The NAMA Nexus Will Get You Talking

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

2025 NAMA NexusIt’s the NAMA Nexus! This elevated, workshop-style event is designed to spark collaboration and drive real-world impact. Rather than traditional lecture-style sessions, you’ll engage directly with peers and industry experts in dynamic, discussion-based sessions. Bring your curiosity and individual experience to the table for the best, most engaging experience. These focused sessions will explore today’s most pressing topics and challenges — and deliver takeaways you can apply right away.

Let’s start talking … with the President of NAMA:

“This is more than a conference; it’s a nexus.” NAMA President Melanie Rice says about our NEW event: NAMA Nexus! Take a deep dive into ag economics and engage with subject matter experts and your peers. Learn more and grab your ticket here: nama.org/nama-nexus


Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, Media, NAMA, Video

John Deere Announces B30 Biodiesel Compatibility

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

At the 2025 Farm Progress Show last week, John Deere announced the approval of B30 biodiesel use across its entire portfolio of Tier 4 John Deere engines, including tractors, combines, and application equipment. During the show, all John Deere equipment operated in the company’s Ride and Drive area was running on B30 biodiesel.

Previously, all Tier 4 John Deere engines were approved for B20 biodiesel and RD100 renewable diesel, with all Tier 3/Stage III A and lower tier engines approved for biodiesel blends up to B100. In addition, all John Deere spark ignition turf and utility equipment is approved for E10 ethanol blend. John Deere is also exploring the use of higher ethanol blends in future engine solutions, including the development of a concept 9.0L ethanol engine that runs on E98. Customers interested in incorporating higher renewable fuel blends including B30 into their operations are encouraged to consult their fuel supplier.

As an Illinois soybean farmer and first vice president of Clean Fuels Alliance America, Rob Shaffer is pleased with the decision for both the farmer and the fuel producer. “It’s great for the American farmer because if a combine is cutting soybeans, we can take those soybeans and crush them and make oil and then turn around and put in the fuel tank,” said Shaffer, who also serves on the board of the American Soybean Association.

Shaffer says anything to increase demand for soybeans is important right now. “We need all the demand we can get, you know, without a China trade deal, whatever we can do to be domestic and lower our dependence on foreign oil, whether that ethanol going into gasoline or biodiesel going into diesel that extends the life of those oil products.”

FPS25 Interview with Rob Shaffer, Clean Fuels (5:26)

2025 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, John Deere

Animal Ag News 8/29

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a commitment to new actions to increase the number of rural food animal veterinarians across the U.S. and recruit new veterinarians to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in their role to protect American ranchers, animals, and our food supply.
  • The National Pork Board (NPB) has named David Newman the organization’s new CEO effective September 1, 2025. Newman most recently served as NPB’s senior vice president of market growth. He joined the organization full-time in June 2023.
  • The U.S. dairy industry is facing a potential shortage of its most important resource – milk cows. The number of replacement heifers available to enter the dairy herd as milk producing cows has already fallen to a 20-year low. Based on new CoBank research, replacements could fall even further over the next two years before a recovery begins in 2027. These declining heifer inventories could limit growth in the milk supply, a looming concern for dairy processors with expansion plans underway. The U.S. is currently experiencing an historic $10 billion investment in new dairy processing facilities expected to come online through 2027.
  • Certified Angus Beef has awarded $100,000 in Colvin Scholarships to 27 students pursuing careers in production agriculture, research and beef industry leadership. Since 2002, the fund has supported more than 200 students with over $733,500 in scholarships, honoring the legacy of co-founder Mick Colvin.
  • Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) is now accepting entries for its 2026 NewProduct Competition, inviting undergraduate and graduate students across the U.S. to develop innovative dairy-based products that meet today’s consumer demands for bone and muscle health and weight management.
  • Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy group, the Dairy Business Association, today announced the promotion of Chad Zuleger to executive director. Having nearly seven years of experience at DBA, Zuleger is dedicated to advocating for the state’s dairy community. Previously serving as the director of Government Affairs, Zuleger has managed key political initiatives and collaborated with important industry partners, lawmakers and regulatory officials who share the organization’s vision for advancing dairy.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the country by milk volume, announced the appointment of Jennifer Block to the newly defined role of Director of Value Chain Partnerships.
  • The dairy checkoff is doubling down on one of the most critical windows of human development – the “First 1,000 Days” – with a multichannel strategy that positions dairy as essential for optimal brain growth and cognitive development from conception through a child’s second birthday.
  • The 2025 USPOULTRY Live Production, Welfare and Biosecurity Seminar will equip poultry professionals with practical tools and insights to address production efficiencies, welfare and biosecurity best practices. Scheduled for Sept. 25-26 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown in Nashville, Tenn., this seminar aims to address ongoing concerns that the poultry industry faces.
  • Graduate students pursuing careers in meat science and animal science are encouraged to apply for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007 by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students committed to advancing the beef industry. Eligible students must apply online by submitting a cover letter, curriculum vitae, description of applicant’s goals and experience, a short essay, statement of belief in the industry, as well as a review of the applicant’s graduate research and three letters of recommendation by Sept. 19, 2025. The 2025 scholarship recipients will be recognized at CattleCon 2026, Feb. 3-5, in Nashville, Tennessee.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Syngenta and M.S. Technologies Announce Soybean Trait Stack

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    The big news for Syngenta at this year’s Farm Progress Show was the partnership with M.S. Technologies, LLC to launch a groundbreaking herbicide-tolerant soybean trait stack, with broad commercial availability expected in 2029 pending regulatory approvals. This new trait stack will be marketed by Syngenta seed brands, Stine Seed Company and others.

