You may have never heard about the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture but the multi-lateral agreement is considered crucial in the fight against global hunger and poverty. “The treaty is an international regime where countries decided that we needed to do something about conserving and sustainably using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture,” said …
Secretary Vilsack Talks T-TIP in Europe
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is in Brussels today starting a week-long trip to Europe to meet with European agricultural and trade officials and other industry stakeholders. In addition to Brussels, Vilsack will visit with officials in Luxembourg, Paris, and Dublin. While overseas, Vilsack will discuss the expansion of agricultural trade, the importance of agriculture’s role in the U.S.-European Union (EU) …
TOPIGS & Norsvin Announce Merger During WPX14
A major announcement was made during this year’s 2014 World Pork Expo: TOPIGS International and Norsvin International have merged into one company: Topigs Norsvin. The merger will create a global swine breeding company with annual revenues in excess of US $179 million. The newly merged company’s headquarters will be located in Vught, the Netherlands. TOPIGS Nederland, Varkens K.I. Nederland and …
View IFAJ Photo Contest Entries
If you like farm photography then check out the entries in this year’s International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Star Photography competition. Entries to the IFAJ Star Prize for Photography, sponsored by DeLaval, are now posted on this IFAJ website. This year, we had 86 entries – 32 in the Production category; 28 in the People category and 26 in the …
Register for IFAJ Congress in Scotland
Have you registered for the 2014 IFAJ Congress, “Innovations From a Small Island?” I have. This message is especially directed to members of the American Agricultural Editors Association. If you’re planning to attend please get your registration completed. We need to work on filling the Congress. There is plenty of room for more attendees! So for you members of the …
YoBloCo Awards Announces Top 12 Bloggers
The YoBloCo Awards, the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition, have announced the top twelve bloggers. The jury has made its decision and the winners of the YoBloCo Awards have been selected. We are excited to unveil the Top 12 Bloggers of the Awards! The actual 9 Winners will be announced at the Prize Giving Ceremony of the competition, which will …
Africa: Land of Opportunity
Africa: Land of Opportunity was a very popular session during the Alltech International Symposium. The session was chaired by Aidan Connolly, Alltech, who opened the session with some remarks about the African marketplace. Following that opening the session included multiple panel discussions like this one featuring, Fu Wenge, Chinese Ministry of Agriculture; Mark Lyons, Alltech; Julie Borlaug Larson, Texas A&M …
USDA Chinese Trade Mission
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse led a mission to promote U.S. biofuels and agricultural product exports in northeast China May 5-13. The mission was part of President Obama’s “Made in Rural America” export and investment initiative, designed to help rural businesses and leaders take advantage of new investment opportunities and …
Canadian Farm Writers to Dig Deep
I’m going. Going on the bicycling farm tour again too! Although there is a brew tour at the same time. I talked with Kim Waalderbos who serves on this year’s committee for the annual conference of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation. She provides a preview of what this year’s conference will be like. We can’t wait to welcome you to …
African Seed Industry Dominated by Local Start-Ups
Locally-owned African seed companies participating in a program to offer high-yield crop varieties to smallholder farmers across the continent have collectively become the largest seed producers in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report released today at the Grow Africa Investment Forum alongside the World Economic Forum on Africa. The analysis by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa …