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Tech Hub LIVE Farmer Panel Hits Home Run

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

L-R: Tanner Winterhof, April Hemmes, Jeremy Muff, Tanner Knupp

The traditional Tech Hub LIVE closing farmer panel gave attendees the opportunity to get unfiltered and honest opinions on ag tech, AI, and retailer relationships in the real world.

Moderated by Farm4Profit Podcast co-host Tanner Winterhof, the panel included three innovative Iowa farmers: April Hemmes, Hemmes Farms in Hampton, Iowa; Tanner Knupp, Knupp Farms in Southeast Iowa; and Jeremy Muff, C & JM Farms, western Iowa. Winterhof grew up on a family farm in northwest Iowa. “But ultimately I don’t make any or very many of the decisions. So I’m excited to talk to these real farmers today, not ones that just play farmers on a podcast like myself,” he said.

April Hemmes, who played an active part in several aspects of Tech Hub LIVE this year, is the full-time farmer on her 1,000 acre operation while her husband works off the farm. “So I got what I call a farming husband – my fertilizer and chemical guy. I went that way purely because of the service I got,” April said when she was asked about how she makes her input buying decisions. “It is a relationship business.”

Service was a common theme echoed by the farmers when it came to who got their business. Muff, who shocked the audience with his introduction when he said he just traded in all of his Case equipment for John Deere, said it came down to service. “I don’t know if we got tractors that were built in COVID or what, but we just seem to have a ton of breakdowns and we just weren’t getting the best service for repairs and finally, just made the switch,” said Muff. “We knew the technology was probably ahead of Case, it was the price that was holding us back. But after a while, you know, breakdowns cost money too, even if it’s warrantied, it’s still your downtime. So that was that was the main reason.”

Knupp said trust is most important for him. “Work with people that you trust. Number one is profit,” he said. “And at the end of the day, every farm is going to be different. So, working with your farm, your fields, your tile guys, your chemical guys, your seed guys work, work within yourself. Quit worrying about what the neighbors doing.”

Listen to their candid conversation here:
THL Farmer Panel (37:20)

2025 Tech Hub LIVE photo album

AgWired Precision, Audio, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

House Ag Chair Addresses Peanut Growers

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Congressman F.T. ThompsonDuring the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, Congressman G.T. Thompson, House Ag Chair, participated in today’s general session. He talked about the farm bill which he described as provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill as version 1.0. He talks about the process and what these provisions mean to farmers and particularly peanut growers. He also met with several ag media who asks questions.

Congressman G.T. Thompson Remarks
Remarks from G.T. Thompson (29:57)

Congressman G.T. Thompson Press Conference with media
Remarks from G.T. Thompson (12:00)

2025 Southern Peanut Growers Conference photo album

Ag Groups, Audio, Peanuts, SPGC

Successful Tech Hub LIVE 2025 Concludes

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The fifth annual Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo wrapped up another hugely successful event this week, ensuring they will be back again next year in Des Moines.

The exhibit hall was packed this year with the latest and greatest in ag technology, including an impressive group of companies who were honored for being there all five years: AgVend, DTN, EarthDaily, Ever.Ag Agribusiness, Growers Edge, AgWorks/FieldReveal by McGregor Technologies, Midwest Laboraties, Praxidyn, Ranch Systems, Inc., Razor Tracking, SoilView, LLC, Software Solutions Integrated, Taranis, Inc., TELUS, and Waypoint Analytical.

One of the newer exhibitors this year, and the biggest on the floor, was Emergent Connext, creating wireless solutions for the ag industry. “If your entire farm isn’t covered, then your technology doesn’t work,” said CEO Mike Roudi. “We make the internet access that tech solutions require to be effective.”

