Precision Ag News 5/8

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Insecticide Strategy that identifies practical protections for federally endangered and threatened species from the use of insecticides, while providing flexibility for pesticide users and growers. The Strategy identifies mitigations aimed at protecting more than 900 species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that EPA considers when it registers a new insecticide or reevaluates an existing one.
  • U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, reintroduced her Precision Ag Package — three pieces of legislation that will help America’s producers harness the full potential of precision agriculture.
  • AgGateway is pleased to announce that Matt Waits, long-time CEO of SST Software and current industry consultant, will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday morning, June 10 at the organization’s 2025 Mid-Year Meeting.
  • Syngenta, a global leader in agricultural innovation, and Al Dahra, a multinational agribusiness stewarding 400,000 acres of sustainable irrigated farmland with active operations across six continents, have announced a strategic partnership to implement Syngenta’s digital farm management solutions across more than 220,000 acres of Al Dahra farms in Romania, Serbia, Egypt and Morocco.
  • Corn rootworm remains one of the most damaging pests in U.S. corn production, causing an estimated $1 billion in losses each year. To help farmers get ahead of this underground threat, Bayer is launching its eighth year of The Watch, a farmer-first program that offers free tools, education and expert support to monitor corn rootworm pressure and make proactive management decisions.
  • Growers across the U.S. are replacing traditional phosphate fertilizers with Crystal Green® and seeing big results. In side-by-side comparisons, Crystal Green delivered more than 2X the amount of plant-available phosphorus versus conventional products like MAP or DAP. Farmers like Chad Rubbelke and NCGA yield contest winner Dan Luepkes credit Crystal Green for driving better nutrient uptake, improved yields, and strong ROI while reducing overall phosphorus use by up to 30 percent.
  • Ray Starling, former Special Assistant to President Trump, will headline ASTA’s Leadership Summit June 8-11, in Washington, D.C. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions, hear from policy leaders in D.C., and then jump right into the action with an Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, using their newly honed skills to engage with federal lawmakers on the industry’s top priorities.
  • Alabama farmers considering investing in irrigation equipment will soon have a free, comprehensive online tool to help them decide. A new prediction model will combine weather and economic data to determine if the investment will pay dividends—or cost more than it’s worth. Researchers in the Auburn University College of Agriculture and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station are in the early stages of an ambitious five-year research study combining different types of data to provide farmers with projections of yield and profitability, customizable down to the 2.5-square-mile parcel of cropland. The study is part of the long-running Alabama Irrigation Initiative (AII), a program formed in 2003 to help farmers boost their crop production through adoption of irrigation and improved irrigation practices. Auburn took on a leading role in the program in 2023.
  • Kynetec recently undertook an Agricultural Robotics Study with 344 US growers and livestock producers to discover their views on the use of robotics on-farm. The study found that one half of farmers view agricultural robotics favorably, 28 percent of farmers surveyed considered themselves very comfortable using technology, and 53 percent of farmers surveyed usually wait to try a new technology until it has been reviewed and have had a chance to research it.
  • Vermeer, a leader in hay and forage solutions, announced an expansion of its product line to include triple mowers, rotary rakes and a large tedder. These new products will be available for the 2025 hay season, reinforcing the Vermeer commitment to providing high-performing equipment that maximizes productivity and efficiency for hay, dairy and beef producers.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Advanced Agrilytics White Paper Focused on Transforming Global Food Production

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Precision agronomic solutions provider Advanced Agrilytics has published a new white paper titled “Transforming Global Food Production One Algorithm at a Time,” underscoring the company’s mission to revolutionize food production and agricultural sustainability with its patented sub-acre analysis technology.

    The white paper introduces TerraFraming™, Advanced Agrilytics’ proprietary sub-acre analysis platform that redefines traditional agronomy. Instead of treating fields as if every acre were the same, TerraFraming™ dissects them into microenvironments, layering data on soil chemistry, water movement, nutrient distribution, organic matter levels, topography and other datasets to deliver custom agronomic prescriptions for everything from nutrient management to seeding strategies, delivered in a “ready-to-use” format.

    Key outcomes from this methodology include:
    – >27% increase in corn yields per acre
    – >15% reduction in nitrogen use per bushel of corn produced
    – $46/A in soybean gains by year four, rising to $61/A by year 10
    – $72/A in corn gains by year four, growing to $100/A by year 10
    – 21% reduction in N₂O emissions in high-risk nitrogen loss areas

    Advanced Agrilytics CEO Kenny Avery says as the global population surges toward a projected 10 billion people by 2050, the need for efficient, sustainable agricultural systems lies in a radically new approach to crop management – predictive agronomy.

    “This white paper isn’t just a statement of intent—it’s a roadmap to how we help farmers grow more with less,” said Avery. “From Iowa to Indonesia, we believe our technology can transform outcomes for growers everywhere.”

