Meet the Tenth CIRB Emerging Leaders Program Class

Cindy Zimmerman

Front row:Shay Foster, Ronnetta Rountree, Crystal Mulcahy, Sandy Johnson, Candy Magee, Carissa Lozier, Kyle Jore, Craig Fenster
Back Row: Tony Kubik, Billy Meade, Tanner Schroder, Mike Weber, Kasey Engel, Luke Aupperle, Brian Johnson, Jon Clarke

There are 19 members in the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau’s (CIRB) 2024-2025 class of the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), which is designed to build the next generation of crop insurance and reinsurance leaders.

Now in the tenth year, the program offers extensive educational programming, valuable networking opportunities, and active engagement in Washington, D.C., to provide each class with a well-rounded experience to help them understand the entire crop insurance system. Participants are chosen each year from CIRB member companies and represent the diversity of people involved in the industry, from sales and claims, to data and IT. It also offers them an opportunity for a little media training with the ZimmComm Golden Microphone. This year, I managed to get 16 of the 19 participants and they are all excited about their experience so far.

Meet these 16 outstanding members of the 2024-25 Emerging Leaders Program class:
Anthony Kubik, American Farm Bureau Insurance Services
Crystal Mulcahy, American Farm Bureau Insurance Services
Tanner Schroder, AgriSompo North America
Shay Foster, AgriSompo North America
Craig Fenster, Aon
Carissa Lozier, COUNTRY Financial
Luke Aupperle, COUNTRY Financial
Kasey Engel, Farm Bureau Financial Services
Candy Magee, Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa
Billy Meade, Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa
Connor Scharfe, Gallagher Re
Brian Johnson, Great American Insurance Group
Sarah McEachern, Guy Carpenter
Mike Weber, Hudson Crop
Ronnetta Rountree, Hudson Crop
Landon Svennes, Precision Risk Management
Jon Clarke, Rural Community Insurance Services
Sandy Johnson, Rural Community Insurance Services
Kyle Jore, Watts and Associates

Interviews with 16 ELP Class members (33:08)

2025 CIRB Annual Meeting Photo Album

Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance, Events

CDFA Extends Grant Program for Pest Control Advisers

Cindy Zimmerman

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is offering California Pest Control Advisers (PCAs) a unique opportunity to earn $2,000 while contributing to the advancement of integrated pest management.

Through an updated grant program facilitated by the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA), PCAs can participate in a one-season study by tracking pest management practices in a selected field of lettuce, alfalfa, grapes, almonds, pistachios, or tomatoes.

This initiative aims to integrate real-time data collection into the daily operations of PCAs, providing valuable insights into pest management practices across California’s agricultural landscape. Participants will utilize Crop Steward, an intuitive mobile app designed to simplify data entry, allowing them to record field observations, decision-making processes, and treatment recommendations seamlessly within their existing work schedule.To participate in the grant program, a PCA simply needs to create a free profile in Crop Steward (https://cropsteward.com/), and then to enroll one qualified farm block in this system.

In addition to field tracking, PCAs will collaborate with one of four CAPCA interns through at least one ride-along during the growing season. This mentorship component fosters knowledge sharing and strengthens professional development within the industry.

To learn more, visit CAPCA’s grant page (https://capca.com/grants).

AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, specialty crops, Sustainability, Technology

Rabo AgriFinance Working to Support Cattle Producers

Chuck Zimmerman

John Steeves, Rabo AgriFinanceJohn Steeves, Head of Rural Business Economics, North America, Rabo AgriFinance, has moved into the U.S. from Canada to work more closely with producers for the company. He has already spent time meeting with cattle producers and feedlots in several regions of the country. So, spending time at CattleCon 2025 was a no-brainer. I met John in the media room during the conference and we sat down for an interview. He describes how the current higher prices for beef are positive but also create some challenges as well. Learn more from John below.

Interview with John Steeves:
Interview with John Steeves (7:15)

2025 CattleCon Virtual Newsroom

Agribusiness, Audio

Ranchbot Launches Trough Direct at #CattleCon25

Chuck Zimmerman

Andrew Coppin, RanchbotAt CattleCon 2025 Ranchbot launched Trough Direct, a stand-alone trough monitor with direct satellite connectivity enabling near real-time water levels and consumption data through the MyRanchbot app. The Trough Direct operates independently and can be easily installed with a side or top mount to accommodate a wide variety of trough types.

