Industry Ag News 12/8

Carrie Muehling

  • The Cooperative Hall of Fame will honor Kevin Still, President & CEO of Keystone Cooperative, for his visionary leadership and lasting contributions to the cooperative movement by inducting him into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 2026. Established in 1974 by the National Cooperative Business Association and administered by the Cooperative Development Foundation, the Cooperative Hall of Fame is the highest honor the U.S. cooperative community bestows on individuals who have made heroic contributions to cooperatives.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is proud to announce Chuck Spencer as the recipient of the 2025 ARA Excellence in Advocacy Award, recognizing outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing sound public policy on behalf of the agricultural retail industry. Spencer is GROWMARK’s executive director of corporate and government relations.
  • The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC), which represents companies and stakeholders at the forefront of innovation in the ag bioeconomy, today released its 2025 Consumer Trends Research, revealing overwhelming public support for plant-based products. This is the sixth year PBPC has conducted annual research to track consumer awareness, perceptions, and purchasing behavior related to plant-based products.
  • The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has made U.S. corn growers more globally competitive and should be extended for 16 years, according to testimony from the president of the National Corn Growers Association before U.S. trade officials.
  • Former Virginia Farm Bureau Federation President Wayne Pryor will receive the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 Farm Bureau Founders Award. Bill Northey, longtime agricultural leader from Iowa, will be honored posthumously with AFBF’s 2026 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA) is pleased to announce key updates within its Industry Relations team. Yesterday, Tracy Snider was promoted to Executive Director of State & Industry Relations and Michelle Hummel was promoted to Senior Director of Industry & Stakeholder Relations. Both Snider and Hummel are based in the ASA St. Louis office. Additionally, Kate Maher will join ASA as Director of State & Industry Relations on Jan. 5 in the Washington, D.C., office.
  • American Agri-Women (AAW) proudly presented its annual Leaven Award to Kim Bremmer of Wisconsin and Helle Goddik Ruddenklau of Oregon during the 2025 National Convention. The Leaven Award is one of AAW’s highest honors, recognizing members whose dedication, leadership, and service have greatly enriched the organization.
  • On behalf of the World Food Prize Laureates and our Council of Advisors, the World Food Prize Foundation extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Jo Luck, 2010 Laureate, who peacefully passed away on November 26, 2025.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), an organization dedicated to lead, promote and support the growth of agricultural and rural lifestyle broadcasting, announces its 2026 Board of Directors. Elections were held at the recent NAFB Convention in Kansas City, where several agriculture leaders were elected to replace outgoing board members.
  • Global meat and agriculture leaders rely on Midan Marketing to turn unrivaled industry experience and deep consumer insights into strategies that drive measurable growth for their brands. For over 20 years, Midan’s founders, Danette Amstein and Michael Uetz, have been recognized as industry thought leaders, translating industry-leading consumer understanding into tailored marketing strategies and messaging that consistently drive client revenue and results. Now, Midan is adding significant horsepower, ensuring even more powerful outcomes for clients, through its acquisition by Trozzolo Communications Group.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    BioLumic Expanding Seed Trait Platform to South America

    Cindy Zimmerman

    BioLumic is expanding its light-activated seed trait platform into South America.

    Biolumic, which programs heritable seed traits using light, has announced steps to expand its Corn xTraits™ Licensing Program, including early-stage evaluations with GDM and a collaboration with Tropical Melhoramento & Genética (TMG), two of Brazil’s leading seed companies, along with regional seed production and nursery engagement with Gro Alliance. The move builds on strong partnership and commercial momentum of xTraits in the United States, and follows BioLumic’s plan to create xTraits hubs in grain-producing regions worldwide.

    “To meet the global demand and reach of innovative seed partners and their customers, South American deployment is essential,” said Steve Sibulkin, CEO of BioLumic. “Our seed partners see an opportunity to drive higher performance in a fraction of the time and cost of alternative approaches.”

    GDM’s current engagement is focused on testing BioLumic’s technology within its own genetics as part of early-stage evaluations. BioLumic will leverage TMG’s regional breeding expertise to accelerate field evaluation and adapt its xTraits Platform for South America’s top-producing corn regions. Grupo Scheffer, one of Brazil’s largest agricultural producers and a preferred customer of TMG, will also run multi-location field evaluations across its testing network including Mato Grosso and surrounding grain geographies. This alignment between seed companies and one of their major customers creates a direct pathway to validate BioLumic corn xTraits and to ensure regional farmers get access to these types of innovations through trusted partners.

