Ag Business Council Recognizes Young Leaders in Agribusiness

June 5, 2023, KANSAS CITY, MO.  The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City has selected 8 individuals who it will honor in 2023 as Young Leaders in Agribusiness.

“We are pleased to recognize these young people who have been nominated by their employers and have shown exemplary passion, leadership, and business acumen,” said Dustin Johansen, chair, KC Ag Business Council.  Johansen, senior vice president – livestock division, Farm Journal, pointed out these individuals represent the future, the next generation of executives who will lead the agribusiness sector.

Sara Befort, American Royal

Sara Befort

Sara Befort is the Director of Events and Rodeo Manager for the American Royal Association, where she has served for 10 years in various positions of increasing responsibility and leadership.  Sara leads the American Royal Events Team to successfully execute all events throughout the year. She also oversees the production of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Rodeo as well as the Youth Rodeo. In 2020, she had the distinct opportunity to assist the General Manager of the National Finals Rodeo in Arlington, TX.  She competed on the Livestock Judging Team at Colby Community College and graduated from Kansas State University, where she earned her bachelor’s in Agribusiness and minor in Business. Sara and her husband Trey live in Tonganoxie, KS with their daughter Lyla.

Allison Bockenstedt

Allison Bockenstedt, John Deere
Allison (Young) Bockenstedt works as the Sales Analytics Manager for John Deere’s Ag & Turf Division. Her career with Deere has spanned over twelve years; during her career Allison has spent time in both data, analytics, sales, and marketing with career highlights including developing auto-decisioning algorithms for John Deere Financial and helping to launch the 2680H High-Performance Disk.  Allison graduated from Drake University with a BSBA and has an MBA from Kansas State University. Allison also serves at the Kansas Technology Student Association (TSA) Judges and Event coordinator, managing volunteers for over fifty STEM related competitive events for high school and middle school students each year.   Allison and her husband, Lance, reside in Olathe, KS.

Alexa Cubbage, Dairy Farmers of America

Alexa Cubbage

In her role as an Innovation Project Manager for Dairy Farmers of America, Alexa Cubbage concentrates on identifying cross-functional synergies, facilitating programs designed to empower innovative thinking, and managing DFA’s CoLAB Accelerator program. At DFA, Alexa also participates in the Growing Professionals Employee Resource Group and serves as a DEI Ambassador. She holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of Arkansas. In her spare time, she enjoys connecting with family and friends, serving at her local church, and volunteering as a Citizen Archivist.

Dalton Henry, U.S. Wheat Associates

Dalton Henry

Dalton Henry is the USW Vice President of Trade Policy. Dalton coordinates the efforts of the USW policy team to maintain and improve market access for US wheat exports. Previously, Dalton worked as the director of governmental affairs for Kansas Wheat and as the legislative director for Congressman Roger Marshall. A native of Randolph, KS, he earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Kansas State University. Dalton now resides on his family’s farm in Randolph KS with his wife, Sarah and young son, Samuel.

Emily Koop, Kansas Corn

Emily Koop

Emily Koop graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s in food science. Upon graduation, Emily began her career at Cargill Animal Nutrition where she gained experience in a variety of areas including logistics and grain merchandising. For the past 5 years, Emily has worked for Kansas Corn, an organization which represents corn growers across the state on policy issues and implements checkoff programming. As the Director of Grower Services and Market Development, her responsibilities include managing the grower services team, developing leadership programs, and expanding ethanol infrastructure and use across the state. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her son and husband on their family farm and ranch and volunteering with their local church youth group.  

Jason Lutz, Agri-Pulse Communications

Jason Lutz

Jason Lutz guides the Agri-Pulse sales and marketing efforts, leading their team to develop new relationships and find creative ways to meet and exceed customer expectations. He oversees both individual and group subscription sales, along with digital program sales, in addition to managing digital advertising and event sales. Jason attended Kishwaukee College in Northern Illinois and has 10 years experience in the hospitality industry. He's an active participant in the local community and was selected as a Camden County Young Leader in 2012. Jason and his wife, Danielle, love spending time on the Lake of The Ozarks and playing golf and competitive softball. They have two daughters, Taylor and Austin, and one son, Jonathan.

Rosie Thoni, AdFarm

Rosie Thoni

Rosie Thoni is the Director of Public Relations and Content for AdFarm, one of North America’s premier agri-marketing agencies, where she leads the team delivering innovative PR strategies for AdFarm’s clients. Rosie earned her degree in agricultural communications and agribusiness from Oklahoma State University and has a decade of experience in communicating to ag audiences. Named one of AgGrad’s Top 30 Under 30 in 2020, Rosie is a dedicated advocate for the advancement of agriculture. Her love for agriculture was cultivated through her upbringing on a cattle ranch and grain farm in Alberta, Canada, and today she calls Wichita, Kansas, home alongside her husband, Griffin, and rescue dog, Belle.

Samantha Turner, Missouri Soybean Association/Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council

Samantha Turner

Communicating on behalf of and for the Missouri soybean farmer is more than a job description for Samantha Turner, Director of Communications for the Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. Samantha works to shape the growing soybean industry and promote Missouri Soybeans and its vision. She is responsible for developing communications strategies and supporting the industry through content enhancing the soybean narrative.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Missouri – Columbia, and later earned her master’s degree in agricultural leadership, communication and education. Prior to her work with Missouri Soybeans, Samantha worked for Clean Fuels Alliance American and Bayer.  Outside of the office, Samantha enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, Sterling and Sutton, as well as her family, friends and church small group.

The Council will recognize these young leaders at a reception in Kansas City on July 6.

Agricultural Business Council Recognizes Dillingham Awardees

(Left) Dustin Johansen, Julie Hurst, Blake Hurst; (Right) Dustin Johansen, Dr. Marty Vanier, Dr. Stephen Higgs

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City honored two stalwarts involved in regional and national agriculture with its Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence on May 18 at Union Station in Kansas City. It was the 13th Annual ceremony. Receiving the Council’s highest recognition were Marty Vanier, DVM, director of the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center (NABC) at Kansas State University, and Blake Hurst, a Missouri corn and soybean farmer who served as Missouri Farm Bureau president for ten years.

Event Master of Ceremonies and Council Chairman Dustin Johansen, senior vice president in the Livestock Division of Farm Journal, described the honorees as two of the region’s leading champions for agriculture in separate but very key areas in our region. “These individuals have had a positive and lasting effect on our community,” he said. “They are strong examples of what a leader can accomplish.” 

Dr. Vanier is the director of the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center at Kansas State University. Her career span includes stints with the Animal Health Institute in Washington, D.C.; USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service; K-State’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry; Kansas Agricultural Alliance; and has been involved in veterinary pharmaceutical and food safety initiatives and oversight. 

In 2003, Dr. Vanier joined NABC, then moved to NBAF’s Program Executive Office as director of Strategic Partnership Development.  In 2019 she returned to NABC as its director. Prior to be her being honored at the  Dillingham Award luncheon, last week, Dr. Vanier remarked that she was very surprised that the Council had selected her. “It is a tremendous honor for me,” she said, “especially after seeing the list of past honorees.”

In her acceptance remarks, Dr. Vanier noted that NABC is an integral part of the Midwest’s expanding animal health corridor. NABC contributes to and accesses a vast network of interdisciplinary research and resources in areas such as animal diseases, foodborne pathogens, plant infectious agents, emergency management, and environmental systems changes impacting agriculture, food and One Health.  

In his career as a farmer along with his involvement in regional and national agriculture affairs and legislation, Blake Hurst has become a well-known personality. His perspectives and opinions about agriculture have appeared in national media, in particular in the Op-Ed section of the Wall Street Journal.  In his service to the ag industry as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, a board member of AFBF, he spearheaded the passage of initiatives such as 2014 Missouri Amendment 1, The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment; 2019 SB 391, Standardizing The Regulation of CAFOs; 2020 Missouri Amendment 3, Cleaner Missouri.

Hurst considers the major focus of his career to have been the defense of technology and trade as not only necessary for farmers but beneficial to everyone else as well. Farmers’ income depend upon both trade and the ability to apply science to the production of food and fiber, but so do the diets of billions of people. “Without modern technology, we farmers can’t feed the world,” Hurst said. He is also proud of the role Missouri farmers played in passing NAFTA and helping consumers better understand and accept GMOs. 

On hand for awards ceremony, which was sponsored by John Deere, were several past recipients of the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.