Roudi says they had a very small presence last year at THL but went really big this year to highlight some of their partners at the show and tell their story and they had a very good response.
Mike Roudi, CEO, Emergent Connex (4:09)

AI was a topic that came up in nearly every session and breakout at the conference. The final general session on Tuesday, retailers weighed in on what’s working, what’s missing, and what still needs to be built when it comes to AI for agriculture. Aman Anand with Nutrien Ag Solutions is very optimistic about the three A approach that AI brings to farming. “Acquisition of data, analysis of that data, and finally creating actionable insights,” said Anand, who received the new Emerging Leader Ag Tech Excellence Award this year. “It will change farmers’ lives.”

Anand serves on the advisory board for Tech Hub LIVE and says the conference is needed for all aspects of the agtech industry. “It should be applicable to everyone,” he said. “Our goal is that everyone in the ag value chain will get benefit from it.”
2025 Ag Tech Award winner Aman Anand (6:16)

Tech Hub LIVE was pleased to have the generous sponsorship of a variety of industry partners, many of whom have provided support for many years. Scott Cogdill is currently Director of Business Development for AgWorld, which was registration sponsor this year, but Scott has been supporting Tech Hub LIVE since the beginning and helped to form the direction of the conference. “I think it’s done a really good job keeping it to what is commercially viable,” said Cogdill. “It is one of the best opportunities to truly get together as an industry.”
Scott Cogdill, AgWorld (8:08)

Thanks to all of the partners and sponsors, including: The Greater Des Moines Partnership, Agri-Access, Agri Spray Drones, Agworld, BioConnect Iowa, Ever.Ag, Solentra, Carlton Fields, EarthDaily, Faegre Drinker, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Farm4Profit, People of Ag, Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI), Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), Iowa Ag Expo.

There were nearly 70 exhibitors, five general sessions, 9 breakout sessions, 21 Tech Talks and 15 Fireside Chats at THL this year, plus the Women in Ag Tech pre-event conference and the post-conference Spray Drones and Ag Retail workshop. It was a busy and very successful conference for all.

2025 Tech Hub LIVE photo album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

Industry Ag News 7/25

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), refocusing its core operations to better align with its founding mission of supporting American farming, ranching, and forestry.
  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today in Florida met with agricultural leaders and producers and announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers recover from Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton. Secretary Rollins signed a block grant agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that provides recovery assistance for Floridian farmers.
  • Global investment firm Carlyle announced that it has entered into a $250 million forward-flow agreement to purchase newly issued farm operating loans from FarmOp Capital, a leading provider of farm operating loans in the US. This partnership will enable FarmOp Capital to increase their origination capacity and expand capital access for independent row crop farmers across the U.S.
  • Corn has officially claimed the top spot as the most-used plant-based ingredient in U.S. pet food, according to a recent report released by the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER). The 2024 Pet Food Ingredient Analysis, which was released in March, underscores corn’s critical role in one of agriculture’s most dynamic markets.
  • The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), joined by more than a dozen other representatives of the North American fresh fruit and vegetable sector, are urging the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada to swiftly resolve ongoing tariff disputes that threaten the affordability, accessibility, and stability of fresh produce supplies across the continent.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) elected its 2025-26 officers at the 2025 ASTA Leadership Summit, which took place in Washington, D.C. June 8-11, 2025. The 2025-26 officers, who began official duties on July 1, are Chair: Dave Treinen, Syngenta Seeds; First Vice Chair: Bryan Gerard, JoMar Seeds; and Second Vice Chair: Crystal Rose Fricker, Pure Seed.
  • In the year ahead, the United Soybean Board (USB) will boost demand for U.S. Soy, drive on-farm resilience and bring value to the nearly half a million U.S. soybean farmers. Led by its 77 farmer-leaders, USB recently approved a $121.3 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year, strategically allocating funds across vital research, promotion and education investments. This spans the food, feed, fuel, industrial, exports and sustainable production market segments.
  • In an effort to honor and express gratitude for the hardworking farmers who produce our food supply, Culver’s is launching their annual “To Farmers With Love Contest”—a nationwide effort running July 14 through Aug. 1. The fast-casual restaurant chain is inviting guests to nominate a farmer making a meaningful impact in their community for a chance to win a trip to attend a Tim McGraw concert at the Field of Dreams Movie Site on Aug. 30, 2025, or the Velocity Music Festival on Aug. 31, 2025, both held in Dyersville, Iowa. To learn more about the concert or to nominate a farmer for a chance to win a VIP experience, visit https://www.culvers.com/to-farmers-with-love-contest.
  • The Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year state winners have been announced for 2025. State winners for 2025 include:
    Dr. Issac “Nealy” Barrett, Jr. | Alabama Farmer of the Year 2025;
    Jeremy Allen | Arkansas Farmer of the Year 2025;
    James “Jim” Alderman | Florida Farmer of the Year 2025;
    Kent Hamilton | Georgia Farmer of the Year 2025;
    David “Harrell” Overman | North Carolina Farmer of the Year 2025;
    Jeff Wilson | South Carolina Farmer of the Year 2025;
    and Steve Hopkins | Virginia Farmer of the Year 2025.
  • A distinguished humanitarian, business leader and diplomat, Cindy Hensley McCain became the World Food Programme’s Executive Director on April 5, 2023. Prior to joining the World Food Programme, she served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, and is the former Chair of the Board of Trustees of Arizona State University’s McCain Institute for International Leadership. She has also served on the Board of Directors of Project C.U.R.E, CARE, Operation Smile and Halo Trust, and was Chairman of her family’s business, Hensley Beverage Company.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Alltech Gets USDA Grant for Biological Fertilizer Production

