Passing of Randy Krotz

Chuck Zimmerman 1 Comment

Randy Krotz interview with Cindy ZimmermanRandy Krotz became a good friend of Cindy and mine. Over the years we’ve not only interviewed him in different roles like the original USFRA but many more. In this photo Cindy is doing an interview with Randy in the golf cart we were using at Farm Progress Show in 2017. You can listen to the interview here.

Here are the companies Randy worked for including FMC, Monsanto, v-Fluence Interactive, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, National Corn Growers Association, and U. S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. Since 2018, Randy has served as CEO of AgWiki, a global social media platform committed to informing and uniting farmers, researching agronomists, and guiding all people on their food and agricultural needs. Randy liked good cigars and I enjoyed some with him whenever we could.

His family has posted his obituary and it will show you how much he loved his family and his work.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, KS starting at 1 p.m. A rosary/vigil service will be held at 7:00 that evening with a visitation with the family to follow, at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Edward Catholic Church, Belleville, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 24. Interment will follow at the Belleville City Cemetery.

Memorials are requested to Evelyn’s Hospice House of Creve Coeur, MO, or to the Republic County High FFA to benefit the NCK Free Fair Kiddie Barn and may be mailed to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566; Belleville, Kansas 66935.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio

House Ag Committee Member Dies

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Congressman David Scott (D-GA), long-time member and former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, passed away Wednesday at the age of 80.

Committee leadership praised the Georgia lawmaker for his advocacy for agriculture in Congress. Chair Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) said, “His legacy will live on in the policy he shaped over the years, including the 1890s Scholarship Program…and I know he will be missed in the halls of Congress.”

“He was a strong voice for Georgia’s farmers, hungry veterans and young people — who he helped shape into the next generation of agricultural leaders through his fierce advocacy for the 1890 Scholarship Program at historically Black colleges and universities.,” said Ranking Member Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN).

Ag organization leaders also commented on Scott’s devotion to farmers. “Throughout his five decades of public service at the state level and then in Congress, Representative Scott kept the well-being of others at the center of his efforts. I had the pleasure of getting to know David during his time in the Georgia Assembly, and our relationship grew during his tenures as the ranking member and chair of the House Agriculture Committee,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, a farmer from Georgia. “He was committed to improving conditions for America’s farmers and was willing to reach across the aisle to get the job done.”

Scott’s death comes after three members of Congress have resigned in the past week over misconduct allegations, bringing the current number of vacancies in the House to five, including Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) who died in January and was also a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

people, politics

2026 Alltech® Agri-Food Outlook

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

2026 Alltech Agri-Food OutlookAlltech, a global leader in the agriculture industry, has released its 2026 Agri-Food Outlook, a report that includes the results of the company’s annual global feed-production survey. Based on that data, global feed production in 2025 reached an estimated total of 1.44 billion metric tons (mt) — representing an increase of 2.9% and 40.136 million mt from 2024. Most regions and sectors experienced growth, and the numbers suggest a strong recovery phase for animal agriculture; however, the data show that growth was uneven, increasingly regionalized and driven less by herd expansion than by structural change, productivity gains and shifts in how production is measured and recorded.

Now in its 15th year, the annual survey that serves as the foundation of the Alltech Agri-Food Outlook report collected data from 142 countries and 38,837 feed mills in late 2025. By analyzing compound feed production and prices — collected by Alltech’s global sales team and in partnership with feed associations and official data-collecting organizations — the survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of global feed production. These insights serve as a barometer for the overall livestock industry, highlighting key trends across species, along with regional challenges and opportunities for growth.

Look at more details here.

Agribusiness, Alltech, Food

2026 Earth Day – Our Power, Our Planet – #EarthDay2026

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

2026 Earth DayHere’s a quote from my first Earth Day post on AgWired. This was April, 2006.

Who are better stewards of the land than the people who farm it?

I still believe that. We’ve posted about Earth Day many times over the years. Here’s a link to find them if you are interested.

In case you’re looking for information and a variety of resources, you can find them on this Earth Day website.

climate, Conservation, Environment, Farming

#NAMA26 Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Grand Champion – Idaho Potato Commission, Evans Hardy + YoungThe Best of NAMA Awards Ceremony took place yesterday at the end of the first day of the 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference. You can find photos in the NAMA Flickr album taken by Curt Dennison, Curt Dennison Photography.

