2025 Agri-Marketing Conference

Pivot Bio Names North American Distribution Head

Cindy Zimmerman

Ag tech company Pivot Bio today named former Bayer Crop Science executive Jason Hoag as head of North American commercial distribution. The role includes development and management of channels and distribution networks, retail expansion and ongoing fostering of commercial partnerships. Hoag will be based in St. Louis and will report to Chris Turner, chief commercial officer for Pivot Bio.

Hoag most recently served as VP of North America Marketing Lead for retail distributed brands (DEKALB, Asgrow, Deltapine, Crop Protection) for Bayer Crop Science. Previously, he served as vice president regional business lead for the eastern Corn Belt region. He held additional marketing and brand roles at Monsanto and American Cyamamid.

Hoag received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

AgWired Precision, people, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Grassley Sounds Off on Senate Farm Bill Proposal

Cindy Zimmerman

During his weekly call with farm reporters Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) gave his opinion on the last minute Farm Bill introduced Monday by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow.

“The timing of this bill is disappointing and unrealistic,” said Grassley. “It’s a sad commentary that Senate Democrats kept farmers waiting two years before even releasing a bill text, while grain prices fell below the cost of production.”

Grassley says there clearly is not enough time to pass a bill before the end of the year. “After this week, we only have three weeks before Christmas. So I expect Congress to pass another short term extension.”

Asked why he thought Sen. Stabenow would make such a move when she is retiring from Congress at the end of the year, Grassley speculated, “One, I think to show that she is willing to show her hand so she can’t be condemned without having at least her ideas put into text. And the second thing may be laying down a gauntlet for Democrats to follow in the next new Congress.”

Grassley also gave his thoughts on who President-elect Trump should choose for Secretary of Agriculture. “Somebody with dirt under their fingernails, active farming. Nothing in regard to policy that I can think of, because I think those first two things I stated probably speaks for all I need to know about somebody that knows something about agriculture if they’re going to be Agriculture Secretary.”

Grassley press call 11-19 (11:11)

Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Policy

ZimmCast 738 – Reaction to Elections

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

In this episode I’m going to share some interviews from the NAFB Trade Talk about reactions from the recent presidential election.

I’m going to include Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta Sr. Manager, Federal Government and Industry Relations; Brian Jennings, ACE CEO; Geoff Cooper, RFA CEO and Ethan Lane, NCBA, VP of Government Affairs.

Adding to these interviews, Cindy recently interviewed Kip Tom, Indiana farmer and served as the Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture during President Trump’s previous term. You can listen to his reactions here.

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

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 738 - Reactions to Elections (21:28)

I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

ACE, Ag Groups, Audio, NCBA, politics, RFA, Syngenta, ZimmCast

Climate-Smart Soybeans Mark Milestone in U.S. Market

Cindy Zimmerman

An Illinois-based processing facility successfully completed its first run of climate-smart soybeans this fall, marking a significant milestone in the
initiative to bring climate-smart commodities to market. These food-grade soybeans are now poised to enter the soy milk market as part of the Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain project (Transform F2C) leads the effort, funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant.

The Scoular processor is the first of five processing facilities expected under the project and it is located at the company’s grain-cleaning facility in Andres, Illinois.

“The ability to trace and build markets for climate-smart commodities throughout the supply chain has proven to be a barrier to widespread adoption,” said Nick Goeser, co-founder of Carbon A List, which administers the Transform F2C grant. “We’re thrilled that this project is already having success in demonstrating that a traceable approach can work with climate-smart agriculture in the supply chain. And this is only the beginning,” Goeser said.

The Transform F2C project incentivizes producers to implement climate-smart practices, such as cover cropping, conservation crop rotation and reduced tillage practices. These practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote carbon sequestration and improve soil health. The project expects to engage farmers implementing these practices across the Midwest and Great Plains regions, with a goal to exceed the 36,000-acre target set forth at the beginning of the effort.

Learn more at Transformf2c.com.

