Ag Communicators Network Announces Award Winners
The Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) will recognize several members with top honors next month during the 2026 Agricultural Media Summit (AMS), July 19-21 in St. Louis, Missouri.
ACN has announced that Den Gardner and Pam Smith will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, the organization’s highest recognition for members whose careers have left a lasting mark on agricultural communications. Dr. Albert Culbreath will receive the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, which honors an individual outside the profession whose work has significantly advanced agriculture.
“Den, Pam and Dr. Culbreath represent the very best of what our profession and what agricultural communications stand for,” said Joy Crosby, ACN president. “Den and Pam have shaped agricultural communications for generations of members, and Dr. Culbreath’s research has made a real difference in the lives of farmers. We can’t wait to celebrate all three of them in St. Louis.”
Den Gardner has devoted more than five decades to agricultural and green-industry communications as a member of ACN (formerly the American Agricultural Editors’ Association) since 1975. He began his career as an agricultural reporter and editor, including serving as editor of Farm Industry News, Ag Retailer Magazine, and Minnesota Agriculture, before leading the Ag/Turf division of Ceres Communications and founding Gardner & Gardner Communications in 1995. He served as executive director of AAEA from 2000 to 2016 and served on the AAEA board during the development of the Ag Media Summit.
Pamela Smith, crops editor at DTN/Progressive Farmer since 2012, has spent nearly 50 years telling the stories that matter most to farmers. Her career began at Prairie Farmer in 1977 and continued at Farm Journal from 1983 to 2012. A member of AAEA/ACN for more than four decades, Smith has volunteered on numerous committees, served as a membership recruiter and participated in International Federation of Agricultural Journalists events.
Dr. Albert Culbreath, research plant pathologist at the University of Georgia, is recognized worldwide for his work on the ecology, epidemiology and control of thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). When TSWV threatened to destroy the Southeast’s peanut crop in the early 1990s, Culbreath helped lead the multidisciplinary team that developed the Spotted Wilt Risk Index — now known as Peanut Rx — an integrated pest management tool that is still updated annually and credited with saving the peanut industry.
ACN members and friends throughout the industry are encouraged to attend AMS next month and personally congratulate Den, Pam and Dr. Culbreath on these well-deserved honors.
Animal Ag News 6/22
Thousands of lawmakers, staff and federal officials gathered for the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) 42nd Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party, celebrating America’s favorite frozen treat and the dairy industry’s continued leadership in delivering products families know, trust and enjoy. Nearly all Americans (97 percent) say they like or love ice cream, underscoring its status as one of the nation’s most beloved treats. Held at Union Square Park on Capitol Hill, this year’s celebration featured ice cream and frozen dairy desserts made with real milk and without certified artificial colors, consistent with the IDFA Ice Cream Commitment.
MorganMyers Surveys AI Use on the Farm
MorganMyers’ 2026 survey finds AI use experimental on the farm
The ag marketing and PR firm asked whether and how they are using AI, where they see value, where improvements are needed and whether they trust the results. The findings have been compiled into a new report that offers a closer look at how agriculture is approaching AI today and where it may be headed next.
What they found is, AI adoption on the farm at this point is meaningful, but experimental.
MorganMyers’ 2026 survey found 75% of farmers and ranchers have used AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini to support their operations, and nearly half of that group uses those tools weekly or more. That suggests agriculture — like much of the broader workforce — is in an experimental phase of adoption.
Other key findings include:
– General-purpose AI outpaces ag-platform AI, suggesting awareness, availability and workflow-fit remain barriers.
– AI adoption is uneven by segment: Dairy producers, younger farmers (under 35) and larger operations are the highest users. – Lower adoption clusters among smaller operations, older farmers (51 and older) and row-crop producers.
– Farmer and rancher use of AI can largely be classified as practical and business oriented.
– AI is viewed as promising but unproven. Perceived value of AI is high, but so is distrust and skepticism.
– Retailers are more cautious than farmers, lagging in adoption, value and trust — and less likely to recommend AI tools in the near term.
– Proof, transparency and human validation will be needed to build trust in AI among farmers, ranchers and retailers.
Senators Say Study Shows Need for Biofuels Growth
Midwest lawmakers hope a new report out this week from S&P Global and commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA) will help grow momentum to get a bill allowing nationwide, year-round sales of 15% ethanol fuel through the Senate.
At a press conference announcing the report, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said time is running out to get legislation passed before the end of the year. “Enacting E-15 is a perfect way to celebrate America’s 250th years of freedom,” said Grassley. “But we got to move, and it’s almost too late now if we don’t get some action. So anything you can do to help, and this report is going to help, I’m going to say God bless you.”
