Agriculture Research Guide: Organizations/Associations

The American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) is an international organization made up of 20 affiliate councils in the United States and Canada with the primary objective to promote the profitable production and sustainable utilization of quality forage and grasslands.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is an educational and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems.

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) is a progressive international scientific and professional society that empowers scientists, educators, and practitioners in developing, disseminating, and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world. ASA provides information about agronomy in relation to agronomic production, biometry and statistical computing, climatology and modeling, education and extension, environmental quality, global agronomy, and land management and conservation.

The Crop Science Society of America is a group of crop scientists and professional experts who are advancing plant science for a better world. Science news, discussion boards, and networking information regarding crops is presented.

The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils. The Society provides information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, forestry, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, urban uses, mining and reclamation, and across many closely related scientific disciplines and applied fields.

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) publishes peer-reviewed books on the topics of agricultural, soil, and environmental science. Our offerings reach a wide audience with all levels of experience and knowledge, and include textbooks, professional guides, special topics books, multimedia presentations, and more.

ATTRA is a program developed and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). We are committed to providing high-value information and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.

CAST was established in 1972 and is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization composed of scientific societies and many individual, student, company, nonprofit, and associate society members. The wide distribution of CAST publications to non scientists enhances the education and understanding of the public.
CAST publications cover the agriculture industry from employment (i.e. Professional Portfolio: Beyond the Curriculum Vitae) and education (Challenges Confronting Agricultural Research at Land Grant Universities) to economics (Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Food and Agricultural Markets) to science (Agriculture and the Microbiome). CAST publications can be used to learn more about the issues affecting those in and working with the agricultural industries.

About: A Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg) is a qualified agronomy expert who has met the standards – exams, education, experience, and ethics - set by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). Those holding the CPAg certification gain opportunities in employment and advancement, recognition with government agencies, and validation that one is qualified to practice – valuable when presenting credentials to current and future clients.

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

The Forage Information System, a resource for forage-related topics, including Extension, research, and teaching.
Forage Information section find subsections for News, Publications, Projects, Topics, Visual Media and Web Links to other information systems.
MatchClover is a web-based application to improve the selection of legume species for specific locations, intended uses, and management level.
Educational Opportunities - Conferences, Workshops, and Courses

HarvestChoice’s primary goal is to spearhead the development of new, standardized, spatially-explicit data layers relevant for SSA agriculture, harmonized from multiple data sources – which included rescuing and repurposing statistical data from previously inaccessible formats. HarvestChoice is a part of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Established in 1975, IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 50 countries. It is a research center of CGIAR, a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development.

ISAAA is a not-for-profit international organization that shares the benefits of crop biotechnology to various stakeholders, particularly resource-poor farmers in developing countries, through knowledge sharing initiatives and the transfer and delivery of proprietary biotechnology applications.
ISAAA develops an array of publications, videos, and presentation slides on various agriculture and ag-biotechnology topics, most of which are available in pdf format.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) offers farmer-driven, grassroots grants and education programs. SARE has practical information on soil health, ecological pest management, organic production, farm-to-table, season extension, pollinators, social resilience, and many other important topics in sustainable agriculture.