginning in January 2021. Each organization will retain its focus on the needs of its respective members, but the move is expected to create greater opportunities for collaboration that can enhance each organization’s efficiency and effectiveness. The organizations’ respective …

Ag Groups, AgWired Precision, ARA, Fertilizer

Corn Utilization & Technology Conference Postponed to 2021

Chuck Zimmerman

Here is the latest news of an event that I always look forward to. The Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) has been postponed. This calendar keeps becoming more and more open. Given the on-going uncertainty regarding safety, gathering and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference will be postponed until June 7-9, 2021. …

Ag Groups, Corn, CUTC, NCGA

Animal Ag Alliance Primed & Prepared for Virtual Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

Virtual conferences are on the rise. The 2020 Stakeholders Summit for the Animal Agriculture Alliance is a perfect example. If you’ve never physically attended one this is your chance to do so without traveling. Current trends in animal rights activism and farm security will be addressed at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2020 Virtual Stakeholders Summit, themed “Primed & Prepared.” The …

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture

Agriculture Groups Urge Action on Farm Labor

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture organizations are urging immediate action on the evolving farm labor situation to avoid impacting the nation’s food supply during this critical time. The Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to recognize all H-2A as well as any other non-immigrant visa petition involving an agricultural worker visa consular processing functions as essential and direct U.S. …

Ag Groups, Audio, labor

COVID-19 Restrictions Could Impact Food Supply

Cindy Zimmerman

Beginning today, the United States will suspend routine immigrant and nonimmigrant processing visa services in Mexico indefinitely, including immigrant workers approved under the H-2A guest worker program who are needed to help farmers and ranchers get food in the grocery stores. “The decision to halt visa application processing in Mexico will restrict the number of immigrant workers being allowed to …

AFBF, Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, labor, NPPC