The most prestigious honor awarded to students by the National FFA Organization is the American Star awards and was presented Thursday at the 89th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. The American Star awards – including the American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience – are awarded to FFA …
National FFA Advisor Challenges Members to Be Engaged
National FFA Advisor Dr. Steve Brown addressed FFA members at the 89th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN during the opening general session. He encouraged not only the thousands in attendance but all 649,355 FFA members from across the country to get the most out of their FFA experience. “FFA is not a spectator sport. The education, the experience, the …
Summit Agricultural Group Launches Summit Advantage
Iowa-based Summit Agricultural Group has introduced a new service model for farm and agricultural land management that brings the concept of ‘unbundling’ to traditional farm management offerings. According to Joel Waskow, accredited farm manager with Summit Ag Management, Summit Advantage provides landowners with greater options and flexibility instead of binding them into the current one-size-fits-all approach. “We look at this …
Sec Vilsack Says Diversity in Ag Key to Future
Diversity was the simple message Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shared with FFA members at the 89th National FFA Convention. He encouraged each young person to be proud of our history in agriculture and to use their voice to tell that inspiring story. “I am here first and foremost today to thank FFA for it’s commitment to diversity. Each of you …
Illinois 4R4U Partnership Launched
A partnership has been launched between the Illinois Farm Bureau and affiliated county Farm Bureaus, with GROWMARK and a number of FS companies, designed to demonstrate and investigate at the local level the impact and efficacy of 4R nutrient stewardship practices – the right source of nutrient, at the right time, at the right rate, and in the right place. …
FFA Takes Lessons from Great American Wheat Harvest
The story of custom wheat harvesters is one of a kind. That is the simple reason Conrad Weaver quickly grew passionate about telling their story. The Great American Wheat Harvest documentary shares the story of the hard working folks who harvest the wheat we use daily and Conrad knew FFA members from across the country could learn many life lessons …
Dannon Responds to Ag Groups’ Concerns
The Dannon Company released a statement Tuesday after being called out by agricultural organizations for its plans to phase out GMOs in some major brands for the sake of sustainability. “We were surprised to receive a divisive and misinformed letter about our efforts to continue to grow America’s enjoyment of dairy products, including yogurt,” reads the company statement release. “Making …
GROWMARK Makes Energy Investments
GROWMARK announced two major energy-related investments last month that provide benefits for the members of the Illinois-based agricultural cooperative. First, GROWMARK acquired a propane terminal in Plattsburg, Missouri which is connected to the ONEOK pipeline, has 270,000 gallons of storage and the capability to load out two trucks at once. “It gives us another asset and access to propane,” said …
FMC’s Kasper Talks Pesticides & Regs at #CAPCA16
How will the agriculture industry grow an increasing amount of safe, healthy food in an environment of more stringent regulations coupled with less water? This question was answered by John Kasper, commercial business unit director for FMC Corporation, during the opening session of the 42nd annual California Association of Pest Control Advisers. The sold-out event focused on feeding a nation …
Meet Rice Farming TV
How much do you know about rice farming? Do you know the difference between brown and white rice? Want to? Then follow Rice Farming TV and Matthew Sligar. Matthew farms in northern California with his Dad and in the spare time he doesn’t have he produces Rice Farming TV, a weekly Vlog. You know what that is right? A blog …