NRCS Chief to Keynote Agri-Pulse West Summit

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt will be the luncheon keynote speaker at the annual Agri-Pulse West Food & Ag Issues Summit in Sacramento on June 10.

Prior to being named NRCS Chief, Bettencourt served as the Global Director of Government Relations and External Affairs for Netafim, an Orbia Company, and as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Almond Alliance. Just prior to taking the role of NRCS Chief earlier this year, Bettencourt appeared on a panel at the Agri-Pulse DC Food & Ag Issues Summit in March.

During the first Trump Administration, Bettencourt worked with both the U.S. Department of the Interior and USDA and prior to that she was the State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in California where she directed the administration of farm commodity programs providing support, security, and emergency relief for producers throughout the state.

The Summit will offer a full day of speeches and panel discussions on topics such as land, water and labor challenges in California, perspectives from state Senators, and presentation of the second Great Tomato Challenge winner. Registration includes both in-person and virtual attendance options at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento.

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Industry Ag News 5/30

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce that Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt will be the luncheon keynote speaker at our annual Food & Ag Issues Summit in Sacramento on June 10.
  • In response to the recent release of the Making America Healthy Again report, which raised unfounded questions about the safety of pesticides, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has released a report that speaks to the economic impact of widely used technologies, like atrazine and glyphosate.
  • 365 agricultural and related groups have sent a letter calling on Congress to enact the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act, a bipartisan bill the groups say is needed to protect access for farmers and the public to safe, well-regulated pesticides. The groups—which represent millions of pesticide users from farmers to scientists, and mosquito control to public land managers—say the legislation would reaffirm and clarify long-standing provisions in federal pesticide law regarding labeling requirements.
  • ASTA’s 2025 Leadership Summit is quickly approaching! The American Seed Trade Association is convening this year June 8-11 in Washington, D.C. for its annual meeting to celebrate the seed sector’s role in the broader agricultural community. Hosting the event in our nation’s capital gives attendees the special opportunity to participate in Advocacy Day, allowing them to share their story as a member of the seed industry before the members of Congress who shape ag policy.
  • The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City welcomes Chris Chinn, Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and Mike Beam, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, for a timely discussion of the key issues shaping the future of agriculture in the region. The Council’s June Luncheon Meeting will be Thursday, June 12 at the American Royal from 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Register here.
  • The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announced the selection of Duane Simpson as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Simpson will formally assume the role on July 14, 2025, coinciding with the opening of NCFC’s annual Washington Conference.
  • Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2026 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes and bragging rights. This is the eighth year of the contest, supported by Nestlé Purina PetCare, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers. The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina Pro Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, in January 2026. The 2026 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a professionally produced video. The profile of 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Sirius can be viewed here.
  • The National Cotton Council announces its Emerging Leader Program participants for 2025-2026.
  • Farm Credit Mid-America has released its 2024 Impact Report, a reflection of how the cooperative is fulfilling its mission to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture. The report, available here, highlights the many ways the customer-owned cooperative invests back into the people and places it serves, with nearly $4.5 million directed toward impactful programs and initiatives in 2024.
  • National Sorghum Producers (NSP) is proud to announce Eric Washington as its new Communications Director. Washington brings a dynamic blend of strategic marketing experience, communications leadership and brand development expertise to the NSP team.
  • The application deadline for the 2025 IFAJ/Alltech Young Leaders Program is approaching quickly — all submissions must be received by June 8, 2025. Learn more about the program and apply here.
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    BIO Dedicates Focus to Human Health and Biopharmaceuticals

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Biotechnology Innovation OrganizationPretty big decision for BIO. I guess other ag organizations will be ready to carry the load.

    The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced plans to dedicate its focus entirely to human health and to transition the work of its Agriculture and Environment (A&E) section to other organizations.  This change is intended to enable an enhanced strategic focus on each of these respective areas of biotechnology and will be effective July 1, 2025. In support of this transition, BIO announced the hiring of two new senior executives to lead Regulatory Affairs and a new “Center of Excellence” focused on Emerging Companies & Economic Growth. 

    “The field of biotechnology is increasingly diverse, with great threats and significant opportunities,” said John F. Crowley, President and CEO, BIO. “In consultation with the BIO Executive Committee and the Agriculture and Environment Governing Board, BIO has determined that these organizational changes will enable greater focus and impact on behalf of our healthcare members, and will sharpen our advocacy work on critical policy priorities for the improvement of human health – modernizing the FDA’s regulatory processes; building back a robust biopharmaceutical manufacturing base across the US and our allies; preserving strong IP protections; fostering capital formation; protecting our national security; and enabling 21st Century access to medicines. At the same time, this change will enable A&E member companies to enhance their focus on agricultural and environmental biotech at expert third-party organizations.” 

