Thursday April 27 Ag News

UNL TO HOST MAY 10-12 CONFERENCE ON CREATING NATIONAL AG DATA NETWORK

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln will host a three-day conference to foster discussion and hone ideas for creating a network of national ag data repositories. The inaugural conference, which will focus on creating a strategic framework for agricultural cyberinfrastructure, will be May 10-12 at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

Ben Craker, portfolio manager at the global nonprofit AgGateway and president of the Ag Data Coalition, will be the keynote speaker for a Heuermann Lecture to open the conference. AgGateway works with companies to develop standards to solve digital challenges. The theme for Craker’s address, and for an accompanying panel discussion, will be “The Next Generation of Farm Reporting.”

The panel members are Tom Eickhoff, chief science officer leading the Science organization at Climate, and digital farming at Bayer Crop Science; Amy Winstead, vice president of business innovation and agronomy for GreenPoint Ag Holdings; Cynthia Parr, assistant chief data officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education and Economics Mission Area; and Graham Plastow, professor of livestock genomics and CEO of Livestock Gentec at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta.

The conference will include presentations by project leaders for the USDA-funded initiative to create a national ag data network, known as the National Agricultural Producers Data Cooperative. Smaller group discussions will develop ideas for the planned national data framework, which is intended to end the current disconnect among the range of ag-data platforms. The resulting data network is intended to be accessible, secure and supported through compatible software platforms across the ag-tech industry.

The conference is open to the public. Attendees, including for the Heuermann Lecture, must register. Details on the conference agenda and registration are at https://www.agdatacoop.org/conference.

The small group discussions at the conference will focus on policy, law and ethical considerations for data governance; data stewardship; cybersecurity and access control; advanced cyberinfrastructure; analytics and decision tools; critical pilot studies/use cases; education, training and workforce development; and sustainability.

Grants from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture are funding the ag data initiative. Representatives from NAPDC, NIFA, other federal agencies and stakeholder groups will be on hand to gather input from producers.

A set of Husker faculty members is in the forefront of leading the ag data initiative, which involves a wide range of universities and stakeholder organizations. Jennifer L. Clarke, professor of statistics and food science and technology and director of the university’s Quantitative Life Sciences Initiative, has a lead role in the project.

Additional Husker faculty members with key duties for the ag data initiative are Joe Luck, precision agriculture and biological systems engineering; Laura Thompson, ag extension and farm research; Matt Spangler, beef genetics; Scout Calvert, University Libraries; Hongfeng Yu, advanced cyberinfrastructure and high-performance computing; and Trenton Franz, hydrology and water management.

NIFA has tasked the collaborative initiative to develop a framework for national cyberinfrastructure to increase production and drive innovation in agriculture. The project will support producers’ real-world needs and enable data-driven decision-making.

Critical partner organizations include the Ag Data Coalition, AgGateway, the Open Ag Data Alliance, the USDA National Animal Germplasm Program, the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture at Virginia Tech, MarketMaker, Clemson University and the Bovine Genome Database.



USDA Continues to Host Listening Sessions on Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program; First in Series of New Sessions Set for Thursday, May 18, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a series of cattle industry listening sessions in the coming months to gather stakeholder feedback on the Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program (Pilot). These new sessions will be held at locations in key cattle producing states and will provide an opportunity for interested stakeholders to attend either in-person or virtually.

This new series of listening sessions beginning on May 18, 2023, are a continuation of AMS’ outreach efforts and will provide an additional opportunity for industry stakeholders to share their feedback regarding the Pilot.

During these sessions, AMS will provide an overview of the current Pilot and then participants will be given an opportunity to share their feedback. In addition, AMS will accept written comments about the Cattle Contracts Library Pilot through September 30, 2023. Written feedback can be submitted to Wash.LPGMN@usda.gov. All written feedback and a recording of each listening session will be posted on the AMS website.