    Learn more from Advanced Agrilytics.

    Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Food, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    PowerPollen Patents Pollen Storage Methodology

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Agtech company PowerPollen has received its latest patent for the groundbreaking process of using solid particulates blended with fresh pollen grains to protect pollen’s viability during storage. PowerPollen’s IP strategy has been a key part of protecting their innovation while rapidly scaling to support global seed companies and farmers since the company was founded in 2015.

    PowerPollen collects, preserves and applies pollen to corn, wheat, rice, and other important crops, eliminating the previously required dependency on natural pollen shedding to pollinate female plants. This process enables the ability to more reliably and cost-effectively produce high-quality seed farmers plant for crops. Corn, rice, wheat and barley rank as the top four grain crops grown globally. This patent is part of a one-of-a-kind portfolio of intellectual property PowerPollen has secured in their pursuit to increase the productivity, profitability and sustainability of modern agricultural practices.

    “Our initial key discoveries more than a decade ago – and our ongoing innovation since – has enabled PowerPollen to scale our unique pollination tech stack of collection, storage and application to commercial levels in agriculture—helping farmers and seed production partners increase yields without increasing other inputs,” said Jason Cope, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, PowerPollen. “Our discoveries changed the previously held notion that row crop pollen was not capable of being stored for any duration. The ripple effect can clearly be seen by the consistent yield improvements in fields that PowerPollen has treated with stored pollen.”

    PowerPollen holds the most patents for pollination-based technology, crop application and related innovations, based on over a decade of intellectual data and discovery and more than eight years of commercial field data and ongoing innovation and its IP strategy has been critical to develop the best technology advancements for customers.

    Learn more about PowerPollen and its patented technology in this interview with co-founder and Chief Intellectual Property Officer Jason Cope.

    Interview with Jason Cope, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, PowerPollen 9:43

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    Animal Ag News 5/5

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The Trump Administration announced bold action to put farmers and ranchers first by dropping criminal charges against Charles and Heather Maude, a South Dakota family who has a small cattle and hog operation. The Maude family visited Washington, D.C. on April 30th for an in-person press conference where further actions being taken by the Trump Administration to limit government regulation by prosecution were shared.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) commended U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for ending the overzealous criminal prosecution of family ranchers Charles and Heather Maude. Secretary Rollins’ announcement was welcome news both for the Maude family who have endured arduous court appearances, legal fees, and the threat of prison time, as well as for family ranchers across the West who feared heavy-handed legal pressure from the last administration.
  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that Mexico has committed to eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft, and waive customs duties on eradication equipment aiding in the response to the spread of New World Screwworm (NWS). Due to this agreement the ports will remain open to livestock imports, however if at any time these terms are not upheld, port closure will be revisited. This agreement follows Secretary Rollins’ letter to Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegue Sacristan pushing for a resolution of the restrictions.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) premiered a new video series, intended to showcase the depth, breadth and diversity of the $267.1 billion U.S. animal food manufacturing industry. The videos encapsulate the important role that the over 5,600 U.S. animal food manufacturers play each day in improving livestock health and production, supporting food security and driving American ingenuity and economic progress abroad.
  • The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) said they appreciated the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to spotlight protection of common food names in the agency’s 2025 Special 301 Report.
  • Pigs produced to be resistant to one of the world’s most costly livestock diseases, using technology developed by the Roslin Institute, have been approved for sale to U.S. consumers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a gene-editing technology that makes pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) for the U.S. food supply chain. This landmark approval for animal genetics company Genus, following years of development, helps meet the challenge of a disease that is endemic to most pig-producing regions. Supported by Edinburgh Innovations (EI), the University of Edinburgh’s commercialization service, the team collaborated with Genus, who also licensed novel technologies from other institutions, to produce pigs with the specific DNA change.
  • National Pork Producers Council provided comments and testimony to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as it seeks once again to revise the agency’s long controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. In both its written comments and oral testimony to EPA, NPPC noted that pork producers have been concerned about EPA’s overreach in defining WOTUS, including past efforts by prior administrations to expand federal jurisdiction over private property to capture remote drainage features, ditches, and ephemeral waterways – and millions of acres of wet spots or farmed wetlands in fields.
  • Join the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for an insightful webinar on Thursday, May 8 at 6:00 p.m. CDT about the economic benefits of effective grazing management. Discover how strategic grazing practices can transform agricultural operations, boost productivity, and enhance profitability. Register here.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and KADIN, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in a milestone step to deepen cooperation between U.S. and Indonesian dairy industries.
  • USPOULTRY’s 2025 Workforce Success and Engagement Conference addressed how industry human resource (HR) professionals can help improve employees’ belonging and connection to their organization, retention and recruiting best practices, ways to alleviate stress within the workplace and more.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Alltech Announces Ideagro Research Center in Brazil

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Alltech CEO Dr. Mark Lyons (2nd from left) helps cut the ribbon on Ideagro Brazil

    Ideagro, headquartered in Murica, Spain, is expanding its international presence with the opening of Ideagro Brazil at the Ingá University Center (Uningá) in the city of Maringá.

