Potato Grower

12 POTATO GROWER | APRIL 2022 AROUND THE VINE Fraley Joins Verdesian Board Verdesian Life Sciences announces the appointment of Robert Fraley to its board of directors. Fraley spent nearly four decades as chief technology officer at Monsanto. Fraley led a team during his time at Monsanto that helped to develop the first genetically modified seed. His leadership there led to solutions centered on sustainable ag technologies around plant breeding, biotechnology, ag biologicals, ag microbials, precision agriculture and crop protection innovations. He earned the prestigious 2013 World Food Prize for breakthrough achievements in founding. In 1999, President Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Technology. Fraley is the author of more than 100 publications and patent applications relating to technical advances in agricultural science. He earned a bachelor of science and Ph.D. in microbiology/ biochemistry from the University of Illinois and an executive degree in business management from Northwestern University, and was a biophysics postdoctoral fellow at the University of California San Francisco. Robert Fraley Miller Inducted into WPVGA Hall of Fame Paul Miller of Paul Miller Farms, Inc. in Hancock, Wisconsin, was inducted into the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association(WPVGA) Hall of Fame at the industry's annual awards banquet held Feb. 9. The WPVGA Hall of Fame honors lifetime achievement in the development of the state's potato industry. It is the intention of the WPVGA to continue to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the potato industry in Wisconsin by making annual Hall of Fame inductions. In 1990, Miller and his two children, Todd and Michelle, bought all the assets of Badger Growers and formed Paul Miller Farms, Inc., an 1,100-acre irrigated potato and vegetable operation. Today, the operation (of which Miller is president) raises 2,800 acres of vegetables, including potatoes, sweet corn, snap beans and peas, and grows 525 acres of carrots for Bird's Eye Foods and Del Monte. Paul Miller Drexel Adds PNW Sales Rep Drexel Chemical Company announces the addition of Tad Comer as its Pacific Northwest sales representative, responsible for sales in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Comer's previous experience includes positions with Novasource, Van Diest Supply, AMVAC Chemical and Centennial Ag Supply. He resides in Twin Falls, Idaho, and looks forward to working with Drexel customers throughout the Northwest. Comer can be contacted at (901) 487-6005 or tcomer@drexchem.com. To learn more about Drexel Chemical Company, visit www.drexchem.com. AGCO Donates to Kentucky Disaster Relief The AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF) has announced a $50,000 donation to the Kentucky Agriculture Disaster Relief Program, a joint effort of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Farm Bureau Education Foundation, and the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development. The program seeks to bridge gaps in insurance coverage and other relief efforts for farming operations affected by the December 2021 storms in wwstern Kentucky. Storms in late December 2021 caused significant damage to western Kentucky communities and farms. The AAF and AGCO Corporation identified the Kentucky Agriculture Disaster Relief Program as an outreach effort that aligns with AAF's farmer-focused community development initiative. The Kentucky Agriculture Disaster Relief program leverages a network of local farming retailers to provide access to eligible farmers of up to $1,500 of supplies, such as fencing, tools, hay and livestock feed. It is designed to bridge gaps in insurance coverage for these vital items in a way that is efficient and trouble-free to farmers. Details regarding the Kentucky Agriculture Disaster Relief Program can be found at www.kcard.info/disaster- relief. Donations to the Kentucky Agricultural Disaster Relief Program will help farmers rebuild from extensive and costly damage caused by December 2021 tornados. Photo courtesy Kentucky Farm Bureau.

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