Abbott, Reuters farm and food reporter, leaving

Charles Abbott, who covers farm, food and agricultural policy reporting as well as covering biofuels for Reuters out of Washington, is leaving the news agency.

Abbott sent out the following short email — titled 22 years, 22 words — to his colleagues:

in unity there is strength.
the esteem of one’s peers is a treasure.
you’re only as good as your last story.

Abbott’s work ranges from tracking of legislative to spearheading coverage of the major economic indicator for agriculture, the monthly crop report. During his time in Washington, free market reforms reduced the government role in crop output while land stewardship became a prominent goal.

Abboutt also developed formulas that allow the translation of an early bit of information, such as planted area for a crop, into the likely harvest five months in the future.

Abbott was previously the national farm editor at United Press International from June 1988 to December 1991.