The National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation have awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships to 1,842 recipients, thanks to the generosity of 114 sponsors.- FMC Corporation announced several changes to its executive leadership, effective June 1, 2018. Mark Douglas, president of FMC Agricultural Solutions, has been appointed president and chief operating officer. He will lead FMC’s operational, commercial and technology organizations. Kathy Shelton, global director of Research and Development, has been appointed FMC vice president and chief technology officer. Diane Allemang, global director of Global Portfolio Strategy and Management, has been appointed FMC vice president and chief marketing officer. Susanne Lingard, global director of Regulatory Affairs, has been appointed FMC vice president, Regulatory Affairs.
- The Cotton LEADS program announced its newest member Wrangler® and applauded the brand’s commitment to promoting soil health practices as a foundation for improving sustainability in the industry. The global denim manufacturer joins more than 540 program partners supporting continual improvement by cotton growers in the United States and Australia.
- The 2018 American Marketing Association’s NOVA Awards on May 10 honored Lessing-Flynn among peers with awards in the eight categories for five different clients.
- Six individuals were recognized as 2018 Outstanding Agricultural Mentors at the Women’s Agricultural Leadership Conference held recently in Chaska, MN. The Outstanding Agricultural Mentor Award Recipients for 2018 are: Jan Albrecht, retired dairy farmer; Joel Larsen, Program Specialist for Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources at the Minnesota Department of Education; Sue McCrum, former President of American Agri-Women and Maine potato farmer; Karin Schaefer, Executive Director for the Minnesota Beef Council; Rel Seykora, longtime Minnesota 4-H Volunteer; and Emily Wilmes, Extension Educator with University of Minnesota Extension.
- Eight FFA members were recently named U.S. Presidential Scholars for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education. The FFA members named as scholars are: Michael Z. Chen of Newark, Del., member of Newark High School FFA Chapter; Connor K. Erbsen of Lanark, Ill., member of Eastland FFA Chapter; Lane Hilgenhold of Tell City, Ind., member of Perry Central FFA Chapter; Caleb L. Lines of Nashua, Iowa, member of the Nashua-Plainfield FFA Chapter; Caitlin Henne of Eaton Rapids, Mich., member of the Springport FFA Chapter; Tyler Noyes of Toston, Mont., member of the Broadway FFA Chapter; Brianna D. Maddock of Davenport, N.D., member of the Kindred FFA Chapter; Bridger J. Gordon of Whitewood, S.D., member of the Sturgis FFA Chapter.
Cousin Elected to Heifer International Board of Directors
Ertharin Cousin, former Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, has been elected to the Heifer International Board of Directors, joining other members with diverse backgrounds in the business, agriculture, academic, faith-based and private sectors. Cousin will serve on the board as an at-large delegate for a three-year term.
With more than 30 years of national and international nonprofit, government and corporate leadership experience, Cousin is globally renowned for her humanitarian work. From 2009 to 2017, Cousin served as executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme. As the leader of the world’s largest humanitarian organization, she guided 14,000 employees serving 80 million beneficiaries in 75 countries meeting urgent food needs and increased funding for the Programme by more than $2 billion in her passionate pursuit for a Zero Hunger World. Additionally, in 2009, Cousin was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome.
Cousin spoke at the Water for Food International Forum earlier this year in Washington D.C. and talked about her passion to end hunger and make agriculture productive across the global community.
WFF18 Ertharin Cousin, Ambassador World Food Programme Interview with Ertharin Cousin, Ambassador World Food ProgrammeAEM Launches ‘I Make America’ Town Hall Tour
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is working to further engage voters about issues important to the growth and success of the manufacturing industry.
“From much-needed investment in infrastructure and continued regulatory reform to the future of free trade agreements and the long-term prosperity of agricultural communities, there are certainly enough issues at play to make the midterm elections critical to the future of manufacturing in this country,” said AEM President Dennis Slater.
The “I Make America Town Hall Tour” kicked off on Thursday, May 17 at AGCO Corporation’s manufacturing center in Jackson, MN with a discussion about the symbiotic relationship between the agriculture economy and the equipment manufacturing industry. About 160 AGCO employees attended the event. The next stops include Doosan-Bobcat’s production facility in Bismarck, ND, on Aug. 16 and and Terex Corporation’s Genie manufacturing facility in Redmond, WA, on Sept. 20.
