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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The conference brought together 152 4-H’ers from 26 states, offering them a unique opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about poultry. Participants engaged in various events designed to enhance their decision-making, public speaking and poultry-related skills. The conference featured five competitive events: poultry judging, chicken barbecuing, turkey barbecuing, an egg chef challenge, and the Avian Bowl—an exciting game of poultry and egg trivia. Additionally, industry leaders from the poultry and egg sectors led a Poultry Careers workshop, providing attendees with valuable insights into career and educational opportunities within the industry.

The team from Texas, coached by Jeremy Lee, finished as the top overall team. Trent Ellebracht, from Texas, was named as the top overall individual. Barbara Jenkins, vice president of education and student programs for USPOULTRY and executive director of the USPOULTRY Foundation, presented the awards.

Through 4-H and the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, the USPOULTRY Foundation reasserts its commitment to student outreach programs aimed at inspiring the next generation of leaders in poultry careers. As a long-time sponsor, the USPOULTRY Foundation is dedicated to supporting these talented young people and recognize that they represent the future of the poultry industry.

“Our mission is to inspire these young people to pursue careers in the poultry and egg industries, as they are the future leaders, scientists, decision-makers and more. Through 4-H and the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, the USPOULTRY Foundation reaffirms its ongoing commitment to student outreach programs that encourage the next generation of poultry professionals. As a long-time sponsor of both 4-H and the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, the USPOULTRY Foundation remains dedicated to supporting these talented individuals,” said Jenkins.

About the USPOULTRY Foundation

The USPOULTRY Foundation’s mission is to support the recruitment and training of the brightest students, seek and fund scientific research, foster student scientists and promote careers in the poultry and egg industry.

—USPOULTRY Foundation

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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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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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“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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“USPOULTRY’s board of directors has supported this research for many years, which emphasizes the continued focus on the judicious use of antibiotics in the poultry industry. We are thankful for the long-term involvement of so many of our members and other poultry organizations in this study,” remarked Nath Morris, president of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.

Under the research direction of Dr. Randall Singer, DVM, Ph.D., of Mindwalk Consulting Group, LLC and the University of Minnesota, this report represents an 11-year set of data collected from 2013 to 2023 for U.S. broiler chickens and turkeys and represents an eight-year set of data collected from 2016 to 2023 for layers. A prior report, covering 2013-2022, was released in December 2023. In addition, three peer-reviewed manuscripts were published by Dr. Singer in 2023 covering the data collected from broiler chickens, turkeys and layers.

Given several key differences among broiler chickens, turkeys and layers – namely differences in weight, life span, susceptibility to lifetime illness, the number of effective medical treatments available, etc. – these data should neither be combined nor compared between types of poultry.

Key Changes Among Broiler Chickens Over the 2013-2023 Period:

• Broiler chickens receiving antibiotics in the hatchery decreased from 90% (2013) to less than 1% (2023)
• Medically important in-feed antibiotic use in broiler chickens decreased substantially; there has been no in-feed tetracycline use since 2019, and virginiamycin use has decreased about 99% over the 11-year period
• Medically important water-soluble antibiotic use in broiler chickens decreased substantially from 2013-2017 and has increased slightly from 2017-2023. Increases were typically due to increased disease incidence, as seen in other countries as well, during the 2019-2023 period:
  • penicillin use decreased by 64% from 2013-2019 but has increased 60% from 2019-2023 due to increases in gangrenous dermatitis incidence; overall, penicillin use decreased 42% from 2013-2023
  • lincomycin use decreased by 66% from 2013-2020 but has increased 11% from 2020-2023 due to increases in gangrenous dermatitis incidence; overall, lincomycin use decreased 62% from 2013-2023
  • tetracycline use decreased by 70% since 2013
  • sulfonamide use decreased by 82% since 2013

Key Changes Among Turkeys Over the 2013-2023 Period:

