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Emerging and evolving trends in agricultural data
We are adding to the ACDC collection a 42-page white paper about ethical, legal, and stewardship challenges “that must be addressed to ensure responsible use and equitable benefits for all stakeholders.”
It was produced by AgGateway, a global, non-profit consortium of businesses that helps member companies and associate stakeholders address connectivity, seamless data flow, and data exchange issues. You can read “AgGateway releases revised data ethics and stewardship white paper” by open access.
Contested ethics about UK maritime space
Findings of newspaper coverage in the United Kingdom revealed “a confusion of contested ethical claims” about maritime space. This research was published in Maritime Studies (2024) and involved the period 2012-2020. Findings of the analysis revealed no sustained coverage, little that communicated with a national audience, little investigative reporting, and no predominance of London-based newspapers in news production.
You can read “A discursive field of contested ethics: Reporting the UK’s blue economy in the making” by open access.
Five-year analysis of cover crop adoption in the U.S.
A 2025 summary highlights trends in the adoption of cover crops, as identified by Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) surveys for the last five years. Among the findings:
- From 2021 to 2025 the percentage of AEB respondents who reported that they currently use cover crops ranged from 52% to 57%. They averaged 53% in September 2025.
- 26% of September 2025 respondents reported having never planted cover crops.
You can read “Cover crop adoption: results from five years of ag economy barometer surveys” by open access.
Remembering an Australian rural journalist
Looking back at 2025, we are mindful of a special professional friend who died during September. Neil Inall was an Australian journalist, television presenter and agronomist. In 1962 he joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) as a rural broadcaster at a station based in Orange, New South Wales. He became known for producing and presenting popular national rural affairs programs on radio and television. He was named Man of the Year in Australian Agriculture (1980) and in 2009 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the farming and rural sector.
You can read more about his career activities in an article, “Vale Neil Inall,” in Beef Central.
New ACDC exhibit features the history of farm radio
With special pleasure, we announce a new ACDC exhibit in the ACES Funk Library. Associate Abby McBride created, designed, and installed it. The exhibit provides a brief overview of farm radio history. Primarily using materials from the ACDC collection, it features information found in newspapers, books, and physical audio-visual media, including CDs, cassettes, and film. The collection contains 242 documents related to the history of farm radio, tracing back more than a century.
Communicator event approaching
Here is an agricultural communicator event you may find helpful, including contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.
May 31-June 2, 2026
Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) Institute in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Information: https://communicators.coop/professional-development/cca-institute
A bedtime prayer
We close this year-end issue of ACDC News with a bedtime prayer by Frank Skinner:
“I thought tonight I’d just listen for a change. No pressure.”
ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcomed to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu.
We are delighted to welcome Alinafe Ngindo Nyasulu as a new graduate assistant in the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center. Alinafe is a second-year student in the iSchool here at the University of Illinois. She earned an undergraduate degree in Library and Information Science at Mzuzu University in Malawi, Africa. She brings information management, grant writing, archival processing, and reference experiences to this position as well as experience with the University of Illinois Archives. As a part-time ACDC associate, Alinafe will catalog/process materials and identify preservation needs, alongside a variety of specialist projects.
We are delighted to welcome Abby McBride to ACDC as a new graduate student with a part-time appointment. Abby is a first-year student in the School of Information Sciences here at the University of Illinois. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at DePauw University. She brings experiences in archival processing, preservation, event planning, and community building to this position. She will catalog and process materials, identify preservation needs, and work on a variety of special projects.