• Gina Bowman, founder of the Agricultural Business Council

• Harry Cleberg, retired president of Farmland Industries

• Bill Jackson, AGRIServices of Brunswick-retired

• Glen Klippenstein, Klippenstein Family Farm

• Dee Likes, retired CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association

• Ken McCauley, K & M Farms and past president, National Corn Growers Association

• Diane Olson, retired director of education at the Missouri Farm Bureau

• Dr. Ralph Richardson, retired CEO of the Kansas State-Olathe Campus

• Tom Waters, chairman of the Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association and Chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission

Additionally, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam attended the event. Dr. Stephen Higgs, director of K-State’s Biosecurity Research Institute, introduced Dr. Vanier. Julie Hurst introduced her husband Blake.

As has become customary at this awards gathering, John Dillingham, the son of the elder Jay B. Dillingham, provided remarks on behalf of the family. The younger Dillingham offered a dramatic perspective on the impact Kansas and Missouri agriculture has had globally: “Every single person on the face of the earth is a potential client of the farmers, livestock producers, processors, transporters et al in our region.”

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - May 2023

Developments

USDA and the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate dedicated the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility on May 24, in Manhattan, Kansas, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that featured remarks from national and local dignitaries. The new 48-acre facility will become one of the top laboratories in the world to study and diagnose animal diseases. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “This new, innovative facility will give USDA scientists access to cutting-edge, safe and secure technology so they can continue to lead the world in animal health research, training and diagnostics to protect our food supply, agricultural economy and public health.” Replacing the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York, which is more than 68 years old, NBAF will feature a biosafety level-4 laboratory space to study livestock and other large animals. It also has support areas and required safety systems like redundant high-efficiency particulate air filters and waste decontamination systems. The facility is located next to Kansas State University.  “NBAF’s Midwest location offers researchers and diagnosticians closer proximity to develop key partnerships with the animal health industry and several academic institutions,” explained Alfonso Clavijo, DVM, PhD, director of NBAF. “NBAF will create opportunities between scientists and animal health companies to enhance and expedite the transition of new veterinary countermeasures from research to market to protect the nation’s agriculture if needed.”  Mark Hatesohl, mayor of Manhattan, Kansas State University president Richard Linton, PhD, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Senator Jerry Moran, and retired Senator Pat Roberts were on hand for the event.

Testifying at a House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs hearing on tailpipe emissions rules and electric vehicle transition, Kansas Corn Growers Association CEO Josh Roe said biofuels like ethanol should not be ignored as a climate solution. Roe told the committee the EPA’s narrow rules prevent the use of low carbon liquid fuels like ethanol to help reach climate goals. In testimony, Roe said the administration’s full focus on electric vehicles ignores a solution that is available to nearly every car on the road today. He warned low- and middle-income citizens will pay the price for electric vehicles that are more expensive and not feasible for use in many areas. “The agricultural and liquid fuels industries stand ready to assist in reducing air pollution. Unfortunately, current, and proposed EPA rules prevent us from being part of the solution, and adversely impact low income and rural citizens across the United States,” Roe stated. “While we believe electric vehicles will play a vital role in achieving these goals, other complementary alternatives, such as biofuels, have a key role to play but are being pushed aside.”

The Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance and Rapid Response Act of 2023 was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week. The act would provide additional funding for three important animal health programs established through the 2018 Farm Bill:  1) National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank; 2) National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program; 3) National Animal Health Laboratory Network. NAVVCB was established due to NCBA’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 Farm Bill and currently houses foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and diagnostic test kits. NADPRP supports programs like the Secure Beef Supply Plan, which will help maintain business continuity in the event of a disease outbreak. Finally, NAHLN conducts essential research, disease monitoring and testing. All three programs are supported by Kansas Livestock Association and NCBA.

Lab-grown meat, which is cultured from animal cells, is often thought to be more environmentally friendly than beef because it’s predicted to need less land, water and greenhouse gases than raising cattle. But in a not yet peer-reviewed paper, researchers at the University of California Davis, have found that lab-grown or “cultivated” meat’senvironmental impact is likely to be “orders of magnitude” higher than retail beef based on current and near-term production methods. “If companies are having to purify growth media to pharmaceutical levels, it uses more resources, which then increases global warming potential,” said lead author and doctoral graduate Derrick Risner, UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology. “If this product continues to be produced using the “pharma” approach, it’s going to be worse for the environment and more expensive than conventional beef production.” The un-reviewed paper – Environmental impacts of cultured meat: A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment – can be read here.

Officials in Congress are taking new steps to standardize and improve food date labels to reduce food waste and help families save money on groceries. U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., held a press briefing May 22, 2023 at a New Jersey supermarket to push for changes in this expiration date system, as the U.S. has no federal standard for "sell-by," "use-by" or "best by" dates. He said most date labels indicate when the manufacturer believes the product is fresh, which is not necessarily based on scientific food-safety considerations. Some nutrition experts say those labels are leading to a major waste of food in this country. The Congressman is leading a bipartisan effort to standardize expiration date terminology across the country. According to the FDA, 30 to 40% of all food ends up in the garbage. That equates to 160 billion pounds -- or $218 billion worth of food -- each year. The agency says consumers should not rely solely on date labels and should examine food even after the expiration date.

Scientists at USDA Agricultural Research Services’ U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, have produced the first gene-edited calf with resistance to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a virus that costs the U.S. cattle sector billions of dollars annually. Findings of the research, published in PNAS Nexus, resulted from a collaboration among ARS, the University of Nebraska, the University of Kentucky and industry partners Acceligen and Recombinetics, Inc. BVDV is one of the most significant viruses affecting the health and well-being of cattle worldwide, and researchers have been studying it since the 1940s when it was first recognized. This virus does not affect humans but is highly contagious among cattle and can cause severe respiratory and intestinal diseases.

On May 11, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling on California’s Proposition 12, choosing to uphold the legality of the measure — a decision that was met with disappointment by many in U.S. agriculture, claiming it sets a dangerous precedent for animal agriculture moving forward. The Supreme Court opinion delivered by Justice Neil Gorsuch suggested a next step surrounding Proposition 12 may be a Congressional bill since the Constitution vests Congress with the power to “regulate Commerce . . . among the several States.”

Organic food sales in the United States in 2022 topped $60 billion for the first time, hitting another high-level mark for the resilient organic sector. Total organic sales – including organic non-food products, were a record $67.6 billion*, according to the 2023 Organic Industry Survey released by the Organic Trade Association.

EPA has announced it would use existing authority to prevent drivers from losing access to lower-cost and lower-emission E15, a higher ethanol blend often marketed as Unleaded 88. Missouri Corn Growers Association President Clint Stephens welcomed the decision. “We applaud today’s announcement from EPA to keep the door open for E15 throughout the summer driving season.” America’s corn farmers and local ethanol plants are deeply committed to playing a prominent role in addressing today’s energy needs, Stephens added.

Farmer sentiment improved modestly in April over March, according to the Purdue University/ CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, rising six points to a reading of 123. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices were also higher in April, the Current Conditions Index was up 3 points to 129 and the Future Expectations Index was up 7 points to 120. A shift in farmers’ expectations regarding the Fed’s future interest rate policy could be a key reason behind the improvement in farmer sentiment. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted from April 10-14.

Farmers are sharply divided on whether Congress will pass a new farm bill this year to replace the 2018 law. Some 40% of growers surveyed for the monthly Purdue University-CME Group ag barometer believe it’s at least somewhat likely a new bill gets enacted in 2023.  But 29% of the producers surveyed say a 2023 bill is very unlikely and 13% say it’s somewhat unlikely. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications.

The University of Missouri’s MU Extension will partner with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a $25 million award from USDA to create the Heartland Regional Food Business Center, which will foster more vibrant, resilient food systems throughout a five-state region. Heartland is among 12 regional centers the USDA will establish to serve all areas of the country.  The project will establish an online platform to strengthen local and regional food systems. It will mobilize existing resources across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma and a designated tribal trade coalition to accelerate the delivery of resources for agricultural producers and food businesses. Partners and collaborators include land-grant universities, nonprofits and tribal and indigenous groups, as well as smaller organizations focused on serving under-resourced groups. “In Missouri, we’ll be targeting audiences statewide with an emphasis on reaching underserved producers and food businesses,” said Bill McKelvey, senior project coordinator for MU Extension and Heartland Regional Food Business Center.

People

Taylor Williamson will join Kansas Corn as director of policy and regulatory affairs. In this role he will represent Kansas corn growers on legislative and regulatory affairs on local, state and national levels. Williamson will begin his role with Kansas Corn on July 10. Taylor graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in agriculture economics, specializing in political science. He had internships at the Department of State Office of Agriculture Policy, and the Cargill corn crush plant in Eddyville, Iowa. Since graduating, Williamson worked as the Director of Government Affairs for Kansas Wheat, and the Government Relations Representative at the National Association of Wheat Growers. He is continuing his education by pursuing a master’s degree in economics.

