Cotton Trust Protocol Grows Sustainability

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The U.S. cotton industry’s voluntary sustainability program has achieved significant success in just five years, according to an update from the National Cotton Council at recent Beltwide Cotton Conferences.

Marjory Walker, Vice President of Council Operations, says the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has grown rapidly since it launched in July 2020. “We actually have 2,500 global members representing 25 brands in 26 countries,” said . “We have 2,800 mills and manufacturers. We’ve had a 14% increase in our grower enrollment. We encompass 2.58 million acres. So that is quite an accomplishment for a little five-year-old program.”

Marjory Walker, National Cotton Council, at recent Beltwide Cotton Conferences

The program released its 2024/25 Annual Report in November showed how grower members have achieved meaningful gains across all six of its sustainability metrics against a 2015 baseline.

Walker says the program is voluntary for growers looking for a way to enhance their revenue and it’s also a supply chain traceability program for brands. “Brands and retailers are looking for a way to deal with EU legislation and U.S. legislation like the Forced Labor Act. So if you trace your cotton through the supply chain through the trust protocol, then you have a no-risk situation. Basically, if you source U.S. cotton, it’s no risk.”

Learn more in this interview:
Marjory Walker, Cotton Trust Protocol - interview 3:44

2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

2026 National Ag Day

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

2026 Ag DayThe Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is proud to announce the celebration of National Ag Day on March 24, 2026. This annual event recognizes and celebrates the abundance provided by agriculture, acknowledging the essential role it plays in our daily lives.

Theme: “Agriculture: Together We Grow: Celebrating 250 Years of Progress in Agriculture”

This year’s theme emphasizes the collaborative efforts of farmers, ranchers, and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector who work tirelessly to provide safe, abundant, and affordable products and also recognizes 250 years of progress.

National Ag Day Events:

A series of events are scheduled in Washington, D.C., and virtually to mark this significant day:

Ag Day Virtual Event: At 9:00 a.m., a live stream of events from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be available. Details and registration can be found at https://www.agday.org/2026events.

Ag Day at USDA: From 8:30 to Noon at the USDA Whitten Patio, attendees will hear from invited speakers, including the Secretary of Agriculture, view winning essay contest videos, and participate in a student panel discussion as well as a discussion of commodity group leaders. Zippy Duvall from the Farm Bureau is also scheduled to speak. Registration details are available at https://www.agday.org/2026events.

A Taste of Agriculture Reception: An evening event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. will be held in the Kennedy Caucus Room, SR-325, Russell Senate Office Building, 2 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002. Interested participants can register at https://www.agday.org/2026events.

Get Involved:

Organizations can get involved by sponsoring National Ag Day. Details are available at https://www.agday.org/sponsorship-2026.