To learn more about it I interviewed Andrew Coppin, CEO/Co-Founder, Ranchbot, in their booth in the trade show. He describes why he created Ranchbot because “farmers and ranchers spend a lot of time driving around checking water that 95% of the time doesn’t need checking.” Learn more about the company and its new product in the interview. Ranchbot was also the sponsor of the Environmental Stewardship Award again this year.

Interview with Andrew Coppin:
Interview with Andrew Coppin (8:10)

2025 CattleCon Virtual Newsroom

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Beef

Advanced Agrilytics™ Names Illinois Regional Agronomy Lead

Cindy Zimmerman

Advanced Agrilytics, a leading agricultural solutions provider, has announced that Chris Kallal is the new Illinois Regional Agronomy Lead for the company.

As a Regional Agronomy Lead at Advanced Agrilytics, Kallal plays a pivotal role in guiding and mentoring a team of Precision Agronomists to deliver advanced, data-driven agronomic solutions to farmers.

Prior to joining Advanced Agrilytics, Kallal spent 18 years with Asgrow/DEKALB where he served in a variety of roles, including technical agronomist. He has a Master of Science in Crop Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Systems Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.

“Becoming part of the Advanced Agrilytics team is exactly the right opportunity at the right time for me,” says Kallal. “To help more growers transform their farming operations using Advanced Agrilytics’ technology and methodology is a tremendous opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with our team of Precision Agronomists to help more Illinois growers achieve better crop resilience and yield consistency across all of their acres.”

Click to learn more

AgWired Precision, people, Precision Agriculture

Animal Ag News 2/10

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. consumers are facing a prolonged period of higher egg prices that will likely extend through the Easter holiday and well into 2025. Rising egg prices and increased volatility in the market are largely attributable to supply challenges brought on by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Since the current outbreak began impacting U.S. poultry farms in 2022, nearly 100 million table egg laying hens have been affected. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the increase in overall demand for eggs, combined with the growing preference for specialty eggs, is exacerbating the impact of tight supplies precipitated by HPAI.
  • The Meat Institute announced the expansion of its legislative affairs and marketing teams with the addition of two new employees. Chris Chaffee joins the Meat Institute as Director of Legislative Affairs working with Vice President of Legislative Affairs Nathan Fretz advocating for the meat and poultry industry with members of congress and federal officials. Chaffee will also help manage the Meat Institute’s Political Action Committee, MeatPAC.
  • Producers, students and advocates were recognized as the “Best of Beef” through a variety of scholarship and award programs during CattleCon 2025, held Feb. 4-6 in San Antonio.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced the winners of the 2025 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, sponsored by Cargill, Sam’s Club and Certified Angus Beef. The BQA Awards annually recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators that best demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of day-to-day activities.
  • Ten students pursuing careers in the beef industry were awarded $1,500 scholarships by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) and recognized during CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio. The CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship program recognizes talented and thoughtful students emerging as industry leaders.
  • The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, shared expert market and weather analysis. The U.S. beef industry is poised for another year of strong market performance, driven by tight cattle supplies and robust consumer demand. As the beef cowherd enters a stabilization phase following years of contraction, the resulting supply constraints have shifted market leverage decisively in favor of cattle producers.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recognized seven of the nation’s top cattle operations during CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio as Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) Regional winners for their conservation efforts.
  • Rob Shuey can’t help but walk through the meat department of every grocery store he enters. After working 41 years for IBP, Inc. (Iowa Beef Processors), and Tyson Foods, Inc. (Tyson bought IBP in 2001), his work knowledge and personal interests have converged. Retired now, Shuey recently added another item to his resume when he accepted the industry representative appointment on the Certified Angus Beef Board.
  • Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) president and chief executive officer Dennis Rodenbaugh was elected chair of the board of directors at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy during the checkoff-founded organization’s first meeting of 2025. Rodenbaugh takes on the role from Leprino’s Mike Durkin, who served as the Innovation Center’s board chair since 2023. Rodenbaugh previously served as vice chairman of the Innovation Center’s board.
  • The U.S. dairy industry is poised to establish a new “golden age” of U.S. dairy trade, with exports reaching $8.2 billion in 2024—the second-highest total export value ever and a $223 million year-over-year increase, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Mexico and Canada—U.S. dairy’s top two global trading partners representing more than 40 percent of U.S. dairy exports—each imported record values of dairy at $2.47 billion and $1.14 billion respectively. Central American markets also surged, with Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador all importing record values of U.S. dairy. U.S. dairy exports to China declined in 2024, marking the lowest year since 2020.
  • There’s a new president and a new Congress in Washington and a new set of concerns for farmers. Immigration and tariffs are the two top concerns facing the ag industry in the coming year, according to Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmers Cooperators, during a keynote discussion at Dairy Strong. This year’s Dairy Strong conference brought over 400 attendees, representing over 150,000 cows, and industry professionals to Green Bay for the annual conference.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) announced support of the American Beef Labeling Act (ABLA), introduced by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). This legislation codifies mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef sold in the U.S., distinguishing American-produced products in grocery stores. We urge additional cosponsors to endorse the bill and support its swift passage.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    World Without Cows Screening at #CattleCon25