Kansas Corn recently announced additional staffing changes, naming Emily Koop, Director of Grower Services and Market Development. Koop joined the Kansas Corn team as a regional representative and market development coordinator in 2018, and in 2021, Koop was promoted to Director of Market and Leadership Development. Heather Greene has been named Director of Finance, filling a vacant position. Kaitlin Donovan is Kansas Corn’s Digital Marketing and Communications Manager. Donovan manages all social media platforms for Kansas Corn and its programs as well as design, branding and communications.

Earlier this month Governor Mike Parson proclaimed May to be Beef Month in Missouri. Governor Parson presented the proclamation at KC Cattle Company in Parkville. Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn and members of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and Missouri Beef Industry Council joined the Governor for the proclamation. “As a third-generation cattleman, it is my mission to advocate on behalf of Missouri’s farmers and ranchers, especially our hard-working beef producers,” Governor Parson said. “Missouri cattlemen diligently strive to provide high quality, nutritious beef products to consumers across Missouri and nationwide.” Director Chinn said. “Cattlemen and women across the state play an important role in feeding the world, and we love highlighting that during Beef Month.”  KC Cattle Company is a veteran-owned company started by Patrick Montgomery, 1st Ranger Battalion, U.S. Army. Missouri ranks third nationally in the number of beef cows with more than two million head and is consistently among the leading states for total cattle production. The meat processing industry contributes nearly $6 million to the state’s economy, according to a study showing the economic contribution of Missouri agriculture.

Events

The Ag Business Council is proud to be a sponsor of the City Market's 2023 Grub Crawl, Friday, June 2, 2023, 5:00 - 7:00 pm. This is City Market’s annual tasting tour. Tickets are limited, and may sell out, so be sure to take advantage of this special pre-sale offer -- use promo code ABCKC to unlock the early-bird tickets. Ticket sales are online only - no walkup sales at the event.

Livestock producers can learn to use native grasses and other forages to improve profits at a June 6 conference at the University of Central Missouri’s Prussing Farm. Keynote speaker will be Shane Gadberry of the University of Arkansas, who will speak on the “300 Days Grazing” system developed in Arkansas. The system is based on eight different management practices to extend the grazing season and reduce hay feeding: Improving grazing management, stockpiling fescue, stockpiling Bermuda grass, growing legumes, growing summer annual forage, growing winter annual forage, reducing hay losses in storage and reducing hay losses during feeding. Other speakers include Mary Drewnoski of the University of Nebraska, who will talk about grazing cover crops; University of Missouri Extension forage specialist Harley Naumann on native warm-season grass management; and David Boatright of Boatright Farms on multispecies grazing. Register with the MU Extension Center in Cass County at 816-380-8460 or cassco@missouri.edu, or the Pettis County MU Extension Center at 660-827-0591 or pettisco@missouri.edu.

The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council announced its sponsorship of the Heartland Whiskey Competition and is inviting Missouri distilleries to vie for state bragging rights. Taking place August 2 in St. Louis, the biennial national contest is sanctioned by the American Craft Spirits Association and strictly limited to craft whiskeys that contain some amount of corn as an ingredient. Craft spirits is a fast-growing U.S. industry. The number of craft distillers has increased 54% since the inaugural competition in 2016, with whiskey as the most popular product. On average, it takes approximately 3 pounds of corn to make one bottle of spirits. At 56 pounds in a bushel, local distilleries can produce roughly 18 bottles of spirits for each bushel of corn. Most craft distilleries use corn mash sourced locally to make their product. “While we often think about livestock and ethanol when it comes to field corn, this is a fun opportunity to highlight another of our crop’s many uses,” says MCMC chairman Brent Hoerr of Palmyra. “This competition not only supports a niche market for our corn, but local distilleries who are crafting Missouri-grown, Missouri-made spirits.”

The Kansas State Board of Agriculture will meet for its regular quarterly board meeting on Thursday, June 1, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Kansas Department of Agriculture office at 1320 Research Park Dr. in Manhattan.  The meeting is open to the public.  For more information or to receive a copy of the agenda, please contact Auburn Wassberg at Auburn.B.Wassberg@ks.gov. Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Digging Deeper...

Creating, marketing and merchandising graduation gifts is an annual, seasonal retail industry event – akin to Valentine’s Day and Mother’s and Father’s Day et al.  Hundreds of items – such as watches, diploma frames, sentimental family heirloom jewelry and keepsakes, as well as practical furnishings for dorm-life – are among the inventory of traditional commencement gifts for college grads. Lately, though, tradition is giving way to what’s trending. Good Housekeeping, the iconic chronicler and influencer of American good taste, recently prepared a list of the “The 44 Best Graduation Gifts.” At the top were a portable cell phone charger, a deluxe cold-brew coffee maker and a laundry backpack. For high school grads, GH noted, “Cash is still one of the most popular graduation gifts.”  But Kansas City-based DeBruce Foundation recently has come up with what arguably is the most practical – and in the long run, the most valuable – graduation gift of all. And it’s free. Grads need only to go to DeBruce’s website to get it. 
Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: DeBruce Foundation’s Agile Work Profiler; Chanelle Zak, Community and Multi-Media Coordinator, Lents Mazur Associates, LLC; Kristie Larsen, DeBruce Foundation.  

DeBruce Foundation’s Gift To 2023 Graduates

Kansas City-based DeBruce Foundation is laser-focused on expanding economic growth and opportunity for people and communities all around the country. Established in 1988 by Paul DeBruce, founder of DeBruce Grain, Inc, it is a national organization committed to helping individuals discover their potential and direct it toward pathways to meaningful accomplishments and satisfying careers. A byproduct of that mission is the strengthening of communities and the enhancement of the lives of those living in them. Succinctly put, The Foundation has developed strategies and programs that change how people pursue, thrive in and change careers. “Starting with youth and working across their lifespan,” notes The Foundation.

The DeBruce Foundation, offers unique ways for people, especially youth, to recognize, unlock and apply their potential for contributive careers.  “We care about our students and we understand the importance of developing our work force,” said Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director and COO of The DeBruce Foundation, when The Foundation introduced its Graduation Toolkit for high school and college graduates in the Class of 2020

The debut of the Graduation Toolkit turned out to be timely. In late 2019 – just before the COVID-19 breakout – Ellucian, a provider of software services to higher education institutions and organizations, published findings from its study, Course Correction: Helping Students Find and Follow a Path to Success. (See Sidebar “Course Correction: The Findings.”)

The survey found that college students, especially those in Generation Z, struggle to pick a major, which increases the time and cost associated with obtaining a degree. Many incoming students are not confident in their career path and almost two-thirds of students feel overwhelmed by the process of selecting a major. The result can be that students change their majors without understanding the ramifications, take unnecessary courses and delay their expected graduation, sometimes by multiple semesters. Class of 2023 grads – high school and college – have completed much of their diploma and degree work while navigating through the turbulence of COVID-19 – making the best of remote learning, dealing with canceled opportunities and entering a workforce marked by layoffs, The Foundation points out.

“At The DeBruce Foundation, we want to help people thrive in the workforce. Graduates have completed a major milestone in their career journey, and they deserve to be celebrated and supported,” says Dr. Taylor Knight. “We’re sharing our career literacy resources to help equip young people to build successful careers and bright futures.”

The Graduation Toolkit has helped students throughout these past few years and aims to reach more grads this year than ever before, Dr. Taylor Knight adds.  For the record, that means the potential number of graduates who could take advantage of the Graduation Toolkit this year is close to five and a half million (2.2 million college grads and 3.3 million high school grads), according to the National Center for Education Statistics. At the moment, The DeBruce Foundation is ramping up efforts to get the word out to as many high school and college grads as possible.  Some of the schools and institutions it is partnering with include UMKC, KU, MU, the Kansas Board of Regents, Indiana Department of Workforce Development and Parker Dewey, LLC, a network of college students and graduates engaged with industry to create micro-internships. 

What’s In The Toolkit

The Graduation Toolkit is a collection of three online career tools that The DeBruce Foundation has developed over three decades:  Agile Work Profiler, Career Explorer Tools and Draw Your Future with Agilities, a series of interactive workshops viewed on YouTube. Its aim is to help graduates identify their work skills, explore in-demand job opportunities and make a solid plan for their future.  “The objective is to broaden career opportunities for individuals,” Dr. Taylor Knight says.  It’s based on The DeBruce Foundation’s Agile Work Profiler (AWP) program and platform that discovers, accesses and assesses an individual’s skills, strengths, interests and other attributes that could direct that person to interesting, rewarding career options he or she never considered.  

