MyLand Warranty Program Guarantees Grower ROI

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Soil health innovator MyLand has announced the launch of its new crop warranty program, in partnership with Growers Edge, designed to remove financial risk for growers adopting MyLand’s Soil Health Service, supporting apples, pistachios, and almonds across U.S. growing regions in 2026.

The program is focused on proven grower success, supported by strong ROI results from the MyLand Service. It offers a guaranteed benefit of at least $250 per acre based on yield and quality outcomes with the MyLand Service.

“Soil health is the foundation of a farm’s long-term productivity and profitability,” said Dane Hague, Co-Founder and CEO of MyLand. “The Growers Edge warranty reinforces our confidence in MyLand’s outcomes and our commitment to standing alongside growers as they invest in their soil.”

The Growers Edge program evaluates performance between MyLand-serviced acres and control blocks through side-by-side field trials conducted over a crop season. The program guarantees at least $250 in increased value per acre based on measured yield and quality outcomes. Growers Edge verifies field data (using a third-party verification process), yield results, and payouts. The crop warranty plan protects growers by guaranteeing a minimum ROI.

Enrollment for the 2026 crop season is now open for almonds and pistachios in California and apples in both California and Washington. Deadlines to enroll vary by crop and region. Growers interested in participating can contact their MyLand representative or call 877-556-3774.

Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Soil, Technology

Cotton Trust Protocol Opens Enrollment for 2026

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Enrollment in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is now open for the 2026 crop year with a new Field Partner Program offering expanded opportunities for growers demonstrating responsible production with measurable data.

The Trust Protocol is the voluntary, field-level sustainability program and traceability platform for U.S. Cotton. Participating growers receive a unique set of data and resources to support informed decision making, meet growing demand for responsibly produced U.S. Cotton, and help them compete successfully in the global market.

The new Field Partner Program is a voluntary opportunity that helps growers evidence regenerative farming practices using the existing Trust Protocol system, while providing brands and retailers access to verified, traceable regenerative U.S. Cotton at scale. Participation in the Field Partner Program is optional, but growers must be enrolled in the Trust Protocol for the 2026 crop year to be eligible to participate.

The Trust Protocol is celebrating five years of advancing sustainability in the cotton industry. Marjory Walker, recently appointed as co-director of the program, says it has grown rapidly since it launched in July 2020. “We actually have 2,500 global members representing 25 brands in 26 countries,” said Walker. “We have 2,800 mills and manufacturers. We’ve had a 14% increase in our grower enrollment. We encompass 2.58 million acres. So that is quite an accomplishment for a little five-year-old program.”

Growers interested in participating in the Trust Protocol for the 2026 crop year are encouraged to visit TrustUSCotton.org to enroll now and begin preparing required farm and field information. Growers who are also interested in the optional Field Partner Program can explore eligibility and next steps after completing Trust Protocol enrollment.

Cotton, Sustainability

ZimmCast 757 – 2026 National Ethanol Conference

Chuck Zimmerman Leave a Comment

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

In this episode of the podcast I’m going to share some audio from the National Ethanol Conference. While Laura McNamara worked with Syngenta Seeds at Commodity Classic, which overlapped with the NEC, yours truly drove to Orlando and took photos, interviews and session audio in a custom virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire.com.

To start out with, Patrice Banks, Founder of Girls Auto Clinic, who spoke at the NEC Women’s Leadership Breakfast, also spoke at one of the sessions. Hers was titled, Cultivating a New Crop of Ethanol Advocates.

Renewable Fuels Association staff member, Kendra Coulson, Marketing and Membership Manager, helps with educating new audiences and she has worked with Patrice and her audience.

On a different topic RFA has scholarships given out at the NEC. I thought you might like to hear how one winner of the Young Professionals Network scholarship is Verena Hopkins.

If you would like to hear more about what is going on in the renewable fuels world and specifically, ethanol, check out our virtual newsroom. We’ve got plenty more and besides the newsroom you can see stories from it on Energy.AgWired.com and the latest episode of The Ethanol Report. You can find pictures of the NEC that I took in this online album.

