Industry Ag News 1/10

Carrie Muehling

  • Ranking Member Angie Craig applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture after it announced that an additional $650 million would be made available to support struggling specialty crop producers. On December 18, 2024, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance sent a letter to the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Agricultural Committees requesting additional economic assistance for specialty crop producers. Bicameral Agriculture Democrats responded with a letter that same day to USDA and the Office of Management and Budget, conveying the need to make additional funding available to producers via the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the appointment or reappointment of 53 members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees. The appointees will serve until December 2028. A complete roster of members and additional information about the committees is available at www.fas.usda.gov/atacs.
  • Nominate the cream of the crop for the National Agri-Marketing Association Agribusiness Leader of the Year, NAMA Marketer of the Year, Ag Association Leader, or Next Gen NAMA awards. These prestigious awards will be presented at the 2025 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 9-11 in Kansas City. Submit online nomination(s) by January 31, 2025.
  • AgCareers.com awarded their third annual U.S. Feed Your Future Scholarship to Gabryele Carter, a University of Kentucky student. Carter is a Junior from Delaware studying Agricultural Economics. AgCareers.com created the Feed Your Future $1,000 Scholarship to financially assist a post-secondary student studying agriculture or intending to pursue a career in agriculture. AgCareers.com is committed to Feeding the World with Talent by supporting education and career opportunities in agriculture and food.
  • Farmers nationwide can maximize savings with the Propane Education & Research Council’s (PERC) latest initiative, the 2025 Propane Farm Research Program (PFRP). Designed to address the evolving challenges of modern agriculture, the program empowers farmers with innovative propane-powered solutions to increase productivity, reduce costs, and promote sustainability. Building on the former Propane Farm Incentive Program, the new PFRP introduces expanded opportunities for agricultural professionals to integrate cutting-edge technology into their operations. With increases of up to $10,000, additional equipment eligibility, and a streamlined application process, the program is more accessible than ever before.
  • There are more motivated land buyers in today’s market than there are willing sellers, according to Farmers National Company. Despite the pressures created by lower net farm income, declining commodity markets, higher interest rates and increased input costs, land values have remained quite stable across the Midwest. While most university and industry land value reports published at year’s end reflect a flat or slight downward trend compared to production expenses, the stability in those values reveals the resiliency of the land market and its ability to maintain the high values set over the past five years.
  • Keystone Cooperative, Inc., an Indiana-based leader in agriculture and energy, announces a $68 million patronage distribution to eligible farmer-members who conducted business with the cooperative in 2024. Keystone membership will receive between 80-90 percent of this patronage payment in cash, based on their legacy membership. The remaining percentage will go towards their equity in Keystone. In addition to the cash patronage payout, Keystone will also be redeeming $3.8 million in equity to its farmer-members. This exceptional cash return of over $60 million underscores the cooperative’s strong financial performance and commitment to delivering value to its members.
  • On January 6, 2025, the Illinois Legislature passed HB 4439 which designates the soybean as Illinois’ official state bean. HB 4439 recognizes the importance of soybeans to the state’s economy and agricultural heritage. Illinois is the No. 1 soybean-producing state in the nation with over 10 million acres of soybeans planted each year, accounting for 16 percent of the total U.S. soy production. HB 4439 acknowledges the contribution of the 43,000 hardworking soybean farmers across the state who feed and fuel the world.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission will be promoting peanuts as a poultry feed ingredient at the International Production and Processing Expo hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 28-30, 2025.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences Preview

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The National Cotton Council is ready to welcome all to the 2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences next week, January 14-16, at the New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA. Three days of individual reports, panel discussions, hands on workshops and seminars are designed to provide attendees with information they need to help producers make key cotton production/marketing-related decisions.

    Conferences coordinator Lauren Krogman says they have another dynamic program planned, along with the opportunity to network with peers from across the Cotton Belt. “The Beltwide actually has 11 technical conferences that are running all concurrently which really provide findings from current research and updates on emerging technology and programs aimed at elevating US cotton production and processing efficiency,” said Krogman.

    One of the most popular conferences of the event is the Cotton Consultants Conference. “Topics being considered include a panel discussion on the vulnerable species pilot program, insecticide strategy and mitigation identification and management. We also include some EPA regulatory updates and cotton pathology updates,” Krogman said. There will also be an economic outlook, information on ag lending, and crop insurance, and a report on the farm bill.”

