Alltech ONE Conference 2027

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Alltech ONE Conference 2027With so much positive momentum for our industry, we’re excited to share that there’s even more ahead: the Alltech ONE Conference is coming back to Lexington, Kentucky, May 24–26, 2027. The theme: Together, bright becomes brilliant.

Originally planned for 2026, we have decided to move the event to 2027 to align with major milestones across our business and the broader agri-food industry. It will be worth the wait!

This world-class event will spotlight the power of connection, collaboration and bold thinking to address agriculture’s most significant challenges and unlock its greatest opportunities.

Whether you are returning to ONE or joining us for the first time, the Alltech ONE Conference promises to inspire, challenge and connect. We look forward to welcoming you in 2027.

The Best,

The Alltech Events team

Agribusiness, Alltech

Syngenta Turns 25

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Syngenta is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, created in 2000 with the merger of Novartis and AstraZeneca, and built on a legacy extending back more than 250 years to the Swiss chemical company Geigy founded in 1758.

Today, Syngenta Crop Protection includes a robust portfolio of approximately 37 seed treatments, 54 herbicides, 44 fungicides and 21 insecticides, with several high-value products and innovations currently under development. “We are most proud of the value and trust Syngenta consistently delivers to customers, value-chain partners and the great ag industry we serve,” said Vern Hawkins, president of Syngenta Crop Protection North America.

Jeff Cecil at 2024 Syngenta Media Summit

With an investment of more than $1.4 billion in research and development globally each year, Syngenta continues to accelerate innovation to enable farmers to grow more using less land, water and inputs, while preserving soil health and biodiversity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“For 25 years we’ve turned innovation into real-world tools that help growers make faster decisions, manage crops with confidence and get the most out of every season,” said Jeff Cecil, head of marketing for crop protection at Syngenta. “Every product development — from CruiserMaxx APX seed treatment, Storen herbicide to TYMIRIUM and PLINAZOLIN technologies currently under EPA registration review — is practical and designed with intention. As agriculture evolves, we’re committed to delivering smarter, more connected crop management solutions that are equipped to meet the challenges ahead.”

Listen to an interview with Cecil last year at the Syngenta Media Summit where he talks about the importance of innovation to the company’s success.

Media Summit interview with Jeff Cecil, Syngenta (5:07)

Audio, Crop Protection, Syngenta, Technology

Syngenta Opens Cropwise Digital Platform to Developers

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Syngenta announced this week the opening of its CROPWISE™ AI-powered platform for farmers to third-party developers worldwide.

The launch of the Cropwise Open Platform is designed to accelerate the digital transformation of agriculture by enabling innovators to integrate advanced agronomic models into new tools and applications — helping farmers benefit from smarter, connected agricultural technologies.

New research from IPSOS, conducted in partnership with Syngenta, reveals a growing technology access gap between large and small farms, and that many older farmers view AI as complex or inaccessible — often unaware that they are already using it through tools like drones or imagery systems.

“The agriculture sector stands at a tipping point. Climate pressures, global market volatility, and the urgent need to promote sustainable farming practices mean that technology adoption can no longer be optional,” said Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta’s Chief Information and Digital Officer. “AI can be the great equalizer in agriculture — but only if it’s accessible, affordable, and trusted.”

In just five years Cropwise has transformed digital farm management and now supports over 70 million hectares of farmland across more than 30 countries, including the U.S. At the 2025 Farm Progress Show, Syngenta North American Digital R&D Manager Kirt Durand said Cropwise is already making a difference for farmers.

“This is an integrative farm management technology platform that offers tools and services that enable you and your advisors to optimize your operation. You’re going to boost efficiency across the operation. It’s going to help you track field observations and react to economic challenges, but really it’s more than that,” he said. “Cropwise is designed to allow you to make timely management decisions across your operation.”

Durand said further enhancements to Cropwise will just make it even better.

