I hope all of you will be able to look back on the year’s greatness. Put your pencil to paper as you consider all you learned from 2024; some very important lessons were sprinkled in there.

To give time for reflection and enjoyment this holiday season, we will not be sending out our daily emails the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The Morning Ag Clips’ daily email will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

There will still be news articles published on our site, so make sure to stay up-to-date by going to morningagclips.com. Every day there will be something new, and there will be an editor watching for breaking ag news every day. But like you, we all need a break, and the only way to get it is to be extremely intentional about it, so we are!

Here’s to you, your family, and a prosperous and healthy New Year! We will see you in 2025!

With love,
Kate

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Plant-parasitic nematodes feed on agricultural crops at their roots, reducing yields and profits for producers. In the U.S., soybean producers lose about 11 percent of their crops to soybean diseases, including the southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, or SRKN as it’s commonly known. The nematode forms abnormal growths — or knots — in soybean plant roots that disrupt water and nutrient uptake, essentially starving the plants.

According to the Crop Protection Network, U.S. producers suffered approximately $172 million in damages due to SRKN in 2023. More than half of those damages occurred in Arkansas, where producers lost approximately $95 million.

Caio Canella Vieira, a researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and assistant professor of soybean breeding, is leading a new project to develop resilient soybean plants and prevent SRKN from gaining a foothold in producers’ fields.

“We want to develop soybean lines that are resistant to this pathogen so farmers have effective tools to manage SRKN and protect their crops,” Vieira said.

Vieira received a three-year, $791,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant to conduct this research. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Moving north

Soybean plants in Southern states have developed some resistance to these microscopic pests over time, Vieira said. However, these nematodes have recently been crawling northward into areas where soybean plants are highly susceptible.

“With changes in climate patterns and how farmers are adopting earlier planting dates and using earlier maturing soybeans, the problem has been expanding,” he said. “There are occurrences of southern root-knot nematode in Illinois, northern Missouri, and Indiana, for example. And this can become a serious threat over the next few years.”

Southern root-knot nematode is the second most destructive soybean pathogen, only behind soybean cyst nematodes.

“Historically, the research community emphasized the soybean cyst nematode because it was more broadly distributed across the country. But now, with southern root-knot expanding, it started to gain attention,” Vieira said.

Soybean plants affected by southern root-knot nematodes will show stunted growth, leaf wilting and discoloration, and deformation of roots. These symptoms can easily be mistaken for abiotic stress, such as drought or nutrient deficiency, leading to misdiagnosis and ineffective management strategies. Vieira says farmers may experience loss without ever seeing any symptoms.

The nematodes’ short life cycle and high reproductive rates also make management a challenge.

The root of the problem

Standard management practices such as crop rotation and chemical treatments have limited efficacy against SRKN, Vieira said.

In crop rotation, most flowering crops can still be hosts to SRKN. Chemical treatments can be expensive, require specialized equipment and can be toxic to the environment. Vieira said that a few options have been banned and the available options haven’t been very efficient.

“There’s no other management source for SRKN,” he said. “Genetic resistance is the most sustainable approach to managing the problem and sustaining soybean production.”

Previous research showed that yield losses in susceptible crops are 25 to 30 percent higher than in resistant crops. If extremely high pressure is present, meaning more nematodes in the soil, it’s a total loss.

But those earlier studies also had good news.

“Genetic resistance works as ‘crop insurance,’” Vieira said. “If nematodes are present, the resistant genes will protect the crop. If no nematodes are present, the yield is unaffected.”

Genetic ‘crop insurance’

Vieira’s research has three main objectives:

• Identify the soybean gene that regulates resistance.
• Search for and identify new genetic sources and different modes of resistance.
• Develop soybean populations with improved genetic resistance by combining multiple sources of resistance.

“We know there is a resistant gene because we use this genomic region in current soybean breeding efforts, but we don’t know exactly what gene this is,” Vieira said. “The first step will be finding the causal gene, understanding its function, and how it interacts with the pathogen.”

The team will screen hundreds of genetically diverse soybean lines worldwide to identify potential new sources of resistance, including from China, South America, Europe, and Russia. They will then develop soybean breeding populations combining different genetic sources of resistance, aiming to create improved soybean varieties resistant to southern knot-root nematodes.

“The goal is to have resistant and high-performing soybean lines,” he said. “We want to expand our knowledge of SRKN but also develop tangible products available for farmers ready to grow.”

