News

J.R. Simplot, Plant Sciences Inc. align on gene editing of strawberries

The J.R. Simplot Co. announced Oct. 28 it has entered a strategic alliance with Plant Sciences Inc., a Watsonville, California-based plant breeding company, to drive new breeding techniques for strawberries, including gene editing. Simplot and Pla... more

Five startups vie for $250K seed funding in AgSharks Pitch Competition

Out of more than 100 applicants, five agtech start-up companies have been selected to go head-to-head in the Western Growers/S2G Ventures 2021 AgSharks Competition to win a $250,000 minimum investment and potential access to farm acreage to pilot the... more

Suterra announces partnership with Phytech

Bend, Oregon-based Suterra, a sustainable pheromone pest control company, announced Oct. 27 a new partnership agreement with Phytech. The agreement adds Suterra’s Puffer aerosol pheromone mating disruption products to Phytech’s digital farming pl... more

USHBC details its 2021-2025 strategic plan for blueberries

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has announced details around its recently approved 2021-2025 strategic plan, which charts an ambitious course to exponentially grow the volume and value of blueberries domestically and across the globe. The com... more

International Fresh Produce Association sets board of directors

PMA and United Fresh leaders provided a series of updates Oct. 28 for the new association named International Fresh Produce Association. Co-CEOs of the new association, Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel, were joined by Executive Committee members to sha... more

Specialty crop industry strengthened by $243M in USDA funds

The USDA announced Oct. 28 an investment of more than $243 million in grants to support specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops through two USDA programs – the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Specialty ... more

Agenda set for NCAE Ag Labor Forum in December

The National Council of Agricultural Employers announced Oct. 27 its agenda for the Annual Ag Labor Forum which will be held Dec. 1-3, at the M Resort just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Council of Agricultural Employers' (NCAE )annual ev... more