    Biotech

    Precision Ag News 5/29

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) applauds the appointment of Jimmy Emmons to serve as Assistant Chief of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the award of $17.5 million in Outreach and Technical Assistance grants to 161 conservation districts in 45 states and territories.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) issued a statement after the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission released its Initial Assessment.
  • Custom Agronomics, a leading provider of private-label liquid plant nutrition and specialty products for the agriculture, turf, and ornamental markets, announced today that Scott Addy has been named CEO.
  • rTek, an Almaty-based precision agriculture start up and nature-based solutions (NbS) carbon credits project developer, has selected Perennial, a global leader in measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) for environmental assets, as its exclusive soil carbon MMRV provider for the next 10 years to deliver high-integrity carbon credits globally. The first project aims to regenerate 500,000 hectares of degraded grasslands, support sustainable production and livelihoods, and establish quality assurance systems for sustainable grassland management in Kazakhstan.
  • John Deere announced the acquisition of Sentera, a leading provider of remote imagery solutions for agriculture headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. This acquisition will advance the capabilities of John Deere’s existing technology offerings, providing farmers and ag service providers with a more comprehensive set of tools to generate and use data to make decisions that improve farm profitability, efficiency, and sustainability.
  • The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved this week the sale of the business assets of Benson Hill to Confluence Genetics, LLC. This sale will enable the historic business to continue outside of Chapter 11 bankruptcy with new leadership and supportive ownership, starting a new chapter as a leaner, innovation-driven leader in soybean trait development. Confluence Genetics is set to embark on a new chapter as an agtech start-up following its acquisition by a group of seasoned agribusiness investors, spearheaded by Expedition Ag Partners and S2G Investments. The company will focus on scaling its proprietary ultra-high protein soybean genetics for animal feed, expanding market position in its specialty food grade portfolio, and expanding geographies by leveraging its unique soy germplasm, AI-powered breeding platform, and speed breeding facility.
  • The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Heuermann Lecture on April 29 featured Claudia Ringler, Ph.D., director of natural resources and resilience at the International Food Policy Research Institute. Her keynote address offered a compelling exploration of the often-overlooked connection between irrigation and nutrition. The lecture was hosted as part of the week-long 2025 Water for Food Global Conference by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.
  • Farmers for Sustainable Food announced the release of its 2024 Progress Report, a yearly report that highlights the organization’s major accomplishments and milestones from the previous year.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Preview of 2025 AgGateway Mid-Year Mtg.

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    AgGateway Mid-Year MeetingIt’s time for the Mid-Year Meeting of AgGateway. To get a preview I talked with Brent Kemp, President/CEO, AgGateway.

    In 2025, AgGateway is celebrating 20 years of active engagement with leading agriculture companies in the pursuit of seamless digital connectivity and interoperability across the value chain. We welcome all industry stakeholders to join us for three days of learning and networking this summer.

    The North America Mid-Year Meeting is where member volunteers gather to discuss the work of AgGateway connectivity initiatives and working groups through the first half of the year, and set plans for remainder of the year leading up to our Annual Meeting and Conference in November.

    In addition to task-focused working sessions, segment-based committees share ideas for new projects to initiate. Business presentations and keynote speakers provide additional context for the work of the organization, and fuel high-value networking opportunities throughout the event.

    You can listen to our conversation here: Preview of 2025 AgGateway Mid-Year Mtg. (12:26)

    AgGateway, Audio, Precision Agriculture

    Give Your News Release a Voice

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    AgNewsWireOnce upon a time in 2004, a brand new company called ZimmComm New Media started a service called “Talking News Releases,” which was simply adding sound bites or an audio interview to a press release.

    We started that service because, being broadcasters, we liked to have audio to go with news stories and we hated getting a release and trying to get an interview to go with it and finding out that person is out of the country for the next two weeks! It would be so much nicer if we had the audio right there with the release, right?

    Anyway, that was over 20 years ago and we still have that service, although we stopped calling them talking news releases and will generally be happy to include links to audio with your AgNewsWire release just like we include links to images, at the standard rate of $525. If you would like us to do an interview for you, we do charge an extra $150.

    AgNewsWire releases are sent to nearly 1550 contacts in the agribusiness/agrimarketing industry, including farm broadcasters, ag editors, social media influencers, podcasters, communications specialists, industry leaders, and others. Our open rates average about 35% and audio downloads average about 200.