The first listening session will be held at 4 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the USDA Cattle & Carcass Training Center located on the campus of West Texas A&M University at 2513-2579 4th Ave, Canyon, TX, 79016.

Attendees at this Texas session may participate in-person (seating limited to 80) or virtually. For virtual attendees, the meeting will be broadcast live as a webinar. Instructions for how to join virtually can be found on the AMS Cattle Contracts Library Pilot page on the AMS website.  The event will start promptly at 4 p.m. CT. Registration is not required. Attendees will be permitted to submit Q&A via Zoom meeting. The event will be recorded to be posted later on the AMS website.

The second listening session will be held at 1 p.m. CT on Friday, June 16, 2023, at the USDA Cattle & Carcass Training Center located on the campus of University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Loeffel Meat Science Laboratory, Lincoln, NE 68583.

Attendees at this Nebraska session may participate in-person (seating limited to 100) or virtually. For virtual attendees, the meeting will be broadcast live as a webinar. Instructions for how to join virtually can be found on the AMS Cattle Contracts Library Pilot page on the AMS website. The event will start promptly at 1 p.m. CT. Registration is not required. Attendees will be permitted to submit Q&A via Zoom meeting. The event will be recorded to be posted later on the AMS website.

Details on future listening sessions will be announced when scheduled. For additional information, contact Michael Sheats, Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Director, at 202-690-3145.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103, March 15, 2022) directed AMS to establish a Cattle Contracts Library pilot program to increase market transparency for cattle producers. The library provides transparency into both commonalities and key differences in contracts, as well as the context for those terms through the provision of relevant volume numbers.  The Final Rule implementing the Pilot was published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2022, with an effective date on January 6, 2023.  The Pilot became publicly accessible on January 31, 2023.

In the development of the Pilot, AMS held nearly 50 outreach sessions with cattle industry stakeholders in which feedback was gathered and, when possible, incorporated into the Pilot’s design.  Since the public launch of the Pilot, AMS has continued its outreach and feedback gathering efforts through participation at industry conferences, training events, and direct outreach to industry members.



NEW REPORT SHOWS NEBRASKA IS THRIVING, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

The 2022 Thriving Index indicates that most rural regions of Nebraska are thriving compared to their peers, though most also face at least some challenges.

Developed by Rural Prosperity Nebraska in conjunction with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research and the College of Business and Technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the report measures economic and quality-of-life statistics in eight rural regions of Nebraska. Community and regional leaders can gain insights into their region’s results via a series of upcoming webinars.

In addition to comparisons across the state, the index compares each region to other upper-Midwest areas of similar size, population, industry diversity and demographic makeup. While the index does not report on the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas, nor the entirety of the state, comparisons are made and ranked on demographics, economic opportunity, education, growth, infrastructure, quality of life, social capital and other subjects.

“The purpose of the Nebraska Thriving Index is to benchmark the economy of Nebraska regions against the economy of similarly situated Midwest regions,” said Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research and research team lead. “Benchmarking provides insights into where Nebraska regions excel or need to improve in nearly 50 measures of economic performance.”

Pulling data primarily from federal sources such as the American Community Survey and the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, the index offers economic development professionals, community leaders and legislatures an overview of which rural areas of Nebraska are thriving, which have room to grow, and which economic categories need shoring up. The purpose of such data is to aid in developing strategies that build a better future for Nebraskans.

For example, compared to similar regions in Colorado, Iowa and Wyoming, the Panhandle region (Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Sioux counties) scored second-highest in social capital, which measures social networks and regional self-identity. However, it placed last in growth, which measures increases in employment, wages and population.

By contrast, the northeast region (Antelope, Boone, Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Knox, Nance, Thurston and Wayne counties) scored first in growth and last in social capital when compared to regions in Iowa.

