CattleCon 2026 Breaks Attendance Record

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

NCBA photo of trade show floor

CattleCon 2026 has broken the all-time event attendance record this week, with more than 9,400 cattle producers and industry stakeholders converging in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

“There’s a lot of smiles, a lot of optimism, and everybody’s having a great time, not only with the just current state of the beef industry and how good things look for us, but also we’re having a great CattleCon,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall. “A lot of good speakers. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a hit. And of course, having the largest trade show in the beef industry doesn’t hurt either, and folks are able to get out there and see some new products, some new services to help them get even better at producing beef.”

On the agenda Thursday, cattle producers will hear from Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who Woodall says gave the industry a big win this year already.

“A year ago, we were still dealing with the proposal that we saw from the Biden administration that took meat off the center of the plate. It replaced it with beans, peas, and lentils. And we just weren’t happy with that. And we had to fight and fight hard to be able to present the science to Secretary Kennedy and his team. And you know what? Secretary Kennedy and his team took that science. They looked at beef, and as a result, we have the new dietary guidelines for America. We have that inverted pyramid that has beef at the top. And, you know, he went so far as to even talk about how beef tallow is a great fat to cook with as well. So a huge win for us as cattle producers.”

Listen to an interview with Woodall from CattleCon.
Interview with Colin Woodall (6:00)

Official CattleCon 2026 Photography

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Environmental Stewardship Awards at CattleCon 26

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

ESA National winner Wine Glass Ranch in Imperial, Nebraska

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) presented Wine Glass Ranch in Imperial, Nebraska, with the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) National winner during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville this week.

“This ranch has been in my family for 140 years, and we are the stewards of the ground,” said Logan Pribbeno with Wine Glass Ranch. “We are grazing the best and leaving the rest for the benefit of our soil health.”

Jeff and Connie Pribbeno and their son and daughter-in-law Logan and Brianna Pribbeno own and operate Wine Glass Ranch, located in western Nebraska near the Colorado border. The Pribbenos believe long-term care for their operation’s ecology translates to profitability, which is why they have married together the values of ranching for profit and environmental stewardship to make a living.

The Pribbenos were the Region VII winners. The other regional winners included:
Region I: Whispering Hills Farm, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Region II: M&D Overstreet Ranch, Kathleen, Florida
Region III: Smith Family Farms, Bankston, Iowa
Region IV: McFaddin Ranch, Victoria, Texas
Region V: G&G Livestock and Cathey Cattle Company, Polson, Montana

Listen to interviews with two of the regional ESA winners below:

Interview with Britany Cathey and Gregory Gardner, ESA Award Region V Winner (7:26)

Interview with Bob McCann, ESA Award Region IV Winner (6:18)

