2015 AgriVision Award presented at Indiana State Fair

Aug 25, 2015

For the first time there were dual recipients

During the Celebration of Agriculture at the Indiana State Fair, Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann presented the 2015 AgriVision Award to Dr. Don Orr of JBS United and Don Villwock of Indiana Farm Bureau.

The award is given to people in Indiana who demonstrate exceptional leadership and try to maximize Indiana’s agricultural potential. 2015 marks the first year that two people have received the award.

“This award recognizes a deep commitment and vision for Indiana agriculture, two items that both Don Orr and Don Villwock embody,” said Ted McKinney, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). “They are outstanding examples of the drive it takes to further promote and advance the best of Indiana agriculture.”

About The Recipients:

Don Orr

President of JBS United, a company known for its research farms, farm management practices and advances in genetics
Serves as the Director of Texas Tech Swine Research Center and Chairman for the American Feed Industry Association

Don Villwock

President of Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance
Owns a farm in Knox County and produces white corn, soybeans, seed soybeans and seed wheat
Was appointed by George H.W. Bush as State Executive Director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation

Mr. Orr and Mr. Villwock weren’t the only award recipients at the Indiana State Fair.

Beth Archer, the executive director of AgriInstitute, took home the 2015 Leadership Award. She helps promote leaders in agriculture on many different levels. She will also coordinate the Agricultural Leadership Program where she will help people involved in agriculture develop leadership skills for businesses and communities.

Linda Baird, owner and operator of Cornucopia Farm in Washington County received the 2015 Achievement Award. She receives nearly 5,000 visitors at the farm each year and is one of the five women who founded SWAG (See What Ag Gives).

Congratulations to all the award winners.

Video: LALEXPERT: Sclerotinia cycle and prophylactic methods

White rot, also known as sclerotinia, is a common agricultural fungal disease caused by various virulent species of Sclerotinia. It initially affects the root system (mycelium) before spreading to the aerial parts through the dissemination of spores.

Sclerotinia is undoubtedly a disease of major economic importance, and very damaging in the event of a heavy attack.

All these attacks come from the primary inoculum stored in the soil: sclerotia. These forms of resistance can survive in the soil for over 10 years, maintaining constant contamination of susceptible host crops, causing symptoms on the crop and replenishing the soil inoculum with new sclerotia.