• Turkeys receiving antibiotics in the hatchery decreased from 97% (2013) to approximately 40% (2023)
• Hatchery gentamicin use decreased approximately 48% from 2013 to 2023
• Medically important in-feed antibiotic use in turkeys decreased substantially; in-feed tetracycline use decreased more than 58% over the 11-year period
• Medically important water-soluble antibiotic use in turkeys decreased substantially from 2013-2019 and then stabilized or increased from 2019-2023. Increases were typically due to increased disease incidence, as seen in other countries as well, during the 2019-2023 period:
  • penicillin use decreased by almost 53% since 2013
  • lincomycin use decreased by 58% from 2013 to 2019 but then increased substantially from 2020-2023 due to increases in gangrenous dermatitis incidence and a shortage of penicillin
  • neomycin use decreased by 53% since 2013
  • tetracycline use decreased 19% overall from 2013-2023, but there was an increase from 2019-2023, largely due to increases in colibacillosis and secondary infections following avian metapneumovirus exposure

Key Findings Among Layer Chickens Over the 2016-2023 Period:

• Layer chickens (hens) typically begin laying eggs around 20 weeks of age and end when the layer hen is around 80 to 100 weeks of age.
• Table egg production is similar to milk production, where the product for human consumption is produced on a daily basis. Most antibiotics that could be administered to layer hens have withdrawal periods that would prevent all eggs produced during this period from entering the food supply. This is one reason why little antibiotic is used in table egg production in the U.S.
• All chicks in the dataset received gentamicin in the hatchery (day 1 of age).
  • In the U.S., the majority of chicks purchased by egg companies are sourced from hatcheries that are owned and operated by genetics companies.
• The primary medically important antibiotic used in layer hens for treatment and control of disease in this dataset was chlortetracycline (CTC), used in part because it has a zero-day withdrawal, meaning that there is no loss of eggs during the treatment period.
  • CTC was only administered via the feed in pullets (day 2 through 16 to 18 weeks of age) and layer hens
  • The majority (>95%) of CTC was used in the layer hens for treatment of disease, and no pullets in the dataset were given CTC in the feed during 2022 or 2023
  • Less than 0.1% of total hen-days were exposed to CTC

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association will continue to support Dr. Singer in the annual collection of data from the broiler chicken, turkey and layer industries. These efforts will assist the poultry industry as it aims to improve antibiotic stewardship and will also document the burden of flock illness and reasons for on-farm, medically important antibiotic usage.

This project is funded with multiple annual grants from U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. The project was also partly supported from 2016 to 2023 under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U01FD005878). Beginning in September 2024, a new cooperative agreement between FDA-CVM and Dr. Singer was initiated, thus continuing the public-private partnership for this effort.

Details of the study can be found at https://mindwalkconsultinggroup.com/. The updated infographic report can be viewed here.

–U.S. Poultry & Egg Association

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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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Newly appointed members and alternates are:

East States

• Jessica Hanslik, Ridgeland, Miss., member

• Libby Schwab, Hanover, N.H., alternate member

• John Puglisi, Howell, N.J., member

• Mark Sauder, Lititz, Pa., alternate member

• John C. Watson III, Raleigh, N.C., member

• Lake Wagner, Abingdon, Va., alternate member

• Gijs Schimmel, Lexington, Ga., member (1-year term)

Central States

• Thomas Edward Hertzfeld III, Whitehouse, Ohio, member

• Mitch Knapke, Saint Henry, Ohio, alternate member

• Jeffrey Cutler, Fort Recovery, Ohio, member

• Alex Weaver, Versailles, Ohio, alternate member

• Sean Delano, Whitewater, Wis., member

• Melinda Creighton Truex, Warsaw, Ind., alternate member

• Tim Zweering, Holland, Mich., member

• Ted Greidanus, Neosho, Mo., alternate member

West States

• Clint Hickman, Litchfield Park, Ariz., member

• Tracy Ramsdell, Flandreau, S.D., alternate member

• Emily Battilega, Sioux Center, Iowa, member

• Pat Melena, Wayne, Neb., alternate member

• Justin Haats, Spicer, Minn., member (1-year term)

The American Egg Board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternates representing three areas and is authorized by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974. More information about the board and list of board members is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) American Egg 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 Agricultural Marketing Service

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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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