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Precision Ag News 2/4

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Nutrien Ltd. announced the appointment of Chris Reynolds as Executive Vice President, Global Sales, a role created to unify leadership across the wholesale and retail sales organizations and strengthen how the business delivers value to customers worldwide. The appointment follows a planned leadership transition as Jeff Tarsi, who has led Nutrien’s global retail business through a period of significant growth and transformation, steps into an advisory role.
  • Bailey AG, a marketing consultancy serving agricultural businesses across the Midwest and Canada, today announced the launch of Tumbleweed™, a new digital marketing tool designed to help rural businesses and ag retailers stay consistent, organized, and relevant on social media.
  • Cropin, the world’s largest deployed AI platform for food and agriculture, has launched a unique agrifood ‘ecosystem’ to reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with one of the world’s most unpredictable yet vital industries. Drawing on more than a decade of data collection and interpretation, Cropin Ecosystem connects agriculture and the digital world by combining disparate streams of data – from the field onwards – with artificial intelligence, allowing players within the food chain to mitigate agricultural and supply risks to build more predictable, resilient supply chains.
  • Two leaders in the agricultural biologicals sector have signed on as the first sponsors of a comprehensive, farmer-centric market research effort around row-crop farmers’ use of agricultural biologicals. The study, “Biologicals: Row-Crop Farmer Value, Perception and Potential,” is being launched by Stratovation Group, a firm specializing in research, marketing and communications in the agricultural sector.
  • Genvor, Inc., a pioneer in AI-accelerated peptide technology for sustainable agriculture, announced the appointment of Dr. George Stavrides as Executive Vice President, Business Development & Commercialization, effective February 2, 2026. In this role, Dr. Stavrides will lead Genvor’s commercial strategy and execution, focusing on expanding strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and collaboration opportunities with global agricultural companies.
  • Bushel Plus Ltd., a global leader in harvest optimization and agricultural technology, announced it will transition to a new company name, BranValt, with the official change taking effect in July 2026. The rebrand reflects the company’s evolution from a pioneer in harvest loss measurement to a global provider of integrated solutions that help farmers protect yields, improve efficiency, and maximize the value of every acre at harvest.
  • The National Wheat Foundation announced the twelve winners of Top-Quality Awards in the 2025 National Wheat Yield Contest. The 28 National Yield Winners all sent in ten pounds of wheat which was analyzed for grain, milling, flour and end-use qualities. A panel of thirteen experts went over the results and determined which of the wheats earned the coveted, “top-quality” designation. Each Top-Quality Award recipient will receive a $250 cash prize at the Winners’ Reception on February 24, 2026, in San Antonio, held in conjunction with Commodity Classic.
  • Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc. is excited to announce its Air Command™ Section Control System, designed for Unverferth Pro-Force® dry fertilizer spreaders, has received the prestigious AE50 Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
  • Sakata Seed America announced the promotion of Justin Davis to Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vegetables, effective February 1, 2026.
  • Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements on pesticide labels are putting applicators in a tough spot. They’re responsible for verifying compliance before spraying, but some of the information they need lives on the farm. Many applicators don’t have visibility into the practices growers are using to meet runoff mitigation point requirements. Acre Blitz is solving this with two products that work together: the ESA Field Exchange, where growers document their field-level mitigations, and the ESA Check API, which delivers that data to applicators, retailers, cooperatives, and crop consultants at the moment they need it.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Cattle Producers Gather at CattleCon 2026

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Almost 9,000 cattle producers, industry partners and stakeholders from around the country are in downtown Nashville this week for CattleCon 2026, the largest cattle industry event of the year.

    NCBA President-Elect Gene Copenhaver of Virginia says there is a lot of excitement in the industry right now after some big wins. “I think maybe the biggest one that happened was recently with dietary guidelines, you know, not only putting proteins, beef and pork and other good proteins back in the pyramid, but turning the pyramid upside down,” said Copernaver.

    Cattlemen will get to hear from the Trump administration official most responsible for that food pyramid change tomorrow at CattleCon when Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will join National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein for a fireside chat to talk national nutrition priorities and the recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

    CattleCon 2026 has some new activities this year including “Next Generation Day” and the Emerging Leaders event on Thursday, as well as a “Career Crawl” with companies at the NCBA Trade Show to explore internships, job openings and career opportunities while engaging in meaningful conversations with agriculture professionals.

    Copenhaver says it is critical right now for the industry to look ahead ti the next generation. We have a smart, innovative technology-wise generation coming forward,” he said. “And I think we have to develop more tools as an association in the industry for them to come in. And the transition part, we got to get some tools for the older generation and make it easier for them to be able to move out the operation to them and not be so hard on them tax wise or otherwise.”

    Interview with Gene Copenhaver, NCBA President-elect (7:06)

    AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    Former Industry Leaders Warn of Farm Crisis

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    A bipartisan group of former leaders of America’s major agricultural commodity associations and biofuels organizations, farmer leaders, and former senior USDA officials, sent a letter to Congress this week sounding the alarm about the current state of the farm economy and the potential for “widespread collapse of American agriculture.”