Collaborators in this project include the Division of Agriculture’s Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist and professor; Joanna Kud, assistant professor in the entomology and plant pathology department; and Henry Nguyen, professor of plant genetics and biotechnology at the University of Missouri.

This research also relies on the support of the United Soybean Board, the Mid-South Soybean Board, and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

This grant is part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative from USDA-NIFA. The project award no. is 2024-67014-43275.

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

–Jenifer Fouch
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
via EurekAlert!

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Over the past few decades, citrus trees across the country have fallen victim to citrus greening, a disease that has wiped out large swaths of Florida’s once-thriving orange groves.

The disease has made its way to Texas and California, the next two largest citrus-producing states, and now threatens every glass of orange juice and slice of grapefruit along with the industries and growers they support.

From 2008 to 2012, the disease spread to Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and California. While initially only detected in residential areas in California, each passing year means an increased risk to large-scale commercial groves in the vicinity. In Texas, it has spread to both residential and commercial groves over the years.

To protect the economic and cultural impact of citrus, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists led by Kranthi Mandadi, Ph.D., are seeking novel solutions to support the citrus industry.

Mandadi, a professor in the Texas A&M Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and researcher at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, has dedicated a decade to studying citrus greening. In the past few years, he and his collaborators have found new potential treatments for citrus greening, offering hope to the producers and consumers alike.

“We’ve seen a nearly 90% loss in citrus production in Florida over the past two decades,” Mandadi said. “Some people think of it as a cancer for citrus trees. If we don’t develop solutions, we’re eventually going to see the same results unfold across the country. But luckily, we’re now much closer to effective, sustainable solutions.”

Citrus greening’s national threat

Citrus greening, a bacterial disease also known as Huanglongbing, established in Florida in the early 2000s. The disease-causing bacterium is spread from tree to tree by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny insect found in groves across the state and country.

Once the bacterium infects plants, it spreads through the tree’s vascular system and blocks the flow of nutrients. Mandadi said that by the time symptoms appear, which can be years after the initial infection, it’s too late to recover the tree.

“Citrus greening is a silent killer,” he said. “Trees are often asymptomatic at first, and it’s not feasible for producers to regularly perform molecular diagnostics on all trees in a large orchard. Instead, growers have to apply frequent insecticides and hope their trees won’t be infected.”

After just a few years following its introduction, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that Florida’s citrus production had dropped by 75%, while the cost of production had more than doubled.

Mandadi said Florida’s tropical climate likely supported the bacteria and insect’s ability to thrive, compounded by hurricanes and other environmental conditions that left trees more susceptible to infection and disease. Producers attempted to use more pesticides and remove infected trees to replant, but citrus greening persisted.

Recently, a few antibiotic-based products were approved for emergency use in citrus in Florida and gave some reprieve to growers, but more sustainable products are needed to stop citrus greening in the long term.

Fighting back in Texas

Despite the threat, Texas is in a better position to respond to citrus greening than Florida had been in, said Dale Murden, a citrus grower and president of the Texas Citrus Mutual and Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation located in South Texas.

For one, Texas’ drier climate keeps the disease from spreading as quickly. Additionally, our researchers and regulatory bodies in Texas had a head start on preparing for citrus greening’s inevitable arrival. Murden said Texas producers adopted aggressive pest management strategies and quarantine measures to slow the disease’s spread.

“We have a robust citrus industry here in Texas,” he said. “We have a lot at stake when it comes to our citrus, and we were prepared to respond after seeing the impact citrus greening had in Florida.”

Mandadi has been working with the citrus industry and producers to address citrus greening since its arrival, but, like others, he was initially stalled by the fastidious nature of the bacteria that causes it.

For over a decade, researchers had to play defense, using surrogate systems to test potential solutions or therapies against citrus greening — until Mandadi and his research team developed a breakthrough technology that would enhance research efforts not just for themselves, but for citrus greening researchers nationwide.

Getting to the root of the issue with hairy root technology

While some plant pathogens can be grown as pure cultures in laboratories using a liquid or jelly-like nutrient medium, an estimated 99% of bacteria in the environment are fastidious, or unable to grow outside their native environment.

The bacterium causing citrus greening falls into this fastidious category and was unable to be grown as lab cultures — until 2020, when Mandadi and his AgriLife Research team developed an alternative approach to liquid cultures called the “hairy root” system.

The system works by growing roots from infected citrus leaves or branches, allowing scientists to create a natural growth environment for the bacterium to thrive in the hairy roots, and subsequently use them to screen numerous types of treatments at a speed that was previously not possible.