USFRA biofuels report - Sen. Grassley (8:06)
Minnesota Democrat Sen. Tina Smith said the study shows a way forward for farmers. “We have a need to boost demand for commodity crops. We have a need to figure out steps that we can take to bring down the input costs that farmers are experiencing,” said Sen. Smith. “And so putting a big emphasis on how biofuels and ethanol, all biofuels, can kind of be a path forward to a new structural a new structure for agriculture is just really exciting.”
The study projects global biofuel production driven by agricultural innovation could triple by 2050, expanding renewable fuels to capture a significantly larger share of the approximately 940-billion-gallon global liquid fuel market – including marine and aviation fuels.
Watch the full press conference on the USFRA YouTube channel.
New Study Shows Benefits of Biofuels Expansion
A new S&P Global Energy study released today shows how expanded biofuel markets are a catalyst for agriculture, revitalizing farm communities, stabilizing farm incomes, and providing both food and energy security.
Commissioned by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA), the research, titled “Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst,” offers a detailed, evidence‑based assessment of agriculture’s future and presents a data-driven roadmap for sustainable growth.
“This research demonstrates that biofuels are not just an energy solution—they’re an economic engine that could transform farming’s future,” said Maryland farmer Chip Bowling, Vice Chair of USFRA. “New evidence offered by highly respected experts at S&P Global Energy show that biofuels can unlock agriculture’s potential to provide abundant and affordable food, feed and fuel.”
USFRA held a press conference to announce the findings of the report, with comments from Bowling, as well as CEO Kevin Burkum, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kelsey Barnes, USDA Senior Advisor for Rural Development and Biofuels.
USFRA biofuels press conference (29:39)
Watch the full press conference on the USFRA YouTube channel.
Industry Ag News 6/15
ZimmCast 760 – Award to Harry Siemens
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.
In this episode I have a very special guest. I haven’t talked to him recently but we did quite a bit in the early days of AgWired. He’s Harry Siemens and some of you may have heard or read his Siemens Says. He just received a very well deserved award and we’ll talk about that too.
So, let’s get started.
Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 760 - Award to Harry Siemens (15:44)
Here is some information about the award Harry received.
The award was initiated by U.S. farm broadcasters Lynn Ketelsen of the Linder Farm Network, the late Orion Samuelson, and Max Armstrong, longtime voices in agricultural broadcasting and fellow members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB). Together, they sought to recognize Siemens’ lifetime of contributions to agricultural journalism and his efforts to strengthen relationships between Canadian and American farmers.
Throughout his career, Siemens has covered crop production, livestock, trade, transportation, weather, farm policy and rural life, earning the respect of farmers, agricultural leaders and fellow broadcasters across North America.
That’s the ZimmCast for now. If you have some exciting news in the agrimarketing world, feel free to contact me for the next episode. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.
We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.
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Japanese Soy Milk Exchange Launches
Officially launching today, the Japanese Soy Milk Exchange (JSME), is a new initiative that brings together soybean innovators, culinary experts, nutrition professionals and food industry executives to introduce Japanese soy milk in the United States and establish it as a distinct premium category.
Soy is at the heart of Japan’s food culture, and Japanese soy milk is rooted in centuries of craftsmanship. It’s made with soybeans grown in North America, using specialized Japanese technology and processing methods that ensure a silky texture, mild scent and subtly nutty flavor. Nutritionally, Japanese soy milk is comparable to dairy milk, packing in 9-10 grams of complete plant protein per serving with about half the carbohydrates.
“Japanese soy milk is defined by its heritage and quality, delivering a combination of nutrition, mellow flavor and smooth finish that sets it apart from conventional soy milks,” said Ko Fuwa, General Manager, Foreign Beverage Operations at Kikkoman, an international leader in Japanese soy milk and supporter of JSME. “This distinguished group of leaders is ideally positioned to introduce this new category of soy milk in the U.S. We’re excited to support their mission to educate consumers on Japanese soy milk’s many benefits and differentiators.”
The JSME brings together a multidisciplinary group of founding members, including a chef and culinary expert, registered dietitian, soybean farmer, professor specializing in Japanese food history and culture and a Japanese soy milk industry leader. Together, these experts will guide education efforts, address common misconceptions about soy and promote innovative uses across retail and foodservice channels.
The JSME will roll out programming throughout 2026, including media engagement, trade outreach, culinary demonstrations and digital resources to grow awareness for Japanese soy milk as a new category of soy milk and its many culinary uses and nutritional benefits. More information is available at japanesesoymilk.com.
Precision Ag News 6/9