Preview of the AgGateway Annual Mtg. & Conference

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

2025 AgGateway Annual Meeting and ConferenceTo get a preview of this year’s AgGateway Annual Meeting and Conference, I talked with Brent Kemp, President and CEO. The event will be held November 3-5 at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Throughout 2025, AgGateway has been celebrating two decades of achievement in fulfilling its core mission: To develop the resources and relationships that drive digital connectivity in global agriculture and related industries.

This celebration concludes at the North America Annual Conference, where the industry gathers to understand the state of interconnectivity in agriculture, what the association and its membership has accomplished over the past year, and the core initiatives on deck for the year ahead.

The Annual Meeting and Conference combines real working sessions on advanced initiatives, meet- ups and committee gatherings to discuss new and longer-term projects, and a host of conference sessions designed to create discussion and infuse enthusiasm for the AgGateway Mission.

Along with learning and working sessions, the conference features multiple networking breaks and receptions, as well as a welcome luncheon for first-time attendees.

Annual Conference attendees include leading agribusiness managers, IT professionals, and other representatives from the entire crop production channel, including input and equipment manufacturing, software and data service providers, ag retailers and distributors, in addition to professionals in precision ag, academia, agricultural organizations, students, and ag media.

Listen to my interview with Brent here to get all the details: Interview with Brent Kemp, President/CEO, AgGateway

AgGateway, Agribusiness, Audio, Technology

Tendovo Redefines Soybean Weed Management

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

At the 2025 Farm Progress Show, Syngenta Crop Protection Agronomist Matt Geiger shared information about Tendovo, the flagship pre-emergent soybean herbicide for that area.

“You need to start clean. You don’t want to have weeds at the time you plant or right after the beans come up. You want to stay clean early. Then you put that residual down to prevent new weed emergence,” said Geiger. “Herbicides in general are there so your weeds don’t compete with the crop. You don’t want competition at any point in the season.”

Geiger said weed prevention is key to maximizing yield. While post-emergence chemistries can be inconsistent, using a broad spectrum product like Tendovo that activates easily and lasts long enough that you can overlap your second residual before more weeds come up is a more reliable approach.

Geiger said complementary ingredients mean the product can activate with very little rainfall, but also with more rainfall. Varying solubilities provide consistency, while also ensuring an admirable crop safety profile.

Syngenta Crop Protection Agronomist Matt Geiger – Tendovo broad-spectrum residual soybean herbicide
FPS25 Interview with Matt Geiger, Syngenta Crop Protection (5:16)

Agribusiness, Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Herbicide, Syngenta, weed management

ZimmCast 751 – Preview of the NAMA NEXUS

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.

In this episode we’re going to get an in-depth preview of the new NAMA NEXUS event that will be taking place in Milwaukee, WI, October 14-16. I spoke with committee chair Kasie Garcia.

We’ll start with what the NAMA NEXUS means as well as the Economies of Ag. From there it’s on to the agenda and how it is different from the NAMA Fall Conference of the past.

You can still register on the NAMA website.

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 751 - Preview of the NAMA NEXUS (20:37)

That’s the ZimmCast for now. Please let us know if you have ideas for a future podcast. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, Audio, NAMA

Forum to Focus on Global Impact of U.S. Ag and Food

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

As world leaders prepare to convene at COP30 in Brazil next month, Agri-Pulse and JBS will be hosting a forum on October 21 in Washington, D.C., to spotlight how U.S. farmers, ranchers, and their supply chain partners are already delivering the solutions the world needs.

“U.S. Agriculture and Food Systems on the Global Stage” will showcase real-world success stories and policy recommendations from the global collaborative Sustainable Business COP (SB COP) demonstrating how American agriculture is proving that productivity and sustainability go hand-in-hand. “From regenerative grain production to resilient livestock systems, American farmers and ranchers are leading the way in addressing the intertwined challenges of food security and climate stability,” said Agri-Pulse Founder and Publisher Sara Wyant. “This forum provides a critical platform to share these innovations with policymakers and industry leaders as we approach COP30.”