While results for each of the eight regions vary, there are some general areas of concern. Half of the eight regions ranked fifth or lower in economic opportunity and diversity, which measures entrepreneurial activity, industry diversity, occupation diversity and share of telecommuters. Five regions ranked fourth or lower on education and skill, which measures high school, community college and four-year college attainment; labor force participation; and employment in knowledge-based occupations.

“The lower scores in education is an area where Nebraska is not doing as well as it used to,” said Mary Emery, director of Rural Prosperity Nebraska. “The business cost scores reflect, in part, the lower wages paid here relative to other areas, so we can see the role that plays in worker shortages.”

Despite the challenges, in tallying the eight categories by which regions are measured, the overall sense is that Nebraska is thriving, Emery said. Six regions ranked third or higher in social capital. Five regions ranked first or second in growth. And five ranked third or higher in quality of life, which measures the appeal of living and working in a region by accounting for such factors as commute times, age of housing stock, relative wage rates, public safety, climate amenities, and access to health care and national parks.

“I think the key takeaway is that the state has a successful economy,” Thompson said. “There is some need to improve economic competitiveness, but the general approach to economic development seems to be working.”

To further discuss the index’s findings and what they mean for Nebraskans, Rural Prosperity Nebraska is hosting seven 30-minute webinars dedicated to specific regions. The webinars will be organized by local Nebraska Extension educators; Thompson; and Bree Dority, associate dean and professor of finance at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The schedule is as follows, and all interested parties are invited to attend:

North 81 region
Madison, Pierce, Platte and Sutton counties
May 8, 3 p.m. CDT
Zoom link: https://unl.zoom.us/j/92623053248
 
Northeast region
Antelope, Boone, Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Knox, Nance, Thurston and Wayne counties
May 8, 1 p.m. CDT
Zoom link: https://unl.zoom.us/j/91284285572
 
Panhandle region
Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Sioux counties
May 8, 2 p.m. CDT, 1 p.m. MDT
Zoom link: https://unl.zoom.us/j/91503503130

Sandhills region
Blaine, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garfield, Grant, Greeley, Holt, Hooker, Keya Paha, Loup, Rock, Thomas, Valley and Wheeler counties
May 11, 11 a.m. CDT, 10 a.m. MDT
Zoom link: https://unl.zoom.us/j/92447023903

Southeast region
Butler, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Thayer and York counties
May 9, 10 a.m. CDT
Zoom link: https://unl.zoom.us/j/95045567147

Southwest region
Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins and Red Willow counties
May 9, 11 a.m. CDT, 10 a.m. MDT
Zoom link: https://unl.zoom.us/j/93076309999

Tri-cities region
Adams, Buffalo, Clay, Franklin, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Howard, Kearney, Merrick, Nuckolls, Phelps, Sherman and Webster counties
May 10, 1 p.m. CDT
Zoom link: https://unl.zoom.us/j/95889194193

The results for this year’s report show data from 2022. The index was previously published in 2020 and 2019, skipping the previous two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those interested can see the report in full at https://ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/thriving-index.



Soybean Farmers, Biodiesel Producers Applaud Iowa Congressional Leadership for Defending Biodiesel Tax Credit

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) commend Iowa U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-04), Ashley Hinson (R-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-01) and Zach Nunn (R-03), for leading efforts to defend soybean farmers and biodiesel producers in the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.
 
Randy Miller, ISA president and soybean farmer from Lacona, issued the following statement:
“We sincerely thank Iowa leadership in the House for their continued commitment to the state’s soybean farmers, biodiesel industry, and rural communities. A strong Iowa biodiesel market helps farmers weather difficult economic times and supports Iowa’s thriving agriculture industry.
 
“By increasing soybean oil value, biodiesel supports 13% of the price per bushel of soybeans. This equated to $1.78 per bushel in 2021. It also lowers the price of soybean meal, a key ingredient for livestock producers and the food supply. We commend members of Congress for scrutinizing spending to ensure every dollar returns value to U.S. taxpayers. Their support does not go unnoticed considering the heightened sensitivity surrounding debt limit discussions.”
 