Ag Day

Animal Ag News 1/26

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge. This funding opportunity marks a pivotal step in USDA’s comprehensive strategy to combat NWS and prevent its northward spread.
  • The 2026 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) will showcase cutting-edge products and services as part of the New Product Showcase offered at Booth BC36119. On Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 2:30 p.m. in the Discovery Zone, Booth B51027, IPPE will award three exhibitors with New Product Showcase “Best of the Best” plaques in three categories: animal food, processing and live production. A list of the featured innovative products and services can be found here and through the IPPE app.
  • The International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) will launch WelfareLab, a new multi-stage global initiative designed to align poultry welfare science, policy, and implementation through a coordinated cycle of data gathering, collaborative sprint sessions, and global synthesis activities. The initiative will begin at the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), where IPWA will host the first WelfareLab Sprint Event in collaboration with the International Poultry Council (IPC). The inaugural sprint held in collaboration with IPC will take place on Monday, January 26, 2026, from 2:00–4:00 PM in Georgia Ballroom 1, immediately following the IPC meeting.
  • National FFA Officer Candidates will attend the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2026 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), through the USPOULTRY Foundation’s ongoing commitment to attracting top talent to the poultry and egg industries. The students will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta, Ga., to participate in the Expo.
  • More than 300 people gathered at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay on January 15 for the annual Dairy Strong conference focused on the most pressing issues and topics facing today’s dairy farmers. The Dairy Business Association honored Chuck Ripp of Ripp’s Dairy Valley with the association’s Advocate of the Year award for his contributions to Wisconsin’s dairy community. The award, sponsored by Vita Plus Corporation, was presented during DBA’s Dairy Strong conference. Also, in collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, DBA honored Tom Zwald and Steve Schalla of Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wis., with the association’s third annual Community Outreach Award which recognizes farmers who are actively involved in their community and share stories and positive messages about dairy farms and their products.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation is pleased that Dairy Margin Coverage Program signup is under way, with key improvements aiding farmers as prices have fallen and DMC assistance becomes essential for some farms in 2026.
  • CattleCon is the cattle industry’s largest event of the year, and the 2026 event in Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3-5, combines business, education and entertainment for thousands of attendees. A highlight of CattleCon 2026 is Cowboy’s Night at the Opry on Thursday, Feb. 5, and features country music favorite Vince Gill. Other performers include The SteelDrivers, The Castellows and Don Schlitz.
  • Shelley Curry of Kennard, Texas, and Sydney Bowman-Schnug of Fort Lupton, Colorado, have each been awarded a $15,000 W.D. Farr Scholarship by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). The annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program recognizes outstanding graduate students for their academic achievements, leadership and commitment to the advancement of the beef industry. The scholarship recipients will be recognized during CattleCon 2026, Feb. 3-5, in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • The U.S. chicken industry is on a decades-long winning streak. Steady growth in consumer demand coupled with efficiency gains in broiler production have powered the sector’s remarkable growth over the last 30 years. However, an emerging set of challenges could put that track record of consistently reliable growth in jeopardy. A slowdown in new processing plant construction — combined with the inherent limitations of existing production systems and an undersupply of chicks — could ultimately hinder processors’ ability to maintain recent growth trends. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the near-term outlook for broiler production remains exceptionally strong. But the opportunities for increasing output are becoming more limited. Higher capital costs, tight labor availability and increased local regulation have stalled greenfield site expansion. Chick availability has trended downward as genetic priorities have shifted from hatchability to meat yield, and adding more pounds per bird has its limits.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Congress Devastates Supporters as it Punts on E15

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Corn growers at the nation’s Capitol this week (NCGA photo)

    Supporters of nationwide, year-round E15 were once again kicked to the curb by Congress, after weeks of negotiations between farm, ethanol, oil and refinery interests to craft wording that would have included it in the funding bill. Instead lawmakers have opted to create a new “Rural Domestic Energy Council” to develop potential legislative proposals on E15.

    It’s just too much for National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower of Ohio. “Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way,” said Bower.

    Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the decision to create this council was made by House leadership. “The idea is they’re going to keep working on these issues for the next month with the goal of having legislation ready to consider by February 25,” said Cooper, noting that year-round E15 approval costs nothing and would help farmers who are facing the worst economic crisis in almost 50 years.

    “And they need real solutions right now. They don’t need more foot dragging, don’t need more debate. We don’t need a council. We don’t need more study on this issue. We just need to get this bill done,” said Cooper. “So we’re just extremely frustrated with the way this played out this week and I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t have high hopes for the process that this council is going to undertake.”

    Listen to Cooper’s comments here:
    RFA CEO Geoff Cooper 4:14

    The new “Rural Domestic Energy Council” that Congress has created instead of taking action has a deadline of February 25 to come up with a plan – with is right in the middle of the Renewable Fuels Association’s National Ethanol Conference in Orlando next month. In this edition of The Ethanol Report, RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses how the E15 compromise in Congress fell apart and how the industry will move forward at the NEC.

    Ethanol Report 1-23-26 21:01

    Audio, Corn, Ethanol, RFA

    Alltech Harvest Analysis 2025

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Alltech Harvest Analysis 2025Alltech, a global leader in in the agriculture industry, hosted a live broadcast, “From Field to Feed: 2025 Crop and Mycotoxin Analysis”, streamed live from Alltech’s headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. on Jan. 15, 2026, and is now available to watch on demand. During the broadcast, the panel of experts shared timely insights into this year’s harvest conditions and emerging mycotoxin risk. Left to Right: Janella Hurst (Moderator), Global Head of Marketing (Nutrition), Alltech Technology Group, Dr. Jan Dutton, CEO, Prescient Weather Ltd. and ClimBiz Ltd.; Dr. Max Hawkins, Global Technical Support, Alltech Technology Group; and Dr. Alexandros Yiannikouris, Research Group Director, Alltech.