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, carbon, climate, Sustainability, USDA

Agri-Pulse Adds International Trade Editor

Cindy Zimmerman

Agribusiness digital media company Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce the addition of Oliver Ward to the editorial team as international trade editor.

Ward joins Agri-Pulse from Inside U.S. Trade, a print and digital trade publication that is part of the Inside Washington Publishers news service. Prior to that, he was a digital content producer at the Peterson Institute for International Economics – a non-partisan economics think tank. Ward authored newsletters and economic explainers, built data visualizations, and was part of a small team that maintained a widely cited PIIE tracker for goods purchased under the U.S.-China phase one agreement.

Ward is a graduate of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom where he received a bachelor’s degree in history and sociology. He has a master’s degree in journalism and digital storytelling from American University in Washington.

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, people

Ayrstone® Announces AyrMesh® HubDuo Meshing Feature

Cindy Zimmerman

Ayrstone® has sold hundreds of its new AyrMesh HubDuo for better outdoor Wi-Fi across the United States and Canada since it was introduced in August and now they have announced an important new feature – Meshing Modes.

Meshing Modes allow HubDuo users to adjust the Hub for either the traditional AyrMesh long-range meshing, with Hubs at least half a mile apart, or a new close-in mesh. Using the “close” meshing option, AyrMesh HubDuo units can be placed as close as 100 feet apart up to half a mile apart. It does this by shifting the meshing signal between the 2.4 GHz. radio and the 5.8 GHz. radio.

The new AyrMesh HubDuo is an outdoor, high-power, meshing WiFi access point, like the existing AyrMesh Hubs, with one important difference: it is the first AyrMesh Hub to use dual-band technology. The new HubDuo is designed to deliver very high-speed outdoor WiFi to nearby devices, and standard high-speed WiFi at longer distances. Like the AyrMesh Hub2x2, using MIMO the AyrMesh HubDuo can provide broadband-class WiFi to hundreds or even thousands of acres of property.

Ayrstone Productivity Presdient Bill Moffitt explains, “With ‘normal mode,’ the HubDuos mesh with all the AyrMesh Hub products on 2.4 GHz. ‘Close mode’ allows them to just mesh with other AyrMesh HubDuos on 5.8 GHz., so the Hubs can be placed as close as a hundred feet apart,” said Moffitt. “Best of all, there’s a ‘hybrid mode’ that uses the 2.4 GHz. mesh to communicate with AyrMesh Hub2 units half a mile to 2 miles away while using the 5.8 Ghz. mesh to communicate with other AyrMesh HubDuo units that may be as close as a few hundred feet.”

This new feature is available immediately on all Ayrstone AyrMesh HubDuo units by selecting the appropriate mode in the “Network Settings” section of AyrMesh.com.

More information can be seen at https://ayrstone.com/www/introducing-the-new-ayrmesh-hubduo/, and the AyrMesh HubDuo is available now at the Ayrstone store – https://ayrstone.com.

