200 Fellows! With the latest cohort of FFAR Fellows beginning the program, we are marking a major milestone. Led by NC State University, the fellowship prepares the next generation of food and agriculture scientists by breaking down disciplinary silos and focusing on professional development training. Since the program's inception in 2018, the over 200 fellows have represented 48 universities in 35 states and three Canadian provinces. This has been an industry-wide effort. The program partners fellows with mentors in the food and agriculture sector, and thus far, 55 industry mentors, 15 commodity organizations, 12 nonprofits and four state entities have sponsored them. So here's to the next generation of scientific leadership in food and agriculture! (fb)

This week, FFAR staff joined the Sustainable Ranchers Tour at the Maple Valley Cattle Company in Pennsylvania. The tour was put on by the Farm Journal Trust In Beef initiative, which is highlighting producers such as the Butterfields who are raising beef in a manner that is both profitable and beneficial for their ecosystems. Our staff are always enthralled with getting out into the fields and seeing the downstream fruits of our labor in real-time. Many past and ongoing collaborators with us were in attendance and giving presentations. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service gave a presentation on water infiltration rates on differently managed grazing systems, Noble Research Institute gave a presentation on physically identifying soil health indicators, and of course, Mike & gave a cattle move demonstration during the showcasing of their thriving farm. There were also some very informative panels and discussions with other partnering organizations like U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. There is tremendous opportunities for growth of beef producers nationwide, and we're happy to be a part of supplying that knowledge to be shared. (fb)