Acquisition Unites Farm Accounting Software Leaders
Two leaders in farm accounting software are being united under an acquisition announced today.
Traction Ag, the leading farm accounting platform built for production row crop operations, today announced the acquisition of PcMars, a trusted desktop-based accounting system used by over 7,000 farms across the U.S.
“PcMars has been a rock-solid product for farm bookkeepers for decades,” said Dustin Sapp, CEO of Traction Ag. “We’re honored to carry that legacy forward—and excited to give their customers a clear, supported path into the future.”
The acquisition allows Traction Ag to:
– Expand its reach among Midwest production farms who trust PcMars and prefer desktop software
– Implement proven PcMars features in Traction’s platform to accelerate innovation
– Offer connected pathways between PcMars and Traction for users ready to modernize
– Combine decades of ag accounting expertise under one roof
Learn more at www.tractionag.com.
Land O’Lakes and Microsoft Partner for AI Innovation in Agriculture
Land O’Lakes Inc. and Microsoft today announced a multiyear strategic alliance, marking a new chapter in their shared commitment to agricultural innovation. Building on five years of successful collaboration, the alliance will focus on co-developing AI-powered tools including a digital assistant called “Oz.” This assistant is built on models within Azure AI Foundry and uses Land O’Lakes agricultural data to help farmers make informed decisions that aim to optimize operations, maximize yield potentials and mitigate risk.
U.S. farms are vital to the nation’s food supply but rising production costs, falling crop prices, and declining farmable land are squeezing margins across operations of all sizes. Technologies that improve efficiency and resiliency can help farmers manage costs and stabilize their operations, safeguarding the future of agriculture.
“Land O’Lakes has supported American agriculture for more than 100 years, and the AI-powered technologies we’re building with Microsoft will be key to the next 100,” said Teddy Bekele, SVP and Chief Technology Officer, Land O’Lakes. “The goal of our alliance is to deliver data-driven recommendations and solutions that lead to the best outcomes for farmers, who keep food on all of our tables.”
“The agriculture industry continues to face unprecedented pressure—from rising costs to shrinking margins—and AI innovation plays an important role in addressing these challenges,” said Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft’s commercial business. “By combining Land O’Lakes’ century of expertise with Microsoft’s cloud and AI capabilities, we are delivering a copilot solution that empowers farmers with actionable insights that help control costs, boost crop yields, and drive long-term success.”
Alltech ONE Conference 2027
With so much positive momentum for our industry, we’re excited to share that there’s even more ahead: the Alltech ONE Conference is coming back to Lexington, Kentucky, May 24–26, 2027. The theme: Together, bright becomes brilliant.
Originally planned for 2026, we have decided to move the event to 2027 to align with major milestones across our business and the broader agri-food industry. It will be worth the wait!
This world-class event will spotlight the power of connection, collaboration and bold thinking to address agriculture’s most significant challenges and unlock its greatest opportunities.
Whether you are returning to ONE or joining us for the first time, the Alltech ONE Conference promises to inspire, challenge and connect. We look forward to welcoming you in 2027.
The Best,
The Alltech Events team
Syngenta Turns 25
Syngenta is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, created in 2000 with the merger of Novartis and AstraZeneca, and built on a legacy extending back more than 250 years to the Swiss chemical company Geigy founded in 1758.
Today, Syngenta Crop Protection includes a robust portfolio of approximately 37 seed treatments, 54 herbicides, 44 fungicides and 21 insecticides, with several high-value products and innovations currently under development. “We are most proud of the value and trust Syngenta consistently delivers to customers, value-chain partners and the great ag industry we serve,” said Vern Hawkins, president of Syngenta Crop Protection North America.
Jeff Cecil at 2024 Syngenta Media Summit
“For 25 years we’ve turned innovation into real-world tools that help growers make faster decisions, manage crops with confidence and get the most out of every season,” said Jeff Cecil, head of marketing for crop protection at Syngenta. “Every product development — from CruiserMaxx APX seed treatment, Storen herbicide to TYMIRIUM and PLINAZOLIN technologies currently under EPA registration review — is practical and designed with intention. As agriculture evolves, we’re committed to delivering smarter, more connected crop management solutions that are equipped to meet the challenges ahead.”
Listen to an interview with Cecil last year at the Syngenta Media Summit where he talks about the importance of innovation to the company’s success.
Media Summit interview with Jeff Cecil, Syngenta (5:07)Syngenta Opens Cropwise Digital Platform to Developers
Syngenta announced this week the opening of its CROPWISE™ AI-powered platform for farmers to third-party developers worldwide.
The launch of the Cropwise Open Platform is designed to accelerate the digital transformation of agriculture by enabling innovators to integrate advanced agronomic models into new tools and applications — helping farmers benefit from smarter, connected agricultural technologies.
New research from IPSOS, conducted in partnership with Syngenta, reveals a growing technology access gap between large and small farms, and that many older farmers view AI as complex or inaccessible — often unaware that they are already using it through tools like drones or imagery systems.
“The agriculture sector stands at a tipping point. Climate pressures, global market volatility, and the urgent need to promote sustainable farming practices mean that technology adoption can no longer be optional,” said Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta’s Chief Information and Digital Officer. “AI can be the great equalizer in agriculture — but only if it’s accessible, affordable, and trusted.”
In just five years Cropwise has transformed digital farm management and now supports over 70 million hectares of farmland across more than 30 countries, including the U.S. At the 2025 Farm Progress Show, Syngenta North American Digital R&D Manager Kirt Durand said Cropwise is already making a difference for farmers.
“This is an integrative farm management technology platform that offers tools and services that enable you and your advisors to optimize your operation. You’re going to boost efficiency across the operation. It’s going to help you track field observations and react to economic challenges, but really it’s more than that,” he said. “Cropwise is designed to allow you to make timely management decisions across your operation.”
Durand said further enhancements to Cropwise will just make it even better.
FPS25 Interview with Kirt Durand, Syngenta (4:13)ZimmCast 753 – AdFarm 2025 AgIntel Index Report
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.
In this episode I’m going to share an interview with Matt Weeks, AgIntel Lead at AdFarm. We discuss the inaugural AgIntel Index Report. This will be a yearly report that dives into the trends and insights dominating the conversation in agriculture. This is information that matters to agri-marketers and ag leaders. You can request your report here.
“The AgIntel Index Report is a representation of AdFarm’s unique differentiators, all of which make us the agency closest to the farmer,” said Matt Weeks, AgIntel Lead at AdFarm. “It brings the collective insights of AdFarm, AgIntel and Farm Voice into one cohesive report, distilling down critical information into what it all means for our clients and for the industry.”
The report, which will be released annually, is essential reading for agribusiness decision-makers, marketers and communicators. Each year, AdFarm will deliver insights that will provide a deeper understanding of farmer pressures so that we as an industry can respond accordingly.
In addition, I’m adding a wrap up interview with Brent Kemp, President/CEO, AgGateway, about the organization’s annual conference, my last on-location work of the year. You can find the AgNewsWire virtual ag newsroom with lots of photos and interviews and more.
Cindy and I decided to retire from on-location work after 20 plus years at the end of this year. This doesn’t mean we won’t be working though with news release distribution and podcasts. We’ll be updating you as we work toward the end of this year.
Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 753 - AdFarm 2025 AgIntel Index Report (14:43)
That’s the ZimmCast for now. If you have some exciting news in the agrimarketing world, feel free to contact me for the next episode. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.
We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.
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Addition of Phosphate to Critical Minerals Applauded
The U.S. Geological Survey recently added phosphate to its 2025 List of Critical Minerals, recognizing its importance for crop nutrition and food security.
Texas-based biotechnology company MetaPhite Genetics applauded that action, since phosphorus is one of the three primary nutrients essential for crop growth, yet much of the global phosphate supply is concentrated in a small number of countries. The new designation underscores growing concerns over supply-chain vulnerability and the need for innovation in fertilizer efficiency and use.
“Phosphorus is the backbone of agricultural productivity, and this designation reinforces its importance to farmers and to the food system as a whole,” said Mike Gilbert, CEO of MetaPhite Genetics. “At MetaPhite, we’re developing genetics that allow plants to metabolize phosphite, a form of phosphorus that’s more stable and less prone to loss, to improve nutrient-use efficiency and reduce dependence on mined phosphate fertilizers.”
MetaPhite Genetics’ technology represents a new frontier in sustainable fertilizer management. By enabling crops to access phosphorus from phosphite, the company’s approach could help lower fertilizer costs, reduce runoff, and build resilience into global nutrient systems.
“The inclusion of phosphate on the Critical Minerals List sends a clear message that innovation in phosphorus management matters,” Gilbert added. “It recognizes both the challenges we face and the opportunities to strengthen agriculture through smarter, more sustainable solutions.”
Verditex Unveils Next-Gen Precision Tech at Agritechnica
At Agritechnica 2025 this week, smart ag solutions provider Verditex has unveiled two new flagship products which are part of an extensive product suite, each designed to deliver a significant leap in performance and reliability.
The Verditex FMA300 Pro Agriculture Auto Steering System is the next-generation evolution of Verditex’s proven FMA300 platform. It inherits the core capabilities that make the FMA300 a flagship product, including seamless operation across the entire agricultural process from cultivation to harvest, multi-terrain adaptation, and easy installation.
The FBS200 GNSS Base Station represents the next step in Verditex’s base station technology, retaining the core advantages of its predecessor, while introducing a fully integrated, all-in-one design that merges the base station and radio into a single, portable unit. This streamlined design enhances deployment flexibility with a built-in radio and a high-capacity internal battery, enabling rapid setup and sustained operation in any field environment.
“The launch of our FMA300 Pro and FBS200 is a direct response to the industry’s need for unwavering reliability and greater operational ease, delivering tangible cost savings and productivity gains,” said Andy An, General Manager, Verditex. “Visitors at the show are welcome to drop by our booth to see not only these two products but also a complete ecosystem designed to maximize efficiency, from signal to steering for the ultimate in professional farming operations.”
Visit Verditex at AGritechnica stand 21E25 in Hall 21 for detailed product demonstrations and technical consultations.
AgGateway Building the Future with New Five Year Plan
The future of AgGateway looks bright at the 20 year mark with a new strategic plan in place for the next five years.
“Our key watchwords, if you will, for the coming five years are implement, impact, and advocate,” said president and CEO Brent Kemp. “One of the things that we learned from our previous five-year plan, which was focused on create, engage, and grow, was that we had a very well-defined, very well-structured, but very stringent idea of what that plan was gonna be. And as we looked at the next five years, 2026 to 2030, we really wanted to make our planning more flexible, more agile, more responsive to the needs of members and the market.”
“Implementation has always been key to the work that gets done in AgGateway,” Kemp explained. “Our members find value and achieve business value when they implement the standards and resources that they cooperatively develop here. And then they can show the impact of what that implementation has done for their businesses, for their customers, for their trading partners, and ultimately translating that back to value in the form of time savings, revenue opportunities, new business opportunities. Both implementation and the impact that they can show allows our member companies to advocate for further work, further implementation within their trading communities, and especially at our C-suite, advocating with their peers to be part of the work that we do here.”
Kemp says after last week’s successful annual meeting, they are ready to go to work implementing, impacting and advocating. “We’re going to take the feedback that we got from there, the ideas, the pain points, the challenges and the opportunities, compile that and turn that into our work plan for the next 12 to 18 months.”
Listen to this wrap up interview with Kemp from last week’s annual meeting.
AgGateway President and CEO Brent Kemp (5:10)