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Alltech’s Dr. Steve Borst makes announcement with Gov. Beshear

    Alltech has been awarded a $2.34 million grant from the USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) to expand Alltech Crop Science’s (ACS) biological fertilizer production in Kentucky. The funding will support the construction of a new $4.6 million, 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility dedicated to producing biological fertilizers and crop inputs.

    Located on the campus of Alltech’s global headquarters in Nicholasville, Kentucky, this state-of-the-art facility — ACS’s first U.S. production plant dedicated solely to crop science — will produce more than 66,000 gallons of biological fertilizers per shift per month and create six new full-time jobs. Made with beneficial microorganisms, biofertilizers improve soil fertility, stimulate root development, enhance nutrient uptake and support a healthier soil microbiome. These biological solutions offer farmers an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers, helping reduce reliance on synthetic inputs.

    “This USDA grant is a major step forward for farmers seeking natural, science-based solutions,” said Dr. Steve Borst, vice president of Alltech Crop Science. “By expanding our production capabilities here in Kentucky, we are investing in our local economy, providing farmers with high-quality biological solutions that improve soil and crops and contributing to a more resilient agricultural system.”

    Steve Borst, Alltech Crop Science (1:15)

    Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the expansion project on Thursday.

    “Kentucky’s manufacturing and agriculture sectors have been crucial in contributing to our state’s recent economic momentum,” said Gov. Beshear. “We continue to see global companies like Alltech invest and reinvest in the commonwealth and our communities, providing quality jobs for Kentuckians. I want to thank Alltech’s leaders for their years of commitment and investment in Kentucky and congratulate the company on receiving this award from the USDA. I look forward to seeing Alltech’s successful expansion in Nicholasville.”

    Alltech, Audio, Fertilizer, USDA

    Peanut Association Executive Directors Talk About the Crop

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Peanut Association Executive DirectorsPeanut growers and industry representatives from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi and now South Carolina are in Panama City Beach, FL this week for the 2025 Southern Peanut Growers Conference. You can find the conference blog here.

    Leaders of the state organizations, pictured here, gave us an update on the condition of their crops this year and what they peanut farmers are expecting as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has been passed.

    Listen to comments from each state director below.

