Agriculture
Conterra Ag Names Jake Espenmiller as President and CEO, Marking a New Era In Agricultural Finance
DES MOINES, Iowa — Conterra Ag Capital has announced the January 2025 appointment of Jake Espenmiller as President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding company founder Paul Erickson. Following a carefully planned and seamless 2-year succession strategy, this leadership transition marks a significant milestone for Conterra, reinforcing its commitment to providing innovative financial solutions to farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses across the United States….
Merriam Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years of Winegrowing Excellence in Russian River Valley
HEALDSBURG, Calif. — Merriam Vineyards, a pioneering force in Russian River Valley’s diverse winegrowing landscape, announces the commencement of its 25th anniversary celebration. Founded in 2000 by Peter and Diana Merriam, the winery has evolved from its initial 12-acre purchase into a distinguished estate encompassing three distinct vineyard properties, each expressing the unique terroir of the Russian River Valley AVA….
Old Vine Registry Passes 4,000 entries: Vineyards planted in 1990 now eligible for inclusion
LONDON, England — The Old Vine Registry, the world’s first and most authoritative database of old vine vineyards marked the new year having accumulated more than 4,000 entries from 39 countries, making steady progress to a goal of registering 10,000 vineyards by 2027….
Association of African American Vintners and Glancy Wine Education Foundation Partner to Expand Scholarship Opportunities
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) and The Glancy Wine Education Foundation are pleased to announce a collaboration designed to broaden scholarship opportunities. Starting in January 2025, the new partnership will offer AAAV members increased access to the funds necessary for advancing their professional wine education….
William Cole Vineyards Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Cuvée Claire
ST. HELENA, Calif. — This fall, William Cole Vineyards a multigenerational, family-owned winery producing handcrafted wines in St. Helena, will commemorate the 25th anniversary of one of their signature wines, the Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon. Created by owner and winemaker William Ballentine Jr. in honor of his daughter, Claire, there is either a family connection or a special commemoration behind every label at William Cole Vineyards….
Charles Symington is the New President of Primum Familiae Vini
PARIS, France — Each year, Primum Familiae Vini (PFV), an association of twelve prestigious families from the world of wine, appoints one of its members as President to oversee the association for the year and act as its representative at various events around the world. This year, Charles Symington of the Symington Family Estates in Portugal succeeds Véronique Drouhin of Maison Joseph Drouhin in France as PFV President for the period of July 2024 to June 2025….
Old Vine Registry Marks One Year Anniversary and Announces Heritage Vine Hunt Contest
LONDON, U.K. — To mark the first anniversary of its launch, the Old Vine Registry held a One-Year-On webinar for the wine trade, media and old-vine enthusiasts. The hosts, Old Vine Registry Manager, Alder Yarrow, and co-founder of The Old Vine Conference, Sarah Abbott MW, announced a growth in old-vine listings of more than 1,000 new vineyards in one year; this increase of 49% brought the total number of vineyards catalogued to 3,279, across 36 countries….
National Pygmy Goat Association Crowns Champions at 2024 Convention
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Champion Challenge held in Lewisburg, WV June 14, 2024. Sponsored by the North Carolina Pygmy Goat Club, the Wild Wonderful World of Pygmies National Convention brought together the best animals from all over the U.S. for a chance to claim the top honor of national champion….
New York Supreme Court Upholds La Belle Farm and Hudson Foie Gras’s Right to Sell the Duck Delicacy in NYC
SULLIVAN COUNTY, N.Y. — In a significant legal victory for upstate New York duck farmers, the New York Supreme Court in Albany has ruled against New York City’s ban on the sale of foie gras. The ruling confirms that Local Law 202, which sought to prohibit the sale of foie gras within City limits and had been enjoined by the New York State Department of Agriculture, violates state agricultural laws designed to protect farming practices and promote agricultural commerce, La Belle Farms announced today….
Blade Solution Corp announces partnership with Cobalt Product Solutions to manufacture eco-friendly technology aimed at eliminating mower accident amputations
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Ark. — Blade Solution Corp, an Arkansas based C- Corporation, today announced a partnership with Cobalt Product Solutions of Plano, Texas, a product engineering and manufacturing provider. Blade Solution has developed patent-pending technology that will nearly eliminate the hundreds of amputations occurring each year in the USA as a result of contact with metal mower blades….