    Chuck Zimmerman

    World Without Cows ScreeningDuring the CattleCon 2025 an open screening of the documentary, World Without Cows (Sponsored by Alltech), was on the big screen in the general session room. I was able to see the screening and highly recommend it. On the stage are Dr. Mark Lyons, CEO, Alltech and the filmmakers Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitworth.

    I talked with Dr. Lyons after seeing the screening and I told him that it really makes you think about what cows mean to our planet. There is a lot of information from scientific sources which you can find on the film website. You can request or see a screening that you may be near. If you have questions you can find answers here.

    You can listen to my interview with Dr. Mark Lyons, CEO, Alltech here:
    Interview with Dr. Mark Lyons (4:59)

    For additionally information about the film you can listen to an interview I conducted with the filmmakers here: World Without Cows filmmakers Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitworth (17:56)

    For anyone who has attended an Alltech ONE Conference, the company has scheduled one that is returning to Lexington, KY. The dates are May 18-20, 2026.

    2025 CattleCon Virtual Newsroom

    Agribusiness, Alltech, Animal Health, Audio

    CIRB Protecting the Crop Insurance Industry

    Cindy Zimmerman

    With a new Congress and a new administration, there are lots of new people who need to be educated about the importance of crop insurance and CIRB has its work cut out for it this year.

    “Obviously we are hoping to get a farm bill again this year,” said Tara Smith, Deputy Executive Vice President of the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) at the organization’s annual meeting this week in Bonita Springs, Florida. “I think we’re also in a very different environment than we’ve been in and we’re seeing a lot of potential for folks to attack the program. So we’re very much prepared to play defense, to protect and preserve the program moving forward.”

    Smith was pleased to see the large turnout at this year’s annual meeting and is looking forward to having the members of the 2024-25 Emerging Leaders Program on Capitol Hill in April. “We’ve got to tell our story, and the only way to do that is boots on the ground and having folks that live and breathe this stuff every day, talking about why it matters in these different districts and to these Members and their constituents.”

    Learn more in this interview:
    Interview with Tara Smith, CIRB (2:52)