2026 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

There are many awards in the ceremony and that includes the Best of Show awards. The one here in the post is the Grand Champion – Idaho Potato Commission, Evans Hardy + Young. Here are the other Best of Show awards.

  • Best of Show Adv – Idaho Potato Commission, Evans & Hardy + Young
  • Best of Show PR – Dairy Management, Paulsen
  • Best of Show Digital – Bayer Crop Science Climate Group, Coolfire Studios
  • Best of Show Consumer – Florida Department of Citrus, Padilla
  • Best of Show Specialty – Land O’Lakes Food Service, Curious Plot

Here is the full list of winners.

Advertising, Ag Groups, Agencies, Media, NAMA, Public Relations

Support the NAMA Foundation Silent Auction

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Plaud AI NotePin SIt is time for the 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference. During the conference you can help support the NAMA Foundation through the silent auction that will be held in the Connection Point. ZimmComm has donated a new device that would be very useful for ag journalists (broadcasters, podcasters, publications, web and social media influencers) and all other members who would like to use an AI device that allows you to record and transcribe your interviews or meetings or any variety of speeches and more. Stop by the silent auction for something different.

It is the Plaud NotePin S, which is a wearable device that is hands free. My son-in-law told me about this device and he uses it in his work. True AgNerds would love it. Here’s some more information:

Includes lanyard, wristband, magnetic pin, clip, and 300 free AI transcription mins/mo.

  • Plaud Intelligence: AI transcription in 112 languages with speaker labels and custom vocabulary. Generate multidimensional summaries with 10,000+ templates, mind maps, and workflow integrations.
  • Data security: Compliant with ISO 27001/27701, GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, and EN 18031 to help keep your data private and secure.
  • Multimodal input: Capture audio, notes, images, and highlights for richer context.
  • Multidimensional summaries: Transform one conversation into multiple role-specific summaries.
  • Plaud Desktop: Access Plaud Desktop with any Plaud device to record online and in-person meetings, then manage all your audio in Plaud App and Plaud Web.
  • Multiple ways to wear and capture: Use as a necklace, wristband, clip, or pin for all-day comfort and hands-free recording.
  • Lightweight design & powerful performance: At 0.61 oz light, enjoy 20 hours of continuous recording, 40 days of standby, and 64GB of storage.
  • Complete kit: Includes Plaud NotePin S, magnetic pin, clip, lanyard, wristband, charging dock, and USB-C cable.
  • Free starter plan: 300 mins/month of transcription included. Upgrade to Pro or Unlimited for more minutes and advanced AI features.

I hope everyone will check this out. AI is becoming more and more useful in many ways. Here’s one that can simplify and save time in your work. So, bid high and often! Thank you.

Update: Congratulations and thanks to Angi Bunn, AgroLiquid Marketing, for winning the Plaud NotePin S!

Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, AI, NAMA, Technology

Industry Ag News 4/14

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The Corn Refiners Association joined 34 other food and agriculture organizations in releasing the 10th annual Feeding the Economy report, a comprehensive farm-to-fork analysis of the entire food and agriculture supply chain. The report measures the direct and indirect contributions of America’s food and agriculture industries to U.S. jobs, wages, economic output, and tax revenue. This year’s report underscores the immense reach of the food and agriculture sector across the U.S. economy. America’s food and agriculture industries generate more than $10.4 trillion in economic activity, representing nearly 20 percent of total U.S. economic output. These industries support more than 48.7 million jobs nationwide, including nearly 24.3 million direct jobs, demonstrating their importance to communities in every region of the country.
  • In celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer initiative, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership program, together with a strong coalition of U.S. agrifood system stakeholders, will host a landmark national gathering to honor the vital role women play in agriculture and the supply chain. Registration is open for the International Year of the Woman Farmer ACE (Advocate, Cultivate, Empower) Summit, which will take place in Washington, D.C., June 1–3. The summit is open to all women farmers from across the country, regardless of Farm Bureau membership. Learn more and register by May 6 here.
  • With a record corn crop to move, the corn industry is on the hunt for new and innovative uses for America’s crop. And one solution may be found in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the clothing and textiles sector—athleisure wear. The popular clothing style—yoga pants, joggers, hoodies and more—combines high fashion with high functionality and comfort, and has been gaining in popularity for years. But as with any product that is sourced from petrochemicals, there is an opportunity to replace the oil-based feedstock with one that is sourced from corn. And at Qore, a joint venture between Cargill and HELM, they’re working on making this a possibility. In this podcast episode, Andrea Vanderhoff, Director of Technology and Sustainability at Qore, shares more about how their QIRA technology is opening new avenues for corn-based products to penetrate the textiles market, including in athleisure wear. And, National Corn Growers Association Director of Outputs and Measurements Harley Janssen talks about the potential impacts and benefits for the corn industry.
  • During the United States Identity Preserved Alliance Annual Meeting in Chicago, three board directors were reelected – Jake Noll with Richland IFC, Chuck Kunisch of Michigan Agricultural Commodities and Curt Petrich with H.C. International – and officers were selected for 2026-27, with Bryan Severs reappointed chair.
  • The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced the agency is reopening the 2025 crop acreage reporting period required for specialty crop producers who want to apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. Announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on Feb. 13, the ASCF program is designed to help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. Specialty crop producers now have until April 24, 2026, to report 2025 acres to FSA.
  • Agri-Pulse will host another “Great Tomato Challenge” in Sacramento, California. The competition is open to members of the California Senate and Assembly members and their staff members.
  • The Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation has awarded Janice Shiu the 2026 Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant. Shiu is a graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, pursuing a degree in Computer Science and conducting research that applies statistical and artificial intelligence (AI) methods to improve the reliability and resilience of soybean and corn yields in the Midwest—key feedstocks for biomass-based diesel.
  • Advanced Biofuels USA is pleased to announce that Jenna Bloxom has been elected President of the Board of Directors. She took office upon the March 23, 2026, formal resignation of Advanced Biofuels USA President, Doug Root.
  • As the United States recognizes National Agriculture Month, the American Biogas Council released new data showing U.S. farms are capturing 166 percent more biogas – a source of energy created by recycling organic waste like manure and food scraps – than they were just five years ago. Yet most of the nation’s potential to produce domestic energy from agricultural waste on farms remains untapped. According to the ABC, 631 farms today operate biogas capture systems – more than double the number in 2020. Those farms can produce over 61 million MMBtu of energy annually, compared to about 23 million MMBtu five years ago. In 2025, 41 new systems came online, representing $835 million in investment. Total investment in farm-based biogas capture systems has now reached $6.4 billion.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Syngenta Urges Well Rounded Approach to Disease Pressure

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Growers are facing many challenges this season, making it critical to protect yield potential and their bottom line in an environment defined by unpredictable weather and compounding disease risks. Syngenta is urging farmers to face those risks with a well-rounded approach.

    Jesse Grote, Syngenta agronomic service representative

    “My overarching message is don’t get caught up in just one disease and manage towards one, because I think that can lead us maybe to being reactive instead of proactive,” said Jesse Grote, an agronomic service representative for Syngenta in Iowa.

    At Commodity Classic, Grote used the example of what he’s seen in Iowa recently. “In the last two years, we’ve had southern rust, and I can’t remember a time in my career that I’ve ever seen southern rust so bad. But it doesn’t overwinter once you get up north…So don’t only manage for rust,” he said. “We’ve seen that with tar spot. We used to call it tar spot tunnel vision.”

    Last year, corn and soybean growers lost nearly 1.5 billion bushels to disease in the United States, with tar spot a persistent concern across the upper Midwest, contributing to 188 million lost bushels in 2025. Southern rust expanded farther north and appeared earlier than expected, while ear rots and mycotoxins are also becoming a larger part of disease planning conversations, according to Syngenta.

    Kevin Scholl, agronomic service representative

    With harvestable yield directly tied to profitability, Syngenta encourages growers to think beyond reactive disease control and toward season‑long risk mitigation. Miravis® Neo corn and soybean fungicide is designed to deliver consistent, broad‑spectrum protection — helping safeguard yield potential across a wide range of diseases and environmental conditions such as heat or drought.