“AWP’s concept of an agility implies that an individual may succeed in a diverse set of career options,” explains Dr. Taylor Knight, “within a given career domain and across several different domains.”  The notion of agility has two critical implications, according to The Foundation. First, individuals often have existing strengths that are transferable to a variety of career domains even when such domains are seemingly dissimilar. Such assets can open up meaningful career options. Secondly, the idea of agility assumes that individuals may already possess an array of capabilities that can be strengthened and improved upon to widen their path to careers that align with their interests. 

The interactive Career Explorer tool introduces graduates to industry occupations, companies, company culture, hiring requirements, work activities as well as income, career growth potential and other demands. The DeBruce Foundation partners also with Patti Dobrowolski, creator of Draw Your Future & Up Your Creative Genius, combining her unique, imaginative interactive workshop presentations with the Agile Work Profiler, that offer a beneficial career planning experience for students and adults.

Here’s What They’re Saying

Aubrey Hacke was a 2021 Health Science graduate of St. Louis University, and then her plans were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She used the Graduation Toolkit to realize her strengths and transferable skills: “The Agilities resources in the Graduation Toolkit helped me determine my path to becoming a teacher during a time when I didn’t know what my next move would be,” said Hacke. Now a high school science teacher, she added, “Now, I use these resources in my own classroom. It’s so rewarding to see students discover more about themselves and help them plan for future successful careers.”

Isiah Humes, Georgia State University Class of 2023, has this to say: “As I’m looking to my next steps after graduation, these career resources have helped me identify my strengths and find avenues to follow my passions in ways I didn’t know I could in the workforce. Having this guidance inspires me even more to strive for my goals in the marketing industry.” 

---

Course Correction: The Findings

The 2019 Ellucian study conducted in partnership with Washington, D.C.-based Market Connections surveyed 1,000 students enrolled in two and four-year U.S. public and private colleges. In addition to learning that many students were finding it difficult to choose a major, the survey found that while students often turn to institution-employed advisors for advice, pathways approaches can simplify choices for them by providing structured, clear paths through college coursework and on to the start of their careers. Additionally, personalized technology tools can ensure that students have clarity into their individual goals and the requirements needed to achieve them.

Today’s college students are confused and anxious when it comes to selecting a major.

• 51 percent of students are not confident in their career path when they enroll in college.

• Almost two-thirds of students feel overwhelmed by the process of selecting a major.

  • Gen Z (68 % )

  • Millennials (63 %)

  • Gen X students (49 %)

• 18 % found their schools to be less than helpful in providing guidance on majors.

• One in three students are not sure which major aligns with their chosen career path.

Changing majors increases the time and cost associated with obtaining a degree.

• More than half of students change their major at least once. Gen Z (44 %) stayed the course more often than their Millennial (58 %) and Gen X (54 %) peers.

• 39 % of students said they needed to take additional general education courses as a result of a change in major.

• 31 % of students needed to take additional major courses as a result of a change in major.

• 28 % of students said their change in major delayed their expected graduation rate by two or more semesters.

Students rely on advisors for support when choosing classes but could use more attention when transferring.

• 57 % of students turn to their school advisors most often for helpful advice when registering.

• However, 64 % only met with their advisor 2 times or less during the most recent academic year.

• Academic plans, required courses and current courses are the top topics discussed in meetings with advisors.

• One in three students did not receive advice from their two-year school on what courses were eligible for transfer.

• 54 % of transfer students did not get advice about on-campus resources from their four-year schools.

Students are highly interested in new, personalized technology to help them stay on track.

• 80 % of students say an online “what-if” tool for majors and degrees would help them stay on track.

• 70 % say an online “one-stop shop” for all essential student services would be very or extremely helpful.

• 66 % would benefit from proactive advising/targeted interventions.

• 62 % expressed interest in date reminder nudges.

Digging Deeper...

The United States scraps nearly 80 billion pounds of food every year – about 30-40 % of the entire US food supply, says USDA. That equates to 219 pounds of waste per person, notes Kathryn Reed, Society of Professional Journalists. “That’s like every person in America throwing more than 650 average sized apples right into the garbage — or rather right into landfills.” As a matter of fact, food is the single largest component taking up space inside U.S. landfills, accounting for more than 22% of municipal solid waste.
By: Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: USDA Economic Research Service; After the Harvest Annual Report 2021; Autumn MorningSky, Marketing & Communications, After the Harvest; Interviews with Lisa Ousley, Past Executive Director-Advisor, After the Harvest, and Michael Watson, Executive Director, After the Harvest.

Fighting Food Security “Upstream”

Food waste is often described as a “farm-to-fork” problem.  For the most part, conversations about food waste usually center on oversized portions at dinner, kids not eating all their vegetables and food products being discarded along the supply chain for being beyond their “best by” or “sell by” dates or not in compliance with processing, packaging and labeling regulations.

But those are downstream situations, influenced by efficient, productive food processing systems and more reliable distribution and warehousing operations that can create food abundance or surpluses. In the last ten years, though, attention has been aimed at the waste occurring upstream – in the fields and orchards. Bruised, scarred vegetables and fruits (whose freshness and quality have not necessarily been compromised) are regularly abandoned. “According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, some 52% of all produce grown in our country never reaches a human consumer,” says Lisa Ousley, who is retiring as founding executive director of Kansas City, Missouri-based After The Harvest (ATH).  “About 10% of produce is lost at the farm level – either it is missed by automated harvesting equipment or passed over by field hands who do the initial grading in the field,” she explains.

Ten years ago Ousley and a small group who believed no food should go to waste founded ATH.  Their assumption was that people experiencing food insecurity, specifically those in the Greater Kansas City area, deserved healthy food. “We started the organization in May 2014 with two chairs, a file cabinet and a strong belief in our mission,” says Ousley. Using office space and computers on loan from Harvesters–The Community Food Network, she adds, “We launched After the Harvest with a two-person staff and never looked back.”

A decade later – with a staff of nine and with thousands of volunteers – ATH distributes rescued fruits and vegetables via a gleaning program directly to agencies feeding hungry people. ATH is one of the top five produce donors to Harvesters–The Community Food Network.  

“Harvesters is our primary distribution partner, delivering our produce via our gleaning and truckload programs to agencies within their service area,” says Michael Watson, ATH’s new Executive Director.  This unique partnership, he notes, gives Harvesters access to fresh-from-the-farm produce that is otherwise unavailable to them.

Seeing The Need

Lisa Ousley traces the origins of modern food bank operations back to the 1970s. Her moment of awareness as a youngster that people worldwide might not have access to all that they need, she recalls, came with the OPEC oil embargo of 1973. The long lines at gas stations that Ousley saw in person and viewed on television underscored the notion that humans could go wanting for things that weren’t exactly in short supply. There was plenty of oil in the ground and in the holds of tanker ships. Likewise, plenty of food was being tossed out or left in the fields to rot. Or unnecessarily graded by stringent regulatory standards that affected supply and availability.

In the late 1970s, says Ousley, global communities introduced organizations and movements to ease the plight of those living in poverty and food insecurity. She points to the formation of the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA), a grassroots, faith-based, hunger relief nonprofit working with all denominations to bridge the hunger gap between 96 billion pounds of food wasted every year in the United States and the nearly 40 million Americans who live in poverty.  SoSA relies on support from donors, volunteers, and farmers as they glean nutritious excess produce from farmers' fields and orchards after harvest and deliver it to people in need across the United States. SoSA provides nutritious, healthy produce through programs such as the Potato Project, Harvest of Hope and the Seed Potato Project

Michael Watson’s awareness of food insecurity came sharply into focus on the basketball court. Well, not exactly. But basketball opened his eyes to countries and areas where hunger was pervasive. Watson, who was inducted this month into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, is the all-time UMKC hoops scoring leader. After graduation in 2004, Watson signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Celtics and went on to play professionally for ten more seasons in Poland, Turkey, Italy, France and his native Puerto Rico.  The travel schedules of these teams brought Watson to a number of impoverished regions where he got a rare glimpse of what poverty and food insecurity actually looked like.

“Playing in so many countries and cities where hunger was prevalent, gave me an up-close picture of the situation, and got me thinking about how I might get involved in something tangible to ease the problem,” Watson says. As he assumes the position of executive director, Watson is planning ways to scale up ATH’s impact on the region surrounding the greater Kansas City area.

Addressing The Need

Since its founding in 2014, ATH has recovered more than 30 million pounds of fruits and vegetables, and delivered produce to agencies feeding 226,000 food-insecure children, seniors and families every month. In 2021, ATH changed its strategy for the way it recovers fruits and vegetables. This shift was both operational and strategic. “As part of our COVID response strategies in 2020,” explains Ousley, “ATH focused efforts on expanding our local Gleaning Program.” ATH pursued funding to support this expansion, and secured a large COVID-inspired grant that arrived in December 2020. This and other transformational COVID funding allowed ATH to purchase a refrigerated truck, lease cold-storage space and develop produce distribution hub pickups resulting in the partnerships with Loffredo Fresh and Kanbe’s Markets,” Ousley says. Also during this time, ATH expanded its Fair Share program in Rich Hill to increase the volume of produce coming from Rich Hill farmers.  ATH also began working with Douglas County on its Community Organized Gleaning that resulted in the Lawrence Gleaning Program. “Together these efforts grew the overall volume of produce we rescued locally and regionally,” Ousley adds, “to surpass the one-million pound mark for the Gleaning Program in 2021 for the first time in our history.”