    2025 CIRB Annual Meeting Photo Album

    Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

    Industry Ag News 2/7

    Carrie Muehling

  • Be part of the experience as we celebrate the American farmers who work and preserve the land to feed millions. This year National Ag Day celebrates with live AND virtual events. Visit agday.org for more details.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a statement commending Mexico’s action to declare ineffective measures concerning genetically engineered (GE) corn that the United States successfully challenged in the USMCA dispute. Today’s action safeguards approximately $5.6 billion in U.S. corn exports to Mexico. USDA, in coordination with USTR, will continue to monitor Mexico’s compliance with its USMCA commitments.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) expressed optimism after Mexico rescinded portions of a decree that banned genetically modified corn. The development is an outgrowth of corn grower advocacy that led to a dispute panel that ruled in late December last year that Mexico had violated its commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement when it banned the imports.
  • America’s farmers and ranchers need a new, modernized farm bill, a strengthened farm safety net, and open trading markets. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall traveled to the Capitol to emphasize those priorities to the Senate Agriculture Committee as he testified in the hearing “Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part I.”
  • Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa (FMH) announced the acquisition of Canadian company Palliser Insurance. Palliser is a leading crop hail insurance provider headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, offering crop hail insurance across Western Canada, supported by the industry’s largest network of agents and adjusters. Farmers Mutual Hail previously had a 20 percent share in the company, with FMH leaders serving on Palliser’s Board of Directors.
  • John Hannon, Ph.D., the Chief Operating Officer of Vertimass LLC, has joined the Board of Directors for Advanced Biofuels USA, an educational nonprofit dedicated to the understanding, development and use of advanced biofuels in the US and around the world.
  • CNH Industrial N.V. reported results for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, with Q4 2024 net income of $176 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.14, compared with net income of $583 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.44 in Q4 2023(1). Consolidated revenues were $4.88 billion in the quarter (down 28 percent compared to Q4 2023) and Net sales of Industrial Activities were $4.13 billion (down 31 percent compared to Q4 2023). Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,692 million, and Industrial Free Cash Flow was $848 million in Q4 2024.
  • Farm Journal has named Angie Denton as the Drovers editorial leader to guide content development for the beef cattle audience and provide solutions to enhance animal production, management best practices and profitability.
  • Farm Progress, a leading provider of agricultural media and event solutions, announced the appointments of Matt Coniglio as vice president of sales and Beth Wagner as vice president of business development. These roles are a part of Farm Progress’s ongoing evolution, reinforcing the company’s commitment to growth and leadership in the changing agricultural market.
  • The American Soybean Association is pleased to share it has promoted ASA Director of Government Affairs Alexa Combelic to lead the organization’s D.C.-based policy office as its next Executive Director of Government Affairs. Combelic joined the national soy policy group in May 2020 as one of ASA’s first in-house policy staff and has managed its often-complex, ever-evolving biofuels portfolio, in addition to transportation and infrastructure.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew testified in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to detail the current economic situation that family farmers and ranchers are facing. President Larew emphasized the urgent need for a strong, fully funded farm bill in 2025 with policies to strengthen the farm safety net, invest in conservation and ensure fairness in agricultural markets. He also urged Congress to protect the Packers and Stockyards Act, support country-of-origin labeling and address trade policies that impact farm incomes. Discussing the uncertainty stemming from recent federal funding freezes, he stressed the need for clear, stable policies to support rural communities.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    NCBA Announces 2025 Policy Priorities

    Cindy Zimmerman

    NCBA’s Ethan Lane moderates DC issues panel at CattleCon25

    This week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Executive Committee approved the organization’s policy priorities at CattleCon 2025. This year the focus will be on engaging with the Trump Administration and Congress to expand opportunities for producer profitability.

    “Right now it’s all about the first 100 days of a new administration. That’s really the focus of everything in Washington right now,” said Ethan Lane, Vice President, Government Affairs, who led the well-attended DC Issues update panel at CattleCon. “I think it was really positive to see more than 1000 people in that session. You know, just to hear that update and engage in conversation about it, that was a 2 hour long session.”

    Some of NCBA’s 2025 Policy Priorities include:
    – Work to retain core wins in the 2024 House Agriculture Committee-passed Farm Bill.
    – Preserve family farms and ranches for future generations by advocating for essential tax relief for cattle producers.
    – Fight for meaningful long-term relief from the burdensome reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act.
    – Enhance wildfire prevention utilizing targeted grazing, controlled burns, and forest management practices to protect grazing lands.
    – Keep working lands working by protecting family farms from undue regulatory burdens under the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and many other key regulations.

    “There is a lot to do when you think about the policy side,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “The President only has four years, so we’ve got to get back quickly with his new administration. You know, they are confirming new secretaries and under secretaries every day. So the teams are being put together, we can’t waste any time.”

    Read the full priorities list here.

    Learn more about NCBA’s policy priorities in these interviews.
    Interview with Colin Woodall, NCBA (4:59)

    Interview with Ethan Lane, NCBA (6:06)

    2025 CattleCon Virtual Newsroom

    Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA