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 …
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 …
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 …
ZimmComm Gear for Sale
Hello you photographers, social media content producers, influencers, broadcasters, publishers. Here at ZimmComm Headquarters we have accumulated a variety of equipment that we have used. I’m just that kind of agnerd. For example. I’ve got several tripods along with several different tripod heads. And of course, some audio devices for a variety of purposes. Here is the current list I …
CIRB Wraps 62nd Annual Meeting
The 62nd annual meeting of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) wrapped up last week in Indian Wells, California and concluded Lindsay Rinkenberger’s term as chair of the organization. Rinkenberger, who is director of Commercial Agribusiness Underwriting at Country Financial, says they did make some changes in the program this year. “So we did change up the speakers, the …
ZimmCast 756 – AI in Agriculture
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman. The beginning of February was a very busy time. Although Cindy and I are not traveling to conferences and shows for work we’ve had some great talent on site while we gather their photos and interviews to create virtual newsrooms. These were 2026 CattleCon (Steven Orr, Paramount Broadcasting (All Ag All …