Breaking down its impact even further, ATH marks these accomplishments in 2022:

• Provided 108 varieties of fruits and vegetables

• Supplied nutritious produce to over 360 agencies

• Partnered with more than 175 local farmers

• Rescued excess produce from 15 local farmers markets

• Saved 1 million pounds of produce through its gleaning program and another 1.5 million pounds via its truckloads programs

---

Recent Milestones

At the beginning of 2021 as effects of the pandemic continued to plague the global community, ATH shifted strategic gears in pursuit of its mission: To fight food insecurity, improve nutrition, and reduce food waste. The primary change involved a distribution strategy to bring larger quantities of rescued produce to food deserts and areas of greatest need across Kansas City.

In July 2023, ATH will host its second annual signature event – the Amaizing Sweet Corn Glean-A-Thon & Festival, in partnership with the National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame. The 2023 event builds on the success of the first-ever Amaizing Sweet Corn Glean-A-Thon & Festival in 2022, in which 13 volunteer teams helped them harvest 51,708 ears of sweet corn for donating to local agencies serving hungry people. ATH is still seeking volunteer teams and corporate sponsors to participate this July, and help them harvest hope, one ear at a time. (More information is available here.)

Older Than You Think

The word gleaning is a term that staffers at ATH use regularly. But it’s not a buzz word coined by the relatively new food banking industry. Food banking is a recent philanthropic activity – and not what ATH does.  The concept of food banking was developed by John van Hengel in Phoenix, Arizona, in the late 1960s. Van Hengel, a retired businessman, established St. Mary’s Food Bank as the nation’s first food gathering operations of its kind. In its initial year, van Hengel and his volunteers distributed 275,000 pounds of food to people in need. Word of the food bank’s success quickly spread, and states began to take note. By 1977, food banks were established in 18 cities across the country.

As the number of food banks increased, van Hengel created a national organization for them. In 1979 he established Second Harvest, which was later called America’s Second Harvest, the Nation’s Food Bank Network. In 2008, the network changed its name to Feeding America to reflect its mission. Today, Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization—a powerful and efficient network of food charities nationwide.  As the coronavirus pandemic brought record unemployment and instability, the Feeding America network rose to meet the need. Last year, the Feeding America network served 5.2 billion meals.

But here’s the rest of the story, as radio broadcast icon Paul Harvey might tell it.  The word gleaning is not only older than the youthful concept of food banks; it is older than Moses. It is mentioned in the Bible in Leviticus 19:9 (circa 1040 BC): "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner."

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - April 2023

Developments

American Royal Needs Volunteers to help out at its Annual American Royal Spring Field Trip, May 2 and 3. Elementary students from around the Kansas City area will be attending a roundup of American Royal rodeo fun and educational events. The Spring Field Trip is designed to give students in second and third grade an introduction to and an appreciation for agriculture, food and livestock and equine health and care.  The program includes an interactive educational tour and Invitational Youth Rodeo. Each year hundreds of individuals have donated their time and talents to further the Royal’s purpose of providing opportunities for youth to learn more about the culture of agriculture. The American Royal provides educational experiences and scholarships that inspire and cultivate dreams.  This year’s student attendance numbers have increased drastically. Tuesday’s (May 2) session will host 1,250 elementary school students – 942 more than last year. Wednesday’s attendance will 1,095 – 679 more than last year. “We need some 200-plus volunteers to make the Spring Field Trip successful,” notes Cliff Becker, the Royal’s vice president, New Campus Development.  Click here to view and sign up for Spring Field Trip volunteer opportunities or contact Samantha Basler for more information.

A 2023 economic impact study, released recently by the Livestock Marketing Association (updating a study from 2017), found that livestock auction markets continue to be important for the growth and vitality of rural communities. The study of an average, fixed-facility livestock auction market revealed that the market provides approximately $2 million in total value-added dollars to its local community. This result is up from $1 million identified in the 2017 Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Economic Impact Report. “Livestock auction markets today remain critical to helping our rural communities continue to thrive,” said Kristen Parman, LMA Vice President of Membership Services. The study was produced in collaboration with Decision Innovation Solutions in Urbandale, Iowa.

As snowpacks are melting, the National Weather Service is predicting minor to moderate flooding on the Upper Mississippi River. Waters are expected to rise steadily in the next two weeks and crest in Dubuque next week. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, quoting information from American Commercial Barge Line, said flooding is expected to force the closure of locks 3 through 17 – roughly from St. Paul to southern Iowa. NWS defines minor flooding as causing “some public threat or inconvenience” and moderate as bringing “some inundation of structures and roads” as well as causing some evacuations and possibly forcing the “transfer of property to higher elevations.” 
 
Missouri’s net farm income is predicted to fall in 2023 following a record-setting 2022, according to the spring 2023 Missouri Farm Income Outlook report. The report, released by the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri, said one factor that could explain this projected drop in farm income is the state’s livestock receipts, which were impacted by the country-wide drought that reduced cattle inventories and supported Missouri marketings, which is the physical sale of live animals. “Production expenses remain stubbornly high while cash receipts decline under the assumption of average weather resulting in a squeeze to Missouri producers’ bottom line. Missouri follows the national projection for a downward trend in the near term,” said RaFF interim director Scott Brown. In the report, a 14% decrease in net farm income is forecasted to occur across the state’s agriculture industry this year, compared to a projected 19% decrease in U.S. net farm income.

Americans tend to trust food labels, especially the ingredient list, expiration date and nutrition fact label, according to the March Consumer Food Insights Report. The most distrusted labels include low-calorie, naturalness and health claims. The survey-based report out of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources. Purdue experts conducted and evaluated the survey, which included 1,200 consumers across the U.S. More information is available here.

USDA announced last week the availability of up to $125 million through two new grant programs that will create more options for meat and poultry farmers. These new grant programs – the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program and the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program, are part of the broader $1 billion American Rescue Plan to expand processing capacity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors. More information on these programs is available here.

In a recent study that examined how diseases function in rice crops, University of Missouri researchers might have found critical answers. In the study, Bing Yang, a plant biology professor in the MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center used genome editing as a tool to identify problematic pathogens present in certain bacteria that lead to prolific infections in rice crops. His research helps scientists understand how these pathogens function and, thus, can determine how to guard against widespread infections that destroy yields. This research provides insight into the host-pathogen relationship, allowing scientists to better genetically engineer plants to survive crop diseases. Efficient CRISPR-Cas9 Based Cytosine base Editors For Phytopathogenic Bacteria was published in the Communications Biology section of Nature Journal. This study was partially supported by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Agriculture Future of America recently selected 40 college students from 29 states to serve as organizational Ambassadors, representing AFA on their respective campuses and throughout their networks to promote AFA opportunities, organize campus meetings and interact with industry professionals at various events. AFA Ambassadors serve a year-long term, working to heighten awareness of AFA programs among their peers and establish creative strategies to increase student involvement from students on their campuses. These opportunities include AFA Leaders Conference, AFA Leader Institutes and AFA Leader and Academic Scholarships. Ambassadors are also integral in demonstrating AFA’s impact to corporate partners to support the continuation and acquisition of partnerships. More information and a list of the Ambassadors and their schools is available at agfuture.org.

People

Lenexa, Kansas-based Farm Journal, the nation’s leading business information and data insights company serving agriculture audiences, has named Prescott Shibles the company new CEO. He takes over from Andy Weber who retires after 23 years as CEO; Weber will serve as vice chairman of Farm Journal’s board of directors. Shibles is a digital media and business information leader with more than 20 years of history delivering data- and technology-driven transformations. He has held leadership roles at five of the nation’s most progressive B2B data and media companies, driving innovation using digital engagement, market intelligence, machine learning and artificial intelligence to create new standards for how clients accelerate growth. Shibles noted it was Farm Journal’s tradition of service to its industry and forward-looking vision that attracted him to the opportunity. “Farm Journal, with its position of trust and service, can be a beacon for change in agriculture’s tech transformation. The company is making a real difference in transforming agriculture to a more sustainable and tech-centric future. A prime example is its commanding position with the Trust In Food division at the crossroads of regenerative agriculture.”