“The hairy root system allows us to mimic the natural environment the bacterium is adapted for,” Mandadi said. “We were suddenly able to test potential treatments at a much faster rate, between four to six times as fast, and on a larger scale.”

This breakthrough has also helped other collaborating researchers across the country and can be applied to other plant diseases. While Mandadi’s team developed the technique to study citrus greening, they have used a similar process to study other fastidious bacteria, including those that cause zebra chip disease in potatoes and Pierce’s disease in wine grapes.

One of the most encouraging findings from this research has been the identification of natural compounds that could directly counteract the challenging citrus greening pathogen.

The promise of peptides

Plants, animals and all other forms of life use small proteins called peptides for a variety of important roles in maintaining health.

One key function some peptides can perform is acting as a natural defense. Antimicrobial peptides are produced by most multicellular organisms as part of an innate defense system.

Using hairy root technology and the high throughput efficacy screening it offers, Mandadi’s team identified a few natural defensin peptides present in spinach that seem to be effective at killing the citrus greening bacterium.

Following this discovery, Mandadi’s team collaborated with University of Florida scientists who developed a citrus RNA viral vector capable of delivering the peptide directly to the infected trees’ vascular system to test the spinach peptides in infected fields in Florida.

Early results have shown promise at promoting the yield of infected trees by 30% to 50%. Mandadi said this treatment approach is novel, non-gene editing and relatively easy to apply, and it could reduce the reliance on pesticides.

“Peptide therapy takes a new approach to treating citrus greening, and I think it will set a precedent for other products in the future,” Mandadi said.

An important step before the spinach peptides can be available to the citrus growers is to get approval from federal regulators. Southern Gardens Citrus, a subsidiary of U.S. Sugar, and Silvec Biologics, a Maryland-based tech company, have been working with Mandadi’s team toward obtaining the regulatory approvals.

Earlier this year, Silvec Biologics submitted the peptides for regulatory approval with the Environmental Protection Agency, and is making headway in the various milestones.

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Emerging global restrictions on single-use and plastic packaging limit specialty crops’ access to international markets. To accelerate packaging innovation that facilitates market access, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has awarded $5 million each to Clemson and FFP to establish the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab, with FFAR partnering in its implementation.

The Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab will provide up to twenty awards between $50,000 and $250,000 for research that leads to the development and commercialization of scalable, sustainable packaging solutions, including replacements for single-use packaging.

Packaging plays an important role in the export of fresh fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops, ensuring that food safely travels from the farm to the consumer’s table and supporting production traceability. Exporters now face increasing demands from foreign regulators and consumers to either avoid packaging or use sustainable alternatives.

“Innovative and sustainable packaging solutions are essential for the future of food and agriculture. They reduce environmental impacts, ensure food safety, extend product shelf life and support global market access,” said FFAR Scientific Program Director Dr. Constance Gewa. “As we face increasing restrictions on single-use plastics, developing alternatives is critical to meeting consumer demands and achieving a more sustainable food system.”

FFAR is hosting an informational webinar about this opportunity on January 13, 2025, from 1-2:30 p.m. EST. Participants must register to attend.

Applications are due February 12, 2025, by 5 p.m. EST. For more information, visit the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab open opportunity webpage.

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research 

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

–Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

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The 2024 CAO program had 278 individual participants that shared nearly 2,500 positive and informative posts on social media about agriculture. Thirteen collegiate clubs competed and hosted 36 campus and community events, reaching nearly 5,500 people in person.

CAO is an initiative of the Alliance that connects college students, industry experts, and social media-savvy farmers to engage online about current and emerging issues facing the animal agriculture community. Throughout the competition, students learn how to spread positive, factual information about agriculture and tell their personal stories while actively developing their professional communication skills. In the club division, students host farm tours, campus events, food drives, and more to engage with their peers about agriculture.

“College Aggies Online is a really great opportunity for people to learn more about animal agriculture…and to apply what you’ve learned, whether it’s in the classroom or from doing this program, to be able to explain to consumers what it looks like on a farm, why we do the things we do, and to help people better connect with the food that we eat,” said Zaicow. “I encourage everyone to consider participating in this program, regardless if you want to work in animal agriculture or not.”