Grant Kimberley, IBB executive director and ISA sr. director of market development, said:
“On behalf of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, I commend our Iowa U.S. representatives for working to defend and maintain the Biodiesel Tax Credit through this legislative process. This energy tax credit is one of the most successful in history, diversifying our energy supply, creating jobs and cutting carbon. Deflating an industry that’s generating economic growth while diversifying and improving our energy security would be counterproductive to fiscal reform and national security goals.”



IRFA Thanks Iowa House Delegation for Standing Up to Protect Farmers and Future Markets

Yesterday evening the U.S. House of Representatives voted 217-215 to pass legislation raising the U.S. borrowing limit in conjunction with various spending cuts and other provisions. Early drafts of the bill included eliminating several tax credits designed to enhance the production of biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol, low carbon fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, and carbon sequestration.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement today:

“IRFA members are appreciative for the outstanding leadership shown by the Iowa House delegation in defending Iowa farmers and biofuel producers during recent debt ceiling negotiations. They led a coalition of Midwest lawmakers in defending our agricultural economy and future opportunities for value-added ag processing. And we were most impressed that they were successful by being responsible, fact-based, evenhanded, and straightforward – just like the people they represent. With thousands of jobs on the line, they did not blink.”



Celebrate June Dairy Month with a Farm Tour, Food and Activities at Hickory Hill Farms on June 14

Dairy farmers across western Iowa are inviting the public to a family-friendly event at Hickory Hill Farms near Hospers, Iowa, to celebrate June Dairy Month. The annual event will include a dairy farm tour, free meal and activities from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14. The farm is located at 4045 400th St, Hospers, Iowa. This June Dairy Month Celebration is sponsored by Western Iowa Dairy Alliance.

Visitors will tour Hickory Hills Farms, including opportunities to see where cows are milked, where they are housed and fed plus learn about the role of milk and dairy products in a healthy diet. Veterinarians, dairy nutritionists, dairy farmers and other experts will be available to answer questions. “We are excited to invite everyone to celebrate June Dairy Month with us by touring the Dairy Farm and seeing where the dairy products they enjoy get their start,” stated Steve Meissner of Hickory Hill Farms, “Great-tasting dairy products start with healthy, comfortable cows, and we look forward to sharing how we care for animals and the land.”

The Meissner’s started milking in the 1890s with Great-Great Grandpa William Meissner in Sussex, WI. Today Steve and Scott Meissner are currently milking 4000 cows two times a day in a double 32 parlor. Cows are housed in a freestall barn with fiber bedding and 24-hour access to feed and water, and the dairy is committed to using the latest technology, resources and talent of employees in producing high quality milk while protecting the environment and providing a positive way of life for its employees.

Following the tour, guests will enjoy a free cheeseburger meal, as well as milk and ice cream. We are honored to have the Iowa Dairy Princess, along with Dairy Ambassador’s attending the event. Plus you will have the chance to meet dairy calves! In addition, there will be kid’s activities, educational display’s, machinery display and much more!

June Dairy Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the efforts of Iowa’s dairy farmers as they deliver a wholesome and nutritious supply of milk and dairy products and make a significant contribution to the state’s economy and rural communities. Dairy is the fifth largest agricultural business in Iowa, generating $5.6 billion a year in economic activity from farming to dairy processing, supplying 22,000 jobs with a labor income of $891 million. The annual economic impact of a single dairy cow is more than $25,490 per cow.

For more information about the open house, visit www.wiadairy.com or “Western Iowa Dairy Alliance” on Facebook. Please visit MidwestDairy.com for more stories from the farm, dairy nutrition information and dairy recipes.

Western Iowa Dairy Alliance is a non-profit organization working as an advocate for the dairy producer and all those who support this industry with commitment and integrity, allowing us to bring the very best, most nourishing products to market, every day. For more information, visit www.wiadairy.com.  