    In a letter released today to the leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, twenty-seven former agricultural executives and officials with decades of experience detailed how current Administration policies have harmed the farm economy and the need to take substantial action. The signatories include past presidents and CEOs of the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Barley Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, US Grains Council, and Renewable Fuels Association, past Directors of the Illinois and Nebraska Departments of Agriculture, and other farm leaders and senior agricultural policy experts.

    Among the letter signatories are former presidents of NCGA Harold Wolfe and Pam Johnson, past NCGA CEO Jon Doggett, former RFA chair Randy Doyal, and past RFA CEO Bob Dinneen.

    “First and foremost, what we want to do is to start a conversation,” said Dinneen. “Let’s focus on the solutions. We outline what we think some of them might be, but we don’t have all the answers. Let’s figure that out. The bottom line is we’re in a perilous state, and we say that without hyperbole or exaggeration. It is perilous. We need to figure it out.”

    Dinneen says the group offered nine actions that can be taken to help restore the farm economy. “Let’s end the tariffs on farm inputs. Let’s try to open up markets elsewhere. Let’s stop some of the chaotic trade policies that are out there. But there’s more than that. We think even on biofuels, there are things that can be done, and Congress has been irresponsible in not addressing the things that they could be doing to increase biofuel demand. Let’s get E15 year-round done once and for all.”

    Read the letter to Congress and learn more in this interview with Dinneen.
    Interview with Bob Dinneen (14:39)

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    Animal Ag News 2/3

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • There were 86.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2026, according to the Cattle report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council and Consortium for Common Food Names welcomed the United States’ signing of reciprocal trade agreements with El Salvador and Guatemala this week, underscoring the importance of reinforcing long-standing market access gains for U.S. dairy exporters and preventing the emergence of new trade barriers.
  • The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) has unveiled a new logo that reflects the strength of its 15-year collaboration among its three partner organizations – the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the Meat Institute. The new brand identity reinforces IPPE’s role as the premier destination where technology and innovation converge across the global animal protein and feed value chain. The new logo features a modern feel with modern typography in updated colors and fonts, as well as updated graphic elements to emphasize the interconnected nature of the poultry, meat and animal food industries. The new IPPE logo is an evolution of the brand and honors the event’s legacy while providing a forward-looking vision for IPPE’s continued growth and relevance.
  • Bill Griffith, chief operations officer for Peco Foods, Tuscaloosa, Ala., was elected chair of the board of directors of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The board meeting was held during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2026 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). Griffith previously served as vice chair.
  • The 2026 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) has been a trade show with strong crowds, busy exhibitors and great energy evident throughout the expo floor. This year, IPPE is approaching 33,000 registered attendees, more than 663,000 square feet of exhibit space and 1,385-plus exhibitors. It is the largest trade show floor square footage in IPPE’s history.
  • The 2026 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) recognized three exhibitors with the New Product Showcase “Best of the Best” award. KENT Nutrition was recognized as “Best in the Best” in the Animal Food category for their product, ARGIS.Vencomatic Group was recognized in the Live Production category for Meggsius Connect. ACEBRI Colombia was recognized as “Best of the Best” in the Processing category for their product, The Eco-Carrier: Ergonomic Design in 100% Recovered PET.
  • Join the Livestock Publications Council for a luncheon at CattleCon in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, February 4 from 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. The cost is $50 and a limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Register here.
  • Agriculture media partners are invited to attend the 2026 National Pork Industry Forum. The event offers the opportunity to gain insight from industry leaders, witness producer-led decisions related to Checkoff funding and industry priorities and learn about timely topics affecting the industry. Click here to register by 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb 4.
  • The House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 4255) with bipartisan support. The bill would remove federal ESA protections for the Mexican wolf, restoring commonsense wildlife management authority and providing much-needed relief to cattle producers and rural communities across the Southwest. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) strongly support H.R. 4255, which would reduce regulatory barriers that have prevented effective management to safeguard livestock and rural communities from this abundant apex predator.
  • The Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy group, elected one corporate member and two dairy farmers to its board of directors during the group’s business meeting at DBA’s 2026 Dairy Strong conference in Green Bay.
  • This year at CattleCon, Envu will be showcasing its innovative RangeView® digital tool along with its brand new CERES TAG integration. At Envu booth #2323, ranchers will receive real-time demonstrations of RangeView’s features and benefits and discover how CERES TAG’s GPS livestock tracking integration deepens analytics for superior return on investment.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    NCBA Announces Policy Priorities at CattleCon 2026