    “This is a real exciting trait stack, because really what it’s bringing new to the game is the widest options for HPPD herbicides on soybeans of any current or next generation trait stack,” said Syngenta Global Oilseeds and Cereals Portfolio Strategy Head Andy Heggenstaller. “This trait combination will allow application of 24-D glyphosate and glufosinate, like farmers are used to with the Enlist E3 system and will also bring the widest optionality.”

    Heggenstaller says the new trait stack is as yet unnamed. “We’ll announce the name and the brand for this early next year. We have some work with farmers right now having them help us on the name,” he said.

    Learn more about this exciting new technology in this interview from Farm Progress Show.
    FPS25 Interview with Andy Heggenstaller, Syngenta (6:00)

    2025 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Soybean, Syngenta

    DWFI Podcast 45 – From Chance Encounters to Global Impact

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    This episode of the Water for Food Podcast explores the valuable collaborations that can arise from in-person interactions, even in a digital age. Host Frances Hayes, DWFI director of communications and public relations, shares a story that perfectly illustrates the lasting impact of those face-to-face moments, which can lead to unexpected and valuable partnerships.

    Adam Keough, program manager with Catholic Relief Services and Treaven Scheideler, a University of Nebraska student, discuss their cross-cultural collaboration, sparked by a chance meeting at a tractor museum during the 2023 Water for Food Global Conference. Adam’s team in El Salvador needed hands-on training with mechanized equipment and Treaven, drawing on his own farming experience in Nebraska, provided assistance while taking advantage of a formative learning experience.

    Click to view photos from Treaven’s visit to El Salvador

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI podcast episode 45 28:04

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Equipment, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food

    ZimmCast 750 – Interviews from the Farm Progress Show

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

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

    It has been a busy time for the the ZimmComm Team in the past few weeks. After the Tech Hub Live conference it was on the way to the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Ag Media Summit, ACE Annual Meeting and the Farm Progress Show. I’m on my way home from the 2025 FPS and thought I’d share some interviews.

    Besides an interview with Rob Shaffer, Illinois farmer, about the John Deere announcement about B30 biodiesel compatibility across all of their engine portfolio, I’m sharing an interview with Andy Heggenstaller, Global Oilseeds and Cereals Portfolio Strategy Head, Syngenta, who talks about Syngenta and M.S. Technologies and the next generation in soybean herbicide tolerance, and then Craig Abell, National Executive Agronomist, Syngenta, who talks about a new soil-applied insecticide product soon to come to market.

    There are lots of other interviews and audio, besides photos, in our AgNewsWire virtual ag newsroom from this year’s Farm Progress Show. I want to thank Syngenta for making it possible to attend the show this year.

    So, that’s the ZimmCast for now. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

    Listen to the episode here:
    ZimmCast 750 - 2025 FPS Interviews (16:52)

    That’s the ZimmCast for now. Please let us know if you have ideas for a future podcast. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