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 757 - 2026 NEC (25:21)

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:

Ag Groups, Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, RFA, ZimmCast

Syngenta Making AI Part of Farmer Solutions

Cindy Zimmerman

When the first Commodity Classic was held 30 years ago, Artificial Intelligence was science fiction, but today it is a growing part of agricultural technology and Syngenta is on the front lines of developing ways to make it useful for farmers.

Syngenta Crop Protection and Taranis formalized a strategic partnership last October to equip agricultural retailers across the Midwest with AI-powered crop management solutions, delivering innovative digital technologies that create significant value for both retailers and their grower customers.

“Taranis is the intelligence piece, and Syngenta is the hammer that comes down and helps nail those insights with the customers,” said Jennifer Stutz, Taranis customer experience lead, at Commodity Classic last week. “We’re enabling customers to see things earlier, and with the Syngenta chemistry, then they’re able to go out and fight that, and it’s really a good partnership.”

Learn more in this interview from Classic:
Classic26 - Jennifer Stutz, Taranis (6:45)

Kirt Durand, digital ag solutions R&D manager for Syngenta, says AI technology is changing rapidly and expanding in agriculture.

“This is the ability to take a large set of data and get meaningful insights out of it in real time,” said Durand. “AI is not new. I like to tell people AI is just new to agriculture. AI has been around. If you call a bank or Amazon or anybody else right now, you’re going to talk to an AI. But AI is also just another tool in the tool belt. It’s not going to solve all your problems, but I do believe it is the next big thing in agriculture.”

Syngenta’s Cropwise™ AI helps growers and retailers transform data into actionable insights to boost efficiency across the operation. The platform offers tools and services that help with season planning, track field observations and agronomic response, track and store data and manage financials, so the information is available to all stakeholders.

Interview with Kirt Durand, Ph.D., digital ag solutions R&D manager:
Classic26 - Kirt Durand, Syngenta (5:31)

2026 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, AI, Audio, Commodity Classic, Precision Agriculture, Syngenta, Technology

Animal Ag News 3/2

Carrie Muehling

  • The dairy checkoff has unveiled Dairy Does More, a national marketing communications platform to help grow demand by reshaping how consumers think about dairy foods. Developed by Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the initiative brings to life the Undeniably Dairy brand in a contemporary way and reflects a long-term strategy to strengthen dairy’s role in modern lifestyles.
  • As part of the USPOULTRY Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting the recruitment and training of top students while promoting careers in the poultry and egg industry, National FFA Officer Candidates were invited to attend an all-expense-paid trip to the 2026 International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE).
  • The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) announced the release of four species reports, detailing the nutrition and production impacts of vitamin and amino acid supply chain disruptions on four food animals (broiler chickens, laying hens, turkeys and swine). These reports stem from the larger report, “The Strategic Assessment on the Impact of Vitamin and Amino Acid Supply Chain Disruptions on U.S. Food Security,” released in November 2025.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) finalized removal of the Northern and Southern Distinct Population Segments (DPS) of lesser prairie-chicken from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) filed litigation to remove this listing when the lesser prairie-chicken was first listed in 2022 due to the protections being both legally and scientifically flawed.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the announcement that U.S. beef exports will now have duty-free access to Indonesia. Gaining access to the Indonesian market, where U.S. beef has faced significant barriers, has been a priority for NCBA for years. As part of the trade deal, Indonesia will purchase at least 50,000 metric tons of U.S. beef annually and now recognizes USDA authority on food safety and animal health, opening more opportunities for exports.
  • The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) recognized six award winners during its 2026 Annual Convention, held Jan. 28-31 in Reno, NV. Convention week brought together approximately 425 attendees for 60+ meetings and working sessions, convening producers, partners, researchers, and industry leaders from across the country.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) “I Protect Pigs” photo contest closes at midnight on Friday, March 6, at the tail end of African Swine Fever (ASF) Action Week (March 1 – 7). Brought to you by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), this contest promotes the importance of good biosecurity behaviors by encouraging the public to submit a photo of owner/pig safety practices in action. Budding photographers can submit photos of biosecurity best practices at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/iprotectpigs. Winners will be announced the week of March 23 and featured on the Protect Our Pigs website and social media.
  • Returning for its eighteenth consecutive year, Zoetis encourages veterinary clinics, and animal health distributors and retailers to support their local FFA students through its Industry Support Program. The annual rebate program helps support local chapter educational and leadership opportunities for students by providing funding through the sales of select Zoetis Cattle products.
  • Auburn University, Clemson University and University of Florida are working together to analyze the effects of livestock feeding and greenhouse gas emissions. By pooling expertise and resources, the team is accelerating progress that no single institution could achieve alone. Associate professor and Extension Specialist Leanne Dillard and assistant professor Brandon Smith of the Department of Animal Sciences co-lead the project and participated in the Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agriculture Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Danone was recognized with the third annual International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Workplace of the Year Award at IDFA’s Dairy Forum in Palm Desert, California. The award, co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Processing magazine, is given each year to an outstanding IDFA member company that has created policies to promote a positive workplace experience for employees. Award recipients demonstrate efforts, create cultures of inclusiveness and respect, support professional development, and establish paid parental leave, flexible work hours and gender pay equality, among other criteria.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture