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    NCBA’s Ethan Lane provides DC Update at CattleCon 26

    As CattleCon 2026 kicked off this week in Nashville, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced its 2026 policy priorities following approval by the organization’s Executive Committee. NCBA’s focus centers on policies that directly impact producer profitability, including reducing regulatory costs, defending free markets, expanding trade opportunities, and maintaining strong beef demand.

    NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane says producers are enjoying high prices right now but that comes with challenges. “It’s time to figure out where we go from here, right?.. And this is the meeting where that policy process really kicks off so that there can be some real discussions about how to make things work better, how to close some open gates, how to make sure that we’re putting that government affairs horsepower from NCBA on the target, where it needs to be to make sure that we’re making it easier for producers to sustain that run, make sure that we’re rebuilding the herd in a responsible way and creating that stable environment, especially for young producers that are looking for that entry point into the supply chain and don’t necessarily have an operation to inherit,” said Lane.

    NCBA’s policy priorities for 2026 include:
    – Continue to press the administration to roll back harmful regulations to keep working lands working.
    – Enhance and strengthen U.S. mitigation measures against the incursion of New World Screwworm.
    – Protect the U.S. cattle herd from foreign animal diseases and pests through heightened awareness and preparedness actions.
    – Expand market access for U.S. beef exports and hold trade partners accountable to ensure equivalent animal health and food safety standards for imported beef.
    – Promote scienced-based nutrition policies and sound, fact-based information for consumers.
    – Push for further hours-of-service flexibility, increased truck weights, and continue delaying ELD requirements for livestock haulers.
    – Safeguard the U.S cattle and beef supply chain by working with the administration to ensure there is a strong workforce to limit processing disruptions for producers.

    Learn more in this interview.
    CattleCon Interview with Ethan Lane, NCBA (7:43)

    AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

    Industry Ag News 1/30

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching a new online portal to streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons, which can include businesses and governments, under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The new online portal is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and protect American farmland as USDA continues its implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan.
  • The U.S. agricultural land market is shifting after years of steady growth. Although land values are still high historically, current signs indicate a more complex situation driven by local and regional factors rather than nationwide trends. “After years of steady growth, we’re seeing the farmland market stabilize,” said Colton Lacina, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company. “This isn’t a sign of collapse but a recalibration that reflects current commodity prices, input costs and regional production conditions.”
  • Donald Chase, peanut farmer from Oglethorpe, Georgia, was elected chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission during the January monthly board meeting. This is Chase’s first term serving as chairman. He previously served as vice chairman and succeeds Joe Boddiford of Sylvania, Georgia.
  • The American Soybean Association released a statement warning of threats to the integrity of longstanding U.S. biofuel policies following the House of Representatives’ establishment of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council. The Council was developed to identify solutions to policy disputes preventing the passage of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, legislation to provide for the sale of year-round E15 fuel blends. However, the establishment resolution directs the Council to review a broad range of policies, including critical biofuel programs that support domestic markets for U.S. soybeans.
  • Syngenta and Statkraft, a leading provider of innovative green energy solutions in Europe, have signed a virtual power purchase agreement (vPPA) covering Syngenta’s CP & Seeds operations for a period of five years. The volume amounts to 125 GWh per year and a total of 625 GWh of green electricity by the end of the contract in 2030.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) will be gathering April 27-29, in Washington, D.C., for this year’s Washington Watch event. Additional information on registration and hotel reservations will be sent to members via email in February.
  • TalkingTractors.com announced the launch of its Nationwide Heritage Tractor Tribute, a hands-on, grassroots initiative honoring American agriculture while commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. The nationwide effort invites individuals, families, schools, youth organizations, businesses, and communities in all 50 states to design and decorate small wooden tractors representing their state’s agricultural heritage and role in the American story.
  • American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall highlights the urgent need for legislation expanding the bridge support program for farmers, reinforced by new analysis indicating the economic crisis in farm country is likely to continue this year.
  • The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the BASF Wheat scholarships for 2026. Two exceptional college students pursuing careers in agriculture will be awarded $2500 this semester thanks to our partner, BASF. NWF selected Jacob Bingaman, who is attending Oregon State University and pursuing a degree in Ag and Food Business Management. Paul McCalister from Abernathy, Texas was also selected to receive a scholarship. Paul is attending West Texas A&M University and studying Ag Business.
  • America’s Cultivation Corridor announced its new slate of board officers for the 2026-27 leadership term. Todd Frazier, Vice President of U.S. Marketing for Corteva, will serve as the chair of the board of directors. Tom Mangan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sukup Manufacturing Co., will serve as vice-chair.
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    Saski Receives Cotton Genetics Research Award