The forum will be held at the National Press Club from 2-5 p.m. ET, followed by a networking reception from 5-6 p.m. Registration is complimentary.

The forum will feature dynamic panel discussions showcasing American agricultural innovation in action. “Scaling Regenerative Agriculture” will bring together grain producers and their supply chain partners to share strategies that strengthen both economic and environmental sustainability, while “Advancing Livestock Productivity and Resiliency” will highlight innovations that enhance production efficiency while building climate resilience. The afternoon concludes with a bipartisan fireside chat featuring Members of Congress discussing how agricultural innovation drives America’s global competitiveness and food security, exploring how policy can support the continued advancement of sustainable practices that benefit both producers and consumers worldwide.

Agri-Pulse, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, regenerative ag

GHX Golden Harvest MaxScript

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

Visitors to the 2025 Farm Progress Show had the opportunity to learn more about GHX Golden Harvest MaxScript, a personalized seed placement tool that not only gives a field by field seed recommendation, but also a planting population recommendation that’s tailored to the farmer’s preferences.

“We’ll be blending that local agronomic expertise of Golden Harvest with the digital agronomy insight tools of GHX,” said Andy Lee with Golden Harvest.

Lee explained that MaxScript provides a planting plan or seed placement recommendation that helps growers get off to the best start possible. The company will be scaling that across all of Golden Harvest for the coming growing seasons. That includes the GHX app, which is a full suite of digital agronomy tools that provides scouting reports, weather reports and everything a grower needs to manage a crop throughout the growing season.

“That tool grows and gets better every single year, and as we scale that across Golden Harvest and make that more available to every grower within our system, we’re excited to see how that help growers be successful across the board,” said Lee.

Lee said coupling these digital tools with innovations like the new Durastak trait – available for growers to plant in 2027 – is cause for excitement, especially in an economic environment where every bushel counts.

Golden Harvest Head Andy Lee – blending of GHX and Golden Harvest, MaxScript Custom Seed recommendation
FPS25 Interview with Andy Lee, Golden Harvest (3:41)

AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Golden Harvest, Seed, Syngenta

Animal Ag News 9/30

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Consumer demand for products like cheese, butter and yogurt that rely on protein and butterfat content continues to drive dairy sales growth in the U.S. and abroad. Over the past decade, milk delivered to U.S. dairy processing plants has become more nutrient-dense with higher levels of the two key components to meet rising demand. However, the pace of growth in butterfat content has far exceeded protein, which creates challenges for U.S. cheddar and American-style cheesemakers that rely on a more balanced ratio of the two. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, excessive butterfat levels can impact cheese quality. In the EU and New Zealand, the two largest dairy exporters, the protein-to-fat ratio has remained far steadier, averting the issues U.S. cheese makers are facing.
  • The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) began accepting nominations for the fifth Cohort of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders. NIAA will begin accepting applications and nominations on October 1 until January 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
  • As of Sept.1, there were 74.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down one percent from September 2024 but up one percent from June 1, 2025, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is set to begin data collection efforts for the quarterly Milk Production survey. The information collected in this survey allows NASS to accurately measure and report conditions and trends in the U.S. milk industry over the course of the year.
  • CattleCon 2026, the largest cattle industry event of the year, is heading to the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3-5. New for 2026: all registration options include access to Cattlemen’s College education sessions and demonstrations.
  • The dairy checkoff has introduced “Smart Swaps,” a dairy-focused initiative designed to help schools meet evolving nutrition standards and student expectations. The farmer-founded National Dairy Council (NDC) created Smart Swaps for school nutrition professionals to include dairy on breakfast menus and adapt to evolving meal standards. The program offers training resources along with kid approved breakfast recipes featuring dairy.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has opened registration for its annual Equipment Manufacturers Conference (EMC), to be held Nov. 5-7 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. This year’s theme is “Winning Strategies for Workforce Protection and Management.”
  • At the Public Lands Council (PLC) Annual Meeting, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced winners of the 2025 Rangeland Stewardship and Rangeland Innovation awards to recognize exemplary management and outstanding accomplishments in restoring and maintaining the health of public rangelands. The bureau will present the awards on Sept. 17, at a ceremony during PLC’s 57th Annual Meeting, held this year in Flagstaff, Ariz., and via Zoom from 12-1:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
  • The Meat Institute announced it has joined the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, expanding its access to food safety best practices and other efforts to prevent foodborne illness on behalf of meat and poultry companies. The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness is a nonprofit program of Stop Foodborne Illness. It brings together consumer advocates, leading companies, and like-minded organizations committed to the goal of preventing foodborne disease. The Alliance comprises 20+ members from around the globe working together to share best practices and advance food safety culture.
  • The National Pork Producers Council is accepting applications for the 2026 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship. Each year, ten $2,500 scholarships are awarded to college students preparing for careers in the pork industry and aspiring to become future industry leaders. The program is made possible through support from CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation. The application deadline for this year is December 12. Full eligibility and application requirements can be found here.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Prepare for National Nematode Day

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    National Nematode Day is just a week away, named by the SCN Coalition to be October 6 this year, with the goal to increase soybean farmers’ awareness of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) – the No. 1 yield-grabbing pathogen of the soybean crop in North America.

    As part of the effort, Syngenta Seedcare and The SCN Coalition will be holding a webinar called Nematode U on October 9 at 1:00 pm Central time. The webinar will be a chance for soybean farmers to learn about key nematode yield threats and upcoming management tools, such as Victrado seed treatment, which is expected to receive registration this fall for the 2026 season.

    The webinar will feature:
    Dylan Mangel, Asst. Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Nebraska- Lincoln
    Dale Ireland, Ph.D, Syngenta Seedcare Technical Product Lead
    Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare Product Lead

    Jaeger was at the recent 2025 Farm Progress Show where she talked about the highly anticipated approval of Victrado, which protects soybeans against a number of threats.

    “We’re seeing a step change in performance against sudden death, which we know is the number two issue that our growers are facing. It will be the first federally labeled product for red crown rot. We’re also getting high efficacy on broad spectrum protection against nematodes. And then lastly, we are seeing some early season suppression of some key foliar diseases,” said Jaeger. Combining it with a base fungicide and insecticide like CruiserMaxx Apex will also combat early season insects.

    FPS25 Interview with Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare (3:37)

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Crop Protection, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Syngenta

    Sen. Marshall Pleased With Ag Input on MAHA Report

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse, and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) at Ag Outlook Forum

    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) is pleased that the most recent Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report on the Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again included a lot more input from the agriculture sector.

    “I think the first rendition of MAHA was written without much input from agriculture,” said Sen. Marshall during the Ag Outlook Forum last week in Kansas City. “But between the first one and the second one, over 250 agriculture groups went to the White House and spoke with the people writing that – Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, who’s just been an incredible voice for agriculture – having more influence on what that second report was going to look like. And so it was an educational process of explaining, you know, the difference between organic farming versus regenerative farming and some of the great things that we are doing in agriculture as well.”

    During an on-stage conversation with Agri-Pulse Founder and Publisher Sara Wyant, Marshall also commented on trade deals, farm bill prospects, and the need for year-round E15. “Anyone that cares about agriculture, that should be the number one ask of the White House right now is to support a year-round E15 bill,” said Marshall. “And it’ll pass if the president just says go.”