    Sibulkin says they are currently evaluating the inbred germplasm provided by its Brazilian partners, with field evaluations and hybrid nursery production scheduled for 2026. “These light-activated hybrids will be tested across both the first “Safra” and second “Safrinha” growing seasons to evaluate performance across Brazil’s major growing cycles and key grain-producing regions, including partner-aligned test locations,” said Sibulkin. Data generated through 2026 and into 2027 will support commercial launch timing aligned to partner strategies for bringing new corn xTraits to market. The company expects future expansion into soybean and ryegrass across Latin America in the near future.

    Learn more in this interview with Sibulkin.
    Steve Sibulkin, BioLumic CEO 14:12

    AgWired Precision, Corn, International, Precision Agriculture, Seed, Soybean, Technology

    NAMA is Hungry For More in 2026

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAMA - Hungry for MoreSatisfy your appetite for big ideas at the 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference — Hungry for More! Get registered.

    Join us on April 15–17 in St. Louis, MO, for three days of innovation, inspiration and expert industry insights designed to fuel your marketing mindset.

    This year’s conference serves up a mix of thought-provoking sessions, valuable networking opportunities, and — NEW this year! — roundtable discussion “table talks” to dive into hot topics and collaborate on real-world solutions.

    Register by December 31 and you’ll be entered for a chance to win FREE registration to the conference! If you’re selected, you can either keep the refund for yourself or share the free registration with someone you’d like to bring along.

    Ag Groups, Agencies, Agribusiness, NAMA

    Precision Ag News 12/4

    Carrie Muehling

  • Bayer is pleased the Solicitor General supports U. S. Supreme Court review of the petition for a writ of certiorari in the Durnell case and agrees with the company’s arguments on preemption. The company believes that the backing of the U.S. government will be important to the Court’s consideration of its petition. The split among federal circuit courts in the Roundup™ personal injury litigation, on the cross-cutting question of whether federal law preempts state claims based on failure-to-warn theories, warrants review and resolution by the country’s top court.
  • Biotalys is excited to announce it has received regulatory approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its first biofungicide, EVOCA™*. This product was developed using Biotalys’ AGROBODY™ technology platform and is the first protein-based biofungicide of its kind to be approved by the EPA. *EVOCA™: Registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States. This product candidate is not currently registered for sale or use in other jurisdictions such as the European Union and is not being offered for sale.
  • Bushel Plus Ltd., a global leader in harvest optimization solutions, announces a strategic partnership with John Deere, making the Bushel Plus SmartPan™ System available to U.S. and Canadian farmers through John Deere’s North American dealer network. This collaboration brings together Bushel Plus’s proven drop-pan measurement system and John Deere’s advanced Harvest Settings Automation technology – giving farmers precise data to minimize harvest loss, optimize combine performance, and increase profitability.
  • Five Star Cooperative, headquartered in New Hampton, Iowa, has been named the 2025 recipient of The Scoop’s Business Innovation Award, sponsored by AgVend. The award was presented Dec. 3, at the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference and Expo in Salt Lake City.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has recognized Dr. Ulrich (Bob) Trogele with the Jack Eberspacher Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating a career marked by leadership, innovation, and steadfast support for agricultural retailers. Trogele first joined the ARA Board as a representative of FMC and later served on the Executive Committee. Even after his retirement from AMVAC, where he served as an executive, Trogele continues to contribute to ARA’s success as a member of its Investment Committee.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) recognized a group of top performers and emerging leaders as part of its 2025 Rising Stars program, sponsored by Atticus, during the ARA Conference & Expo in Salt Lake City. See the full list of 2025 ARA Rising Stars here.
  • Biobest Sustainable Crop Management just released its new Product Calculator, the latest innovation to the Crop-Scanner™ web platform to help make IPM treatment planning faster, smarter and more efficient.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Syngenta Announces EPA Approval for PLINAZOLIN Technology

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Syngenta’s PLINAZOLIN® technology has received registration from the Environmental Protection Agency and is now available for use, subject to state approvals. PLINAZOLIN technology will power five separate insecticide products for use in corn, cotton, vegetables, tree fruit, cereals and more.