Michael Watson, incoming Executive Director of Kansas City-based After The Harvest (see Digging Deeper in this issue) was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023 during ceremonies  April 23 at Municipal Auditorium. "To be honored by the state is exceptional, and it still hasn't quite set in – it's a total honor."  Watson graduated from Kansas City's Central High School and went on to play at UMKC, where he remains the program's all-time leading scorer. Watson joined the NBA’s Boston Celtics, signing as a free agent in 2004. He continued his professional basketball career playing internationally for almost a decade on teams in Poland, Turkey, Italy, France and his native Puerto Rico. Watson has settled in Kansas City, working as a non-profit executive director and broadcast commentator for UMKC men's basketball games. Watson also heads his own youth sports organization, 'MENTALITY by Michael Watson’. Founded in 2017, 'MENTALITY' aims to give the next generation of athletes a world class sporting experience.

Washington, D.C.- based Bockorny Group, a bipartisan government affairs consulting firm, announced that Eric Bohl has joined the firm as a principal and will lead the company’s agriculture practice.  Scott Shearer, who currently heads the firm’s efforts on behalf of its many agriculture clients, will remain on as a senior adviser. Bohl is an agricultural policy leader with extensive experience on Capitol Hill and in the private sector. He served six years as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Jason Smith (R-MO) and U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), and previously served as Legislative Director to Hartzler. He also served more than five years as Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy for Missouri Farm Bureau. He was influential in efforts to craft and pass the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills in these roles. The growing biotechnology research and innovation industry has been a focal point in Bohl’s work. He has advised a range of ag tech companies, from startups to multinational corporations, helping them develop strategy and pursue policy initiatives. His involvement with St. Louis’ 39 North Agtech Innovation District has led to his current tenure as the First Vice President of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club. He has extensive connections with the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor and is a board member of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City.

Former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt has joined Husch Blackwell Strategies, where he will chair a new leadership strategies advisory services group. The team will provide policy advice and evaluate a client’s government risk. Blunt most recently retired from the Senate after a 26-year career on Capitol Hill split between 12 years in the Senate and 14 in the House. He served on the Intelligence Committee in both the House and Senate and developed a deep understanding of global national security interests and international trade issues. His former Senate chief of staff, Stacy McBride, and deputy chief of staff, Richard Eddings, have also joined HBS. McBride was added on as a principal and Eddings is the chief of staff for the leadership strategies advisory services group

At the 95th Missouri State FFA Convention, the Savannah FFA Chapter was recognized as the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council’s (MSMC) first-ever Soy Innovation Challenge winner. As the state winner, Savannah FFA will receive $10,000 to implement in their chapter. The Soy Innovation Challenge aims to engage FFA members in creating valuable exhibits and ideas based on the soy value chain to display at Missouri Soybeans’ Center for Soy Innovation in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Events

The American Hereford Association is expanding its Hereford Feedout Program to provide Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics more opportunities to discover the feedlot and carcass performance of their genetics. “Growing interest led us to expand from one feedout each year to two, beginning with the first fall program in 2023,” explains Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs. “The added feeding period enables us to accommodate producers’ whose calving and weaning seasons prevented them from participating as much as they wanted with a single feeding period.”  Cattle from the Hereford Feedout Program are harvested by National Beef Packing Company, which is the licensed beef processor for Certified Hereford Beef. Cattle in the program are candidates for CHB and are marketed on the U.S. Premium Beef Grid, ultimately providing producers access to industry-leading marketing options. Those interested in the fall program are encouraged to enroll by May 1. Delivery to HRC Feed Yards will take place June 10–14. For more information, click here. 

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2024 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.  Now in its 10th year, this national competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Farm Bureau is offering $165,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition, which will culminate in the top 10 semi-finalists competing in a live pitch competition in front of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives at the AFBF Convention in January 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Entrepreneurs must be members of a county or parish Farm Bureau within their state of residence to qualify as top 10 semi-finalists. Applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can click here to learn about becoming a member. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 12.

The 2023 World Pork Expo returns to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 7-9. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the annual event focusing on education, innovation and networking within the pork industry. “This is a big anniversary for the World Pork Expo,” National Pork Producers Council board president Terry Wolters said. “We’re looking forward to celebrating the event’s history while continuing to look ahead at the progress the industry continues to make.” The event has seen significant growth over the last three and a half decades to become the world’s largest pork-specific trade show. Last year, more than 10,000 pork producers and ag professionals representing over 400 companies worldwide participated. This year’s event is expected to draw even more industry insiders to the more than 300,000 square feet of exhibit space. Registration information will soon be available on www.worldpork.org for those who plan to attend the 2023 World Pork Expo, June 7-9.

Kansas State University-Olathe is offering a one-day workshop on May 18, 2023, addressing regulations associated with nutritional products intended to address disease and promote animal wellbeing. Content is designed for those looking to further their understanding of the basics of nutrition for animal health purposes and present key points to address when navigating barriers for bringing nutritional-health products market. Contact Lauren Racki at laurenracki@ksu.edu or 913-307-7340 to obtain discount codes for a group.

MU Leaders Present Map For CAFNR’s “Drive to Distinction”

(Left to Right) Dean Chris Daubert, Dr. Tom Spencer

Two vice chancellors at the University of Missouri outlined the progress the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has made in the last few years toward maintaining its position as a “perennial research powerhouse” in the agriculture sector of the state, national and global economy. They were speaking to members of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City during the April meeting and luncheon held in the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Board Room at Union Station.  

“CAFNR is the centerpiece of MU as a Land Grant College,” said Dr. Tom Spencer, Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic Development at the University. He noted that CAFNR is ranked among the Top 15 programs in the world for animal and plant science research. “Our CAFNR research expenditures were more than $60 million in FY 2022.”

Dr. Spencer described a transformational effort to strengthen innovation in research discipline that includes a 10-year $1.5 billion investment in “faculty and student success.” Toward that goal, he said that MU had hired 39 new faculty members recently and estimated that 30 more would be employed in the next year.

Dr. Chris Daubert, Vice Chancellor and CAFNR Dean, called these efforts a “Drive to Distinction.”  Agriculture is the No. 1 economic driver in Missouri, he said, with an annual economic impact of nearly $94 billion.  He elaborated on the notion that the University of Missouri is recognized worldwide as a top-tier research institution and a land-grant university. With schools/colleges in medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering, law, agriculture and even a nuclear reactor all on the same campus, he explained, MU’s ability for research collaboration with other universities and institutions “is nearly unmatched.”

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - March 2023

Developments 

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City will honor two of the region’s leading agricultural figures on May 18 at a luncheon in the Chamber Board Room in Kansas City’s historic Union Station. The honorees will receive the Council’s highest award, the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence. Agricultural Business Council Chairman Dustin Johansen notes the honorees are champions for agriculture in separate but very key areas in the region. The 2023 honorees are Dr. Marty Vanier, K-State National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, Manhattan, Kansas, and Blake Hurst, owner, Hurst Farms and retired president of Missouri Farm Bureau.

Kansas Corn leaders have cast their support for the Next Generation Fuels Act which was reintroduced earlier this month in the U.S. Senate. If adopted, the legislation would lower fuel prices, reduce carbon emissions and improve the nation’s energy security. Ethanol would play a key role in the clean, high octane fuel standard that would be established by the legislation. Kansas Corn Growers Association CEO Greg Krissek said the legislation has far-reaching benefits. “This bill would benefit consumers with lower fuel prices, and would benefit rural economies by supporting biofuel demand,” Krissek said. “Ethanol is already valued as a low carbon fuel solution, and passage of this bill would help us move toward advanced vehicle engines fueled with higher levels of low-carbon high-octane ethanol fuel.”

The Kansas Corn Growers Association announced a succession process being enacted as a result of the planned retirement of its CEO Greg Krissek. Krissek, who joined the Kansas Corn staff as CEO in 2014 will be succeeded by Josh Roe, who has served as the association’s Vice President of Market Development and Public Policy since 2018. Krissek plans to retire in mid-May. “Like most farms and businesses, it is important for Kansas Corn to have a succession plan,” Krissek said. KCGA President Brent Rogers, said he was confident the CEO transition from Krissek to Roe would ensure consistency as well as continual progress for the organization. The association represents its members in legislative and regulatory issues and provides administrative and program management services to the Kansas Corn Commission. “Greg has been a transformational leader for Kansas Corn, bringing our organizations to a new level,” Rogers said. “Josh has played a critical role in that effort for the past four years. I expect the succession from Greg to Josh to be seamless and very positive for Kansas Corn.

Leawood, Kansas-based Agriculture Council of America (ACA) hosted National Agriculture Day activities on March 21, 2023, marking the 50th anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for National Ag Day 2023 was “Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.” ACA hosted virtual Ag Day events and events in Washington, DC. Additionally, ACA brought college students to Washington “virtually” to deliver the message of Ag Day to the Hill.