    Here is a link to an example:
    PowerPollen Receives Foundational Patent for Groundbreaking Pollen Storage Methodology

    When we send out a news release for you we also post it on AgNewsWire and do a story post on AgWired, as well as share on social media. We even have a handy on-line form for you to order a release and send materials and instructions. We try to make it easy.

    ZimmComm Announcement

    Animal Ag News 5/27

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The House reconciliation bill that passed on May 22 contains several provisions that are favorable to dairy farmers and align with key priorities for Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. The package from the House includes a $56.4 billion increase for farm bill programs and is one of the most sweeping rewrites of agricultural and nutrition policy in years, bringing much needed adjustments to key agriculture programs.
  • Michael Dykes, D.V.M., the president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), issued a statement on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s Making Our Children Healthy Again Assessment.
  • National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio, released a statement on the ‘Make American Healthy Again’ (MAHA) Commission report.
  • Wendy Brannen will join the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as Vice President of Communications and Marketing, beginning Monday, June 16th. She will be based in NPPC’s Washington, D.C. public policy office.
  • On February 20, 2025, the Cattle Plaintiffs in the In re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation against JBS, Tyson, Cargill and National Beef received preliminary approval of an $83.5 million settlement with JBS. The class action lawsuit, filed in 2019 by National Farmers Union (NFU), R-CALF USA and four individual ranchers, alleges anticompetitive conduct in the cattle market. Eligible parties may now submit claims under the terms of the JBS settlement. The settlement website, www.CattleAntitrustSettlement.com, informs both cattle feeders and futures traders of the details of the settlement. The website also provides instructions as to how claims can be filed, and how persons can object or opt out of the settlement.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to announce the addition of Gregory Conner as its senior manager of multilateral affairs and market access. In this position, Conner will play a key role in advancing AFIA’s global market access, trade policy and regulatory initiatives, along with communicating to policymakers about these initiatives, representing the AFIA in trade discussions and advocating for science-based regulations to reduce non-tariff barriers.
  • Dr. R. Dean Boyd, swine nutritionist with Animal Nutrition Research, will moderate four small interactive group discussions at World Pork Expo titled Lessons in Swine Nutrition. The hour-long sessions offered will be held June 4th and 5th in the U.S. Soy Hospitality Tent #G520 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Papillon Agricultural Company, developer of premium nutritional products for dairy and beef cattle, has launched a new anti-caking agent DeTerra 365™ to support ruminant immune function with improved feed hygiene.
  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project by researchers from Iowa State University that worked to develop and evaluate bacterin-based vaccines for the control of spotty liver disease in poultry. The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Custom Agronomics Names New CEO

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Florida-based plant nutrition company Custom Agronomics announces Scott Addy as new chief executive officer.

    “Retailers are looking for solutions that deliver real value, and the private label products developed by Custom Agronomics are second to none,” Addy said. “The science is incredibly strong, and the company’s advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities set it apart. I’m excited about the opportunity to help drive continued growth at Custom Ag.”

    Addy brings more than 30 years of experience in the agriculture industry. He most recently served as Vice President of Brand Technology at Wilbur-Ellis, a leader in crop protection, seed and nutritional products. He previously held national leadership roles involving crop protection chemicals and seed.

    Addy was raised on a Georgia farm and earned a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Georgia. He previously worked in sales and marketing roles at DuPont Crop Protection, Griffin, and American Cyanamid.

    Agribusiness, Agronomy, AgWired Precision, people, Precision Agriculture

    Perennial and rTek Partner to Regenerate Degraded Grasslands

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Kazakhstan-based nature-based solutions (NbS) carbon credits project developer rTek has selected Colorado measurement, reporting, and verification company Perennial as its exclusive soil carbon MMRV provider for the next 10 years to deliver high-integrity carbon credits globally.

    The goal of the partnership is to regenerate Kazakhstan’s soils through sustainable agricultural land management by leveraging Perennial’s expertise in digital soil mapping (DSM) and advanced soil organic carbon (SOC) modeling with rTek’s local proficiency in land management, design, and implementation of carbon projects.

    Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this initiative falls under the Kazakhstan Resilient Agroforestry and Rangeland Project, which promotes sustainable pasture management. The activity “Support for Access to International Carbon Markets,” aims to demonstrate how carbon trade can serve as a catalyst for attracting private investments. By doing so, it seeks to enhance sustainable pastureland management, develop critical infrastructure, and facilitate access to international carbon markets for long-term financial sustainability. Set to begin baseline modeling in 2025, this initiative will implement advanced MMRV methodologies compliant with Verra’s VM0032 standards, enabling accurate soil carbon credit generation and enhancing rTek’s capacity to manage and expand grassland restoration.