    Growers can purchase the new active ingredient for the 2026 growing season as a seed treatment, soil-applied insecticide or foliar-applied insecticide. Products powered by PLINAZOLIN technology are available for purchase under the following brand names:

    Opello™: This soil-applied insecticide provides revolutionary control of corn rootworm, consistently helping corn yield up to 27 bu/A more than untreated, while its highly tank-mix compatible formulation allows growers to leave equipment clogs and slowdowns in the past.
    Equento®: This insecticide seed treatment offers a flexible and compatible option to terminate wireworms and suppress other below-ground pests, ultimately improving plant stand and helping a grower’s bottom line.
    Vertento®: One of the toughest insect pest fighters in its class, this foliar-applied insecticide for cotton, peanuts and onions delivers a fast-acting, knockout punch to insect pests including plant bugs, thrips and mites.
    Incipio™: With impressive residual strength to take the guesswork out of insect control, this foliar-applied insecticide for brassica, leafy, fruiting vegetable and cucurbit crops delivers a heavy-duty takedown of tough insect pests.
    Zivalgo™: This foliar-applied insecticide can lead the way for potato and tree fruit insect pest management with unmatched, broad-spectrum control of Colorado potato beetles, codling moth, citrus thrips, spider mites and more.

    Syngenta National Executive Agronomist Craig Abell gave a preview of what Opello™ soil-applied insecticide with PLINAZOLIN® technology had to offer at the 2025 Farm Progress Show way back in August.

    “It’s an in-furrow application at planting time. It’s very flexible to use. You can use water as a carrier. You can use starter fertilizer, pop-up fertilizer. We haven’t found anything that it’s not compatible with as of yet,” said Abell. “As we look at existing insecticides and also traits, this is a tool to take pressure off of both of those.”

    Learn more in this interview from Farm Progress Show.
    FPS25 Interview with Craig Abell, Syngenta agronomist (3:16)

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Insecticides, Syngenta, Technology

    Animal Ag News 12/4

    Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that Nevada has met USDA’s rigorous “at least equal to” food safety standard and will be joining the State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) Program. Nevada’s participation expands local inspection capacity, food safety oversight, and boosts market access for small and very small processors. This vital partnership builds on USDA’s recently released suite of actions to strengthen the American beef industry.
  • Kent Bamford with Bamford Feedyard in Haxtun, Colorado, and Bob Foote with Foote Cattle Company in Bucyrus, Kansas, are the 2026 inductees in the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame. Honorees will be recognized at the 17th annual banquet on Feb. 4 during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced that Chelsie Keys has been named senior vice president, government relations, succeeding a position held by Dave Carlin who announced his retirement from IDFA earlier this year. Keys comes to IDFA from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where she served as policy director for Chairman John Boozman of Arkansas. Keys has been with the Senate Agriculture Committee for a decade.
  • TARGAN, an animal AgTech company delivering next-generation solutions for the global protein production industry, has appointed Lily Parshall Wachter as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The new leader will direct the company’s financial strategy as TARGAN advances its technology priorities and expands commercially.
  • Creekstone Farms, in conjunction with Marble, is revolutionizing the meat industry’s processing capability using AI-powered automation within their Kansas facility. The addition of Marble’s Pack-Off and Box Verification technologies is reducing inefficiencies, allowing for increased sales opportunities, better decision-making with product-level analytics, and improved customer satisfaction with ​​​​automated ​sorting, ​box verification​,​ and claim traceability.
  • Holstein Association USA’s Board of Directors has approved several updates for the 2026 National Holstein Shows, following recommendations presented during the Association’s Board Meeting held November 19–20 in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of the Show Committee Report, the Board approved a newly developed Holstein Association USA Judges List Code of Conduct. This document provides guidance for all judges who are on the Holstein Association USA Judges Lists and establishes a clear process for addressing ethical matters should they arise. It will be distributed to all judges currently listed on the lists and is available online at holsteinusa.com/shows/judges.html.
  • As disease challenges like highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), New World screwworm (NWS) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) continue to mount, biosecurity remains a critical concern for the U.S. dairy industry. A survey of U.S. dairy farms conducted by Farm Journal gives the industry a chance to elevate its overall biosecurity standards. Read the full story about Farm Journal’s biosecurity research here.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) during a public hearing on the operation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president for trade and workforce policy at IDFA, called on U.S. negotiators to preserve the benefits of USMCA while rectifying violations and operational challenges. In addition to Rasdall Vargas’s oral remarks, IDFA submitted more detailed written comments to USTR in November, providing further recommendations for strengthening enforcement mechanisms, modernizing specific USMCA chapters, and addressing operational shortcomings that have limited the Agreement’s effectiveness. IDFA also continues to provide USTR with ongoing feedback related to U.S. dairy’s concerns with USMCA and participate in coalitions aimed at preserving a trade agreement within North America.
  • The USPOULTRY Foundation has awarded over $330,000 in student recruiting grants to 27 colleges and universities across the U.S. with poultry science or industry-related programs. Among the awardees are Cleveland Community College (CCC) in Shelby, N.C, University of Delaware, Wilkes Community College (WCC) in Wilkesboro, N.C., and Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville, Texas.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    The Latest from AgGateway