National livestock groups have come together to support Congressional efforts to expand opportunities for industry to invest in meat packing capacity. According to a release from Overland Park-based Livestock Marketing Association, it and the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, and United States Cattlemen’s Association have sent a letter to the chair persons and ranking members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees expressing the groups’ support of legislation to allow livestock market owners and operators to own or invest in small or regional livestock packing facilities. The bipartisan legislation, Expanding Local Meat Processing Act (S. 813), was reintroduced by Sens. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) last week. This is the Senate companion to the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (APLUS) Act (H.R.530), being led by U.S. Representatives Mark Alford (R-MO), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD). If enacted, these bills would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to update a regulatory prohibition under the Packers and Stockyards Act which bars livestock auction owners from owning or investing in packers. “This is an antiquated rule that does not fit with the current, transparent method of selling livestock at an open auction where sellers can view the transaction either in person or by streaming the auction online,” the letter states. The bills would allow for investment in the packing industry at local and regional levels by those active in the livestock marketing business.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture celebrated the state’s position nationally in agriculture production as part of National Agriculture Week. Missouri is home to 95,000 farms, employs nearly 460,000 people in agriculture, forestry and related industries, and has an estimated economic impact of $93.7 billion. Agriculture remains the state’s number one economic driver, supporting both rural and urban communities from farm to fork. “Agriculture is the backbone of Missouri’s economy, and we celebrate it year-round, especially during National Agriculture Week,” Governor Mike Parson said. St. Louis is home to the world’s largest concentration of plant scientists and the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor represents more than half of total worldwide animal health, diagnostics and pet food sales. Missouri also houses two of the largest river systems in the United States, which allow Missouri commodities to be distributed domestically and internationally. “National Agriculture Week is a great opportunity to highlight the work Missouri farmers and ranchers put in each day,” said Chris Chinn, Missouri Director of Agriculture.

Brentwood, Tennessee-based Tractor Supply Company the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, and the Tractor Supply Company Foundation announced an $850,000 donation to American Farmland Trust in celebration of the company’s 85th anniversary. This announcement came on National Ag Day. The donation will support AFT’s Brighter Future Fund, providing 85 grants of $10,000 each to help farmers improve farm viability; access, transfer or permanently protect farmland; and adopt regenerative agricultural practices. Applicants may include one or more individual farmer(s) or farm families. Grants will primarily be awarded to those who have been historically underserved or lack access to traditional methods of funding. Applications open on July 1.

Missouri University Extension is conducting a short internet survey that will help inform future broadband investments and training efforts. The survey is designed to better understand the internet needs of Missourians. Survey can be completed here.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $89 billion across the country to finance the startup and expansion of independent meat processors. USDA also announced initial steps it is taking to create a more competitive marketplace for seeds and other agricultural inputs. Secretary Vilsack announced the new investments at the National Farmers Union convention in San Francisco. USDA is providing $89 million in grants under the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program to increase available financing for independent processors, alleviate bottlenecks, and create opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural communities. The investments are being made under the second round of the program. Last fall, USDA awarded $75 million in grants to eight nonprofit lenders in seven states under the first round of MPILP.

U.S. Congressional Representative Tracey Mann, alongside more than 50 of his colleagues, introduced legislation last week recognizing the importance of stepped-up basis in response to the Biden administration’s budget proposal that recommends elimination of the tax provision for agricultural producers and small business owners. The resolution would commit the House of Representatives to supporting the preservation of the provision, opposing any efforts to impose new taxes on family farms or small businesses and recognizing the importance of generational transfers of family-owned operations. Stepped-up basis is a longstanding provision within the tax code that protects people from being forced to pay capital gains taxes on inherited assets such as land, equipment or buildings, allowing the recipients to adjust their cost basis to reflect their fair market value. Its removal would hurt agricultural producers and small business owners by weakening their ability to keep generational assets in the family. 

The American Farm Bureau Federation, CNH Industrial brands, Case IH and New Holland, has signed a memorandum of understanding that provides farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows a similar agreement AFBF entered into with John Deere earlier this year. “Our members urged us to find a private sector-solution that gives them access to repair their own equipment and I’m pleased months of discussions have again paid off,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers are more dependent on technology than ever before, so it’s critical they have access to the tools to keep things running on the farm so the food supply chain keeps running, too.” The MOU sets a framework for farmers and independent repair facilities in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico to access CNH Industrial brand manuals, tools, product guides and information to self-diagnose and self-repair machines, as well as support from CNH Industrial brands to directly purchase diagnostic tools and order products and parts.

Southwest Kansas officials have long pushed a moonshot aqueduct project to send Missouri River water across the state to their region, where a $12.5 billion agricultural economy relies on a dwindling underground aquifer, reported Wall Street Journal Mid-USA correspondent Shannon Najmabadi. “While the effort has been dismissed as legally impossible and expensive, the persistence of the idea demonstrates how drought and a steadily shrinking water supply have created broad consensus that water policies need to be overhauled.” In Kansas, where federal data shows that nearly every county was experiencing some level of drought at the end of 2022, water is among the most urgent issues facing the state legislature this year. Proponents of the Kansas aqueduct say it is needed to sustain the economy of the state’s southwest and could sell water to other Western areas that have already taken extreme measures to conserve water or find new water sources. Opponents say the idea is too expensive, and would need to fend off a likely onslaught of lawsuits from states along the Missouri River or landowners whose property would be used to build a canal system.

FYI: The Kansas Beef Council plans, creates and distributes content that is adaptable to every social platform and algorithm. For example, YouTube now is recommending and promoting YouTube Shorts over traditional long-form videos. Adapting to this format has helped KBC content be seen by a larger audience.  In February, KBC staff filmed various videos for all their social accounts. The content included a video featuring a corned beef tacos recipe, two videos about how beef can elevate the nutrition of popular vegetable-forward meals and a video on how to make a beef dinner and a dessert all under 500 calories.  For more information contact Kansas Livestock Association, 785-273-5115.

People

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has selected 30 high school sophomores to participate in the 2023 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Selected students will spend a week in June in St. Louis exploring careers in agriculture, building leadership skills and learning more about farming, ranching and food production. “The Missouri Agribusiness Academy is a great experience for high school students interested in agriculture,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “Not only do they have the opportunity to explore all Missouri agriculture has to offer, but they also get the chance to network with other students across the state and leaders in the industry.” Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has awarded 1,060 academy opportunities through a competitive application and interview process for high school sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related college degrees and careers. More information about which students have been selected and details about the 2023 Missouri Agribusiness Academy are available at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.

Austin Higginbotham is the new deputy chief of staff and communications director for Missouri freshman Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo. He previously worked for Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Tex., as communications director. He replaces Andrew Leppert in Alford's office. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications 

Ryan Dalbec has moved to Rep. French Hill’s, D-Ark., office as a legislative assistant covering healthcare, education, workforce, and telecommunications. He previously worked for The Assistance Fund as manager of legislative affairs. Before that, he was a legislative aide to then Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications

The Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors recently honored its 2022 winners in a special ceremony, according to Gloria Johnson, executive secretary for the Hall of Honors. Tom Oelrichs, Mora, MO, is the recipient of the Dairy Leadership Award.  Ridge View Farm, Lancaster, MO, is the recipient of the Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award. The late Sam and Ethel Messer, Cairo, MO, were recognized with the Pioneer Dairy Leader Award.  The Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors Foundation was established Dec. 9, 1988, following the merger of the Association of Missouri Dairy Organizations with the Missouri Dairy Association. The Foundation has two goals: to maintain and perpetuate a Dairy Hall of Honors to recognize outstanding leadership in the Missouri dairy industry.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., has brought on Eric Slee as a senior professional staff member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He will handle the portfolio that includes rural development, credit, energy and transportation. Slee previously was the vice president of government affairs at WISP—Broadband Without Boundaries. Before that, he worked on Capitol Hill for former Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., beginning as a legislative assistant before serving as the office's last legislative director.  Source: Agri-Pulse Communications

Events

April is National Soy Foods Month, and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council is celebrating the benefits of soy foods by hosting two events to highlight this powerhouse commodity. Soy foods range from traditional soy-based foods like tofu, edamame and miso to well-known products including soy milk, soy nutrition bars and soy-based meat alternatives to soybean oil, which is used as both an ingredient and in food preparation. To recognize the national holiday, MSMC is providing free soy lattes to consumers surrounding the state’s Capitol on April 3-7, 2023. Locals can receive their free caffeine at Yanis Coffee Zone, located in downtown Jefferson City. Additionally, the organization will host a food truck event on April 14 at the Center for Soy Innovation from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Food trucks will serve up a delicious menu highlighting dishes such as tacos and pizza, incorporating soy-based ingredients including high oleic soybean oil, edamame, soy sauce and more.

