Trump Talks Up Farmers in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

President Donald Trump celebrated the passage of his One Big Beautiful Bill and touted his plans for the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding next year with an address at the Iowa State Fairgrounds focused on farmers.

“This bill rescues over two million family farms from the so-called estate tax or the death tax. In other words, before Trump, you were losing farms to the banks,” said Trump. “You pass away, you leave everything to your children, and they have to pay a big estate tax or a death tax as we call it, and they couldn’t do it. They go out and borrow money and all of a sudden the bank is foreclosing on the farm. Not going to happen. You have no more estate tax. You have no more death tax to pay.”

While noting how illegal immigration has dropped to zero, President Trump talked about a plan the administration is developing that would allow farmers to vouch for immigrants who help them. “Some of the farmers, you know, they’ve had people working for them for years, and we’re going to do something,” said Trump. “We’re going to sort of put the farmers in charge and if a farmer’s been with one of these people that worked so hard. If a farmer is willing to vouch for these people…I think we’re going to have to just say that’s going to be good.”

Turning to tariffs and trade deals, President Trump highlighted his deal with the United Kingdom. “I did get beef and I got ethanol into Europe. They didn’t want to do it, you know, they never took our beef and they never took our ethanol and we said you got to do it and they did and they were great. We made a wonderful trade deal with them, but we’re doing that all over,” said Trump. “Just yesterday we reached a historic trade agreement with Vietnam to open their markets to American exports with zero tariffs. They get zero tariffs. And you’re going to be giving them vast amounts of farm product including beef, pork, poultry, dairy, and pure Iowa ethanol…The golden age of America is upon us.”

President Trump also announced plans for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in July 2026 as part of the celebration of America’s 250th Birthday.

Listen to part of President Trump’s remarks here:
President Trump in Iowa (4:36)

Audio, Exports, Farming, labor

Ag Groups React to Big Beautiful Bill Passage

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) says the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress Thursday is a “game-changer for America.”

“The One Big Beautiful Bill is a victory for rural America, making the largest investment in agriculture in decades, restoring integrity to SNAP, and saving millions of family farms from the death tax. This bill gives President Trump the tools he needs to keep America safe, strong, and free.”

Agriculture groups rushed to send out press releases mostly in praise of the bill that will be signed by President Trump on the Fourth of July.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says the bill will bring certainty to America’s farmers and ranchers. “More than half of farmers are losing money, so an increase in reference prices is desperately needed, and tax tools will help farmers and ranchers plan for the next season and the next generation.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said, “This legislation will protect family farmers and ranchers from the devastation of the Death Tax, it will avoid a massive year-end tax hike that could have put cattle operations out of business, it expands and protects many of the small business tax deductions that family producers rely on to save more of the hard-earned money, and it funds critical foreign animal disease prevention measures that protect cattle health.”

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Kenneth Hartman, Jr. says the legislation contains several important and longstanding priorities for corn growers, including the extension of key tax provisions and investments in commodity and trade promotion programs.

American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland specifically noted the provisions included that secure key farm programs like crop insurance and tax provisions like the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. “At a time of great uncertainty for the agriculture economy, the support of Congress to enhance key programs and vital domestic markets for our farmers is critical.”

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the bill includes more certainty for ethanol producers. “The extension and modifications to the 45Z clean fuel production credit, reinstatement of the Research and Development immediate expensing provisions, and improvement of the 45Q carbon sequestration and utilization credit will provide a growth-oriented tax policy climate that ethanol producers can count on, improving the role that renewable fuels can play in helping reach our nation’s energy independence goals.”

U.S. Peanut Federation chairman Jamie Brown says peanut producers will benefit from specific provisions that would normally be in a farm bill, including an increase in the reference price for the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, a voluntary base acres update, a marketing loan increase, and modified payment limitations that reflect increased costs of production.

American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President and CEO Andy LaVigne says all that is good but “there is still important work to be addressed in agricultural research, conservation, and other regulatory reforms and we urge Members of Congress to continue this forward momentum to address critical remaining regulatory and programmatic updates.”

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew also praised the agricultural provisions in the bill, despite being paired with “harmful tradeoffs” such as cuts to SNAP, but added that, “A comprehensive farm bill policy is still urgently needed, one that strengthens rural communities, ensures fair markets, and reflects the full scope of challenges facing today’s farm families.”