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The AgGateway annual meeting last month in Clearwater, Florida was a great time for members to get caught up on what the organization has accomplished in the past year.

    Chief Technology Officer Jim Wilson says a big focus of AgGateway in the past year has been the growth of the ADAPT Standard, which is being adopted throughout the industry. “We are producing resources that can benefit anybody trying to make data flow better throughout the industry,” said Wilson.

    Interview with Jim Wilson (2:27)

    AgGateway Portfolio Manager Ben Craker provided an update at the meeting on all things MODUS. “Since AgGateway took over stewardship of that, we’ve been working on updating a bunch of the controlled vocabularies in there,” said Craker. “So the main idea is when you send a soil sample into a lab, you know exactly what test the lab used to get the results for how much phosphorus was in your soil. That way when you come back three years later, you make sure you’re getting an apples-to-apples comparison.”

    Craker says they just this year kicked off a working group on Field Operations Controlled Vocabulary. “Everybody’s got their own crop list, nobody’s is the same. One combine might call it maize, one combine might call it corn. Then you got different levels of specificity in there. We came up with a way to really kind of share that crop information and we’re now trying to apply that same component model to field operations,” Craker said.

    Learn more in this interview.
    AgGateway Portfolio Manager Ben Craker (6:35)

    2025 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

    AgGateway, AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Industry Ag News 12/1

    Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) intent to purchase up to $30 million in fresh fruit from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases are being made through USDA’s authority under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 and will assist producers and communities in need. With this action, the Trump Administration is bolstering American prosperity by supporting American agriculture, rural communities, and those in need of nutrition assistance.
  • The National Agri-Marketing Association‘s next webinar is titled Growing Possibility: Building Resilient Leaders – Practical Tools for Addressing Mental Health, Burnout & Leadership with Joe Roberts. Register now for the program on December 4, 2025 at 11 a.m. central.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association announced the addition of two companies, CFO Services and Zero Industrial, as new associate members. Their specialization in incentives and credits and industrial low-carbon electrification, respectively, will give ethanol producers access to cutting-edge financial tools and clean energy technologies that support ongoing decarbonization and operational efficiency efforts.
  • Make plans to attend the 49th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The one-day show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives to attend.
  • As extreme cold events become more frequent and strain aging electrical grids, farmers and agricultural operations are turning to propane as a reliable, on-farm energy solution. Propane’s ability to operate independently of the grid makes it especially well-suited for winter use, from heating barns and greenhouses to powering backup generators. Severe winter weather is a major driver of U.S. power outages, and the risks are mounting. According to a 2025 Department of Energy Report, blackout risks could grow 100-fold by 2030. Visit Propane.com/Agriculture or contact your local propane supplier to develop a customized winter-readiness plan.
  • In celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Farm Credit Council has announced an initiative to provide leadership development training to women leaders across the Farm Credit System: Advancing Women in Agriculture through Resilience & Distinction (AWARD). Participants will take part in a groundbreaking leadership experience at Gettysburg in the summer of 2026. Each of the 55 Farm Credit Associations and four banks, representing all 50 states and Puerto Rico, will be invited to nominate one female leader for this distinguished honor. Applications for Farm Credit institutions will open on December 1, 2025, with a nomination deadline of February 28, 2026.
  • New consumer research from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), and FMI – The Food Industry Association, provides details on how consumers perceive gene editing in food and agriculture and what drives their willingness to buy. The research, “Consumer Acceptance of Gene-Edited Foods,” found that consumers are significantly more open to gene-edited products when the benefits are clear, personal and values-based. When informed about the purpose and process of gene editing purchase intent rose across all categories tested: pork, eggs, tomatoes and bananas.
  • Great leaders build a bridge for future leaders and agriculturists. The Agriculture of America (AFA) Bridge Builder Award recognizes alumni committed to strengthening the future of food and agriculture through connection, collaboration and mentorship. Elizabeth Galbreath garnered her unwavering dedication to shaping the future of agriculture, driven by a passion for investing in the next generation and ensuring emerging talent has a meaningful seat at the table. Galbreath is a dynamic advocate for future talent and serves as a Professional Development Program Manager at BASF, leading initiatives to connect students and emerging professionals to meaningful careers. The Maryland native and proud Virginia Tech graduate pairs deep rural roots with a lifelong passion for service. Galbreath embodies what it means to build bridges that last and uplift the future of agriculture.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA), the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) expressed strong support for the America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP) recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This initiative, which establishes an estimated $285 million in funding for 2026, offers a timely and strategic opportunity to bolster U.S. soybean export development in non-traditional markets for American farmers.
  • The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City is honored to welcome Governor Kehoe for remarks on Missouri’s economy, workforce, and the pivotal role of agriculture in the region on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Grand Street Cafe in Kansas City. Seating is limited; advance registration is required.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission is pleased to announce the hiring of Taylor Arnold as its new executive director, succeeding longtime director Don Koehler, who is retiring after more than four decades of dedicated service to Georgia’s peanut industry.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Giving Thanks – ZimmComm 2025

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Giving Thanks from ZimmComm 2025Dear Friends,

    We are grateful this year more than ever for the wonderful friends we have made over the years and our travels.

    May God bless you with all good things in abundance during this holiday season, the new year and beyond.

    Peace and glad tidings,

    Chuck and Cindy Zimmerman

    ZimmComm Announcement

    Congrats to NAFB Winners

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Meghan Grebner, NAFB Farm Broadcaster of the Year

    The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) handed out a ton of awards during the 82nd annual convention last week.

    Meghan Grebner was named Farm Broadcaster of the Year. Grebner, an 18-year media veteran, is broadcast supervisor at Brownfield Ag News, where she oversees the quality and content of the network’s news and radio programming.

    C.J. Miller, assistant news director for Hoosier Ag Today and Michigan Ag Today, received the Horizon Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding broadcaster in his or her first five years of professional broadcasting work.

    Winning the prestigious Doan Award was Michelle Rook, national news and market reporter for Ag Day TV and U.S. Farm Report at Farm Journal.

    Gale Cunningham and Janet Adkison

    Veteran broadcasters Janet Adkison and Gale Cunningham were honored on Thursday evening as 2025 NAFB Hall of Fame inductees. Adkison, a longtime broadcaster who is now director of public affairs and advocacy for the Missouri Farm Bureau, served as NAFB president in 2014. Cunningham, ag director for the Central Illinois Multimedia Group, was the association’s president in 2021.

    · Herb Plambeck Award, recognizing top creative farm broadcast advertising, went to Mick Kjar, AgNews 890 (single ad category) for the North Dakota Livestock Alliance Annual Summit; and Susan Littlefield, American Ag Network (series), for Farming Minds: Mental Health in Agriculture.

    · Broadcast Contest Awards (Audio) first-place winners: Marketcast (Susan Littlefield, American Ag Network); Newscast (Bryce Doeschot, Nebraska); Feature (Bryce Doeschot, Nebraska); Interview (Parker James).

    · Broadcast Contest Awards (Video): First-place winners: Marketcast (AgDay TV); Newscast (Tyne Morgan); Feature (Tyne Morgan); Interview (AgDay TV).

    · NAFB News Service Awards: Editor’s Choice (Joanna Guza, Midwest Communications); Editor’s Choice for Exceptional Merit (Jesse Allen, Agriculture of America); Excellence in Ag Reporting (Parker James, Your Ag Network).

    NAFB