FPS25 Interview with Kirt Durand, Syngenta (4:13)

AgWired Precision, AI, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Syngenta, Technology

ZimmCast 753 – AdFarm 2025 AgIntel Index Report

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.

In this episode I’m going to share an interview with Matt Weeks, AgIntel Lead at AdFarm. We discuss the inaugural AgIntel Index Report. This will be a yearly report that dives into the trends and insights dominating the conversation in agriculture. This is information that matters to agri-marketers and ag leaders. You can request your report here.

AdFarm“The AgIntel Index Report is a representation of AdFarm’s unique differentiators, all of which make us the agency closest to the farmer,” said Matt Weeks, AgIntel Lead at AdFarm. “It brings the collective insights of AdFarm, AgIntel and Farm Voice into one cohesive report, distilling down critical information into what it all means for our clients and for the industry.”

The report, which will be released annually, is essential reading for agribusiness decision-makers, marketers and communicators. Each year, AdFarm will deliver insights that will provide a deeper understanding of farmer pressures so that we as an industry can respond accordingly.

In addition, I’m adding a wrap up interview with Brent Kemp, President/CEO, AgGateway, about the organization’s annual conference, my last on-location work of the year. You can find the AgNewsWire virtual ag newsroom with lots of photos and interviews and more.

Cindy and I decided to retire from on-location work after 20 plus years at the end of this year. This doesn’t mean we won’t be working though with news release distribution and podcasts. We’ll be updating you as we work toward the end of this year.

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 753 - AdFarm 2025 AgIntel Index Report (14:43)

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.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Agencies, Audio, Farming, Marketing, ZimmCast

Addition of Phosphate to Critical Minerals Applauded

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The U.S. Geological Survey recently added phosphate to its 2025 List of Critical Minerals, recognizing its importance for crop nutrition and food security.

Texas-based biotechnology company MetaPhite Genetics applauded that action, since phosphorus is one of the three primary nutrients essential for crop growth, yet much of the global phosphate supply is concentrated in a small number of countries. The new designation underscores growing concerns over supply-chain vulnerability and the need for innovation in fertilizer efficiency and use.

“Phosphorus is the backbone of agricultural productivity, and this designation reinforces its importance to farmers and to the food system as a whole,” said Mike Gilbert, CEO of MetaPhite Genetics. “At MetaPhite, we’re developing genetics that allow plants to metabolize phosphite, a form of phosphorus that’s more stable and less prone to loss, to improve nutrient-use efficiency and reduce dependence on mined phosphate fertilizers.”

MetaPhite Genetics’ technology represents a new frontier in sustainable fertilizer management. By enabling crops to access phosphorus from phosphite, the company’s approach could help lower fertilizer costs, reduce runoff, and build resilience into global nutrient systems.

“The inclusion of phosphate on the Critical Minerals List sends a clear message that innovation in phosphorus management matters,” Gilbert added. “It recognizes both the challenges we face and the opportunities to strengthen agriculture through smarter, more sustainable solutions.”

AgWired Precision, Fertilizer, Food

Verditex Unveils Next-Gen Precision Tech at Agritechnica

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

At Agritechnica 2025 this week, smart ag solutions provider Verditex has unveiled two new flagship products which are part of an extensive product suite, each designed to deliver a significant leap in performance and reliability.

The Verditex FMA300 Pro Agriculture Auto Steering System is the next-generation evolution of Verditex’s proven FMA300 platform. It inherits the core capabilities that make the FMA300 a flagship product, including seamless operation across the entire agricultural process from cultivation to harvest, multi-terrain adaptation, and easy installation.

The FBS200 GNSS Base Station represents the next step in Verditex’s base station technology, retaining the core advantages of its predecessor, while introducing a fully integrated, all-in-one design that merges the base station and radio into a single, portable unit. This streamlined design enhances deployment flexibility with a built-in radio and a high-capacity internal battery, enabling rapid setup and sustained operation in any field environment.