    The partnership is seeking investors and carbon credit buyers to join them in transforming 500,000+ hectares of Kazakhstan’s long-degraded grasslands into a global example for sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration.

    AgWired Precision, carbon, Precision Agriculture, Soil

    Industry Ag News 5/27

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The Make America Healthy Again Commission released its long-awaited report, which denigrates the safety of key pesticides used by corn growers and other farmers. In response, the National Corn Growers Association released the following statement: “The Make America Healthy Again Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based misinformation about pesticides. We are deeply troubled that claims of this magnitude are being made without any scientific basis or regard for a long history of EPA expert evaluations of these products.”
  • The American Soybean Association strongly rebukes the May 22 Make America Healthy Again Commission report for being brazenly unscientific and damaging to consumer confidence in America’s safe, reliable food system. Should the administration act on the report—which was drafted entirely behind closed doors— it will harm U.S. farmers, increase food costs for consumers, and worsen health outcomes for all Americans. ASA calls on President Trump, who has long been a friend of farmers, to step in and correct the Commission’s deeply misguided report.
  • Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) have reintroduced the Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act (S. 1769). This bill, written in collaboration with American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers), would facilitate farmer-to-farmer conservation education and successful practice adoption by building capacity and increasing support for farmer-led education networks, particularly for historically underserved producers.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) are pleased to announce the creation of the Illinois Youth Institute, as part of the Foundation’s continued expansion of its global Youth Programs. Over the coming year, the Foundation and UIC will partner to plan a one-day immersive event for Illinois students to explore global food security challenges, engage in hands-on science and discover careers in food and agriculture.
  • The AgCareers 2025 Roundtable Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, will feature sessions for attendees to learn about the latest developments in AI and new technology in the agriculture and food industry. The Roundtable education sessions kick off on Wednesday, August 6th, with an “Innovation in the Industry” keynote session. Billi Hunt, Executive Director of America’s Cultivation Corridor, presenting an overview of the industry’s latest technological advancements and trends and how they affect people recruitment, management and retention.
  • Over 100 expert speakers participated in the week-long 2025 Water for Food Global Conference held in Lincoln, Neb. April 28 to May 2, 2025. More than 350 attendees from 23 different countries came together to tackle the critical challenge of ensuring a resilient future with water and food security for all at the event hosted by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska. All conference sessions were recorded and will be available to view on the institute’s YouTube Channel in the coming months. More information can be found on the conference website.
  • More than 4,700 food safety professionals, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the globe gathered for the 2025 Food Safety Summit, held May 11–15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. The event brought together 1,210 in-person attendees and 3,546 virtual participants to explore the latest advancements and pressing challenges in food safety. The expanded exhibit hall featured 160 leading vendors—marking a 28 percent increase from 2024—and showcased innovative solutions across the industry.
  • The Southern Peanut Growers Conference is scheduled for July 23-25, 2025 at
    Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. This year’s theme is “Ridin’ Out the Storm.” View the conference schedule and register online here. Registration rates increase by $75 on June 16, 2025.
  • Texas Tech University graduate Allie Herring has joined the Agri-Pulse team of journalists as an intern this summer in Washington. Herring will write for the Agri-Pulse and Agri-Pulse West newsletters — which are must-read, subscriber-only products offering the latest ag and food policy information — and contribute to the Agri-Pulse DriveTime podcast and Newsmakers TV show available at Agri-Pulse.com. She will also help compile the annual Agri-Pulse CEO salary report.
  • Join the Livestock Publications Council for the next Coffee and Collaboration on Wednesday, May 28 at noon CT. Speakers include Kelsey Vejraska, Audio Visual Specialist, American Hereford Association and Dylan Davidson, Director of Marketing and Creative Design, American Paint Horse Association. This free monthly webinar is moderated by Jennifer Shike and Angie Stump Denton. No registration is necessary. It’s open to members and non-members.
  • The Syngenta RTP Community Grant Program is celebrating 10 years of providing valuable support that has helped address important needs in the community pertaining to agriculture and STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) including education, hunger relief, nutrition, and water and land conservation. Over the past 10 years, the RTP Community Grant Program has distributed approximately $222,500 in funding to local organizations engaged in initiatives such as community gardens, food pantries, STEM programs, lake cleanup, land conservation, and agriculture education programs.
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