Torrey Advisory Group (TAG), a boutique lobbying and consulting firm specializing in food, agriculture, and forestry issues, announced the promotion of three team members whose work has been instrumental in the firm’s success. Olivia Lucanie has been promoted to Policy Director; Caroline Sowinski has been promoted to Senior Policy Manager; Eden Lambert has been promoted to Economist and Policy Manager.
National Farmers Union (NFU) recently concluded its 124th Anniversary Convention with over 500 family farmers, ranchers and supporters meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the three-day convention. Delegates voted unanimously re-elect Rob Larew and Jeff Kippley as the organization’s President and Vice President, respectively. Each will serve another two-year term. In addition, NFU honored Dr. Dale McCall of Colorado and Joe Logan of Ohio with awards for Meritorious Service to Farmers Union and to American Agriculture, the highest honor presented by Farmers Union.
CLUTCH, a consultancy/agency hybrid, is doubling down on its commitment to emerging trends with the addition of Brad Terry as Manager, Media Planning + Audience Activation. A Colorado native, Terry was a Senior Media Planner and Buyer for EMICO Media in Denver where he developed integrated media strategies across digital, paid social, and programmatic channels before pulling up stakes and heading to the sunny shores of Naples, Florida, to join ReachMobi as a Digital Media Buyer.
Over 2.0 million landowners rented out 348 million acres of farmland, according to the results of the 2024 Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) survey results released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Of these acres, 79% are owned by non-farming landlords. According to the survey results, rented farmland acres, combined with buildings on this land, are valued at more than $1.6 trillion. In 2024, landlords combined received $34.1 billion in rental income while incurring $12.0 billion in total operating expenses.
Sara Bair, a junior majoring in agriculture education at Utah State University, has been named the winner of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet. Bair earned the national title following a dynamic discussion on how communities can grow responsibly while protecting farms, ranches and the agricultural way of life.
Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode, who has led the organization since 2013, plans to retire in January 2027. The CRA Board of Directors has begun a search for the association’s next chief executive officer. Bode joined CRA in 2013, transforming the organization into a best-in-class issues management organization with influence across food, agriculture, and sustainability policy. Bode plans to remain actively engaged in guiding the CRA’s key initiatives through the appointment of his successor.
Four National FFA members will represent the voice of agricultural youth in Washington, D.C., during the National Ag Day celebration on March 24. FFA members, supporters and alumni are also invited to join the event, with activities taking place in Washington and a livestream available for audiences across the country. Chloe Zittergruen (Iowa), Cameron Addington (Minnesota), Kolton Stolba (Missouri) and Lauren Argotte (Indiana) are SpeakAg Pioneers who promote agricultural advocacy and literacy to FFA members and the public by hosting workshops, creating social media content, and attending important events.
The Renewable Fuels Association has added two new associate members – Geostock Sandia, LLC and G37 Ventures. Their respective expertise in carbon dioxide geologic sequestration and operational execution support will add specialized capabilities to RFA’s membership, supporting ethanol producers as they manage complex projects and align strategy with day-to-day operations.
Meister Media Worldwide has been named a regional finalist in four categories for the 2026 Azbee Awards of Excellence for editorial content. The American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) announced the finalists on March 10, which included MMW brands American Fruit Grower, American Vegetable Grower, CropLife Media Group, and Greenhouse Grower recognized for their special issue coverage, state of the industry coverage, special print issue, and company profile.
Agri-Pulse Communications is pleased to announce the promotion of Paige Dye to the position of circulation and strategic communications manager. Since joining Agri-Pulse in 2017, Dye has played a key role in the company’s digital advancement, modernizing subscriber systems and collaborating with developers to improve efficiency while ensuring that the organization remains rooted in high-quality customer service. In her extended role, she will lead audience development and strategic communications, focusing on deepening member engagement and driving the continued growth of Agri-Pulse’s national audience.
Over 50 state grower groups and eight national ag groups filed a letter with the Department of Commerce on Friday urging it to revoke countervailing duties on imports of phosphate fertilizer as the sunset review begins. The letter, signed by groups like the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, USA Rice and US Rice Producers Association, said if the duties continue, they will further worsen the dire economic conditions faced by American farmers.
New data show that farmers’ share of the money consumers spend on food continues to shrink, even as expenses rise. The latest Market Intel from American Farm Bureau Federation economists shows that in 2024 farmers and ranchers received a combined 5.8 cents of every food dollar after accounting for expenses, down from 5.9 cents in 2023. 2024 is the latest available data from USDA. Crop producers saw their share decline from 2.9 to 2.5 cents, while livestock producers experienced a modest increase from 3 to 3.3 cents.