“The launch of our FMA300 Pro and FBS200 is a direct response to the industry’s need for unwavering reliability and greater operational ease, delivering tangible cost savings and productivity gains,” said Andy An, General Manager, Verditex. “Visitors at the show are welcome to drop by our booth to see not only these two products but also a complete ecosystem designed to maximize efficiency, from signal to steering for the ultimate in professional farming operations.”

Learn more here.

Visit Verditex at AGritechnica stand 21E25 in Hall 21 for detailed product demonstrations and technical consultations.

AgWired Precision, Farm Shows, Precision Agriculture, Technology

AgGateway Building the Future with New Five Year Plan

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The future of AgGateway looks bright at the 20 year mark with a new strategic plan in place for the next five years.

“Our key watchwords, if you will, for the coming five years are implement, impact, and advocate,” said president and CEO Brent Kemp. “One of the things that we learned from our previous five-year plan, which was focused on create, engage, and grow, was that we had a very well-defined, very well-structured, but very stringent idea of what that plan was gonna be. And as we looked at the next five years, 2026 to 2030, we really wanted to make our planning more flexible, more agile, more responsive to the needs of members and the market.”

“Implementation has always been key to the work that gets done in AgGateway,” Kemp explained. “Our members find value and achieve business value when they implement the standards and resources that they cooperatively develop here. And then they can show the impact of what that implementation has done for their businesses, for their customers, for their trading partners, and ultimately translating that back to value in the form of time savings, revenue opportunities, new business opportunities. Both implementation and the impact that they can show allows our member companies to advocate for further work, further implementation within their trading communities, and especially at our C-suite, advocating with their peers to be part of the work that we do here.”

Kemp says after last week’s successful annual meeting, they are ready to go to work implementing, impacting and advocating. “We’re going to take the feedback that we got from there, the ideas, the pain points, the challenges and the opportunities, compile that and turn that into our work plan for the next 12 to 18 months.”

Listen to this wrap up interview with Kemp from last week’s annual meeting.
AgGateway President and CEO Brent Kemp (5:10)

2025 AgGateway Annual Meeting Photo Album

ag retailers, AgGateway, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology

Animal Ag News 11/10

Carrie Muehling Leave a Comment

  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced continued support for the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act. This legislation introduced by Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) would increase marketing opportunities for smaller meat processors and give consumers more options to buy local beef.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) announced support for President Trump’s nomination of former Congressman Steve Pearce to serve as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
  • The Meat Institute released the following statement on President Trump’s call for a Department of Justice investigation into the beef processing sector: “Despite high consumer prices for beef, beef packers have been losing money because the price of cattle is at record highs,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “For more than a year, beef packers have been operating at a loss due to a tight cattle supply and strong demand. The beef industry is heavily regulated, and market transactions are transparent. The government’s own data from USDA confirms that the beef packing sector is experiencing catastrophic losses and experts predict this will continue into 2026. U.S. beef processors welcome a fact-based discussion about beef affordability and how best to meet the needs of American consumers, who are the industry’s most important stakeholders. Beef packers rely on cattle producers and cattle producers rely on beef packers. The entire beef value chain is strongest when supply is balanced by demand. Beef packers remain committed to ensuring safe, delicious, and nutrient dense beef remains affordable to American families who rely on its nourishment. We welcome the President and his team to visit our members’ beef facilities, both large and small, to witness firsthand the pride, skill, and dedication they bring to their work every single day.”
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is inviting participants and media to a panel, “Feeding the Future: Climate-Smart Strategies for a Sustainable Global Feed Industry,” on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. GMT-3 at the 30th Conference of Parties, being held in Belem, Brazil. In collaboration with industry partners Sindirações and the International Feed Industry Federation, the first-of-its-kind panel will be held in the inaugural AgriZone and will discuss the importance of the feed industry to animal health, identify promising innovations, highlight feed efficiency and explore how the industry works with government and key international bodies to bring forward climate solutions.
  • The highly anticipated 2026 Latin American Poultry Summit is set to bring together leading voices from across the Americas to explore the future of poultry production, innovation and sustainability. With a full day of expert sessions, global perspectives and networking opportunities, attendees can expect a dynamic program focused on driving progress and strengthening collaboration within the industry. The event will take place on Monday, Jan. 26, and will open with a presentation of research projects by the Latin American Poultry Association (ALA), setting the tone for a day that combines science, strategy and shared expertise. The Summit is presented by the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) and ALA.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Farmers for Sustainable Food announced the launch of EmPower+, a program that connects farmer-led innovation directly to environmental goals of the dairy value chain.
  • Brian Rexing, an Indiana dairy farmer and a member of the Dairy Farmers of America cooperative, was chosen as National Milk Producers Federation’s 15th chairman at the organization’s Joint Annual Meeting. Rexing succeeds Randy Mooney, who has served as NMPF’s chairman for the past 17 years. Mooney, who also serves as chairman for Dairy Farmers of America, will remain on NMPF’s Executive Committee, which also was elected today. 
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Case IH Upgrades Baler Lineup