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Dr. Christopher Saski (L) receives award at 2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences

    At the recent Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Dr. Christopher Saski, Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University, was presented with the 2025 Cotton Genetics Research Award. Saski also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia, the University of Arkansas, and Colorado State University, and has also directed the Clemson University Genomics Institute and the Genomics and Computational Biology Laboratory.

    Over his career, Dr. Saski has authored or co-authored 126 scientific journal articles and has a patent pending for his team’s work related to an improved transformation and regeneration system for upland cotton. Dr. Saski’s program is guided by the theme, “Building Better Cotton,” and his accomplishments speak to that. Dr. Saski developed strong relationships with public and private breeders and led a Beltwide collaboration to rapidly address FOV4 with three prominent manuscripts and the public release of six highly resistant FOV4 upland lines. Dr. Saski has also contributed significantly to the development of genomic resources that currently enable cotton improvement.

    The Cotton Genetics Research Award was established in 1961 to recognize and encourage basic research in cotton genetics, cytogenetics, and breeding. It is administered by the Joint Cotton Breeding Committee, consisting of representatives of the NCC, the USDA, state experiment stations, Cotton Incorporated, and commercial breeders.

    2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

    Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

    U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Appoints Co-Directors

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has announced the appointment of Marjory Walker and Liz Hershfield as co-directors to accelerate the program’s growth by advancing market adoption, developing new market-driven offerings, and fostering greater collaboration across the entire cotton value chain.

    Walker and Hershfield will oversee distinct but complementary pillars of the program. Walker will lead the operational and programmatic framework, providing strategic oversight for the Standards & Assurance, Field Programs, Communications & Marketing, and Operations teams. She will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Trust Protocol’s verification process and evolving its standards to incorporate regenerative practices, while advancing its mission through risk mitigation, clear messaging and stakeholder engagement. Concurrently, Hershfield will lead the Trust Protocol’s global market development and supply chain teams, overseeing traceability systems, operations, training, and assurance to ensure integrity and member adherence across the supply chain, deepening engagement with mills, manufacturers, brands, and retailers, and connecting sustainability outcomes with enhanced value for members.

    In addition to their new Cotton Trust Protocol roles, Walker will continue to serve as Vice President of Council Operations and Director of Communications for the National Cotton Council (NCC), while Hershfield will remain the Executive Director of Cotton Council International (CCI), the export and promotion arm of NCC.

    Walker recently gave an update on the protocol program, which celebrated five years in 2025.
    Marjory Walker, Cotton Trust Protocol - interview 3:44

    2026 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Photo Album

    Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, Sustainability