    Sen. Roger Marshall at KC Ag Outlook Forum (34:05)

    Agri-Pulse, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farming, Food

    Industry Ag News 9/26

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is awarding $8.3 million in funding to help 11 U.S. recipients address trade barriers and expand international market access for U.S. specialty crops. The funding is provided through USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, which manages the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. TASC helps U.S. specialty crop producers combat trade barriers, as well as promote and sell their goods internationally.
  • FAPRI-MU has released a report entitled Impacts of Selected Agricultural Provisions of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. It is now available on https://fapri.missouri.edu.
  • The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is proud to announce Dr. David L. Ortega, Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at Michigan State University, as the recipient of the 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award (BCCA).
  • Mary Kay Thatcher, one of the nation’s foremost authorities on agricultural policy and advocacy, has joined Stratovation Group’s Board of Advisors. In her advisory role, Thatcher will provide strategic counsel through her unique public policy and grassroots advocacy lens. She continues to lead her own independent, professional consultancy business, advising organizations and clients navigating the intersection of agricultural policy, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Three people responsible for making major contributions to the past, present and future of American agriculture – former USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, pork industry innovator Wendell Murphy and antique tractor preservationist Michael Hinton – will be inducted into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame on Oct. 23 at the National Agricultural Center in Bonner Springs, Kansas.
  • Citing near-record production costs in a low-price environment, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently launched a task force to identify solutions to bring costs more in line with today’s commodity prices. Corn growers nationwide are in the third consecutive year of net negative returns, with 2026 projected to be the fourth year of negative returns.
  • Cross Plains Solutions and the United Soybean Board were on hand as SoyFoam™ was honored with the prestigious Green Chemistry Challenge Award for its ability to deliver high-performance firefighting power while reducing hazardous substances, conserving resources, and supporting a more sustainable, cost-effective future. Check out the video now!
  • The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is proud to share that Commissioner Amanda Beal has been elected by her peers to serve as the 2025–2026 President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), a role that underscores both her leadership and Maine’s growing voice in shaping the future of American agriculture.
  • The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) released The Harvest Economy, a new economic impact study highlighting the vital role the U.S. grain and feed industry plays in powering jobs, tax revenues, and economic growth across America.
  • A new report commissioned by the Corn Refiners Association shows changes in state food labeling laws could cost consumers billions of dollars and hit budget conscious consumers the hardest. According to the analysis, out-of-pocket expenses faced by consumers could increase by $2,200 per household in Texas and $900 per household in Louisiana.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    GreenLight Bio Launches RNA-Based Treatment for Varroa Mites

    Cindy Zimmerman 1 Comment

    GreenLight Biosciences is pleased to announce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) registration of NorroaTM, the first-ever nature-based treatment specifically designed to combat varroa mites, the leading threat to honey bee colonies.

    The registration comes at a time when data from the Honey Bee Health Coalition reveals staggering honey bee colony losses of 1.7 million colonies and commercial beekeepers sustaining an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and March 2025. USDA researchers have discovered this alarming trend is related to the declining efficacy of existing miticides as varroa mites have developed resistance to once reliable chemical treatments.

    “The EPA registration of Norroa marks a pivotal moment in protecting honey bee colonies that are essential to our food system,” said Andrey Zarur, Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Bio. “By harnessing the precision of our proprietary technologies, we’re providing beekeepers with an environmentally conscious solution that specifically and effectively targets one of the most devastating threats to honey bee health.”

    Norroa’s active ingredient, vadescana, leverages RNA interference (RNAi), a natural biological process that precisely targets varroa mites and ultimately stops their reproduction. It is part of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee‘s (IRAC) Group 35, offering beekeepers a brand-new mode of action in the fight against these mites. The nucleic acids in the product are found in nature, and vadescana breaks down quickly in the environment.

    Varroa mites can double their population every 30 days and have evolved resistance to many chemical treatments. Without significant intervention, experts warn of dire consequences for U.S. agriculture, which relies on honey bee pollination for more than 100 crops valued at an estimated $20 billion annually.

    Norroa will be available for sale exclusively through Mann Lake Ltd. and its authorized dealer network. Beekeepers and agricultural professionals can learn more at norroa.com.

    AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Bees, pollinators