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    At Agritechnica this week, Case IH is launching the RB6 series variable chamber round baler, as well as Model Year 2026 updates for the LB436 HD and LB4 XL series large square balers to boost productivity and bale quality for producers.

    The new RB6 series offers two models — the RB456 and RB466 – including an upgraded chain drive system with premium, higher-strength chains boost performance in heavy crops. Triple-seal bearings extend durability by keeping contaminants out and lubricants in. Extruded rollers now feature a seamless design to increase strength and service life. Reinforced rolls and sealed bearings further enhance resilience and reduce maintenance.

    Model Year 2026 LB4 XL and LB436 HD large square balers feature updates in durability and technology. A new greasing system uses automatic chain lubrication instead of oil, delivering four times longer service intervals and requiring only one fluid, while eliminating the oiler pump system for easier maintenance making pre-field preparation faster and easier. A new load-sensing package enables bale eject and bale ramp activation from the back of the baler as well as from the cab, adding convenience and efficiency.

    The new balers are on display at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany, located in Booth B21, at Hall 3, or visit caseih.com or talk with your local Case IH dealer.

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Case IH, Equipment

    EPA Approves Victrato® Seed Treatment

    Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

    Syngenta’s Victrato® seed treatment has received registration from the Environmental Protection Agency for soybeans and cotton to protect against plant-parasitic nematodes and diseases. Victrato will be available to farmers the rest of 2025 in preparation for the 2026 planting season, subject to state approvals.

    Syngenta Seedcare Technical Product Lead Dale Ireland was anticipating approval of Victrado at the 2025 Farm Progress Show. “Victrato is powered by TYMIRIUM® technology and this is the 11th season that I’ve had this out in the field on soybeans and what Victrato is going to do is deliver the highest level of nematode, Sudden death syndrome, red crown rot, and early season soy foliar disease protection that’s ever been offered from a seed treatment.”

    FPS25 Interview with Dale Ireland, Syngenta Seedcare (3:36)

    Victrato is the first federally labeled seed treatment management tool for Red Crown Rot. In addition, it will fortify soybean plants through early-season suppression of important foliar diseases such as Septoria brown spot, frogeye leaf spot and target spot.

    “By protecting that green leaf area early, it sets a stronger and healthier foundation to enhance the impact of a foliar fungicide application and better preserve yield potential,” said Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare product lead.

    At Farm Progress Show, Jaeger also noted that red crown rot is an emerging issue. “It was first discovered in the 70s, but it’s growing a lot of awareness because the symptomology is very similar to sudden death syndrome. And what we’re seeing is the more sampling that is taking place, the more we’re finding it. I believe it’s been identified in close to 10 states so far.”

    FPS25 Interview with Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare (3:37)

    Victrato in cotton manages Cotton Root Rot and nematodes, including root knot, reniform, lance and sting, with extraordinary results. Learn more about Victrato.

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Cotton, Precision Agriculture, Seed, Soybean, Syngenta