Meat Animals Production, Disposition, and Income 2022 Summary

Total 2022 production of cattle and calves and hogs and pigs for the United States totaled 86.3 billion pounds, up slightly from 2021. Production decreased 1 percent for cattle and calves but increased 1 percent for hogs and pigs.

Total 2022 cash receipts from marketings of meat animals increased 16 percent to $117 billion. Cattle and calves accounted for 74 percent of this total and hogs and pigs accounted for 26 percent.

The 2022 gross income from cattle and calves and hogs and pigs for the United States totaled $117 billion, up 16 percent from 2021. Gross income increased 18 percent for cattle and calves and 9 percent for hogs and pigs from previous year's gross income.

Cattle and Calves: Cash receipts from marketings of cattle and calves increased 18 percent, from $72.7 billion in 2021 to $86.1 billion in 2022. All cattle and calf marketings totaled 61.6 billion pounds in 2022, up 1 percent from 2021.

By State:               2021              -            2002          
Nebraska..:  $11,354,400,000        $13,677,252,000
Iowa.........:  $4,096,344,000           $5,299,680,000

Hogs and Pigs: Cash receipts from hogs and pigs totaled $30.6 billion during 2022, up 9 percent from 2021. Marketings totaled 42.1 billion pounds in 2022, up 1 percent from 2021.

By State:               2021            -            2002       
Nebraska..:  $1,184,184,000        $1,085,036,000
Iowa.........:  $9,395,907,000       $10,862,106,000



2022 Nebraska Poultry Production and Value

The value of egg production in Nebraska during 2022 was $324 million, up $169 million from $155 million in 2021, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Egg production in 2022 was estimated at 1.99 billion eggs, down 406 million from the previous year. Average number of layers for 2022 at 6.91 million was down 1.22 million from 2021.

U.S. Value of Production and Sales Up 67 Percent
The combined value of production from broilers, eggs, turkeys, and the value of sales from chickens in 2022 was $77.0 billion, up 67 percent from $46.1 billion in 2021. Of the combined total, 66 percent was from broilers, 25 percent from eggs, 9 percent from turkeys, and less than 1 percent from chickens.

Value of all egg production in 2022 was $19.4 billion, up 122 percent from $8.71 billion in 2021. Egg production totaled 110 billion eggs, down 2 percent from 111 billion eggs produced in 2021.



Milk Production, Disposition, and Income 2022 Summary

Milk production increased 0.1 percent in 2022 to 226 billion pounds. The rate per cow, at 24,087 pounds, was 138 pounds above 2021. The annual average number of milk cows on farms was 9.40 million head, down 47,000 head from 2021.

Cash receipts from marketings of milk during 2022 totaled $57.3 billion, up 37.1 percent from 2021. Producer returns averaged $25.39 per hundredweight, 36.9 percent above 2021. Marketings totaled 225.5 billion pounds, 0.1 percent above 2021. Marketings include whole milk sold to plants and dealers and milk sold directly to consumers.

By State - Cash Receipts from Marketing               
                                   2021              -            2022
Nebraska..:     $261,960,000            $356,730,000
Iowa.........:   $1,037,572,000        $1,409,240,000



Iowa Grain Indemnity Fund Board Votes to Reinstate Assessment Beginning on July 1

The board that oversees the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund (Grain Indemnity Fund) voted today, as required by Iowa law, to reinstate fees on grain sold to or deposited at Iowa-licensed grain dealers and warehouses. The Grain Indemnity Board and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship are following the process and fee schedule as required in Iowa Code 203D.

Created by the Iowa Legislature in 1986 during the Farm Crisis to provide financial protection to farmers, the Grain Indemnity Fund covers farmers with grain on deposit in Iowa-licensed warehouses and grain sold to state-licensed grain dealers. In the case of a failure of a state-licensed grain warehouse or grain dealer, the Fund will pay farmers 90 percent of a loss on grain up to a maximum of $300,000 per claimant. Over the history of the Grain Indemnity Fund, more than $16 million in claims have been paid to more than 1,500 grain producers. The Fund has generated approximately $9 million in assessed fees, which were last collected in 1989. Interest income, combined with the Fund’s ability to recover losses from defunct grain dealers and warehouses, has provided additional revenue.