The 2023 World Pork Expo returns to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 7-9. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the annual event focusing on education, innovation and networking within the pork industry. “This is a big anniversary for the World Pork Expo,” National Pork Producers Council board president Terry Wolters said. “We’re looking forward to celebrating the event’s history while continuing to look ahead at the progress the industry continues to make.” The event has seen significant growth over the last three and a half decades to become the world’s largest pork-specific trade show. Last year, more than 10,000 pork producers and ag professionals representing over 400 companies worldwide participated. This year’s event is expected to draw even more industry insiders to the more than 300,000 square feet of exhibit space. Registration information will soon be available on www.worldpork.org for those who plan to attend the 2023 World Pork Expo, June 7-9.

Since 1928, Missouri FFA has been providing opportunities for the growth and success of Missouri’s youth. With that same goal in mind, the Foundation has released its latest initiative to raise funds for the organization and the programs it supports. Support Missouri Agriculture, in partnership with an innovative, small business, was officially launched on March 21, 2023. The mission of the Missouri FFA Foundation is to secure strategic partnerships and financial resources to enhance, strengthen, and support the educational and leadership opportunities that promote premier leadership, personal growth and career success for Missourians in Agricultural Education. More information is available at www.missouriffa.org/foundation.  

Experts Brief Council on 2023 Farm Bill

(Left to right) Chris Klenklen, Dr. Pat Westhoff, Joel Leftwich, Sec. Mike Beam, Dustin Johansen

In their presentations previewing budget projections for the 2023 Farm Bill, Dr. Pat Westhoff, director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, and Joel Leftwich, chief strategy officer for the Kansas Farm Bureau, provided an in-depth and entertaining look at the process of creating a Farm Bill. And getting it passed. Both noted that lawmakers tended to think drawing up a Farm Bill was easier said than done. With a drollness (perhaps picked up from his days as deputy staff director for Senator Roberts), Leftwich indicated many Ag Committee members were nonplussed by an urgency to get a bill passed before the five-year fiscal deadline.

Dr. Westhoff mentioned the key to creating a Farm Bill was not just writing one, but scoring it. “So, some key issues in the farm bill debate,” he said, “include considerations such as the budget target for the new bill and determining the net change in spending from the current bill.” Other topics for discussion and debate center on increasing the budget or cutting it to reduce the deficit. He also emphasized that “new budget projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will provide a point of reference for the debate over the next farm bill.” If the debate follows the pattern of recent farm bills, he explained, budgetary concerns are likely to be front and center.

In recent reports, Dr. Westhoff has said the projected annual budget deficit increases from $1.3 trillion this year to $2.3 trillion in 2033, as federal spending increases more rapidly than tax receipts. Social Security and Medicare account for more than half of the $3.7 trillion increase in annual federal spending over the next ten years.

Policymakers in both parties are reluctant to reduce allocations for Social Security and Medicare, and a Republican House does not want to raise taxes. “If the 2023 Farm Bill is expected either to reduce or to have no net impact on the federal budget deficit, any proposal to increase spending in one program will have to be offset by equal or larger reductions in other program spending. Identifying potential areas of budget cuts that a majority of the House, the Senate and the President can all agree upon will be a major challenge.”

While Dr. Westhoff highlighted the budgetary issues the Senate and House ag committees face, Leftwich focused more on the political makeup up of the House and Senate ag committees. Of note, he showed that the GOP House and Senate ag committees had a combined membership of 18 lawmakers with Farm Bill experience. Democrat membership in the House and Senate ag committees included only 11 lawmakers with Farm Bill experience.

Digging Deeper...

Technological developments in agriculture have been influential in driving changes in the farm sector of the U.S. economy. Innovations in animal and crop genetics, chemicals, equipment and farm organization and operation have enabled continuing output growth without adding much to inputs. As a result, even as the amount of land and labor used in farming has declined, total farm output tripled between 1948 and 2019. The latest USDA agricultural census counts 3.4 million producers or “the farmers and workers involved in making decisions on these farms – from planting to harvesting to marketing.” This category could refer to the farm’s owner, a member of the owner’s family, a manager, a tenant, a renter or a sharecropper. Indeed, there are plenty of profiles focusing on farmer and rancher age, gender, size and location of the farm, number of generations working a farm property, and analyses of their productivity, profit, loss and so on. But until just recently there has not been much investigation into farmers’ psyche and character.

Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: USDA Economic Research Service using data from USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (Censuses through 2017) and USDA’s Farms and Land in Farms: 2021 Survey (updated February 2022);  Agricultural Retailers Association’s 2022 ARA Conference & Expo (December 2022); Aimpoint Research, Columbus, OH.

New Research Dives Deeper Into Farmer Psyches

It's time to move beyond conventional stereotyping when defining who a farmer is. That was the message coming out of the Agricultural Retailers Association’s 2022 ARA Conference & Expo (December 2022), attended by more than 600 ag retail industry professionals. “Ag retailers are expected to serve customers in new ways, be leaders in technology and find higher efficiencies in their business,” said Margy Eckelkamp, editor of Farm Journal’s The Scoop.

The job of agricultural retailers and dealers is getting tougher. It’s complex enough to deal with Business 101 matters like inventory, profit margins, supply chains, inflation and employee issues. Now, say consultants in the ag retail field, their customers are changing. As technology gets a firmer grip on agriculture operations, Future Farmers of America may be more recognizable from their wearable electronic trackers, sensors and monitors than the iconic FFA blue jackets.  

ARA board chair Ian McGregor with The McGregor Company, Warden, WA, said in his keynote address, “As trends like consolidation and technological innovation continue to change the dynamics in our industry, we must be looking ahead to collect the critical tools and knowledge needed to meet the needs of farmers for years to come.”

Other ARA speakers and panelists echo similar sentiments. Farmers play a significant role in the economy, even though farms account for less than one percent of the value added to the national GDP, farm products contribute heavily to other parts of the economy – including manufacturing, restaurants, retail, notes the Bureau of Economic Analysis. “Understanding who they are and why they grow what they do is integral to understanding their role in the overall in the U.S. and global economy.”

A Different Slant

Brett Sciotto, CEO, Aimpoint Research, presented new findings on who the future farmer-customers will be and how they will drive changes in ag retail. Aimpoint, based in Columbus, OH, is a global, strategic intelligence firm that specializes in in agri-food.  

U.S. farms continue to consolidate, with 15% of crop farms controlling 80% of output. Last year as it studied the situation, Aimpoint uncovered a unique perspective on farmers:  Some of the most important indicators of farm financial success may not be the size of the farm, but the personality type, skill sets and ambition of the operator. “As the agriculture industry continues to transform,” Sciotto said, “we set out to answer two very important questions. Who are farmers of the future and what will they require of us?”

Sciotto explained it is important to look at both internal and external factors impacting farmers of the future because both play a role in determining future success. “Some farmers think success is dictated by external factors like commodity prices and government regulations, while others think they will succeed no matter what is thrown at them.”

Aimpoint developed five farmer profiles describing innate traits and characteristics that played a role in determining future success: 

• Independent Elites: Representing about 20% of the universe, they are successful, smart and financially sound. They can afford to be early adopters of technology and management practices that give them a competitive advantage. They are innovative, open to change and secure in their knowledge. They see significant opportunity in the current environment and believe success is within their control. Over half expanded their operations over the last couple of years.

• Enterprising Business Builders: Representing about 21% of those surveyed, their highest priority is growth. They are sophisticated marketers, financially healthy and willing to innovate and adopt new technology. This group is confident they can make a profit in any market. They seek advice, best practices and collaboration from anyone who can help make them better operators. They are willing to leverage outside investors and borrowed money to expand their operations.

• Classic Practitioners: Representing 24% of growers, they want to be successful but are struggling. They rely more on safety nets and farm bill programs. They lack the business IQ to get to the next level. They tend to save money rather than invest money.  They are slower to adopt technology and management practices. They are the most loyal to their suppliers of any group. They like the practice of farming more than the business of farming.

• Self-reliant Traditionalists: Representing 22%, they’ve saved money, are short-term thinkers, not planners. They are not expansion-minded, they believe they’ll survive hard times. These tend to be small owner/operators and less educated. They do not value technology or innovation.

• Leveraged Lifestylers: Representing about 14%, they think their profitability is tied to markets recovering and government reducing regulations and providing more supports. They love the farming lifestyle but don’t have the business sense to navigate it. They have all the latest tech and equipment, which adds to the financial pressure. They are short-term thinkers, impulsive decision makers. They understand they could fail if they don’t change, but they don’t know how to do it.

Learn more at www.aimpointresearch.com/thought-leadership/farmer-of-the-future