The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has ended a five- month search for a new chief executive officer with the selection Erin Fitzgerald to lead the organization. Fitzgerald previously served as Senior Vice President, Global Sustainability for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy®, a part of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). “The USFRA Board of Directors is pleased to hire …
Farm and Biofuel Groups File 2nd Suit Against EPA
A coalition of biofuel and agriculture groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change its regulations to “account for lost volumes of renewable fuel resulting from the unprecedented number of retroactive small refinery exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations recently granted by EPA.” The petitioners are the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth …
Got Milk? Got Jobs.
The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) have announced a new “Got Jobs? Dairy Creates Jobs, Exports Create More” campaign to spotlight dairy’s contribution to the health of the U.S. economy. The campaign will share stories featuring hardworking dairy farmers, innovative dairy company employees, resourceful retailers and many …
Groups Urge Trump to Support Farmers and Biofuels
Numerous agricultural and biofuels interests are urging President Trump to help farmers by implementing year-round sales of higher ethanol blends when he meets once again this week with Congressional leaders from farm and oil states at the White House. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, American Soybean Association and National Association of Wheat …
USFRA Unveils New Sustainability Officers Program
Six farmers and ranchers selected by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance will help to provide food companies with the farmer and rancher perspective when it comes to sustainability in food and agriculture. The new Sustainability Officers Council allows companies to speak with a farmer or rancher before shifting sourcing decisions that could result in fundamental changes in farmers structures. …
Earn Your Spurs at the 2018 CCA Institute
Its time to register for the 2018 Cooperative Communicators Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. The conference is coming up June 2-5, with presentations on photography, infographics, computer security and more. The “Earn Your Spurs” conference will also recognize the 2018 Graznak and Klinefelter award honorees at the annual awards luncheon. Other available activities include a night out at Billy Bob’s …
Student NAMA Chapters Compete & Learn
The number of hours Student NAMA Chapters put into the national marketing competition in preparation for the Agri-Marketing Conference each year is countless. However, that endurance, research and simple practice pay off. The University of Wisconsin-Madison brought home this year’s first-place honors with their marketing plan for a ready-to-drink protein enhanced thickened wine called Good Life. Thickened wine? Yes, you …
NAMA Honors Years of Service to Agri-Marketing
Each year the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) recognizes industry leaders at their annual Agri-Marketing Conference. This year a new award was added to the line up. The Ag Association Leader of the Year award recognizes outstanding achievement in association or commodity organizations. Kendal Frazier, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO, took home the debut honor. Frazier’s tenure with NCBA began in …
The Best of the Best at #NAMA18
The Best of the Best were recognized at the 2018 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, MO. Once again, Max Armstrong emceed the coveted awards ceremony were companies and agencies are honored for their creative efforts. We also were able to induct Max into the Golden Mic Club where he shared his perspective on changes he has seen over the years …
The U.S. Soybean in Southeast Asia
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Chris Rittgers has called Jakarta, Indonesia home for nearly a year, but is a veteran when it comes to the role of agricultural counselor. Prior to this three-year position, Rittgers worked for the USDA in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Malaysia, Iraq, Egypt and Spain. Naturally, he was the perfect person to share the role of Indonesia …