Foundation for Agriculture Announces 18th Book of the Year

Jan 27, 2025

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its 18th Book of the Year award to author Peggy Thomas for “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden.” The award was presented at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 106th Convention.

“The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” follows Jackie and her garden friends as they discover the wonders of gardening, soil secrets and the magic of composting. They embrace the joys of planting a garden, nurturing and harvesting their own food, and recycling scraps to compost, ensuring that the “magical cycle of growth and sustainability continues anew.”

Thomas is the author of more than 20 award-winning nonfiction books for children including “Hero for the Hungry: The Life and Work of Norman Borlaug” and “Full of Beans: Henry Ford Grows a Car,” which earned the Foundation “Book of the Year” award in 2020.

“It is a great honor to have ‘The Soil in Jackie’s Garden’ recognized by the Foundation,” Thomas said. “I am grateful for the support of this agricultural community, and proud to write the kinds of stories that lift it up. This book was a team effort, and I share this award with Neely Daggett for her beautiful illustrations, and with the amazing team at Feeding Minds Press who understood my vision and helped this book grow. Thank you so much!”

The Book of the Year award springs from the Foundation’s effort to identify “Accurate Ag Books,” a collection of nearly 500 books for children, teenagers and adults that accurately cover agricultural topics. Book of the Year selections are educational, help to create positive public perceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more and touch their readers’ lives as well as tell the farmer’s story. The Accurate Ag Books database is available at http://www.agfoundation.org/recommended-pubs.

To accompany “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden,” the Foundation has created an educator’s guide and an Ag Mag on soils. They are available here.

Financial Support of the Foundation

Several state Farm Bureaus were recognized at convention for exemplary financial support of the Foundation.

State Farm Bureaus receiving the Scholar Award are Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. The Scholar Award is given to the six state Farm Bureaus with the highest total donations to the Foundation within their membership groups.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.