AEM, Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Animal Agriculture, ASTA, Biofuels, Ethanol, NCBA, NCGA

ZimmCast 748 – Preview of 2025 Ag Media Summit

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

Let’s get a preview of the 2025 Agricultural Media Summit with Shelia Grobosky, BioZyme, and AMS Steering Committee Chair and LPC President.

It’s all about meetings, keynote and general sessions, breakouts, InfoExpo, awards, ACT student members, sponsors and more.

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 748 - Preview of 2025 Ag Media Summit (15:05)

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 Media Summit, Agribusiness, Audio, Media, ZimmCast

Precision Ag News 7/2

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Syngenta is accelerating the rollout of its nature-inspired, science-based biological solutions, responding to rising demand for sustainable, high-performance tools that help farmers boost productivity efficiently and responsibly. It also contributes toward Syngenta’s fulfilment of commitments outlined in its Sustainability Priorities.
  • GDM, a global plant genetics company committed to empowering farmers and advancing global agriculture, announced an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in AgReliant Genetics, a leading North American provider of corn and soybean seeds. The strategic acquisition brings together GDM’s global scale, long-time reputation for world-class innovation and elite soybean genetics expertise with AgReliant’s market leadership in corn breeding and genetics, strengthening GDM’s portfolio of high-performing seed solutions for growers and underscoring its commitment to growth in the region.
  • Huma, Inc., has formed a strategic partnership with John Deere Financial to offer financing programs for its full line of carbon-based crop nutrition, soil health and crop protection products.
  • Fertilizer flexibility is a necessity. Join ICL Growing Solutions for a deep dive discussion into the versatility and value of polyhalite — sold by ICL as Polysulphate® —and its derivative product, ICL PKpluS®, in diverse crop systems. The CropLife Industry Innovation Series webinar is scheduled for July 9. Register here.
  • The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is excited to announce that the 2025 NCF-Envirothon, an international environmental and natural resources academic competition for high school students, will take place July 20–26, 2025, at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.
  • The Plant Based Products Council, which represents companies and stakeholders at the forefront of innovation in the ag bioeconomy, released a statement expressing disappointment about the BioPreferred Program being removed from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
  • Are you a U.S. soybean grower committed to conservation? Share your sustainability story, and you could be honored with the American Soybean Association’s 2026 Conservation Legacy Award.
  • Join the Nebraska Water Center and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District as we experience urban water management, winter agriculture, and transboundary aquifer management. We’ll go behind the scenes and meet the experts to get a first-hand look at water and natural resources in the American Southwest. This tour has been rescheduled from the original dates of February 2-7, 2025. Registration is now open for the 2025 Water and Natural Resources Tour.
  • Biobest has just announced the results of their avocado trials. After more than 35 years of supporting fruit and vegetable growers, Biobest has now demonstrated that bumblebee pollination can also be a solution for the complex pollination issues in avocado production.
  • Meister Media Worldwide has announced the CEAg World Impact Awards to recognize excellence in the controlled environment agriculture space (CEA). The new Impact Awards will recognize CEAg Innovators, Visionary Growers, Emerging Leaders, and Educator/Researchers. Nominations open July 7 at CEAgWorld.com/impact for the new awards and will close August 7. Finalists in each of the categories will be selected on or by September 8, 2025. Winners in each category will be recognized at the CEAg World Conference and Expo on November 19-21 in Durham, N.C.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 7/1