    Illinois agronomy rep Keven Scholl says the goal is to protect profit no matter what happens. “When you get this healthy soybean plant growing out there, protect it to the end. And so that means using a fungicide to be able to control any diseases that come in late and also have that plant health benefits to be able to control any stress,” said Scholl.

    For corn, Grote says, “I would navigate towards getting that premium fungicide on at tassel time….So the best defense and the best ROI is going to be, when you think about fungicide, that premium Miravis Neo at tassel time.”

    Learn more in these interviews:

    Jesse Grote, agronomic service representative – How 2025 disease pressure is informing risk decisions for 2026
    Classic26 - Jesse Grote, Syngenta (4:54)

    Kevin Scholl, agronomic service representative – Reshaping planting strategies for a stronger soybean start
    Classic26 - Kevin Scholl, Syngenta (6:00)

    Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Fungicide, Soybean, Syngenta

    Precision Ag News 4/13

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. corn farmers are facing growing uncertainty around fertilizer affordability and access, with concern mounting well beyond the current planting season, according to new survey results released by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
  • Biotalys, an agricultural technology company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for sustainable crop protection, announced it has achieved a first research milestone in its partnership with Syngenta, a global leader in agricultural innovation, to develop a novel bioinsecticide against key insect pests. Initial laboratory tests demonstrated promising in vitro results with novel bioactive ingredients developed using Biotalys’ unique AGROBODY™ technology against the insect molecular target.
  • Deere & Company announced that it has reached a settlement agreement to resolve the multidistrict “right to repair” litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. This settlement addresses the issues raised in the 2022 complaint and brings this case to an end with no finding of wrongdoing.
  • As growers gear up for another demanding season, priorities remain clear: maximizing nutrient efficiency, protecting input investments and ensuring reliable access to essential crop nutrition. SUL4R-PLUS® from Helm Crop Nutrition delivers on all three as a domestically produced calcium sulfate fertilizer with validated agronomic performance and a dependable U.S. supply chain. Backed by expanded production capacity and fully domestic sourcing, it is readily available to meet grower demand without the supply chain disruptions and challenges faced by other fertilizer products.
  • Syngenta announced the global launch of VIRESTINA™ technology (active ingredient: metproxybicyclone), after Argentina became the first country in the world to approve the technology. Syngenta is also planning to bring this innovation to Brazil, Australia, the U.S., and Canada.
  • The Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) announced that they have retained Dr. Emerson Nafziger to serve as Interim Research Director.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced nominations for its 2026 Hall of Fame program are now open.
  • American Drone Network (ADN) has announced a partnership with BRANDT to advance crop input solutions specifically tailored for agricultural spray drone operations. Together, BRANDT and ADN will develop and optimize adjuvant, nutritional, and surfactant systems designed to enhance the performance, efficiency, and effectiveness of drone-based crop applications. As part of the partnership, ADN members will have access to select BRANDT products with added benefits, helping drone operators adopt proven crop input technologies while improving operational efficiency and application results.
  • The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) and Nutrien are pleased to announce a free, co-hosted webinar bringing science-based soil fertility and nutrient management tools directly to agronomists, crop consultants and farmers. “eKonomics Calculators in Practice: Tools and Resources for Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management” will be held Thursday, April 23, 2026, at noon CDT (1 p.m. EDT). The one-hour session is free, open to all and eligible for one Science Societies CEU credit for professional development. Registration is free.

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    AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    2026 Agri-Marketing Conference Preview

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    NAMA - Hungry for MoreThe 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference is coming up next week. For a preview I talked with conference chair, David Jones, Bader Rutter. We run through a variety of questions about the theme for the conference, keynote speakers, best of NAMA, Connection Point, breakouts, awards and student competition. As the theme says, people are Hungry For More.

    Of course you can still register if you haven’t yet. You just have to go this link on the NAMA website. David said it this way.

    “Nama.org is the place to go for registration or for more information, and yes, sir, we will absolutely take those last-minute registrations, no problem at all. If you’re on the fence, go ahead and jump in there and register. You do not want to miss this one.”

    You can listen to my interview with David here:
    Agri-Marketing Conference Preview (10:00)

    Advertising, Agencies, Audio, Marketing, NAMA