Farm Foundation Forum Features Ag Trade Perspectives
A timely Farm Foundation Forum this week featured the current Chief Agriculture Negotiator of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and three of his predecessors going back to 2001 commenting on the current trade environment for agriculture.
A Conversation with the Ambassadors: Trade War or Rhetoric? was moderated by Farm Foundation Vice President of Policy and Programs Megan Provost and included:
Ambassador Gregg Doud, current Chief Agriculture Negotiator
Ambassador Darci Vetter, former Chief Agriculture Negotiator (2014-2016)
Ambassador Richard Crowder, former Chief Agriculture Negotiator (2006-2008)
Ambassador Al Johnson, former Chief Agriculture Negotiator (2001-2005)
Listen to their comments here: Farm Foundation Forum on Ag Trade
Alltech Young Scientist Award Winners at #ONE18
The winners of the Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program were announced on day two of #ONE18. Each of them were presented with their award by Alltech’s Dr. Karl Dawson on stage during the general session here at The Alltech Ideas Conference. “We reviewed projects representing 86 universities,” said Dr. Karl Dawson, vice president and chief scientific officer at Alltech. “These young scientists demonstrate that the future of scientific discovery is bright.”
Alltech says it is the world’s largest agriscience competition. It offers the brightest scientific thinkers from colleges and universities across the globe an opportunity to compete at the highest level and be rewarded for their innovative research. The program is in its 13th year.
The undergraduate winner of $5,000 and a fully funded Ph.D. program at the university of her choice is Leesa-Joy Flanagan, representing the University of Adelaide in Australia. Her work focused on the effects of different sources of undegradable dietary protein on lamb growth, daily weight gain and voluntary feed intake. Interview with Lessa-Joy Flanagan
The competition includes several stages: a nomination phase, regional phase and global phase. The winners receive cash awards and an all expenses paid trip to Lexington, KY which includes attending the Alltech Ideas Conference.
Students are encouraged to join Alltech in pursuit of solutions in animal health and nutrition, crop science, agriculture analytical methods, food chain safety and traceability, human health and nutrition and other agriscience-related sectors, while also gaining valuable experience with the company’s global team.
The graduate winner of $10,000 and a fully funded postdoctoral position is Saheed Salami, representing the University of Catania in Italy. His research investigated cardoon meal as a novel feed and its effect on lamb performance, rumen function and meat quality. Interview with Saheed Salami
To participate in the program you must be nominated by your professor. You can find out more about participating and registering on the Alltech Young Scientist website.
The newly added Impact Award recognized a project with the potential to make a significant impact on agriculture. The winner of the $1,000 prize is Moisés Poli from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in Brazil. His research focused on Pacific white shrimp and Nile tilapia integration in a biofloc system under different fish stocking densities. Interview with Moisés Poli
Precision Ag Bytes 5/23
Vermeer has created the next step in their processor evolution with the new BPX9010 bale processor. This all-around bale processor is designed for a variety of applications including distributing a consistent, uniform windrow in the pasture or bunk line and spreading bedding with consistency at ranges up to 50 ft.- The Pivot Bio team brought on three new senior leaders, including Natalie Hubbard, vice president of regulatory and government affairs; Mark Reisinger, marketing director; and Tracy Willits, vice president of communications. These new members are dedicated to providing farmers with solutions to grow high-quality, sustainable food crops with the launch the world’s first nitrogen-producing microbe for corn in 2019.
- Inocucor Corporation has announced it will change its name to Concentric Ag Corporation. Concentric by definition means “having a common center,” and the new name represents the company’s dedication to standing alongside growers to find crop solutions that will usher in a safe, smart Second Green Revolution.
- The Soil Health Institute seeks submissions for Poster Presentations at its 3rd Annual Meeting to be held August 1-3, 2018 in Albuquerque, NM. Poster presentations must be relevant to soil health. Information must be sufficiently transparent, detailed, and rigorous to support a scientific discussion. Online applications are due by 5:30 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2018.
- BRANDT has added six new formulations to its proprietary BRANDT Smart System line of foliar nutrients. The formulations provide fast, effective nutrient delivery and were designed for advanced tank mix compatibility and use with dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides.
- AgLaunch and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture announce the first eight farmer-led projects connecting farmers with pre-commercial technology for field testing. These projects are part of the AgLaunch strategy to attract, start, and grow new agricultural startup companies to and in Tennessee by connecting them with local farmers, while simultaneously helping farmers access new technology and market opportunities.
Alltech Honors Company Founder’s Legacy
For the first time in the history of the Alltech annual conference, the company bestowed a double award recognizing Alltech’s founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons. The extraordinary entrepreneur recently passed away and the ONE 18, Alltech Ideas Conference has provided an opportunity to celebrate his life and achievements.
Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech President and his mother Deirdre Lyons, accepted the awards.
“He was constantly encouraging us to be the best we could be for those around us so that they could flourish and become the best they could be,” said Mark, reflecting on Dr. Lyons’ goal that Alltech should be built on passion, excellence and fun. “He wanted them to live with those values he had, and that excellence, something that he and my mother shared — maybe she even more so.”
The Alltech Medal of Excellence, Alltech’s highest distinction, was awarded to Dr. Lyons for his work as a visionary scientist. As an entrepreneur and a tireless innovator, Dr. Lyons utilized his scientific expertise in yeast fermentation and his acute business sense to revolutionize the animal feed industry through the introduction of natural ingredients to animal feed. In the past 10 years alone, his scientific achievements have been listed in more than 300 patents.
Additionally, he was recognized with the Alltech Humanitarian Award for having a boundless philanthropic spirit. The award is bestowed annually to someone of strong character who uses their platform to positively influence and inspire those around them. For Dr. Lyons and Mrs. Deirdre Lyons, making a difference in the world by empowering others has been an everyday reality of their personal and professional lives.
“We cannot replace Dr. Pearse Lyons, nobody can,” said Mark. “But if we start to think like him, if we can get 10 people, 100 people, 1,000 people thinking like him, imagine what we can achieve together.”
It was a very emotional moment here at the conference and I don’t think there was a dry eye among the attendees.
Among the many toasts to the Alltech founder during the event this week was the singing of one of Pearse’s favorite Irish tunes. He was there in spirit singing along with everyone! – Molly Malone Sing-A-Long
GROWMARK Recruits and Retains Top Talent
GROWMARK and FS member companies work hard to recruit and retain top talent, and there are a few reasons they’ve had success.
“The two things that we’ve done to really try to recruit top talent are to make sure that there is great, positive brand awareness around our employment brand, and the increased use of technology to make sure our message has gotten to the right people,” said Tom Swearingen, director of talent management.
Swearingen said the top resource within the GROWMARK system is people. He credits using more social media to recruit talent, as well as a strong internship program with approximately 50 interns available each year. Swearingen said typically 50 percent of students who complete an internship with the company will eventually be hired as a full-time employee somewhere within the GROWMARK or FS system.
Swearingen said retaining talent is just as important.
“We really work hard to preserve the integrity of our culture here,” he said, citing an open, active and fully funded benefits program as well as the family feel of the company as to reasons why people stay.
It’s not uncommon for GROWMARK employees to celebrate 25 years or more with the company upon retirement.
Listen to more with Tom Swearingen here:Interview with Tom Swearingen, GROWMARK
USDA’s Northey Kicks Off Alltech ONE18
After the opening entertainment, USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey was first to take the stage Monday morning at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. He was just discussing the issue of agricultural trade with China when President Trump tweeted “China has agreed to buy massive amounts of ADDITIONAL Farm/Agricultural Products – would be one of the best things to happen to our farmers in many years!”
“The opportunities to be able to grow in that market are important,” said Northey in an interview after his address. “It was also important for us to challenge where they were not following through on some of the promises that they made and the rules that they had agreed to.”
After meetings between U.S. and Chinese officials last week, the White House released a statement saying that, “China will significantly increase purchases of United States goods and services….Both sides agreed on meaningful increases in United States agriculture and energy exports. The United States will send a team to China to work out the details.”
In addition to trade, Northey hit on a number of other topics during his address to the annual Alltech conference, including agricultural innovation, conservation, the farm bill, and renewable fuels.
Northey comments on all of that and more in this interview. Interview with USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey, ONE18 USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey, ONE18, Stage Remarks
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 others throughout the food supply chain at GotDairyJobs.org. The site will offer monthly features, videos and plenty of hard facts that demonstrate dairy’s continued impact on jobs, tax revenue and communities around the country. Using #GotDairyJobs, the dairy industry will amplify the campaign and create the dairy jobs conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The groups held a virtual news conference to announce the campaign with IDFA president and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M.; USDEC president and CEO Tom Vilsack; and NMPF president and CEO Jim Mulhern. Got Dairy Jobs campaign announcement