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • CattleCon 2026 is heading to the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3-5, and it’s time to get involved in the largest cattle industry event of the year. Applications are being accepted for the NCBA National Anthem Contest, sponsored by Norbrook®, internships and scholarships.
  • As of June 1, there were 75.1 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up slightly from June 2024 and up one percent from March 1, 2025, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • In a strongly-worded complaint sent to the Food and Drug Administration, America’s butter marketers asked the agency to take action against Country Crock’s “dairy free salted butter,” asserting that the product’s label violates federal regulations.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and Ever.Ag are excited to announce that registration for the fourth annual DairyTech conference is open. The event will bring together industry leaders, innovators and experts to explore the latest innovations in food and beverage supply chains—from farm to road to plant.
  • Safety professionals from across the poultry industry will soon gather for the 2025 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry that is scheduled for Aug. 18-20 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla. Sponsored by the Georgia Tech Research Institute/ATRP and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the three-day event is tailored to facility and corporate safety personnel and will feature key presentations on critical industry topics and the latest updates on government policy.
  • The USPOULTRY Foundation is now accepting applications from colleges and universities for the Industry Education Recruitment Funding program. The funding supports student recruitment at colleges and universities that cultivate careers in the poultry and egg industry. The application can be accessed by clicking here.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the country by milk volume, announced the appointment of Jim Eckberg as the new Director of Science and Innovation.
  • A team of food science students from New Mexico State University (NMSU) won first place in Dairy Management Inc.’s (DMI) national New Product Competition with Nuestro Corazón – an innovative, on-the-go snack pack made with nearly 80 percent dairy content. Judges from across the dairy industry selected the NMSU team for best meeting this year’s challenge: developing a dairy-forward product aligned with consumer interest in heart health and weight management. The team’s winning product, Nuestro Corazón – Spanish for “Our Heart” – is a snack pack that combines dairy-rich nutrition with convenience. Each pack features protein-rich cheddar and mozzarella crackers paired with Greek yogurt spreads in flavors such as chimichurri, harissa and dulce de leche. A single serving delivers more than 79 percent dairy content and provides 20 percent of the recommended daily value of protein.
  • There’s new data on the effects of the nationwide shortage of rural veterinarians, specifically across the state of Oklahoma. Farm Journal Foundation recently completed its first statewide assessment report on the rural and food systems veterinary shortage in the first of three pilot states for the organization’s Veterinary Workforce Solutions Program.
  • As the dairy industry increasingly adopts automation with the use of sensors and robotics, researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife are helping producers harness this evolving technology to help optimize production and improve the health and well-being of dairy cattle. Research presented at the recent U.S. Precision Livestock Farming Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska included Evaluating Effects of Heat Stress on the Efficacy of Robotic Milking Systems, AI-Driven Quantification of Heat Stress and Mastitis in Dairy Cattle, and Using Computer Vision to Detect Different Digital Dermatitis Conditions.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    New Study Shows Economic Power of U.S. Corn

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    A new study released by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) shows corn farming is a major engine for the U.S. economy, generating an estimated $123 billion in total economic output in 2024, with an estimated contribution of $50 billion to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    The study, entitled The Economic Value of Corn Farming in the United States for 2024, also shows that corn farming supported over 440,000 jobs and provided $29 billion in wages, strengthening communities in rural America and across the entire nation.

    In 2024, corn farmers in the United States grew 14.9 billion bushels of corn for grain valued at $64.7 billion. For the 2024/25 marketing year the United States is the world’s largest producer and exporter of corn. The contribution of corn farming and linkages extended across 506 different industry sectors in all 50 states. Even Hawaii and Alaska benefit from corn farming. The states with the least economic impact from corn are actually Rhode Island and Vermont with $6.4 and 7.3 million in economic output respectively. Not surprisingly, Illinois and Iowa are the top two states, with $18.5 and 19.2 billion.

    Corn, NCGA

    Huma Partners with John Deere Financial

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Humic products leader Huma, Inc., is partnering with John Deere Financial to offer financing programs for its full line of carbon-based crop nutrition, soil health and crop protection products.

    “Just in time application is a prevailing practice for crop production these days,” says Fred Nichols, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for Huma. “John Deere Financial streamlines the purchase and financing process, making it easier for our customers to quickly and more easily improve their soil health, crop health and financial health.

    “Along with unmatched reach and convenience, John Deere Financial provides an excellent platform for offering very attractive purchase incentives throughout the year,” Nichols adds. “Look for some great fall offers from Huma in the upcoming months.”

    Headquartered in Gilbert, Arizona, Huma is a fully integrated provider of dry and liquid humic products, operating mines in New Mexico and Idaho, and offering carbon-based humic solutions and biostimulants across the world.

    AgWired Precision, John Deere, Precision Agriculture, regenerative ag, Soil, Technology

    Alltech Releases 2024 Sustainability Report

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Alltech’s newly-released 2024 Sustainability Report highlights progress toward emissions reduction, champions agriculture’s role in building resilient food systems

    “Our vision of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty® recognizes that thriving farms and food businesses are essential for a more sustainable planet,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “When producers are equipped to succeed — to be profitable, to build a legacy and reinvest in their land and communities — we all move closer to a world of abundance.”