    For some highlights you can also listen to an interview I conducted with Dr. Max Hawkins who provides an overview and especially for the United States.
    Interview with Dr. Max Hawkins (11:02)

    Listen to the live broadcast here:
    From Field to Feed: 2025 Crop Mycotoxin Analysis (56:07)

    Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Audio

    Industry Ag News 1/20

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that registration is now open for the 102nd Agricultural Outlook Forum. The event will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott on Feb. 19-20, 2026, and all Forum sessions will be livestreamed on a virtual platform.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden unveiled the Lender Lens on the Rural Data Gateway. This dashboard will make Rural Development’s entire commercial guaranteed loan portfolio available to the public, guaranteed borrowers and commercial lending stakeholders. Lender Lens will give communities a clear view into where federal investments are being made by introducing a series of intuitive data visualizations that allow users to monitor performance, spot trends and proactively manage their Rural Development loan guarantee portfolio. The dashboard showcases key metrics, including total loan volume, average loan size, loan distribution by sector, geographic spread, and delinquency rates, allowing an at-a-glance look at activity nationwide. Data is refreshed monthly and can easily be downloaded down to the individual loan, giving users timely, flexible access to the information they need.
  • United Soybean Board (USB), representing nearly half-million U.S. soybean farmers, welcomed the newly released 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which reinforce the value of soy foods as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) is pleased to announce that Anthony Peña has been promoted to Vice President of Policy and Communications. Anthony joined the NAWG team in March 2025 as Policy Manager, where he has played a key role in advancing the association’s policy priorities and strengthening engagement on behalf of U.S. wheat farmers. In his new role, Anthony will lead NAWG’s policy and communications strategy as the organization continues to advocate for a brighter future for wheat farmers and rural America.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) is pleased to announce the appointment of agriculture industry veteran Cindy Cunningham as the organization’s Industry Engagement Director. She joined NAFB on Monday, Jan. 19.
  • Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 107th Convention adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2026. Delegates adopted policy to improve labor programs to meet the needs of America’s farmers and ranchers, including formalizing support for the new Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology, and further revisions to avoid unpredictable rate swings in the future. They voted to support federal funding for research and biosecurity facilities to better identify and combat illnesses and pests that threaten the health of crops and animals. New policy also includes committing more resources specifically to eradicate the New World screwworm, and keeping the U.S.-Mexico border closed to cattle trade until the screwworm is controlled. Delegates revised national farm policy to provide more protection for dairy farmers who may suffer losses due to market challenges. Delegates also formalized support for prioritizing locally grown fruits, vegetables, bread, and proteins in institutional purchases such as schools and government facilities. Voting members also requested that the board of directors analyze several agricultural issues, including the impact of tariffs and the lack of affordable insurance options for poultry farmers.
  • Agriculture groups sound an alarm about the economic crisis in rural America in a letter sent to Congress. 56 organizations representing a cross-section of agriculture signed the letter, sending a strong message to Congress. The letter describes an existential threat looming over many farms, stating, “America’s farmers, ranchers, and growers are facing extreme economic pressures that threaten the long-term viability of the U.S. agriculture sector. An alarming number of farmers are financially underwater, farm bankruptcies continue to climb, and many farmers may have difficulty securing financing to grow their next crop.” Read the letter here.
  • The Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) has changed the organization’s name to the United States Identity Preserved Alliance, reflecting the brand’s proactive leadership in advancing the U.S. Identity Preserved value chain and strengthening premium U.S. agriculture’s global reputation for quality, traceability and food safety.
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce that Roeslein Renewables will serve as the Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Ag & Food Policy Summit. The event will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on March 23. The theme this year is: “Profit, Policy, and Possibility: Mapping the Future of Market Expansion for U.S. Agriculture.” Keynote speakers and panel discussions will cover everything from new value-added products, renewable fuels, the power of protein, artificial intelligence, and more. Register and find more information here.
  • More than 1,800 attendees were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the 49th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference Jan. 15, 2026, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. The Georgia Peanut Commission inducted its eighth recipient into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame by honoring Don Koehler, senior executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission.
  • Jay Funke, Past Chairman of the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA) and co-owner of Del-Clay Farm Equipment, testified before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, sharing firsthand insight into the challenges facing agricultural businesses, equipment dealers, and rural communities.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Breeding Cotton for Jassid Resistance

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    The cotton jassid is a brand new pest for U.S. cotton growers but India has been dealing with it for years, which makes that country a good source for ways to control it, including plant breeding.

