Eric Wintemute, president and CEO of American Vanguard Corporation, was elected chairman of the board of directors of CropLife America in September. Wintemute most recently served as vice chairman of the board and chair of the communications committee. Valdemar Fischer, president of Syngenta Crop Protection Inc., William (Bill) Buckner, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP, and Mike McCarty, president and CEO of Helena Chemical Co., were elected vice chairmen. Mike Frank, vice president of Monsanto Global Chemistry, was selected secretary/treasurer.
The Organic Fertilizer Association of California (OFAC), a new association consisting of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of fertilizer products that meet the USDA’s National Organic Program’s (NOP) standards, has elected Doug Graham of New Era Farm Service, Tulare, Calif., as chairman. Isaac Nelson of Port Organic Products, Bakersfield, will serve as vice chairman, and Tim Stemwedel, California Organic Fertilizers, Fresno, is the secretary/treasurer. Other directors of OFAC are John Salmonson, Monterey AgResources, Fresno, and Tom Quick, Grow More Inc, Gardena. Steve Beckley of S. Beckley and Associates will serve as executive director. OFAC said its main goals in the first year will be to work with the California Department of Agriculture to develop an approval process for NOP fertilizers, promote the use of organic fertilizers, and seek funding for additional research on organic fertilizers. More information is available at www.organicfertilizerassociation.org.