    USDA Update at Commodity Classic

    Cindy Zimmerman

    U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders delivered an upbeat update to a crowd at the Commodity Classic trade show last week, emphasizing technology upgrades, streamlined programs, and a renewed “farmer-first” focus under the second Trump administration.

    Undersecretary of Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Richard Fordyce opened the session by noting FPAC’s creation during the first Trump term to unite the three most farmer-facing agencies: Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA). “We are all farmers,” Fordyce said, stressing the push for “one farmer, one file” to eliminate redundant paperwork. He highlighted the new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, which launched Monday via login.gov and quickly reached 150,000 applications—35,000 through the secure portal—distributing over $2 billion in days while saving mailing costs.

    FSA Administrator Bill Beam called FBA “fantastic” and already ahead of expectations. He detailed a three-phase acreage reporting modernization: Phase 1 creates a geospatial map with common land units for easy field drawing; Phase 2 adds a home or tractor-based portal; Phase 3 will integrate precision-ag coverage maps. Beam also reported rapid work on the new farm bill, including 30 million additional base acres and updates to ARC/PLC sign-up for the 2026 crop year.

    NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt described a “recommitment tour” to core programs EQIP and CSP, pruning outdated practice codes to save 85,000 staff hours annually and delegating decisions to local staff. She announced the Integrated Field Tool for real-time whole-farm planning in the field, set for trials soon. NRCS will update 91 of 168 outdated practice standards this year with farmer roundtable input. The new regenerative agriculture pilot offers $700 million through EQIP/CSP, plus soil testing, outcomes reports, and private-sector matching under the Sustains Act.

    Lastly, RMA Administrator Pat Swanson, a former crop insurance agent and Iowa farmer, called crop insurance “the backbone” of the safety net. She noted quick implementation of the farm bill’s premium support (saving farmers ~$400 million) and extension of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher program to 10 years. Swanson echoed the modernization theme, praising private-sector precision technology already in use and urging producers to talk with agents before the March 15 deadline.

    All four leaders—each with multi-generational farm roots—pledged continued progress on technology, reduced bureaucracy, and keeping farmers on the land. Fordyce teased “fun stories” by next year’s Classic in New Orleans as modernization accelerates.

    Listen to their updates here:
    Classic26 - USDA Policy Outlook (52:47)

    2026 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    Audio, Commodity Classic, USDA

    Durastak Corn Trait Stack Coming in 2027

    Cindy Zimmerman

    It was one year ago that Syngenta’s Durastak Corn Trait Stack was approved by EPA and this time next year farmers will be able to see next level corn rootworm control with the Durastak/Durastak Viptera brand technology that is the first triple Bt protein stack for corn rootworm control.

    At the Syngenta Traits exhibit at last week’s Commodity Classic, Corn Product Manager Matt Dolch was updating growers on what to expect with the new trait stack. “We’re going to continue building on the horsepower of Duracade trait technology and our Syngenta corn traits portfolio and then continue to bring in new products with Durastak/Durastak Viptera,” said Dolch. “When we add the Viptera piece in we’re getting the industry-leading broad lepidopteran control for above ground insects. So really nice protection against things like Western bean cutworm, fall armyworm, black cutworm, et cetera.”

    Dolch encourages farmers to visit Durastak.com for more information.

    Classic26 - Matt Dolch, Syngenta Seeds (2:37)

    2026 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Corn, Seed, Syngenta

    Syngenta and M.S. Technologies Announce New Soybean Trait Stack

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Breaking news at Commodity Classic this week came as M.S. Technologies and Syngenta announced plans to launch a groundbreaking herbicide-tolerant soybean trait stack, with broad commercial availability expected in 2029 pending regulatory approvals. This new trait stack will be marketed by Syngenta seed brands and Stine Seed Company, as well as others.

    Built on the proven foundation of the Enlist E3® soybean event, this innovative trait technology will deliver unmatched herbicide flexibility, providing farmers tolerance to more active ingredients than any soybean trait in the industry, including:
    Glyphosate
    Glufosinate
    2,4-D choline
    Multiple HPPD inhibitors

    “This new technology represents the future of weed control flexibility in soybeans,” said Jared Benson, Head of Soybean Portfolio Strategy, Syngenta. “This is a platform that’s going to bring the most active ingredients, the most modes of action to the market. And it’s really about offering growers more versatility, more options, more simplicity in how they can manage weeds.”

    Featuring industry-leading HPPD inhibitor tolerance, the trait technology will provide tolerance to a wide range of HPPD inhibitor chemistries such as mesotrione, isoxaflutole and bicyclopyrone.

    Classic26 - Jared Benson, Syngenta (3:00)

    Also at Classic, Stine Seed Company announced details regarding its plans to market Enlist E3® Expance™ soybeans.

    Stine Seed Company plans to integrate Enlist E3 Expance soybean trait technology into its high-performing soybean product portfolio to deliver yield stability and herbicide flexibility for farmers across diverse growing environments.

    “Farmers need more flexibility in increasingly unpredictable planting seasons,” said Myron Stine, President, Stine Seed Company. “With the added herbicide tolerance in Enlist E3 Expance soybeans, farmers can adapt more quickly to weed control challenges by expanding their herbicide strategies to include proven chemistries already widely used in corn, without sacrificing control or performance.”

    Enlist E3 Expance soybeans were first announced in August 2025, with today’s introduction reinforcing the role this next-generation trait technology is expected to play in providing expanded weed management flexibility paired with strong agronomic performance.

    Classic26 - Myron Stine, Stine Seed Company (2:14)

    2026 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Seed, Syngenta

    Secretary Rollins Launches ‘One Farmer, One File’ at Classic

    Cindy Zimmerman

    U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled USDA’s new “One Farmer, One File” initiative Thursday at the 2026 Commodity Classic, promising a single streamlined digital record that follows producers across all agency systems and slashes paperwork burdens.

    Rollins described the multi-year modernization as a direct response to decades of fractured IT infrastructure — 500 custom systems managed by 1,000+ contractors at a cost exceeding $1 billion annually. Previous upgrade attempts delivered only 15% of promised improvements while blowing past $500 million budgets, she noted.

    “This is the beginning of a new chapter,” Rollins told the record crowd. “One Farmer, One File eliminates redundant information gathering, reduces friction in every producer interaction, and gives farmers a single, seamless, secure experience at USDA.”

    The initiative’s first live test — the $11 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance Program for crop growers — opened applications ahead of schedule Monday and is already running fully on the new platform. Results have been dramatic: 50 times more producers signed up online in days than the prior ECAP program saw over its entire five-month window. Online adoption jumped more than 5,000%, several billion dollars have been obligated, and many farmers reported receiving payments faster than any USDA program in history.

    Rollins stressed the effort is optional. “County FSA offices remain open, paper forms and in-person acreage reporting continue unchanged, and no one is forced online,” she said.