    We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, ZimmCast

    Industry Ag News 8/28

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Pro Farmer, a division of Farm Journal, shared its much-anticipated national production estimates for the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops after analyzing information from the 33rd Annual Pro Farmer Crop Tour and other sources. The Pro Farmer estimates are informed by Crop Tour data and observations collected throughout the week via an exceptional effort by scouts in thousands of fields across seven key Midwestern states. Key considerations such as plant maturity and health, historical analysis and areas outside of those sampled on Crop Tour also factor into the estimates.
  • Farmers for Free Trade announced the launch of its “Motorcade for Trade” campaign, a 14-state tour across America’s agricultural heartland designed to amplify farmer voices calling for open markets and reduced trade barriers. The campaign will kick off September 5th with Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) in Nebraska then Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and will visit key agricultural districts across the nation, culminating with a major event in Washington, D.C.
  • Family farms comprise 95 percent of all U.S. farms, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The farm typology report primarily focuses on the “family farm,” defined as any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the producer and individuals related to the producer. The report classifies all farms into unique categories based on two criteria: who owns the operation and gross cash farm income (GCFI). GCFI includes the producer’s sales of crops and livestock, fees for delivering commodities under production contracts, government payments, and farm-related income.
  • The American Soybean Association is urging President Trump to prioritize soybeans in U.S.-China trade talks, warning that retaliatory tariffs are shutting American farmers out of their largest export market going into the 2025 soybean harvest. In a letter sent to the White House, the group called for the removal of Chinese tariffs on U.S. soybeans and commitments for future purchases. ASA also released a white paper outlining the financial consequences of losing long-term market share in China.
  • Meyocks unveils a comprehensive rebrand that includes a new logo, website, messaging and cultural promises. Reintroducing itself as “the agency that gives a damn,” Meyocks reinforces both its industry-leading capabilities and 41-year legacy of serving brands that make a positive impact across food and beverage, health and wellness and agriculture.
  • The White House released a statement regarding the Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade made by the United States and the European Union. According to the U.S. EU Joint Statement, The European Union intends to eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and to provide preferential market access for a wide range of U.S. agricultural goods. Additionally, the European Union and the United States have committed to work together to address non-tariff barriers affecting trade in food and agricultural products.
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce that Matt Herman has joined the digital media company as the national business development lead.
  • U.S. Sugar, a South Florida-based sugarcane and vegetable farming and processing business, announced that it has tapped longtime IT leader Matt Miller to lead its technology division. Miller was announced as the Company’s Vice President for Information Technology.
  • The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor a joint research field day on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Tifton, Georgia.
  • Thinking about taking the leap into freelancing, or already navigating the journey? Join the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists webinar on building a successful freelance career in agricultural journalism.
  • The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health and Sejfarms Consult Limited are building on their three-year partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for strengthened collaboration to advance Nigeria’s fish production. The MOU recognizes the significant role that high-quality soy-based feeds play in achieving regional aquaculture sector growth and success.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    2025 Farm Progress Show – Day 3

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    2025 Farm Progress ShowIt’s going to another beautiful day at the 2025 Farm Progress Show. This photo is from a high platform set up at the GSI exhibit. I appreciate them letting me take some photos on it.

    The virtual ag newsroom we have created on AgNewsWire is full of interviews and other audio and lots of photos. I want to thank Syngenta for once again making my trip here possible.

    Yesterday, I reminisced with several people about when they attended their first Farm Progress Show and how it has evolved into the 2 permanent sites in Decatur, IL and Boone, IA. There are many stories to tell. I’m going to work on a gathering some of them for a future ZimmCast podcast. In the meantime, I’m going to use some of the interviews I have from this show for a new episode.

    2025 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

    Farm Progress Show

    Illinois Governor Announces Fertilizer Plant at FPS

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    At the Farm Progress Show this week, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced a $2 billion investment from Cronus Chemicals to construct a new fertilizer production facility in Tuscola, Illinois, a project more than a decade in the making.

    “Having a fertilizer production facility so close to home will help us meet the rising demand and keep costs lower for farmers. Over the past several years, we’ve seen fertilizer prices skyrocket,” said Pritzker. “Now, Cronus Chemicals will help to stem the high tide of pricing by bringing an annual production capacity of 950,000 short tons of ammonia right in central Illinois.”

    Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello says the farm economy is “extremely unstable” right now. “Anything we can do to help producers is extremely important right now,” said Costello. “The average tariff or tax on ag inputs has gone from one percent to 12 percent in seven months.”

    Pritzker says the company has hung in there over a decade to make the project happen because it makes sense. “They’re locating it here because the farms are here, because the producers are here, because this is the place that the investment is going to pay off greatest for the company and that’s why they’ve chosen it.”

    Gov. Pritzker announcement (10:38)

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Fertilizer

    Syngenta Seeds Gives Farmers Options

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Once again, Syngenta Seeds had a strong presence at the Farm Progress Show to give farmers a peak at the latest developments to help them get the best return on their investment every year.

    “Farmers are at the heart of everything we do at Syngenta Seeds and when we think about commitment to farmers, it really comes in something that is through our people, our product pipeline and our trait pipeline,” said Syngenta Seeds North America Regional Director Eric Boeck. “In today’s agriculture, choice is really important. To have options as a farmer so that you can make the best decisions for your farm and that’s what Syngenta does.”

    Some of what’s new this year for Syngenta is plans to launch a groundbreaking herbicide-tolerant soybean trait stack with M.S. Technologies. “Weed control options are really important for farmers. So what this trait is gonna allow farmers to do is harness the best of genetics, the best of yield, the best of agronomic traits, along with the new herbicide trait that’s going to give them options, at the latter part of this decade.”

    Boeck is also excited about the new Durastak Corn Trait Stack. “Durastak is a new mode of action for corn rootworm, which a lot of farmers battle,” said Boeck. “It is going to be a great opportunity to experience brand new genetics with the first triple BT stack to battle rootworm.”

    Learn more in this interview with Eric Boeck.
    FPS25 Interview with Eric Boeck, Syngenta Seeds (3:57)

    You can find a number of interviews about what’s new from Syngenta Seeds and Seedcare and Golden Harvest in our Farm Progress Show virtual news room.

    2025 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Soybean, Syngenta