    The investment by Alltech Crop Science (ACS), a global leader in plant nutrition, in partnership with the university, makes possible physical, chemical and biological analyses, as well as development of high-impact biotechnological solutions to address the challenges, of Brazilian agriculture with sustainable and profitable productivity gains. In its first year of operation, Ideagro will invest over USD 1 million in research, development, and product registration in Brazil.

    Ideagro has been the global research center for Alltech Crop Science since 2023.

    “Ideagro Brazil is the next step in Alltech Crop Science’s commitment to delivering solutions to our clients based on cutting-edge science, focused on soil and plant health,” said Andy Thomas, CEO of Alltech Crop Science. According to Thomas, Brazil is an extremely diverse agricultural powerhouse, with a proven willingness to integrate biological solutions into crop production and soil management. “The ability to conduct research and development locally in the market is a key factor for excellence.”

    With an eye on the rapid expansion of the biologicals market in Brazil, Ideagro will develop innovative biotechnological solutions such as biostimulants and beneficial microorganisms.

    Learn more from Alltech.

    AgWired Precision, Alltech, Crop Science, Precision Agriculture

    Industry Ag News 5/2

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has rolled out a five point plan to lower the cost of eggs, worked to expand market access for American farmers, and empowered rural communities. Secretary Rollins also previewed her vision for restoring rural prosperity to America, affirming the importance of the President’s efforts to rein in out-of-control government spending and federal overreach to return more power to the people.
  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a second round of payments coming this week for specialty crop producers through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, providing up to $1.3 billion in additional program assistance. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) already delivered just under $900 million in first round payments to eligible producers.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to announce the launch of LaborLink, a new member benefit designed to help agricultural retailers address one of their most urgent operational challenges: securing reliable labor. Through a partnership with másLabor, the nation’s leading provider of H-2 visa services, ARA members now have direct access to expert support in navigating H-2 visa processes.
  • The Commerce Department’s intent to terminate the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement affirms fair and competitive trade, upholds the rule of law, and restores integrity in our agricultural markets, according to Robert Guenther, Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange. Guenther said while originally intended to address unfair trade, the Suspension Agreement has repeatedly failed to protect American tomato farmers from unfairly-priced Mexican imports.
  • Bayer announced that Guru Ramamurthy will become the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Bayer’s Crop Science division. He will succeed Oliver Rittgen who has decided to pursue a career opportunity outside of Bayer after 25 years with the company. In his current role, Guru Ramamurthy is serving as CFO of Bayer US. The change will become effective as of July 1, 2025.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced the appointment of Mexico’s former Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Víctor Villalobos Arambula to the Foundation’s Council of Advisors.
  • Registration is officially open for the IFAJ 2025 Congress in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by MESHA (Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture).
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce a new webinar, “Economic Stakes: How Thoroughbred Racing Fuels Rural Economies” on May 19 at 12:30 CT/1:30 ET. Free registration is available here. The webinar is sponsored by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, and the Breeders’ Cup.
  • Fashion industry veteran and sustainability expert Liz Hershfield will lead Cotton Council International (CCI), the export promotion arm of the National Cotton Council of America (NCC), as its new Executive Director. Hershfield succeeds Bruce Atherley, who retired at the end of March.
  • From Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9, National Farmers Union (NFU) will hold a full week-long slate of events, programming, and meetings in Washington and across the country to urge Congress to pass a comprehensive, five-year farm bill and ease the burden on family farmers and ranchers.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Passing of Charlie Harness

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Charlie HarnessCharlie Harness passed away on April 25, 2025. He was very well known and a mentor to many people in ag communications.

    Charles later used his communication skills as the Media Relations Manager and spokesperson for Iowa Beef Processors (IBP) in Sioux City from 1976 until 1983. After a brief stint as President of an advertising agency in Sioux City, Charles joined the National Pork Producers Council in Des Moines, Iowa. As Vice President of Communications for the Council, he was part of the group that popularized the phrase “the other white meat.”

    Ag Groups, NPPC, Pork, Pork Checkoff, World Pork Expo

    IFAJ Congress 2025

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    IFAJ Congress 2025The IFAJ Congress 2025 registration is now open. It will take place October 15-18, in Nairobi, Kenya with the theme: Unlocking the Agricultural Potential in the Cradle of Mankind.

    Find all about it on the Congress website.

    The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) is a globally respected organization committed to excellence in agricultural journalism. Since 1958, IFAJ has hosted the annual World Congress, bringing together top journalists, media professionals, and agricultural communicators to discuss critical issues shaping global agriculture.

