American Agri-Women will present their highest honor, the Veritas Award, to Oregon meteorologist George Taylor, the group announced Tuesday.

Taylor, a Corvallis resident and former state climatologist, will receive the honor at the group's 34rd annual convention in Salem on Friday, Nov. 13.

The award is given to individuals who have been public witness to the "pursuit of truth" in accordance with the principles expressed in the AAW statement of philosophy, the group said.

Of specific interest are personalities of importance to agriculture, or responsible media coverage of agricultural issues and events.

Taylor has been working in meteorology and climatology for more than 34 years. He served for 19 years as Oregon's climatologist and was elected president of the American Association of Climatologists in 1998. He now runs his own business, Applied Climate Service.

Through his research over the years, Taylor has shown that global warming is largely a natural occurrence with minimal influence by man.

Taylor has published more than 200 reports, books and articles and writes a column for the Albany and Corvallis Sunday newspaper.

AAW president Marcie Williams said: "George Taylor's credentials and his courage in speaking out makes him an outstanding Veritas Award winner and we are excited to be able to honor him in this way."

Past Veritas recipients include Paul Harvey, Michael DeBakey, Julia Child, Dr. C. Everett Koop and John Stossel, among others.