U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders delivered an upbeat update to a crowd at the Commodity Classic trade show last week, emphasizing technology upgrades, streamlined programs, and a renewed “farmer-first” focus under the second Trump administration. Undersecretary of Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Richard Fordyce opened the session by noting FPAC’s creation during the first Trump term to unite the three …
Durastak Corn Trait Stack Coming in 2027
It was one year ago that Syngenta’s Durastak Corn Trait Stack was approved by EPA and this time next year farmers will be able to see next level corn rootworm control with the Durastak/Durastak Viptera brand technology that is the first triple Bt protein stack for corn rootworm control. At the Syngenta Traits exhibit at last week’s Commodity Classic, Corn …
Syngenta and M.S. Technologies Announce New Soybean Trait Stack
Breaking news at Commodity Classic this week came as M.S. Technologies and Syngenta announced plans to launch a groundbreaking herbicide-tolerant soybean trait stack, with broad commercial availability expected in 2029 pending regulatory approvals. This new trait stack will be marketed by Syngenta seed brands and Stine Seed Company, as well as others. Built on the proven foundation of the Enlist …
Secretary Rollins Launches ‘One Farmer, One File’ at Classic
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled USDA’s new “One Farmer, One File” initiative Thursday at the 2026 Commodity Classic, promising a single streamlined digital record that follows producers across all agency systems and slashes paperwork burdens. Rollins described the multi-year modernization as a direct response to decades of fractured IT infrastructure — 500 custom systems managed by 1,000+ contractors at …
Wyant Honored with Fellowship
Agri-Pulse Founder and CEO Sara Wyant has been named The McAllister Top Management Fellow by the Software Information Industry Association (SIIA) and will spend three days talking to students and faculty at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism this fall. “For more than 40 years, The McAllister Top Management Fellow has imparted B2B journalism and information services wisdom to students …
RFA CEO Calls for Unleashing U.S. Ethanol
In a rousing address at the 2026 National Ethanol Conference this morning, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper drew parallels between the ethanol industry’s untapped potential and the inspiring underdog story of college football quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cooper likened the sector to the overlooked athlete who, given the chance, achieved extraordinary success – a metaphor for ethanol’s …
U.S. Beef Export Picture Changing
In an interview from the recent 2026 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in Nashville, Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), provided an optimistic outlook on U.S. beef exports despite recent hurdles. Halstrom reports that exports declined by 18-19% in volume last year, largely due to ongoing issues with China. Excluding China, the drop …
DWFI Podcast 50 – Nebraska Master Irrigator
In this episode, host Frances Hayes dives into the Nebraska Master Irrigator Program, a new approach to advanced water stewardship. Joining Frances is Crystal Powers, DWFI Water and Cropping Systems Extension Educator and a co-collaborator on the new initiative. Through the Nebraska Master Irrigator Program, organizers invite participants to dig deeper and “talk shop” about the critical issues facing agricultural …
Ag Economic Update at CIRB Annual Meeting
At the recent 2026 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) annual meeting, Jim Wiesemeyer of Informa Economics painted a stark picture of the U.S. farm economy, highlighting a severe cash flow squeeze driven by low commodity prices and persistent high input costs. Wiesemeyer compares the current situation to the 1980s farm crisis, but noted mitigating factors like lower interest rates …
Industry Awards at 2026 CattleCon
The Prime Cut Awards ceremony was a new feature this year at the 2026 CattleCon, honoring legacy, leadership and excellence in the industry with a variety of awards. The Greg Henderson Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award was presented this year to Burt Rutherford, a freelance writer and former senior editor of BEEF magazine who has spent his career helping producers …