    Interview with Libbie Johnson, Executive Director, Alabama Peanut Producers Association
    Interview with Libbie Johnson (1:53)

    Interview with Brittany Greene, Executive Director, Florida Peanut Producers Association
    Interview with Brittany Greene (2:40)

    Interview with Don Koehler, Executive Director, Georgia Peanut Commission
    Interview with Don Koehler (5:31)

    Interview with Malcolm Broome, Executive Director, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association
    Interview with Malcolm Broome (2:14)

    Interview with Katharine Helms, Executive Director, South Carolina Peanut Board
    Interview with Katherine Helms (2:43)

    2025 Southern Peanut Growers Conference photo album

    Ag Groups, Audio, Peanuts, SPGC

    Agri-Access Supports Tech Hub LIVE and Women in Ag Tech

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Kelly Miller and Courtney Zimmerman of Agri-Access display one of the blankets they gave attendees at the WiAT meeting

    Agri-Access, part of Compeer Financial, partners with financial institutions, agri-fintechs and agricultural retailers to expand access to capital across rural America, and this year they were a major sponsor for both the Women in Ag Tech conference and Tech Hub LIVE 2025.

    Kelly Miller, Director of Agtech and Retail, says Women in Ag Tech is really important to them because women are a major part of agriculture, both on the ag tech side and on the farm. “We are both places and we want to make sure that we have a really good presence of that so Women in Ag Tech is really important to us as well as Tech Hub LIVE. We have a lot of our partners here and we want to make sure that we can show up and help sponsor this great event.”

    Miller led a panel at the WiAT conference on the role of ag tech in farm credit and crop insurance, and she also gave a presentation on innovation during the Tech Hub LIVE conference. “I love talking about innovation because it’s really one of my passions alongside of agriculture,” said Miller, who outlined three keys of innovation in any organization.

    “The top three are making sure that you are in a good space from a profitability standpoint to be able to innovate. The second one, make sure it aligns with your strategy and number three have fun and be creative with your innovating within your organization.”

    Listen to an interview with Miller here:
    Kelly Miller, Agri Access (6:45)

    2025 Tech Hub LIVE photo album

    2025 Women in Ag Tech conference

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

    Precision Ag News 7/24

    Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • Waypoint Analytical, North America’s largest agricultural lab network, has officially opened its newest laboratory in Grand Island, Nebraska. The new lab expands Waypoint’s capabilities in the heart of row crop country – bringing cutting-edge testing closer to the farm and accelerating the delivery of agronomic recommendations.
  • Biobest, division of the BioFirst Group specializing in biocontrol and natural pollination for horticulture, has acquired key technology and personnel of its external technology partner Ecoation Innovative Solutions Inc. The acquired technology, products and expert staff become part of Biobest’s global High-Tech Development and Customer Success Center, reinforcing its strategic leadership in IPM automation tools.
  • MyLand, a leading innovator in soil health, announced a $2.4 million expansion to bring its Soil as a Service™ to more farms across Washington State. Through this effort, MyLand aims to help growers strengthen soil health, build climate resilience, and adopt sustainable practices at scale.
  • Yara North America is pleased to announce the appointment of Sabine Schröder to President, overseeing the U.S. and Canada business, effective immediately. Schröder, who has made significant contributions over 18 years with Yara, has served as interim President of North America since January 2025. Previously, she served as Vice President of Commercial Excellence for Crop Nutrition in the Americas. She also brings extensive global leadership experience, having held the positions of Commercial Director for Europe’s NOxCare business and Global Sales Excellence Manager.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Ag Data Transparent announced a new partnership to bring clarity to farmers interested in carbon market contracts.
  • Bonsai Robotics Inc., a leader in vision-based autonomy software for agriculture, announced its acquisition of farm-ng Inc., a pioneer in modular electric robots for farm management. This strategic combination brings together two of agtech’s most advanced and innovative companies with a shared vision to deliver powerful AI solutions that tackle the labor, cost, and efficiency challenges growers face today.
  • AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., a leading provider of advanced drone and aerial imaging solutions, announces the sale and deployment of five advanced eBee X drones integrated with MicaSense™ S.O.D.A. 3D mapping cameras to Atvos Agroindustrial S.A., one of Brazil’s largest producers of sugarcane-based ethanol, sugar, and renewable energy.
  • Miraterra, a British Columbia-based technology company known for unlocking measurement and insight across soil, plants, and food through breakthroughs in Raman spectroscopy, has acquired the assets of Bay Area-founded Ag-tech company, Trace Genomics Inc., including the full suite of Intellectual Property (IP), in-market products, and an analytical lab in Ames, Iowa.
  • Current hot topics – from bird flu strategies to nutrient recycling, ag policy to ag law, and the ag economy to leadership and ethics training – the American Society of Agricultural Consultants Conference in Indianapolis this November will cover the gamut. Top-notch professionals will be on hand Nov. 2 through 4 to address the latest issues facing consultants.
  • A working paper recently released by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska has made a strong case for expanding investments in promoting small-scale irrigation in Niger. The paper, “Opportunities and Research Gaps for Promoting Irrigation and Mechanization Markets in Niger,” by DWFI Global Fellow Douglas J. Merrey, Ph.D, reviews agricultural water management in Niger, addressing challenges, successes, and research needs to improve food security and economic growth in one of the world’s poorest countries.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Bonsai Robotics Acquires farm-ng