    Rollins then turned the big topic for corn farmers – E15. She credited President Trump’s day-one national energy emergency declaration and regulatory E15 waivers, while urging Congress to pass nationwide, year-round E15 legislation “with no excuse.”

    She talked about EPA’s proposed record-high renewable volume obligation (RVO) rule and the 45Z tax credit extension through 2029 — plus a forthcoming regenerative feedstock rule — will reward corn, soy and sorghum growers using sustainable practices with premium pricing.

    “Biofuels are a win-win for farmers and consumers,” Rollins said, noting they help moderate pump prices while building long-term certainty for American crops.The secretary said both initiatives underscore the administration’s commitment to putting farmers first. Full “One Farmer, One File” rollout across USDA is targeted for completion within two years.

    Listen to Sec. Rollins’ remarks here:
    Classic26 - Sec. Rollins (40:30)

    2026 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    Audio, Biofuels, Commodity Classic, Ethanol, USDA

    Industry Ag News 2/27

    Carrie Muehling

  • Robert W. (Bobby) Greene, a former president and chairman of the board of the National Cotton Council, received the Oscar Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025. Louie Perry, Jr., a producer from Moultrie, Georgia, posthumously received the 2025 Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award. Perry was recognized during the National Cotton Council’s 2026 annual meeting held February 9-12 in San Antonio, Texas.
  • Brad Williams, a veteran Tennessee ginner and cotton industry leader, was named as the 2026 Horace Hayden National Cotton Ginner of the Year. The National Cotton Ginner’s Association also recognized William Lindamood as the recipient of the 2025-26 Charles C. Owen Distinguished Service Award.
  • The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) recognized three exceptional leaders during its 2026 Annual Meeting, honoring individuals whose dedication and leadership have strengthened farmer-owned cooperatives and rural communities across the country.
  • Join the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City for the March Luncheon Meeting at Grand Street Café. The group is pleased to welcome Jim Macy, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 7, which serves Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations. Register here.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) awarded Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Boozman (R-AR), and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA 15) with its 2025 Wheat Advocate award. The Wheat Advocate Award honors members of Congress who demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to policies that strengthen the U.S. wheat industry and support America’s wheat farmers.
  • Harry H. Stine, founder of Stine Seed Company and one of agriculture’s most influential genetic innovators, has been named to the Forbes 250 Greatest Innovators list, ranking No. 34 among the nation’s most transformative business leaders.
  • The American Soybean Association (ASA) recognized the late Richard Wilkins, of Greenwood, Delaware, with its top honor during the 2026 ASA Awards Celebration at the Commodity Classic trade show in San Antonio. The ASA Pinnacle Award is an industrywide recognition of a lifetime of work that demonstrates the highest level of contribution and leadership within the soybean family and industry.
  • Applications are now open for FarmPath, a national, multi-year program designed to make farming more accessible and achievable for aspiring and beginning farmers across the United States. The program is supported by The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems and The PepsiCo Foundation whose investments reflect a shared focus on helping to strengthen the next generation of farmers and build a more resilient food system.
  • The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) announced that Gunnar Griggs-Bell has joined the organization as Manager of Government Relations. In this role, he will support the development and execution of strategic advocacy initiatives on behalf of CRA.
  • The 2026 World Ag Expo gathered attendees and exhibitors from around the world in Tulare, California, for the world’s largest annual outdoor agricultural exposition. Over 100,000 attendees joined the 2026 World Ag Expo, with a slight increase in attendance from last year. Visitors represented all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 53 countries.
  • The Charleston Orwig Collective, comprised of Milwaukee-based full-service agencies C.O.nxt and Jigsaw, has expanded its public relations and social media capabilities with the addition of Lauren Neuman and Andy Parmann. The new hires strengthen The Collective’s ability to serve clients across digital and traditional communications. Andy Parmann joins The Collective as Senior Social Media Manager, bringing more than a decade of experience in social strategy, content development and brand storytelling. Lauren Neuman brings 15 years of experience in media relations, strategic planning, issues management and community relations to her role as Associate Director of Public Relations.
    • Zimfo Bytes