Due to claims made to the Grain Indemnity Fund following the failures of Pipeline Foods, LLC of Fridley, MN, Global Processing, Inc. of Kanawha and B&B Farm Store of Jesup within the last two years, the balance of the Fund has fallen below $3 million. The balance of the Grain Indemnity Fund after all approved claims have been paid is expected to be approximately $377,000. Current law requires that if the Fund falls below $3 million, the Grain Indemnity Fund Board must reinstate participation fees for grain dealers and warehouses as well as a ¼ cent per bushel assessment that can be passed on to producers beginning on July 1. The assessment must remain in effect for at least one full year. Current law also requires these fees – which only apply to cash sales and not grain sold on credit sale contracts – to remain active until the Fund reaches a balance of $8 million.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Grain Warehouse Bureau regulates and examines the financial solvency of grain dealers and grain warehouse operators to protect Iowa farmers. The Grain Warehouse Bureau is responsible for administering the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund. The Department has commenced assessment implementation steps with industry stakeholders and has begun education efforts with farmers and grain producers. Members of the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund are appointed by the Governor and are subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate.



Ag Groups Want Congress’ Hands OFF Checkoffs

On Monday, ASA along with other major ag associations, submitted comments to lawmakers opposing the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act while supporting the numerous benefits checkoffs provide to farmers. The OFF Act was reintroduced in February by a bipartisan group of legislators from both chambers. The bill seeks, among other things, to prohibit checkoffs—also referred to as research and promotion programs—from contracting with an organization that engages in lobbying, conflicts of interest, or anticompetitive activities that harm other commodities.

In a letter to leaders of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the groups maintain the OFF Act, “would set producers back decades in the work which has been done to promote our commodities and improve the businesses and livelihoods of our members. Checkoff programs have made significant, measurable strides raising the level of demand for each of our respective products. Without these programs, demand and education outreach efforts would be adversely impacted to an immense degree.”

ASA opposes the OFF Act and has been working with leadership in both the House and Senate to educate lawmakers and congressional staff on the countless benefits checkoff programs bring to farmers. Soybean checkoff programs allow soybean farmers to invest in programs that enhance markets and the overall value of soybeans. Producer checkoff programs are a valuable tool in building new demand and educating on issues that threaten the future of farming. For every dollar farmers invest in the soy checkoff, they receive a $12.34 return on investment through the results of the United Soybean Board’s promotion, research and education.



Apply for NCGA’s Women and Mentors Program

Apply to become a part of the third class of the NCGA Women and Mentors Program to be held in St. Louis on June 22-23. In addition to learning how to quiet their inner critic, exploring what they can learn from another woman’s leadership journey, and developing an action plan for their own mentorship journey, each participant gains a supportive group of peers committed to their success. Everyone will leave the retreat with a concrete action plan and a mentorship pairing to help each other reach their goals.

The Women and Mentors program provides an opportunity for women looking to find the next steps in their leadership journey to partner with a mentor who has traveled that path. Mentors, who can be of any gender, and help to foster leaders of tomorrow and learn how to share the wealth of knowledge and understanding accumulated through years of service.

The program also includes a component for interested state, national and industry staff—creating a support network and a place for these women to discuss issues they face as women in a male-dominated industry.

Members of the new class will be welcomed to an ongoing quarterly virtual leadership lunch and join sessions already underway with the prior year’s participants.

Do you know of any women looking for the next step in their leadership journey? Anyone, male or female, who has a vested interest in increasing the number of women in leadership positions within agriculture? Please have them apply here.

The last day to apply for the program is May 19.