data, Internet

Animal Ag News 11/19

Carrie Muehling

  • McDonald’s USA and supplier Lopez Foods, have joined Syngenta North America in a collaboration that aims to increase feed efficiency and help reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released per pound of meat produced, as part of efforts to improve the sustainability of beef production. Enogen® corn is an in-seed innovation available exclusively from Syngenta, that has been shown to increase feed efficiency in cattle and thereby help reduce emissions intensity compared to other corn.Read more about this unique partnership.
  • Join the Livestock Publications Council for the November Coffee and Collaboration on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 12 p.m. CT. The topic is “Where Are Red Meat Exports Heading?” with John Herath, U.S. Meat Export Federation Assistant Vice President, Communications. This free monthly webinar is moderated by Jennifer Shike and Angie Stump Denton. No registration necessary! It’s open to members and non-members.
  • Over 60 industry professionals gathered for the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) annual Equipment Manufacturers Conference (EMC), held in Bonita Springs, Fla. Hosted by AFIA’s Equipment Manufacturers Committee, this year’s conference embraced the theme, “Feed Industry 4.0 – Leveraging Emerging Technologies,” with sessions covering regulatory updates, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
  • The Good Meat Project, a national nonprofit, is on a mission to catalyze marketplace innovation, connection, and education across the meat supply chain in order to increase the economic viability and ecological impact of livestock farmers who invest in healthy land, animals, and people. GMP has recently launched a national, geolocating directory of farms and ranches, butcher shops, restaurants and retailers, designed to help consumers find, buy and cook meat that is aligned with their Good Meat® values. The Good Meat® Finder is made possible with support from the ASPCA Fund to End Factory Farming.
  • Embarking on its 20th year of operation, Midan Marketing is a full-service marketing agency driven by a singular mission – to champion the value of meat. Co-founded in 2004 by ranch and farm kids, Michael Uetz and Danette Amstein, Midan Marketing initially served both meat and non-meat clients. However, the partners soon realized their true passion and made a strategic decision to focus exclusively on meat clients. To celebrate this monumental point in its history, Midan is featuring a collage of activities including a retrospective blog and video capturing the last 20 years along with a social campaign highlighting a Day of Service for team members to give back to their communities, which aligns with Midan’s core values.
  • FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative is pleased to welcome Jeff Ditzenberger as Director of Communications and Marketing. Raised on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin, Ditzenberger has been involved in agriculture most of his life and has held various positions in agricultural sales and marketing throughout his career. He also is the founder of a non-profit organization, TUGS, which addresses the stigma of mental health issues in the agricultural community and beyond.
  • On November 12, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a long-awaited final decision with reforms to pricing formulas used by the Federal Milk Marketing Order system. Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative appreciates the diligent work of AMS staff put forth the milk pricing reform.
  • Dairy MAX, a leading regional dairy council representing over 900 dairy farmers across eight states, officially announced that Keira Lombardo of Southlake, Texas, has been named its new chief executive officer. Lombardo is an accomplished agricultural leader with more than 20 years of experience.
  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project by researchers from the University of Arkansas that worked to develop a multispecies bacterial vaccine for the protection against bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness for broilers. Made possible by an endowing Foundation gift from Georges Inc., the research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) congratulated Gov. Doug Burgum on his nomination to lead the Department of the Interior.
  • Recent Beef Checkoff-funded research adds to a growing body of evidence reinforcing the important role beef plays in closing nutrient gaps for vulnerable populations. The three new studies looked at nutrient intake and adequacy needs during adolescence, pregnancy and for those 60 years of age and older.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Last Minute Senate Farm Bill Introduced

    Cindy Zimmerman

    On Monday, with only weeks before the end of this session of Congress, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) at last released the text of her nearly 1400 page farm bill the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act.

    According to Sen. Stabenow, the bill includes funding from the IRA. “This bill will roll the historic investment we made in the Inflation Reduction Act into the farm bill baseline for the future,” she said on the Senate floor. “We take dollars for voluntary conservation programs that farmers are using, right now that funding is outside the farm bill baseline, we can make a tremendous move forward for farmers by moving it into the farm bill baseline while keeping the language regarding climate.”

    Stabenow says her bill improves on crop insurance for farmers. “Importantly, I include a provision that will partially reimburse farmers crop insurance premiums,” she said. “Again, we can use the structure and policies of a farm bill rather than ad hoc assistance and just move up the payments, provide more assistance right now, and do it while we’re passing a five year farm bill.”

    Also on Monday, the White House made a formal request to Congress for $21 billion in disaster aid for farmers who have lost crops and livestock due to natural disasters over the past two years, including the most recent hurricanes.

    Sen. Stabenow farm bill (10:47)

    Audio, Farm Bill

    NCBA Pleased with Election Results, Hopeful for Farm Bill

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The 2024 election turned out well for the nation’s cattle producers, according to National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane.

    “Whether it be a president that we’ve worked with before, whether it be the defeat of radical animal rights action around the country, a tremendous election cycle, and I think now eyes turn to what can be done with this in this new administration,” Lane said during an interview at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention last week. “There’s been discussion for months about how to tackle the tax package that’s expiring. The best case scenario was exactly what we’re looking at, which is, Republican control of the House, the Senate and the White House. So he I think is going to be very focused on getting that renewed, whether that’s the budget reconciliation process or elsewhere.”

