Midwest lawmakers hope a new report out this week from S&P Global and commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA) will help grow momentum to get a bill allowing nationwide, year-round sales of 15% ethanol fuel through the Senate. At a press conference announcing the report, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said time is running out to get legislation …
New Study Shows Benefits of Biofuels Expansion
A new S&P Global Energy study released today shows how expanded biofuel markets are a catalyst for agriculture, revitalizing farm communities, stabilizing farm incomes, and providing both food and energy security. Commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA), the research, titled “Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst,” offers a detailed, evidence‑based assessment of agriculture’s future and presents a …
ZimmCast 760 – Award to Harry Siemens
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman. In this episode I have a very special guest. I haven’t talked to him recently but we did quite a bit in the early days of AgWired. He’s Harry Siemens and some of you may have heard or read his Siemens Says. He just received a very well deserved award and …
ZimmCast 759 – AgGateway Mid-Year and AI
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman. In this episode I’m sharing my preview interview for the AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting with President/CEO, Brent Kemp. Additionally I’ve got a few comments regarding AI, or Artificial Intelligence, for those of you who haven’t heard of it. But really, AI, is moving fast and besides it is a topic for the …
USDA Ramps Up New World Screwworm Fight
USDA confirmed the detection yesterday of a New World screwworm in a three-week old beef calf in Zavala County, Texas, about 60 miles from the Mexico border, and today officials laid out plans to keep it from spreading. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins updated the House Agriculture Committee Thursday morning. “It is a vexing challenge that we thought we had …
USDA Launches Great American Cotton Plan
USDA unveiled the Great American Cotton Plan Thursday, an initiative to “strengthen the cotton farm economy, restore domestic textile manufacturing, expand cotton trade opportunities, and increase demand for products made with American-grown cotton.” The announcement comes as cotton producers face a fifth consecutive year of negative returns driven by rising input costs, trade distortions, and increasing competition from synthetic materials. …
House Passes Farm Bill But Delays E15
The House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 Thursday with a final vote of 224-200 while delaying a vote on nationwide E15 for two weeks. “After a markup that lasted over 20 hours, the legislation reflects the will of the committee, and it is filled with bipartisan provisions that will move the needle for …
DWFI Podcast 52 – New Executive Director Joe Sanders
Joe Sanders, the new executive director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska, brings more than 27 years of experience in international agricultural development to his role. In this episode, hosted by Arianna Elnes, he reflects on his career path—from serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia to leading USAID-funded projects across …
Passing of Randy Krotz
Randy Krotz became a good friend of Cindy and mine. Over the years we’ve not only interviewed him in different roles like the original USFRA but many more. In this photo Cindy is doing an interview with Randy in the golf cart we were using at Farm Progress Show in 2017. You can listen to the interview here. Here are …
Syngenta Urges Well Rounded Approach to Disease Pressure
Growers are facing many challenges this season, making it critical to protect yield potential and their bottom line in an environment defined by unpredictable weather and compounding disease risks. Syngenta is urging farmers to face those risks with a well-rounded approach. “My overarching message is don’t get caught up in just one disease and manage towards one, because I think …