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Bonsai Robotics Inc. (“Bonsai”), a leader in vision-based autonomy software for agriculture, today announced its acquisition of farm-ng Inc., a pioneer in modular electric robots for farm management. This brings together two of agtech’s most advanced and innovative companies to deliver powerful AI solutions that tackle the labor, cost, and efficiency challenges growers face today.

    The integration of Bonsai’s high-performance autonomous AI technology with farm-ng’s customizable robotic platform allows for a revolutionary offering of AI-first machines that will transform crop management. This powerful combination of intelligent software and advanced robotic hardware enables cost-effective, mixed-fleet solutions that boost efficiency and reduce operational costs across diverse crops, tasks, and environments.

    “To date, our vision has been to make autonomy and AI accessible, easy to use, and deployable across all farm equipment whether retrofitted onto existing tractors or built into the next generation machine,” said Tyler Niday, CEO and co-founder of Bonsai Robotics. “This acquisition allows us to now develop those next generation machines to augment and empower today’s workforce while optimizing farm productivity. We are shifting the industry from iron to intelligence.”

    Joining the Bonsai team in connection with the acquisition are Chief Operating Officer, John Teeple, former director of technology at John Deere, and Gary Bradski, a key figure in the evolution of computer vision and founder of OpenCV, as Chief Science Officer.

    Financial terms of this acquisition were not disclosed.

    Learn more in this interview with CEO Tyler Niday.
    Tyler Niday, Bonsai Robotics (8:38)

    AgWired Precision, AI, Audio, Precision Agriculture, robotics

    Yara North America Appoints Sabine Schröder as President

    Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Yara Knowledge GrowsYara North America is pleased to announce the appointment of Sabine Schröder to President, overseeing the U.S. and Canada business, effective immediately. Schröder, who has made significant contributions over 18 years with Yara, has served as interim President of North America since January 2025. Previously, she served as Vice President of Commercial Excellence for Crop Nutrition in the Americas. She also brings extensive global leadership experience, having held the positions of Commercial Director for Europe’s NOxCare business and Global Sales Excellence Manager.

    In tandem with this appointment, two strategic commercial leadership roles have been formed to strengthen customer support and regional focus across the U.S.:

    • George Simpson has been selected as Director of East U.S. Sales & Marketing. With over 23 years at Yara, Simpson has most recently led the Mid-Atlantic team and will continue supporting the region during the transition.

    • Dan Clarke has been selected as Director of West U.S. Sales & Marketing. With 19 years at Yara, Clarke began as a Technical Sales Representative in Canada and most recently led the Central U.S. team, which he will continue supporting during the transition.

    Additionally, Jeff Hartz joins Yara North America’s leadership team as Vice President of Strategic Marketing. Most recently serving as Director of Go to Market Strategy & Enablement for Yara Americas, Hartz brings over two decades of expertise spanning seeds, crop protection, ag finance, and food production.

    Agribusiness, Crop Protection, Nutrition