Those who work in the association management business commonly exclaim that there is an association for everything. You never realize how true this is until you do a search for the most obscure topic and find an association related to it. Farming is a more common career and thus, there are many associations related to this industry.
Within the agriculture industry, there are different types of associations, each with different purposes. There is CropLife America, formerly the American Crop Protection Association, which represents the manufacturers, distributors, and formulators of pest control and crop protection products. There is also the American Seed Trade Association, which promotes the development of better seeds to produce better crops. There is even an association, the National Agri-Marketing Association, dedicated to professionals within marketing and agribusiness.
The American Society of Agronomy deals with those who apply plant and soil sciences to the production of crops like corn, soybean, rice, sunflowers, cotton, and coffee. Agronomists enhance the production of feeds, fiber, and food products. They work hand in hand with farmers to enhance crop yields while preventing crop damage resulting from disease and pests.
In the specific area of active farming, a Web search will reveal the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, Farmers of North America, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and the National Farmers Union, to name a few. The association dealing with farmer co-ops is particularly interesting because this type of business allows farmers to participate in every step of the food system.
There are also state and product-specific farming associations like the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the World Cocoa Federation. Organic farmers can join groups like the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association and the Northeast Organic Farming Association. There is even an association dedicated to family farm and rural groups, called the National family Farm Coalition.
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