Poet CEO Jeff Broin received the George Washington Carver Award at a ceremony at the recent Bio World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology in Montreal. The Carver Award recognizes “significant contributions by individuals in the field of industrial biotechnology and its application in biological engineering, environmental science, biorefining, and biobased products.” Broin is one of the great innovators and entrepreneurs in the industrial biotechnology sector, said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of Bio’s Industrial and Environmental Section. “He ranks among the most influential leaders in agriculture as well. Biofuels have created new markets for agricultural products and rejuvenated rural America. Jeff Broin has positioned Poet at the forefront of developing cellulosic ethanol and improving the economics of biofuel production.” As CEO of Poet, Broin built the company headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., from a 1 million-gallon-per-year facility in 1987 into the largest biofuels producer in the world today, with 1.8 billion gallons of annual fuel production and 10 billion pounds of high-protein animal feed, among other products.

NDFB promotes Hauf

The North Dakota Farm Bureau has promoted Lisa Hauf as director of public relations. Hauf has worked for NDFB over 11 years and has assisted the communication and public policy divisions. “It has been our hope to expand our communications department, and this year we were able to make that happen by moving Lisa into a position that naturally fits her personality and capabilities,” says Jeffrey Missling, NDFB executive vice president and CEO. Hauf’s responsibilities include overseeing public relations and media relations, serving as editor of NDFB’s publications and assisting with all communication efforts, including marketing and issue management.

North Dakota Corn wants ARC-CO fix

“The North Dakota Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association are asking Congress to fully fund the new farm bill with special emphasis on crop insurance, trade and fixing ARC-CO,” says NDCGA President Carson Klosterman, who led a state delegation to Washington, D.C. “In a year like this year, where our state is experiencing a devastating drought, crop insurance will once again show its worth to farmers in covering crop losses in the state.”