The overall winners from the individual division are:

• First place, $3,000 scholarship: Emma Zaicow, Purdue University
• Second place, $2,000 scholarship: Kylie Diaz, Texas A&M University
• Third place, $1,500 scholarship: Taylor Sondgeroth, Auburn University
• Fourth place, $1,000 scholarship: Rachel Robinson, Auburn University
• Fifth place, $500 scholarship: Alexis Main, Oklahoma State University

The overall winners from the club division are:

• First place, $2,000 scholarship: Louisiana State University Les Voyageurs
• Second place, $1,000 scholarship: Tarleton State University Block & Bridle
• Third place, $500 scholarship: Oklahoma State University Pre-Vet Club

Overall individual and club winners will be recognized at the Alliance’s 2025 Stakeholders Summit, set for April 30-May 2 in Arlington, Va. Throughout the program, students also earned smaller scholarships for having the best social media posts, blog posts, infographics, and more. Zaicow was also awarded the “Social Media Rockstar Award” for having the best social post media post in this year’s program.

Individuals who earn at least 1,000 points and clubs that submit at least three events are eligible for the “Excellence Award,” which indicates their commitment to maximizing the opportunities offered by the program to develop their skills. This year’s individual “Excellence Award” recipients are Joselyn Alkire; Michaela Aney; Samantha Behnke; Sydney Beymer; Ally Birt; Sophia Bolser; Emma Brushwood; McKenna Campbell; Guadalupe Ceja; Maritza Cortez; Kylie Diaz; Abby Drebenstedt; Katelyn Foglesong; Emma Fountain; Jayme Fritts; Emma Graddy; Brookelyn Graves; Tatym Green; Taylor Hadl; Ben Haug; Mason Hawk; Ian Hedlund; Meghan Hunderosse; Chrisha Idell; Halie Kohl; Justine Kurpgeweit; Alexis Main; Lydia Markt; Lori McNeill; Mattilyn Mergen; Nadily Merry; Addison Mitchell; Kerrigan Mobley; Kindall Morris; Leticia Orellana; Grace Peterson; Kearsten Peterson; Montana Plattner; Anastasia Poull; Destiny Reyes; Ryan Roberts; Rachel Robinson; Johanna Rojas; Malerie Schutt; Breanna Selsor; Taylor Sondgeroth; Karissa Stanfield; Emily Turpin; Emily Willis; Madison Wolff; and Emma Zaicow. Club recipients include Louisiana State University Les Voyageurs; Tarleton State University Block & Bridle; and Oklahoma State University Pre-Vet Club.

CAO would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. 2024 sponsors include: Dairy Management Inc., CHS Foundation, National Pork Industry Foundation, National Corn Growers Association, John K. Vanier Foundation, Institute for Feed Education and Research, National Pork Board, Culver Franchising System, LLC, Domino’s Pizza Inc., Ohio Poultry Association, and National Chicken Council.

To learn more about College Aggies Online and to sign up for the 2025 scholarship program, visit https://animalagalliance.org/initiatives/college-aggies-online. Contact Logan Hall at lhall@animalagalliance.org to learn about sponsorship opportunities for 2025.

— Animal Agriculture Alliance

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“Specialty crop growers have typically faced higher marketing and handling costs relative to non-specialty crop producers due to the perishability of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Through this marketing assistance program, we can expand U.S. specialty crop consumption and markets by providing specialty crop producers the financial support needed to help them engage in activities that broaden and enhance strategies and opportunities for marketing their commodities.”

MASC helps specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:

• Perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursey crops and herbs;
• Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;
• Packaging to prevent damage;
• Moving perishables to market quickly; and
• Higher labor costs.

MASC Eligibility 

To be eligible for MASC, a producer must be in business at the time of application, maintain an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025.

MASC covers the following commercially marketed specialty crops:

• Fruits (fresh, dried);
• Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);
• Tree nuts;
• Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture;
• Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and
• Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed.

Applying for MASC 

Eligible established specialty crop producers can apply for MASC benefits by completing the FSA-1140, Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program Application, and submitting the form to any FSA county office by Jan. 8, 2025. When applying, eligible specialty crop producers must certify their specialty crop sales for calendar year 2023 or 2024.

New specialty crop producers are required to certify 2025 expected sales, submit an FSA-1141 application and provide certain documentation to support reported sales i.e., receipts, contracts, acreage reports, input receipts, etc. New producers are those who began producing specialty crops in 2023 or 2024 but did not have sales due to the immaturity of the crop, began producing specialty crops in 2024 but did not have a complete year of sales or will begin growing specialty crops in 2025.