    Roy Cantrell, Wheelertex Consulting, has spent the past ten years consulting in India and he shared some of his insights at the recent Beltwide Cotton Improvement Conference. “So we’ve been seeing over the last decade a real decrease in effectiveness of insecticide applications, the insects developing resistant to chemicals that are used repeatedly. So seed companies like the one I work with, are developing genetic resistance. It’s not biotech, it’s not GMO, it’s through breeding.”

    Cantrell says they have been successful in developing resistant seed for the farmer in India. “And so I’m confident that that can occur in the U.S.(but) it’s not going to be quick,” he said.

    Learn more in this interview from Beltwide.
    Roy Cantrell, Wheelertex Consulting - interview 4:55

    2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

    Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

    ZimmCast 755 – Beltwide Cotton Conferences

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.

    Part of December into January was a little rough for the ZimmComm Team. Between some bugs going around to two short trips to see family. But now all’s well and it’s time for a new episode.

    In December we posted some “Oh the places we’ve been!” details. We started in the new year by curtailing our business travel after over 20 years and nearly 900 events around the world. Interestingly, of all the states and countries we traveled to the state with the most events has been Missouri at 112.

    Now here in January we actually are able to continue doing photos and interviews and virtual newsrooms for several of our long time clients. How are we making that happen? Well, we’re retaining the services of others to do the on-site work while we do the posting and distribution at ZimmComm World Headquarters.

    Laura McNamaraWe’re really happy to announced that two of the first events in 2026 will be handled for us on-site by Laura McNamara, one of our very first freelancers back in 2007-2008. She graduated from Mizzou and covered many events for us at that time. She’s been around the world and has evolved as a top-notch photographer.

    The first event of 2026 that Laura worked with for us was the Beltwide Cotton Conferences which were held in San Antonio. This young lady did interviews at a technical conference on cotton like she’s been a farm broadcaster her whole life! Coming up next will be the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting in Indian Wells, CA in early February.

    So, in this ZimmCast I’m going to share a couple of the interviews Laura did.

    First is an interview with Marjory Walker, National Cotton Council on Seizing Opportunities for U.S. Cotton.

    Following up is an interview with Hank Jones, a Louisiana conference coordinator, with a Consultants Conference recap of the presentations.

    Listen to the episode here:
    ZimmCast 755 - Beltwide Cotton Conferences (14:41)

    That’s the ZimmCast for now. If you have some exciting news in the agrimarketing world, feel free to contact me for the next episode. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

