News

USDA collaborates on research priorities with organic farm group

Organic Farming Research Foundation has entered in a three-year cooperative agreement with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). OFRF will be tasked with analyzing Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and Org... more

Researchers to lead $5M grant to fight major sweetpotato pest

In North Carolina’s rural communities, the color of money is changing – from green to orange. Sweetpotato acreage in America has been growing in recent years, particularly in North Carolina, which is by far America’s largest producer of swee... more

Alliance drives breeding techniques, gene editing for strawberries

The J.R. Simplot Co. announced Oct. 28 it has entered a strategic alliance with Plant Sciences Inc., a Watsonville, California-based plant breeding company, to drive new breeding techniques for strawberries, including gene editing. Simplot and Pla... more

AgSharks Pitch Competition has five startups seeking $250K

Out of more than 100 applicants, five agtech start-up companies have been selected to go head-to-head in the Western Growers/S2G Ventures 2021 AgSharks Competition to win a $250,000 minimum investment and potential access to farm acreage to pilot the... more

Sunn hemp effective for weed control in fall crops, research finds

Growers with a certified organic diversified vegetable farm in South Carolina are seeing some success with using sunn hemp as a crimped cover crop to suppress weeds in fall brassica crops. Wild Hope Farm, located in Chester, South Carolina, receiv... more

Board of directors set for new International Fresh Produce Association

PMA and United Fresh leaders provided a series of updates Oct. 28 for the new association named International Fresh Produce Association. Co-CEOs of the new association, Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel, were joined by Executive Committee members to sha... more

NCAE Ag Labor Forum in December has ambitious agenda

The National Council of Agricultural Employers announced Oct. 27 its agenda for the Annual Ag Labor Forum which will be held Dec. 1-3, at the M Resort just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Council of Agricultural Employers' (NCAE )annual ev... more