    Registration is still open on-line and there will also be registration on-site.

    Beltwide Cotton Conferences preview - Lauren Krogman 4:23

    Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

    Precision Ag News 1/9

    Carrie Muehling

  • The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and the ARS’s Partnership for Data Innovations (PDI) have launched a new web-based application to facilitate digital soil mapping and optimize soil sampling. The Soil Sample Planning Organizer Tool, or SSPOT, can be accessed at https://sspot.scinet.usda.gov.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC and Gowan SeedTech LLC announced they have entered into a sale agreement with Gowan acquiring Syngenta’s FarMore® Technology Vegetable Seed Treatment Platform in the United States. The FarMore Technology Platform is a precise on-seed application of separately registered seed protection products combined into proprietary recipes for use on vegetable crops. The transaction includes the divestment of certain specific Syngenta trademarks, recipes, registrations, and other assets used in the FarMore Technology Platform in the United States. Syngenta also has agreed to supply its proprietary vegetable seed treatment products to Gowan for its use in FarMore Technology offerings.
  • Kubota North America announced during a media briefing at CES® 2025 its vision for the future that includes offering more customer solutions across its entire equipment portfolio and providing greater choice—offering diverse powertrain options, seamless access to data and analytics, improved connectivity, and advanced automation. This approach ensures that Kubota meets increasing complexities and challenges with more certainty and simplicity and empowers its customers like never before.
  • Scott Sanders, general manager of Peterson Farms Seed, was named president of the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) at the organization’s annual conference. IPSA represents nearly 100 seed companies from more than 25 states, Canada and Mexico, who produce corn, soybeans, small grain and forage seeds. The association also has over 100 associate and affiliate members, representing all facets of the seed industry.
  • Valley View Agri-Systems is pleased to announce the addition of Dylan Sutton as Chief Financial Officer. Sutton’s career includes time in agriculture, manufacturing, public and corporate accounting. Most recently he served as controller for Ritter Agribusiness Holdings, Inc.
  • John Deere revealed several new autonomous machines during a press conference at CES 2025 to support customers in agriculture, construction, and commercial landscaping. Building on Deere’s autonomous technology first revealed at CES 2022, the company’s second-generation autonomy kit combines advanced computer vision, AI, and cameras to help the machines navigate their environments.
  • Nutrien Ag Solutions is excited to announce a collaboration with Mossy Oak, along with their conservation arm, the GameKeepers. Mossy Oak is recognized in the outdoor lifestyle community for their dedication to land stewardship, conservation, and love of wildlife. Together, they are united in working toward a shared goal to care for the land and create a lasting legacy for future generations. This collaboration underscores our focus on farmers’ sustainable agricultural practices and conservation efforts, aiming to educate and inspire communities engaged with farming and the outdoors.
  • Traitology, a leading U.S.-based agricultural biotechnology company specializing in soybean trait discovery and development, has announced its rebranding as The Traits Company. This new name and brand identity reflect the company’s remarkable technical and operational progress achieved in less than two years since its founding.
  • UPL Corp, a provider of comprehensive and sustainable agricultural solutions announces U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration of NIMAXXA™ bionematicide, the only triple-strain bionematicide seed treatment for season-long nematode protection in soybeans and corn. It is effective against the most damaging nematodes, including soybean cyst nematode (SCN), root knot nematode (RKN) and reniform nematode.
  • Pivot Bio is proud to announce a strategic distribution partnership with Hefty Seed Company, one of the largest independent ag retailers in the U.S. Beginning in 2025, PROVEN® 40, a microbial nitrogen source powered by Pivot Bio’s patented gene-edited technology, will be available at all Hefty Seed Co. locations, offering corn farmers a new mode of nitrogen delivery that complements Hefty’s trusted lineup of crop input offerings.
  • The Nebraska Ag Expo hosted its third Innovation After Hours event last month. Over 150 start-ups, investors, and executives from innovative ag companies and partners from across the country and beyond shared an evening of networking and innovation. This year, 6 companies competed for cash prizes during the Startup Showcase. Grain Weevil was named the Startup Showcase Winner and received a $5000 cash award from the Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA). AgZen was named the “People’s Choice Award” and received a $1000 cash award from The Combine.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    MyLand and Texas A&M AgriLife Offer Soil Health Courses

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Soil health innovation leader MyLand is launching a new Educational Hub in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, featuring six online courses designed to educate individuals on the importance of soil health.