    The 2024 report highlights a year of strong momentum and measurable impact: Alltech achieved double-digit business growth in 2024 while reducing its Scopes 1 and 2 emissions by 7.8%. Since 2021, Alltech has reduced those emissions by 26%, more than halfway to its 2030 target of 42%, proving that strong business performance can go hand in hand with environmental progress.

    Among Alltech’s 2024 achievements, the company invested $2.04 million in six energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, cutting emissions by 3,602 metric tons of CO2-e. The company also expanded its zero-waste-to-landfill practices, with five facilities achieving full zero-waste status in 2024. In water stewardship, Alltech launched a strategy to benchmark usage, identify high-usage sites, implement conservation technologies and share global best practices.

    The report also spotlights Alltech’s role in telling agriculture’s story in a new way through the World Without Cows documentary, which was viewed by more than 5,000 people last year at private screenings, film festivals and events around the world. “Through the film, its digital platform and in-person events all over the world, we are creating space for science-led storytelling that encourages critical thinking and sparking broader conversations about livestock, food security and sustainability,” Lyons said.

    The film was screened at CattleCon in February where we interviewed Dr. Lyons about it.
    Interview with Dr. Mark Lyons (4:59)

    AgWired Animal, Alltech, Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, Livestock

    Industry Ag News 6/27

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Bob Ellison, a trained broadcast journalist with decades of experience, is joining Agri-Pulse as managing editor.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) recently announced that Alex Enlow has joined ARA as the new Director of Communications and Member Experience.
  • The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) hosted its fifth annual Farm Tour, welcoming Congressional staff, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees, and representatives from the University of Maryland. This immersive event offered attendees a firsthand look at wheat production and the essential partnerships that support American agriculture.
  • AgCareers is proud to extend an exclusive invitation to senior leaders and decision-makers in the agriculture and food industries for a high-level leadership experience—the Executive & Senior Leadership Forum, taking place on August 5, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri.
  • HLK, a creative agency headquartered in St. Louis, has been named marketing and product brand PR agency of record for Pivot Bio, a forward-thinking ag tech company pioneering nitrogen solutions.
  • Ports of Indiana has selected Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a leading global merchant and processor of agricultural goods, to operate the grain export facility at its Lake Michigan port.
  • The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) reiterated its strong support for timely, bipartisan reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) during testimony before the House Agriculture Committee. Testifying on behalf of NGFA and its more than 700 member companies, Nick Friant, Director of Raw Material Quality at Cargill and Chairman of NGFA’s Grain Grades and Weights Committee, stressed the importance of the USGSA in maintaining America’s reputation as a reliable supplier of quality grain.
  • Program sponsors American Soybean Association and Corteva are seeking farmers to apply for the 2026 ASA Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program. Learn more about the program and how to apply here.
  • Project GREEEN, Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative based at Michigan State University and supported by the Michigan Plant Coalition, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension, is undergoing a leadership change.
  • Farm Credit Mid-America announced the results of its recent Board of Directors and 2026 Nominating Committee elections. Customer-owners with voting stock elected the following to its Board of Directors:
    · Arkansas/Missouri – Dane Coomer, Piggott Arkansas; re-elected
    · Kentucky – Amanda Gajdzik, Shelbyville, Kentucky; newly elected
    · Ohio – Rachael Vonderhaar, Camden, Ohio; re-elected
    · Tennessee – Ben Neale, Columbia, Tennessee; newly elected
    • Zimfo Bytes

    DWFI Podcast 43 – Irrigation and Global Health

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    In the 43rd episode of the Water for Food Podcast, host Frances Hayes speaks with Claudia Ringler of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) about the crucial link between irrigation and global health, expanding on Ringler’s recent Heuermann Lecture as part of the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference and previous episodes in this podcast. Together they explore how irrigation can improve health outcomes while also addressing potential unintended negative impacts and how to avoid them when designing irrigation solutions.

    The conversation highlights successful irrigation projects, strategies for ensuring access to irrigation for beneficial outcomes like decreased malnutrition and improved hygiene, and necessary policy changes and international collaborations to maximize positive health impacts globally.

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI podcast episode 43 41:23

    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:

    Food, Irrigation, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food