ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The American Soybean Assoc. (ASA) and Valent USA have announced the Soy Leaders of the Future program, a new opportunity for young people interested in improving their understanding of major policy issues that impact soybean farmers, the importance of advocacy and careers that can impact agricultural policy. The first class will take place this summer and will be held in conjunction with the ASA Board Meeting and Soy Issues Briefing, July 10-13 in Washington, D.C.

The proportion of rural congressional districts is at its lowest point in history. An analysis of the most recent U.S. Census data, correlated with the 2012 Census of Agriculture, shows that only one of 435 districts in the U.S. House of Representatives is comprised of a rural population greater than 75 percent. In fact, more than half of the U.S. population currently resides in 39 of the nation’s largest cities. As a result, positions on congressional staffs, regulatory agencies and services groups within the federal government are often filled with individuals who have a very limited understanding of farming and the needs of the agriculture industry.

The new program is designed to expose young people with a connection to the farm to an education on major policy issues and advocacy. The program will also encourage these future young leaders to consider careers within agriculture associations and industry, as well as government regulatory and legislative positions.

The program may be especially appealing to students majoring in a various areas of agriculture, political science, communications and business. Program sponsors will cover all travel, lodging and meal expenses for the students who are selected for this program. Class size is limited. For more information or to complete an online application, visit https://soygrowers. com/learn/soy-leaders-future/ All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. June 9.

URBANA, Ill. — Donald Ort, professor in the University of Illinois Departments of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest professional honors a scientist can receive. Ort and three additional U of I professors are among 84 new members and 21 foreign associates announced by the Academy on May 2.

Ort’s research focuses on the growth and photosynthetic performance of plants in the context of commonly occurring environmental conditions, such as low temperatures and drought. Ort and his colleagues also are interested in the response of plants to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide and surface ozone levels.

Ort is a member of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and director of the SoyFACE facility at U of I, and holds an appointment as a physiologist with the USDA ARS’s Photosynthesis Research Unit. He also served as the editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology and as associate editor of Annual Review of Plant Biology. Ort has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being listed as one of Thomson Reuters’ “Most Influential Scientific Minds.”

U of I professors John Cronan, Jeffrey Moore and Gary Parker join Ort in achieving this prestigious honor.

 

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Agricultural & Applied Economics Assoc. (AAEA) President Jayson Lusk will be the 2017 recipient of the Borlaug CAST Communication Award.

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) presents the award annually for “outstanding achievement by a scientist, engineer, technologist, or other professional working in the agricultural, environmental, or food sectors for contributing to the advancement of science in the public policy arena.” It is named after Norman orlaug, the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his contributions to the safety and advancement of the global food supply.

Lusk has published multiple books and nearly 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Lusk uses multiple mediums to communicate information on food and agricultural economics and is used frequently as a trusted source by journalists across the country.

“Now more than ever, it is important for the public and policy makers to have science and evidence-based information about food and agriculture,” Lusk said. “If we want to solve some of society’s most pressing problems in food and agriculture, we will need innovation and science, and it is important that the public understands the consequences of policies and consumption choices.”

Lusk was recently named head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University.

The award will be presented at the World Food Prize Symposium on Oct. 18 in Des Moines, Iowa.

URBANA, Ill. — Eight professors in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois have been recognized as among the best in the nation in agricultural education.

North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, a professional society dedicated to scholarship in teaching and learning in agricultural disciplines, gave its Educator Award to Tony Grift in agricultural and biological engineering; Kari Keating in agricultural leadership and science education; Dan Shike and Phil Cardoso in animal sciences; Brian Ogolsky in human development and family studies; and Yuji Arai and Anthony Yannarell in natural resources and environmental sciences.

Alan Hansen, professor in agricultural and biological engineering, won the NACTA Teaching Scholar Award. Less than 1 percent of NACTA members receive this award, which recognizes special commitment to the society and to agricultural education. Hansen is interested in high-impact learning practices in higher education and is a strong advocate for global learning opportunities. He leads a summer study-abroad course in South Africa to develop engineering solutions to meet local community needs, such as biomass stoves and flood irrigation systems. 

 

“I tell incoming new students that what you choose to learn outside the classroom is likely to be as important as what you learn inside the classroom,” Hansen said. “I have seen firsthand the value of high-impact learning experiences, such as study abroad, undergraduate research, and participation in student organizations.”