    The Educational Hub will offer courses that address critical soil health topics, including:
    1. Introduction to Soil Health
    2. Chemical Traits of Soil
    3. Physical Traits of Soil
    3. Biological Traits of Soil
    4. Saline and Sodic Soils
    5. Soil Testing

    The first course, “Introduction to Soil Health,” is now available with the remaining courses to follow. Each course will be open to anyone with an interest in learning about optimal soil health — from growers and ranchers to educators and environmental advocates.

    The collaboration between MyLand and Texas A&M AgriLife Research is aimed at advancing agriculture and addressing global challenges. This statewide initiative focuses on soil health across 12,000 acres of commercial farmland, covering over 20 unique crops. By researching MyLand’s impact on water availability, salinity, nutrient use efficiency, and carbon cycling, the partnership seeks to improve both the quality of life and economic returns for farmers and communities.

    For more information about the Educational Hub and to enroll, visit Course 1: Introduction to Soil Health.

    AgWired Precision, land, Soil

    DWFI Podcast 40 – Irrigation’s Role in Agricultural Productivity

    Cindy Zimmerman

    In the 40th episode of the Water for Food Podcast, Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI) Director of Communications and Public Relations Frances Hayes sits down with Darren Siekman at the Valmont Industries headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Darren is the Vice President of Policy and Industry Strategy at Valley Agriculture, a Valmont Company. The two discuss Valmont’s history and global presence and the importance of center pivot irrigation in agricultural productivity, as well as current challenges and future innovations in achieving global water and food security.

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI podcast episode 40 29:09

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Farming, Food, Irrigation, Water, Water for Food

    Agrauxine by Lesaffre Announces New Microbial Bio-nematicide

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Agrauxine by Lesaffre announces the launch of its new bio-nematicide Atroforce to the marketplace for use on soybeans, corn, cotton and potatoes as well as other cereal grains, brassicas, cucurbits and fiber type plants.

    Atroforce is a broad spectrum bio-nematicide that reduces damage caused by nematodes including lesion, dagger, root know, reniform, spiral, lance and soybean cyst and minimizes egg laying reducing populations in the field. The Trichoderma fungi grow into and with the plant roots as they develop and induce systemic changes in plant physiology. The active ingredient in Atroforce is Trichoderma atroviride strain K5 and it can be applied as a seed treatment as well as in-furrow, drip or sub irrigation.

    Atroforce is registered with the EPA as both a bio-nematicide and bio-fungicide and launch is expected in this first quarter of 2025.

    Biologicals, Corn, Crop Protection, Fungicide

    Animal Ag News 1/7

    Carrie Muehling

  • The 2025 International Livestock Congress will be held March 4-5, 2025, in Houston, Texas, during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. This year’s topic will be “Effectively Communicating Sound Science and the Value of Animal Agriculture to Society.” The ILC provides a unique opportunity through the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation’s Student Travel Fellowship Program. This program introduces attendees to a group of outstanding students from international and domestic agriculture colleges and universities.
  • The American Feed Industry Association is pleased to see the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establish a new framework for the review of animal food ingredients under the Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) program through the issuance of Guidance for Industry (GFI) 294. The FDA’s action marks a major shift for the regulation of animal food, providing animal food innovators an alternative pathway to the recently ended process facilitated in coordination with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
  • Due to the National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter, Jr., USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has rescheduled the Weekly Slaughter data release from Jan. 9 to Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. ET. Other reports scheduled for release on Jan. 10 such as Crop Production and Grain Stocks reports will be published as scheduled.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) congratulated Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) for his successful reelection campaign as Speaker of the House for the 119th Congress: “Congratulations to Speaker Johnson on successfully navigating a narrow margin and being elected as Speaker of the House by his peers once again. Speaker Johnson has always been a strong supporter of U.S. cattle producers, and we look forward to continuing to work with him in the new Congress,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “There is a lot of work that needs to get done this year, including extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passing a long-term Farm Bill, and providing regulatory relief to producers that have been squeezed by government overreach over the past four years. We are confident Speaker Johnson is the leader to get these policy priorities across the finish line.”
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, announces the release of the updated Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) National Manual, which serves as a resource for science-based cattle production information. The manual is available for free at www.bqa.org/resources/manuals.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) commended President Biden for signing into law the Beagle Brigade Act, which provides statutory authority and reliable funding to the National Detector Dog Training Center. NPPC led a coalition of 50+ groups in pressing Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation
  • The poultry industry consistently invests in research to enhance its understanding and expertise in avian care, while exploring methods and techniques to boost its overall success. These advancements and related subjects will be highlighted at the International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF), held in conjunction with the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Industry Ag News 1/3

    Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is making domestic fertilizer production investments in nine states to increase competition, lower fertilizer costs for American farmers and lower food costs for U.S. consumers.
  • Farm Bureau farmer and rancher members play an important role in our communities and our organization by serving on governing boards and committees at local, state and national levels. Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2025 as members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Promotion & Education and Young Farmers & Ranchers committees.
  • Total sales of aquaculture products in 2023 were $1.9 billion, an increase of 26 percent from 2018, according to the 2023 Census of Aquaculture released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. In 2023, there were 3,453 aquaculture farms with sales in the United States, up 18 percent from 2018. Five states – Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama – accounted for 55 percent of aquaculture sales and 49 percent of aquaculture farms in 2023. Food fish and mollusks were the largest product categories for sales, with catfish and oysters the top species.
  • The House Republican Steering Committee has selected the Republican members who will serve on the House Committee on Agriculture for the 119th Congress. The House Steering Committee is responsible for recommending Members to serve on standing Committees in the House of Representatives. The recommendations are subject to approval by the House Republican Conference.
  • The American Royal Association has received a grant for $20,000 from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. The grant will be used to support the American Royal K-12 agricultural education programming in 2025.
  • A Michigan State University agricultural economist has been awarded a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) to evaluate labor challenges affecting the U.S. food supply chain and identify potential policy options to alleviate them. Zach Rutledge, an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, has studied issues relating to labor scarcity in the agricultural sector over the past several years.
  • Learn about the latest in agronomic practices, market outlooks and regulatory updates at Soybean Summit 2025. Take advantage of this expanded, two-day event in person for actionable and practical production insights that will help maximize your return on investment, introduce you to global and domestic market opportunities, and engage your input on sound policies designed to protect your freedom to farm.
  • Producers can improve the bottom-line of their farming operation with knowledge, connections and information gained at the 48th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference, held at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, Jan. 16, 2025. The show ­hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Peanut farmers and those involved in the peanut industry will be able to learn more about the latest products, services and peanut research at the show, which is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    ZimmCast 739 – Happy New Year ZimmCast

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

    Welcome to another year of agriblogging and farm podcasting. It’s hard to believe that we’re coming close to 21 years since we started ZimmComm in 2004. Cindy and I have worked together in the ag marcom field for about 21 years before that. Now we’re doing some thinking and planning for 2025. I sense that this year will be a big one for us

    We’ve already got plans made for the same conferences during the upcoming months. We traveled to work at 20 different events last year. So, we’ll see how things go as time moves on.

    We started taking photos at events 20 years ago when Flickr started. Since then we’ve uploaded 222,000 photos and they have collectively received 38 million views. In 2024 we uploaded 6,611 photos from the events and they have been viewed 1.1 million views.

    On the audio side of things we started using Libsyn as our audio/podcast server platform in 2017. In that time, and just looking at our ZimmComm Golden Mic Audio podcast, we’ve received 2.8 million downloads of those files, with 137,000 in 2024.

    Our AgNewsWire service had a banner year in 2024 with the distribution of over 80 news releases for our clients. And speaking of news releases we’re offering a 2025 discount for existing or new customers. If you sign up for an advance purchase of 4 news releases you will receive a 10 Percent discount. Regular price is $525 but your discounted price will be $472.50/each! Feel free to contact me about how AgNewsWire works and we’ll help you reach our comprehensive list of ag media.

    AgWired and Energy.AgWired have also really kept us busy. Besides Cindy and me we’ve had 40 editors work for us and that includes interns, many of who are in high level jobs in ag media and agencies, and freelancers who have started their own companies. We can’t say how thankful and proud for all of them

    So, that’s what’s on our minds as we contemplate the how/when/what and why of another year on the agriblogging highway.

    Listen to the episode here:
    ZimmCast 739 - Happy New Year ZimmCast (15:49)

    That’s the ZimmCast for now. Please let us know if you have ideas for a future podcast. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

    We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

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