MASC applicants, established and new, must also submit the following information to FSA if not already on file at the time of application:

• Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
• Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
• Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information.  
• Form FSA-942, Certification of Income from Farming, Ranching and Forestry Operations, if applicable, for the producer and members of entities.
• A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the ERP producer and applicable affiliates.
• Other Documentation if requested by FSA to support reported specialty crop sales.

Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms or producers who may be new to conducting business with FSA, can contact their local FSA county office.

For MASC program participation, eligible specialty crop sales only include sales of commercially marketed raw specialty crops grown in the United States by the producer. The portion of sales derived from adding value to a specialty crop (such as sorting, processing, or packaging) is not included when determining eligible sales. Further explanation of what is considered by FSA for specialty crop sales as well as an online MASC decision tool and applicable program forms, are available on the MASC program webpage.

MASC Payments 

For established specialty crop growers, those who certify crop sales in 2023 or 2024, FSA will calculate MASC payments based on the producer’s total specialty crop sales for the calendar year elected by the producer. Payments for new producers will be based on their expected 2025 calendar year sales. Payment calculation details and examples are available on the MASC webpage or related questions can be directed to local FSA county office staff.

FSA will issue MASC payments after the end of the application period. If demand for MASC payments exceeds available funding, MASC payments may be prorated, and the payment limitation of $125,000 may be lowered.  If additional funding is available after MASC payments are issued, FSA may issue an additional payment.

Specialty crop producers interested in applying for MASC benefits, are encouraged to review the program fact sheet for detailed information on program eligibility, required documentation, payment calculations and more.

More Information 

Additional information on MASC is available in the Notice of Funding Availability, which went on public inspection in the Federal Register on Dec. 9, 2024.

FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

–USDA

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Newly appointed members are:

• Arizona – Sine Kerr, Buckeye
• Colorado – Angelina Kelleghan, Loma
• Iowa – E. Michael Holden, Scranton; and Amy Glick, Solon
• Kansas – Evan Lesser, Palco; and Larry Kendig, Osborne
• Louisiana – John M. Thompson, Saint Francisville
• Michigan – Monte J. Bordner, Sturgis
• Minnesota – Bill Post, Chandler
• Mississippi –Janet Gent Parker, Seminary
• Missouri – Mark Anthony Fellwock, Monett
• Nebraska – Becky R. Potmesil, Alliance; Joyce Racicky, Mason City; and Joan Ruskamp, Dodge (2-year term)
• New Mexico – Boe C. Lopez, Springer
• North Carolina – Brian D. Warren, Newton Grove
• Oklahoma – Leanne Robison, Stillwater;
• South Dakota – VeaBea Thomas, Harrold; and Oren L. Lesmeister, Parade
• Tennessee – Gary W. Daniel, Cypress Inn
• Texas – Wesley D. Ratcliff, Oakwood; Amy Kirkland, Vega; Jared K. Ranly, D.V.M., Lott; and David Henderson, Tennessee Colony
• Utah – Mark J. Wintch, Milford
• Wisconsin – Arin Crooks, Lancaster; and Steve Springer, Linden
• Wyoming – Gwen Geis, Gillette
• Mid-Atlantic Unit – Creed Ward, Volga, W.Va.
• Northeast Unit – Warren W. Nop, Middlebury, Vt.
• Southwest Unit – Kristin A. McQueary, Ruby Valley, Nev.; Cindy Tews, Hanford, Calif.; and Carlos Carrillo, Hanford, Calif.
• Importer Unit – Jason Frost, Washington, D.C.; Selwyn Jones, Wimberley, Texas; and Matthew Allan, Washington, D.C.

The board is authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 and is composed of 99 members representing 34 states and five units. Members must be beef producers or importers of beef and beef products nominated by certified producer organizations.

More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cattlemen’s Beef Board webpage.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.

–USDA AMS

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While fertilizers are essential for healthy, high-yielding crops, excess fertilizer can result in harmful environmental consequences. Farmers need improved fertilizer technologies and guidance to improve soil and plant health, crop productivity and environmental resilience.

The FFAR-OCP Fellowship aims to provide early-career scientists with opportunities to advance research on precision fertilizer application methods and nutrient recommendation methods, as well as guidance on land applications of animal waste to customize and enhance fertilizer efficiency. Ultimately, the FFAR-OCP Fellowship intends to deliver new innovations in fertilizer products that are safe, effective, commercially scalable and easily understood by farmers. The FFAR-OCP Fellowship is a two-year program supported by $250,000 from both FFAR and OCPNA for a total program fund of $500,000.

The FFAR-OCP Fellowship is accepting applications for the 2024 cohort beginning at noon EST December 11, 2024, until 5 p.m. EST on January 29, 2025. The request for applications includes additional information about research priorities and eligibility requirements. Each awardee may receive up to $75,000 in funding, and applicants are not required to secure additional funds. For more information visit the FFAR-OCP Fellowship Open Opportunity page.

The 2023 FFAR-OCP Fellows are:

• Dr. Fabian Beeckman of VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology received $75,000 through the Fellowship, which was matched by Ghent University, to develop naturally occurring nitrification inhibitors. Nitrification, a microbial soil process, contributes to nitrogen pollution and nitrous oxide emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Using an innovative miniaturized soil-based assay, thousands of natural compounds will be screened for inhibition potential on a diverse microbial soil community, maximizing inhibitor efficiency. Unlike costly synthetic inhibitors, biological alternatives can simplify regulatory approval and align with consumer demands for chemical-free, organic-approved farming, offering a sustainable way to reduce nitrogen fertilization’s environmental impact by enhancing fertilizer efficiency.

• Dr. Benjamin Wang of Stanford University received $75,000 through the Fellowship, which was matched by Stanford University, to develop an environmentally sustainable gas-based process for manufacturing agricultural chemicals, including specialty fertilizers. When applied to plants, this process improves nitrogen use efficiency by stimulating plants’ ability to take up nutrients and water, enabling growers to combat drought conditions and increase crop yields with less fertilizer use.

FFAR and OCPNA will host a webinar December 11 at noon EST to introduce Dr. Beeckman and Dr. Wang. The webinar will also include a panel featuring the three inaugural 2022 FFAR-OCP Fellows discussing their research and emerging breakthroughs in innovative fertilizer technologies. Registration for the webinar is required.

The following 2022 FFAR-OCP Fellows are participating in the webinar:

• Dr. Maarten Everaert, KU Leuven

• Dr. Kanwardeep S. Rawale, Biotech Naturale, Inc.

• Dr. Utsav Shashvatt, University of California, Berkeley

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

–Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

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On 11-29-2024 the firm was notified by the Texas Department of State Health Services that the product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The product was packed on 11/4/2024 and distributed between 11/5/2024 – 11/9/2024. This product was packaged in clear plastic bags and sold to distribution centers located in the states of: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, TN, & TX.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Please see the pictures below for further identification.

Products affected are:

The Best by Date and Production Code is located on the front of each package. No other bagged greens are included in this recall.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume the product but to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or they may discard the product. Consumers with questions may contact Baker Farms (844) 761-2244 Monday – Friday 8:00 am–5:00 pm EST.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Company Contact Information
Consumers:
Baker Farms
844-761-2244

–Matthew Agvent, Georgia Department of Agriculture

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“Fall is an important time to prepare our animal friends for the winter,” says Patrick Biggs, Ph.D., nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition. “With the Animals of Autumn Contest, we’re spotlighting this key time of year and the unique connections owners, and their surrounding communities, have with their animals.”

Animals of Autumn Contest details and finalists

Contestants entered the Animals of Autumn Contest by commenting on the Purina Flock Facebook page with a photo or video of their animal companions that best fit one of four categories using the #AnimalsofAutumnSweepstakes hashtag. Fans voted by liking and commenting on their favorite entries, and the field has now been narrowed to four finalists:

• Critter Counsel: Lori McCoy from Morley, Mo., won this category with photos of her hen, Hei Hei, sharing the lessons chickens can teach us.
• Neighborhood Charmer: Kendra Herman from Shreve, Ohio, won this category with her photos of Kajun, showing how horses make the best of friends.
• Master of Mischief: Natalie Tenney-Pakkala from Travelers Rest, S.C., won this category with her photos of Squirt, a rooster who’s fun, friendly and full of sass.
• Happiest Hangout: Athena Balderas from North Logan, Utah, won this category with her photos of the backyard paradise that her Silkie chickens call home.

These four finalists took home $100 in Purina^® feed coupons and Purina^® merchandise and qualified for the final round of voting in the Animals of Autumn Contest. Final grand prize voting will run from 9:00 a.m. CST on Dec. 2 to 12:00 p.m. CST on Dec. 6. The champion will receive $500 in Purina^® feed coupons.

Join the celebration by voting for your favorite Animals of Autumn at facebook.com/PurinaFlock.

About Purina

Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (www.purinamills.com) is a national organization serving producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry-leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minn. and a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc.

–Purina Animal Nutrition LLC

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