Agronomy Operations Research Specialist

WinField United launches $20K scholarship program for ag. WinField United, in partnership with Land O'Lakes Inc., is now accepting applications for its Careers in Agriculture Scholarship, aimed at supporting undergraduate students pursuing degrees in ag-related fields. The program will award a total of $20,000 for the 2026-27 academic year, distributed across four $5,000 scholarships. The funding can be used toward a wide range of education-related expenses. Eligible applicants must be current U.S. college undergraduates planning to enroll full-time in an accredited two- or four-year institution or vocational-technical school next academic year. Students must be pursuing degrees in fields such as agronomy, crop and weed science, soil science, crop genetics, agricultural technology, agricultural business, or agricultural communications, and must also have relevant work experience in their field of study. Recipients will be selected based on academic performance, leadership, community involvement, work experience, and a demonstrated commitment to their educational and career goals. Judges will also consider personal or family circumstances and a required recommendation, though financial need is not part of the selection criteria. Applications are open now and must be submitted by 3 p.m. Central Time on April 16. Selected students will be notified in late May, with scholarship payments distributed in early August. The program is administered by Scholarship America, which manages the application and selection process. Students interested in applying can find more information at the Scholarship America website. Sponsored Content on AG Daily

Land O'Lakes, Microsoft partner on AI assistant to boost farm profitability. Land O'Lakes and Microsoft are developing an AI-powered digital assistant designed to optimize farming operations. Land O'Lakes senior vice president Leah Anderson says the tool is called Oz. "Now you can have even greater confidence between you as a farmer and your agronomist because your agronomist has the full force of Winfield United's datasets. Six million datapoints collected a year, 20-plus years of data collection across our applied research platforms nationally." She tells Brownfield Oz equips retailers with data to help farmers maximize profits. "So when you have a question about maybe the best herbicide to use or timing of when to apply something, or what goes in the tank, instead of guessing or having to Google it or paging through hundreds of pages of documented material you have those answers that you can count on in the palm of your hand with a digital assistant." Anderson says Oz is going through additional testing and she's excited for the software's eventual release.

One-Ton sausage donation fuels Thanksgiving meals. For the second consecutive year, Keystone is giving back to rural communities by donating 2,000 pounds of ground pork sausage to four regional food banks. This repeat contribution reinforces the farmer-owned cooperative's commitment to strengthening food security across 33 counties in Indiana. This year's contributions include 500 lbs. of ground pork sausage to the below regional food banks: - Community Harvest Food Bank in Fort Wayne - Second Harvest Food Bank in Muncie - Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette - Cultivate Food Rescue in South Bend Alongside its protein donation, Keystone has teamed up with the Land O'Lakes Foundation to further support local communities. Each participating food bank will receive an additional $1,000 contribution from the Foundation, made on Keystone's behalf. "Keystone's swine business is built on feeding families, and we believe that responsibility extends beyond our customers to the communities we serve," said Kevin Still, President and CEO of Keystone. "We're proud to partner with these incredible organizations to help ensure families have access to nutritious meals during the holiday season." "Protein is one of the most requested items by those Hoosier Ag Today LLC serve, said Kier Crites Muller, CEO of Food Finders. "We are thankful to Keystone for this extra donation of pork as we head into the holiday season. It's a true reflection of their mission to "Lead. Serve. Grow. Embrace." These donations underscore Keystone's commitment to supporting local communities and promoting food security, arriving just in time for Thanksgiving distributions. In 2025, Keystone donated more than $1.4 million into rural communities through food security efforts, agriculture education and leadership programming and farm and energy safety efforts. "Protein is the single most requested item from our neighbors facing food insecurity, and thanks to Keystone Cooperative's generous donation of 500 pounds of pork, 500 families will have the protein they need to enjoy nourishing meals this Thanksgiving," said Sunni Matters, Chief Operations Officer at Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana. As Hoosier Ag Today LLC enter the holiday season, when the need in its local communities grows even more urgent, commitments from donors like Keystone to serving neighbors ensure families can gather around the table with comfort and strength during these uncertain times." Fourteen percent of U.S. households reported food insecurity on average between January and October 2025, up from twelve percent in 2024. This means roughly 1 in 7 households struggled to afford enough food at some point this year. "Keystone's contribution of pork to Community Harvest Food Bank and our fellow food banks in northern Indiana reflects a deep commitment to community and compassion," said Carmen Cumberland, President and CEO of Community Harvest Food Bank. "This gift will bring nourishment and hope to many families in need, and we are sincerely grateful for their partnership." "At Keystone, we understand the importance of supporting those in need, not just during the holidays, but all year long," said Nathan Hedden, Vice President of Swine & Animal Nutrition. "Food insecurity impacts countless families, and we're honored to help ease that burden by providing nutrient-rich protein to those who need it most." Food insecurity continues to rise as families face higher grocery costs nationwide. According to USDA data, food prices are up about 3.1% year-over-year, with grocery costs increasing 2.7%. Protein categories have seen some of the sharpest spikes - meats, poultry, fish, and eggs are up more than 5%, and beef alone has surged over 10% in some regions. These increases, driven by supply chain pressures and persistent inflation, mean the average American now spends roughly $235 per week on groceries, putting additional strain on households already struggling to access affordable, nutritious food. "Keystone Cooperative's donation demonstrates the power of community partnerships in fighting hunger. Their 500-pound pork donation to our Meat Hunger Program helps us deliver wholesome, protein-rich meals to people in need. This donation comes at an especially meaningful time, as the holidays approach and the demand for food assistance increases across our community. The pork will be distributed through our pantry network, which serves more than 220 partners across St. Joseph, Elkhart, and Marshall Counties. We're deeply grateful to work alongside partners who share our mission of No Neighbor Hungry, No Food Wasted." Fay Flournoy, Cultivate Food Rescue, Director of Mission Advancement.