    We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beltwide Cotton, ZimmCast

    Precision Ag News 1/19

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Indigo Carbon PBC announced one of the largest soil carbon deals to date. Under the 12-year agreement, Microsoft will purchase 2.85 million credits generated under the Carbon by Indigo program, Indigo’s U.S.-based project, emphasizing regenerative agriculture’s role in high-integrity carbon removals. As Indigo and Microsoft’s third transaction, this deal builds on prior purchases of 40,000 tonnes in 2024 and 60,000 tonnes in 2025, underscoring Microsoft’s commitment to being carbon negative by 2030 and Indigo’s leadership in delivering scalable, high-integrity soil carbon removals.
  • BW Fusion, a leading innovator in agricultural bio-nutritional solutions, announced the acquisition of Low Mu Tech, a pioneer in sustainable technologies designed to deliver biology and micronutrients to the seed. The acquisition positions BW Fusion as a category leader in seed care and strengthens its mission to help growers farm smarter, safer, and more sustainably.
  • Nutrien Ltd. is excited to announce the winners of the second Hometown Yield Challenge. This program was available to farmers in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The community organizations of choice for the top two yielding farming operations have each received $20,000. The community organizations chosen by the three runners-up have also received $5,000.
  • Phospholutions, a fertilizer technology company that enhances the efficiency, performance, and sustainability of phosphorus fertilizers has announced a series of leadership appointments. Justin Archibee has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer, Michael Castiglione promoted to Chief Operating Officer, Steve Levitsky promoted to Chief Administrative and Sustainability Officer, and Weston Heide, an agribusiness executive with The Andersons, added to its Board of Directors.
  • Farmers for Sustainable Food, a farmer-led, industry-supported organization empowering farmers to lead in sustainable farming practices, elected three directors to its board during the group’s annual meeting at the 2026 Dairy Strong conference on January 14. The three board members include one farmer-led group director, one general member director and one farmer member director.
  • Summit Agro USA announced U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of an expanded label for Regev HBX BioPowered Fungicide, extending its use to dry edible beans, dried shelled peas and chickpeas. The expansion provides growers of dry beans and shelled peas with an additional option to manage white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and other economically important diseases in these crops.
  • Join Ag Gateway for an informative discussion with key members of the Agrisemantics Committee to discuss the group’s current and future work and get an inside perspective on how things get done. Click here to register.
  • Radicle Growth announced the launch of The Radicle Corn Challenge sponsored by US Corn Farmers, a global call for startups developing technologies that create new, durable demand for corn through innovative products, materials, and value chains. The Challenge will invest a total of $1.75 million in selected companies and is supported by twelve leading U.S. corn grower organizations: Colorado Corn Promotion Council, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Kansas Corn Commission, Kentucky Corn Promotion Council, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, National Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Board, Ohio Corn Marketing Program, South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, and Tennessee Corn Promotion Board.
  • The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, now in its 12th year, provides opportunities for Farm Bureau members to showcase business innovations being developed for agriculture. Louisiana-based FarmMind is the winner of this year’s competition. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, announced the winner from among four finalists at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention. FarmMind received a total of $100,000 to grow the business. Colin Raby, a Louisiana Farm Bureau member, is team lead for the company, which brings agricultural workflows together in one place, including field notes, GIS management, regulatory compliance, financial tracking and real-time agronomic insights. KiposTech was named runner-up in the contest and received a total of $25,000. Hema Ravindran, a Pennsylvania Farm Bureau member, is team lead for the company, which is revolutionizing poultry farming with plasma-based air disinfection and AI-powered monitoring solutions that protect birds from airborne diseases, dust and ammonia.
  • The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is pleased to announce Kris Reynolds as the recipient of the 2026 Dave Rahe Excellence in Soils Consulting Award. This prestigious award recognizes a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) for their outstanding contributions to soil management within Illinois soybean production systems, honoring the legacy of Dave Rahe, a passionate advocate for soil health.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Advanced Agrilytics Partners with Mutiny Crop Performance

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Advanced Agrilytics today announced a strategic partnership with Mutiny Crop Performance, expanding its technology-enabled agronomy platform to complement its long-standing grower-direct consulting services.

    “At its core, this partnership represents how Advanced Agrilytics is evolving to scale impact without compromising agronomic integrity,” said Scott Coldagelli, Chief Transformation Officer at Advanced Agrilytics. “Our methodology and proprietary technology were built to scale, but scale happens faster and more effectively through the right partnerships. Mutiny is one of the first strategic collaborators where one plus one truly equals more than two.”

    Mutiny Crop Performance is known for its selective, product-agnostic approach using an independent dealer network with a strong emphasis on relationships, trust, and on-farm results. “Advanced Agrilytics brings a data-based approach that strengthens the agronomic foundation behind product decisions. This partnership enhances the value we deliver while preserving the independence and trust that define Mutiny,” said Patrick Conyea, Co-Founder of Mutiny Crop Performance.

    Want to learn more? Advanced Agrilytics is actively exploring strategic partnerships with organizations aligned around research-backed agronomy and scalable execution. To learn more, they will share their approach to scalable, technology-enabled agronomy at their upcoming Innovation Summit events on February 9, 2026, in Marshalltown, Iowa; February 12, 2026, in Dublin, Ohio; and February 17, 2026, in Lafayette, Indiana. Registration is free at https://events.advancedagrilytics.com/innovation-summit-2026

    Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology