AgGateway Honors Member Volunteers

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Trisha Rentschler and AgGateway’s Jeremy Wilson

AgGateway celebrated the achievements and contributions of leading volunteer members during its annual Awards Ceremony at its 2025 Annual Meeting and Conference in Clearwater, Florida.

The AgGateway in Action Award celebrates individuals and organizations that have made specific contributions of time and resources over the past 12-18 months. The North American recipient for 2025 is Trisha Rentschler, with Kahler Automation.

“Trisha exemplifies what we celebrate through the AgGateway in Action Award, says Jeremy Wilson, EVP/COO and North American Director. “She joined the North American Steering Committee two years ago and has been a very active volunteer from the beginning. And in her new role at Kahler, Trisha has gone out of her way to talk about the value of AgGateway and the messages and the digital resources that we’ve created in her networking and social media activity.”

Marcelo Abreu and Jose Alexandre Loyola, LATAM Regional Director

The AgGateway in Action recipient from the Latin America Region is Marcelo Abreu of Venturus.

“Marcelo has been a member of AgGateway Latin America since beginning, contributes greatly to our regional meetings, and actively promotes our mission and work in the country,” says Jose Alexandre Loyola, LATAM Regional Director. “He and his company are also actively promoting the Modus standard in Brazil. We are thrilled to have his participation and pleased to recognize him with this honor.”

Julie Mathey

The Ron Storms Leadership Award celebrates long-term participation in projects over multiple years. The 2025 recipient is Julie Mathey of GROWMARK, Inc.

“Julie has been a long-time volunteer member dating back to our earliest work within the Ag Retail group and on Seed Connectivity,” says Wilson. She’s been active in leadership roles throughout her time at AgGateway, including service as Chair of the North American Steering Committee in 2025.

AGDATA and CEO Brent Kemp

The President’s Award, chosen at the discretion of the President of AgGateway, recognizes individuals or organizations that have gone above and beyond in the support of the organization and its mission to develop the resources and relationships that drive digital connectivity.

The 2025 recipient, AGDATA, has been a member since the origination of AgGateway, and has been a strong supporter throughout its participation. “Earlier this year, AGDATA offered to sponsor and host an in-person End-User ID working event that drew 60 participants and provided an excellent atmosphere for building consensus,” says Kemp. “Within the last year, we really wanted to recognize their consistent and notable support of AgGateway and its resources.

Jami Young

The Ron Farrell Attitude Award, which debuted at the 2023 Annual Meeting, celebrates the contributions of one of the organizations founding members, who inspired countless members with his optimism and collaborative spirit.

The 2025 recipient, Jami Young of Land O’Lakes, is “really everything that we would want to see in a volunteer,” says Kemp. “Jami is super engaged and very committed to the work that she’s doing within the organization. She’s also not afraid to share her thoughts and opinions, but always in a constructive way that honors everyone else’s view in the room. I’m pleased and proud to be recognizing Jamie with the Ron Farrell Attitude Award this year and look forward to her continued contributions.”

2025 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

AgGateway, AgWired Precision, people

Animal Ag News 11/17

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS) – the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon. USDA produces sterile flies for dispersal at the COPEG facility in Panama. USDA is also investing $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa—which will double NWS production capacity once complete. With ongoing support from APHIS technical experts, Mexico anticipates this sterile fly production to begin as soon as summer 2026.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the new proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The revised WOTUS rule comes after decades of advocacy by NCBA and our state affiliate partners to remove confusing and burdensome regulations on cattle farmers and ranchers.
  • College students and recent graduates are encouraged to attend CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3-5, to help them prepare for careers in the cattle industry. Future agricultural leaders will have the opportunity to engage with potential employers during the new “Career Crawl” at the NCBA Trade Show on Thursday, Feb. 5.
  • The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) praised the announcement of new trade frameworks with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala which collectively position U.S. dairy exporters for further gains in the Western Hemisphere.
  • Dairy is winning with consumers and the national checkoff is helping lead the charge, thanks to investments in research, marketing, partnerships and innovation. That was the message from Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) President and CEO Barbara O’Brien at the 2025 Joint Annual Meeting of the United Dairy Industry Association, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the National Milk Producers Federation, which drew nearly 800 farmers and industry representatives to Arlington, Texas, Nov. 10-12.
  • U.S. dairy farmers are thriving in the marketplace even as labor shortages and a volatile policy environment remain challenges, dairy industry leaders stressed at National Milk Producers Federation’s annual meeting. U.S. dairy is well-positioned for growth, NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud said in remarks at the meeting held jointly by NMPF, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the United Dairy Industry Association.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is calling on U.S. policymakers, trade officials and the food and agriculture industry to work together on mitigating the potential threat of a U.S. vitamin and amino acid supply disruption. The call comes following the release today of new industry data that shows that China controls a significant amount or total majority of global capacity and production of key vitamins and amino acids used in food for both animals and humans, putting U.S. food security at risk.
  • Alloy Partners has announced the launch of OneHealth Studio, a first-of-its-kind venture studio designed specifically to create and scale new companies at the convergence of animal, plant and human health in partnership with Elanco Animal Health. Located in the OneHealth Innovation District at Elanco’s new global headquarters in Indianapolis, the studio will unite research institutions, investors, corporate partners and entrepreneurs to accelerate the next generation of innovation and launch new startups based in Indiana.
  • Zinpro® Corporation, the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of high-performance organic trace minerals and animal nutrition solutions, has launched the Zinpro® Sow Excellence Index – the swine industry’s first data-driven benchmarking system. Designed to prove a correlation between claw lesions and sow productivity, the index allows producers to catch issues early before they impact pig performance.
  • Join the Livestock Publications Council for the next Coffee and Collaboration on Wednesday, November 19, at 12 p.m. CT. The topic is “Writing Press Releases That Get Published” with speakers Wyatt Bechtel of broadhead and Holly Martin of the American Angus Association. Register here.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Precision Ag News 11/13

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Loveland Products, Inc., announces that TITAN® XC, its leading fertilizer biocatalyst, has now been applied to more than 100 million acres across North America since its introduction in 2013. The achievement marks a significant milestone, underscoring TITAN XC’s long-standing role in helping farmers maximize nutrient efficiency, improve fertilizer performance, and achieve consistent, field-proven results year after year.
  • Performance Nutrition, a leader in fertilizer innovation and sustainable plant-nutrition technologies, is expanding its reach across U.S. production agriculture. With proven technologies used across the country for decades, Performance Nutrition is strengthening its direct presence by building a national dealer network and hiring experienced agricultural sales managers to serve growers and retailers in the Midwest and on the West Coast.
  • Traction Ag, the leading farm accounting platform built for production row crop operations, announced the acquisition of PcMars, a trusted desktop-based accounting system used by over 7,000 farms across the U.S.
  • Land O’Lakes Inc. and Microsoft 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.
  • The latest firmware update from Ag Leader delivers powerful new guidance line management capabilities that bring flexibility and simplicity directly to AgFiniti. Farmers can now import, view, manage, and export guidance lines all in one place, with no extra software required.
  • MetaPhite Genetics applauded the U.S. Geological Survey’s decision to add phosphate to the nation’s Critical Minerals List, recognizing the nutrient’s vital role in food production and national security.
  • Verditex, a leading provider of advanced smart agricultural solutions, announces two new flagship products at Agritechnica 2025, one of the industry’s most prestigious international trade fairs. The new innovations are part of an extensive product suite, each designed to deliver a significant leap in performance and reliability.
  • On World Science Day, Bayer launched its “Science Delivers” campaign, a nationwide initiative celebrating how science delivers answers, hope, and progress for all Americans—every day, in the moments that matter most.
  • In honor of Veterans Day, Kubota Tractor Corporation and the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) today announced the selection of the 2025 “Geared to Give” farmer veteran recipients of new Kubota equipment. This year’s five awardees were honored as part of Kubota’s annual dealer meeting, Kubota Connect, held in Grapevine, Texas, where they were recognized by Kubota leadership and celebrated for their service and continued contributions to their communities through farming.
  • CropLife International is pleased to announce Chuck Magro, CEO of Corteva, as incoming Chair of the Board of Directors. He succeeds outgoing Chairman Livio Tedeschi, President of BASF Agricultural Solutions, as the two-year tenure rotates, and will assume his role effective January 1, 2026.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Acquisition Unites Farm Accounting Software Leaders

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    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.

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, software, Technology

    Land O’Lakes and Microsoft Partner for AI Innovation in Agriculture

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    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.”

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, AI, Cooperatives, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Alltech ONE Conference 2027

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Alltech ONE Conference 2027With 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

    Agribusiness, Alltech

    Syngenta Turns 25

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    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

    With an investment of more than $1.4 billion in research and development globally each year, Syngenta continues to accelerate innovation to enable farmers to grow more using less land, water and inputs, while preserving soil health and biodiversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    “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)

    Audio, Crop Protection, Syngenta, Technology

    Syngenta Opens Cropwise Digital Platform to Developers

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    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)

    AgWired Precision, AI, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Syngenta, Technology

    ZimmCast 753 – AdFarm 2025 AgIntel Index Report

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    ZimmCastHello 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.

    AdFarm“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.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Agencies, Audio, Farming, Marketing, ZimmCast

    Addition of Phosphate to Critical Minerals Applauded

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    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.”

    AgWired Precision, Fertilizer, Food