    During a panel at the convention, Lane agreed that the opportunity exists to get a farm bill through in the lame duck session. “You have this moment in time now where you’ve got a bill that passed out of the House Ag committee on a bipartisan basis,” he said. “So I think there are a lot of us that feel like maybe they could put the pieces together and get this cleared off the decks before we go into the 119th Congress.”

    The last minute introduction Monday by Sen. Chairwoman Deb Stabenow of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act could make that more difficult.

    NAFB24 Ethan Lane, NCBA (4:56)

    2024 NAFB Convention Trade Talk photos

    AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Farm Bill, NAFB, NCBA

    Industry Ag News 11/18

    Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is funding new projects in nearly every state to lower costs, expand access to clean energy and strengthen American farms and small businesses. USDA is making the investments through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a program that has seen record demand in response to historic funding provided by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
  • William “Bill” Richards, a soil conservation pioneer who served as chief of USDA’s Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) from 1990-1993 under President George H.W. Bush, died Tuesday. He was 93.
  • AgCareers.com continues to prioritize the development of future talent with the launch of the third edition of the U.S. Classroom Implementation Kit. This essential resource for teachers, educators, advisors, and leaders helps students prepare for their future while they discover and explore careers in agriculture and food. The education experts from the National FFA Organization created the kit to use in conjunction with the latest AgCareers.com U.S. Food & Agriculture Career Guide. The Classroom Kit includes lesson plans, activities, interactive worksheets, resources, links, standards, and optional extended learning opportunities. The lessons lead students toward career success using the AgCareers.com Food & Agriculture Career Guide.
  • The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is excited to announce the hiring of Patrick Wade as Director of Public Policy. As Director, Wade will advance the organization’s public policy advocacy with his nearly 10 years of experience in agricultural policy and government affairs. Wade will be the staff lead for NASDA’s Plant Agriculture and Pesticide Regulations and Rural Development and Financial Security Committees.
  • USDA is excited to continue its support for local foods in schools by opening applications for the 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants. For the first time, USDA is allowing organizations to select the type of Farm to School Grant that best fits their needs by offering three different requests for applications.
  • The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announces the retirement of Charles F. “Chuck” Conner from his position as President and CEO, effective December 31, 2025. Conner has led the organization with distinction for over 15 years.
  • Members of the leadership team of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants (ASAC) moved up the chairs, assuming new officer roles at the organization’s annual business meeting held in Fort Myers, Fla., November 5. The election was held in conjunction with the Annual Conference there. Dave Mielnicki, Newmark Valuation and Advisory, Clarkston, Mich., advanced to president of the group.
  • Arthur Appel will serve as interim dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and interim director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Jan. 1. Appel has served in his current role as associate dean for research and assistant director of the Experiment Station since 2021.
  • Texas A&M student Kaitlynn Hughes has joined the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) as their policy intern. Kaitlynn is from Royse City, Texas, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with a focus on policy and economic analysis and a certificate in International Trade in Agriculture. Growing up, she was active in FFA and 4-H, where her passion for agricultural advocacy sparked through public speaking, livestock ambassadorships, showing market cattle and hogs, and state leadership roles. At Texas A&M, she has focused her coursework on agriculture policy and the impacts of the industry in marketing and trade.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced that Dr. Becky Langer-Curry will serve as director of inputs and innovation at the organization. She officially started her new role on Oct. 28.
  • The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) is pleased to announce that four new forms of sorghum have been officially added to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central Database. This significant milestone ensures that the most up-to-date nutritional information on commonly used sorghum products is readily available to consumers and food companies amid growing demand for sorghum.
  • Beck’s, the largest family-owned retail seed company in the United States, is excited to announce the groundbreaking of its new soybean processing facility in New Madrid, Missouri. The state-of-the-art facility will help meet the growing demand for soybeans in the Mid-South region, expanding opportunities for local farmers and strengthening Beck’s commitment to serving the agricultural community.
    • Zimfo Bytes