    In 2025, the IFAJ World Congress is making history returning to Africa for the third time and landing in East Africa for the very first time! After previous editions in South Africa (2004, 2017), this global gathering of agricultural journalists heads to Nairobi, Kenya, where the spotlight will shine on the power of storytelling in agriculture. Set against the backdrop of Kenya’s vibrant farming sector, the congress will be a game-changer, driving conversations, connections, and innovations that shape the future of agri-journalism worldwide.

    There will be pre and post tours, Bootcamp Young Leaders/Master Class, meetings, receptions and much more.

    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, IFAJ, Media

    Precision Ag News 4/30

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. Congressman Mike Flood testified before the House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Agriculture April 29 highlighting the growing partnership of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) at the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture. Rep. Flood spoke on behalf of full funding for the project which, once fully completed, will serve as a central hub for collaboration and research to enhance agricultural profitability.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Insecticide Strategy that identifies practical protections for federally endangered and threatened species from the use of insecticides, while providing flexibility for pesticide users and growers. The Strategy identifies mitigations aimed at protecting more than 900 species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that EPA considers when it registers a new insecticide or reevaluates an existing one.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection sales in the first quarter 2025 increased by five percent to $3.4 billion (+11 percent CER). The Crop Protection business unit had a strong start to the year. North America sales were 20 percent higher due to a return to normal, pre-pandemic purchasing pattern in the US. Syngenta secured more than 250 product approvals in Q1, including 97 new registrations, 49 re-registrations and 112 label extensions.
  • Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association expressed disappointment with a decision by the International Trade Commission affirming that Corteva Agriscience was harmed by imports of a critical herbicide, called 2,4-D. This decision means that duties will be placed on imports of the herbicide at a final rate determined later by the Department of Commerce.
  • Application deadlines are fast-approaching for the 2025 AgLaunch Virtual Bootcamps. If you’re an agtech or agrifood founder in the early stages of building your business and are looking to move to the next level, this is your moment. The 2025 AgLaunch Virtual Bootcamps are here to fast-track your journey, familiarize you with the farmer-centric innovation model and give you an insider’s view beyond the hype.
  • PTx Trimble, formed as a joint venture in 2024 by AGCO and Trimble®, today announced its newest GNSS receiver for precision autoguidance – the NAV-960™ guidance controller – at the Agrishow in São Paulo, Brazil. This technology improves positioning accuracy and availability to deliver greater uptime while providing the computing power to easily support complex field operations and handle future developments.
  • Bushel, a leader in digital payments and workflow solutions for agriculture, announced the Cooperative Finance Association (CFA) will integrate with Bushel’s digital wallet as an embedded finance solution for its members. This partnership gives agribusinesses a simpler, more competitive way to enhance the payment experience within CFA’s financing options.
  • Kendall Bonds has joined Peterson Farms Seed as Director of Product. In this role, Bonds will oversee research, product selection and agronomy, ensuring that growers in the region have access to the best-performing seed genetics, backed by data-driven insights.
  • AgGateway is offering an upcoming webinar on Digitized Scale Tickets: Harnessing Data for Efficiency and Insights. The webinar will be held May 20 at 2:00 pm central time. AgGateway and its member organizations have been setting building blocks that will enable the digitization of scale tickets across the crop production channel. Register here.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    New Data from Advanced Agrilytics Shows Higher Productivity

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Advanced Agrilytics has published a new study showing how its data-driven, predictive agronomic methodology helps growers boost productivity in good years and better withstand tough seasons.

    The new article, “How Crop Resiliency Can Be Your Strongest Risk Management Tool,” highlights how growers using Advanced Agrilytics’ patented spatial analysis system are experiencing significantly lower loss cost ratios than USDA benchmarks.

    “Resilience isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a measurable advantage,” said Jon Fridgen, Chief Science Officer at Advanced Agrilytics. “Our customers are seeing more stable yields, reduced input waste, and greater profitability because of how we manage risk before the season even begins.”

    Fridgen’s comparative analysis shows Advanced Agrilytics-managed acres consistently maintain a flatter yield-loss trendline—even during years marked by heavy rain, drought, or other stressors. Using USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) data alongside internal metrics, the research underscores that Advanced Agrilytics growers face reduced financial and agronomic risk.

    This scatter plot illustrates the relationship between yield performance and crop insurance loss cost ratios—the higher the ratio, the greater the insurance payouts due to yield losses. The trendline for Advanced Agrilytics customers (represented by the green dots and the green trend line) shows a much flatter decline compared to the RMA/NASS-reported average (gray dots/trend line). This means that as weather variability or other risk factors increase, Advanced Agrilytics growers’ yields remain more stable.

    To read the complete article and see all of Fridgen’s risk loss analysis click here.

    Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture