Farm Income Continues to Fall

Cindy Zimmerman

The USDA Economic Research Service 2024 Farm Sector Income Forecast shows farm income is down again this year, but not as much as it was last year.

While the report compares different measures of farm income, the bottom line is that, adjusted for inflation, net farm income is forecast to decrease by $9.5 billion (6.3 percent) from 2023 to 2024. Net cash farm income is forecast to decrease by $5.7 billion (3.5 percent). That compares to a 19 percent decline in net farm income last year and a 23.5 percent decrease in net cash income.

Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) on Monday urged Congress to provide emergency economic assistance to agricultural producers facing market losses.

“It’s clear the pain our farm families are living through,” Boozman said in remarks on the Senate floor. “For some producers, this is the second or third consecutive year of negative cash flow. This means many farm families are ending 2024 in the red, unable to pay off this year’s operating loan, unable to get the loan to farm in 2025, and face the reality of being the generation to have lost the family farm due to extreme market conditions beyond their control.”

Sen. Boozman 12-2-24 (6:01)

In reaction to the farm income report on Tuesday, Boozman and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) called on Congress to also take action on a farm bill. “Reauthorizing a five-year farm bill with significant improvements to the safety net is critical to restore certainty to our producers,” they said in a statement.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are in serious trouble, and the outlook remains grim. From 2023 to today, row crop producers alone have lost more than $50 billion, and stand to lose even more next year. Immediate action is required to stabilize the farm economy and prevent a crisis that will only become more costly to address over time.”

Farm Bill, Farming, USDA

Pivot Bio Appoints Melih Keyman to Board of Directors

Chuck Zimmerman

Melih KeymanPivot Bio, one of the world’s leading innovative agtech companies, announced today Melih Keyman has been elected to the Pivot Bio Board of Directors, effective Dec. 1. Keyman brings to the company more than 40 years of leading expertise in the global fertilizer industry.

“I have known Melih for several years and he is one of the most admired leaders in the global fertilizer industry, with significant experience in the broader ag industry as well,” said Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott. “Melih’s vast leadership experience with global operations, strategy and M&A will be important to Pivot Bio as we continue our growth trajectory. Additionally, as Pivot Bio continues to build strategic partnerships, including with our fertilizer partners, Melih’s deep understanding of the global fertilizer market and commodity fundamentals will be a significant benefit to our team. I am thrilled to have him join the board and confident that his global experience will be a great addition to our dynamic board leadership.”

Keyman currently serves as president and chief executive officer, and founder of Keytrade AG, which is one of the world’s leading fertilizer trading companies that caters to the needs of suppliers, distributors, retailers and end users on a worldwide basis and across all fertilizer products. Beside the trading and marketing of conventional fertilizer products, it is engaged in bringing the next generation of fertilizer technologies to market through its subsidiary WeGrow, which provides customers with innovative sustainable crop nutrition solutions.

Keyman has devoted his career to the fertilizer industry. Prior to founding Keytrade, he held leading positions in ENKA Marketing of Turkey and Transammonia. He also has significant board experience, having served on the board of directors for The Fertilizer Institute and as a council member of the International Fertilizer Association. He also served on the board of FertGrow, as well as Transammonia and Ferpro AG, a joint venture between Sinochem and Transammonia.

Keyman was named the first international trustee of Northwestern University, a position he has held since 2012. An active philanthropist, he endowed the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies program at Northwestern University and is funding its Center for Synthetic Biology as it works to develop novel crop nutrition technologies and approaches to farming that will aid in the nourishment of a rapidly growing global population.

Keyman, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of New Hampshire, studied at Switzerland’s prestigious University of St. Gallen, a research university that specializes in business administration, economics, law, international affairs and computer science. After beginning his professional career, he chose to broaden his educational background as a Kellogg Executive Scholar in Leadership and Management at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

A native of Turkey and a citizen of Switzerland, Keyman has been living in Zurich since 1984.

Agribusiness, Technology

Advanced Agrilytics Names New CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

Agricultural solutions provider Advanced Agrilytics announced today the appointment of Kenny Avery as the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Avery previously served as President and CEO of Verdesian Life Sciences, leading the company in delivering sustainable crop nutrition solutions. Before that, he held several key leadership positions at Monsanto, including Vice President of Global Vegetables. Avery’s extensive experience leading large-scale agricultural initiatives and his proven track record in driving growth and innovation make him an ideal fit for Advanced Agrilytics.

Avery holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi State University and is a retired Certified Public Accountant. He serves on the board of Hopeful Community Outreach and previously served on the boards of the Mississippi Children’s Museum, United Fresh Produce, and Habitat for Humanity Wake County, NC.

Advanced Agrilytics is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025. “This is an exciting time to be a part of Advanced Agrilytics as we build from our existing foundation and chart our path to the future,” says Avery. “We want to bring our ‘best in class’ agronomic solutions to progressive, business-minded growers and agribusinesses worldwide.”

Read more about Advanced Agrilytics.

Agribusiness, Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture

Animal Ag News 12/2

Carrie Muehling

  • Targeted livestock grazing is a successful and cost-efficient method to manage cheatgrass in the U.S. western Great Plains when timed to coincide with cheatgrass growth rather than based solely on the time of year, according to a recent study published by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL).
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) issued a statement after the unveiling of Senate Democrats’ 2024 Farm Bill text by U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), the largest and oldest livestock association in the Southwest, opened the application window for the 2025 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo internship held April 8-13, in Fort Worth. This internship program allows college students to gain experience and knowledge in the beef industry while making connections with some of the industry’s highest leaders. Students will build their communication and networking skills, acquaint themselves with a wide range of work departments and get a behind-the-scenes look at hosting the largest agricultural event in the Southwest. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and letter of recommendation. Submissions are due Dec. 31, 2024, to education@tscra.org.
  • Americans consumed record amounts of dairy products in 2023 led by surging demand for butter and cheese. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that per capita consumption of dairy products reached 661 pounds per person in 2023, an increase of 7 pounds per person over the previous year and matching the all-time record set in 2021. Butter and cheese consumption each surpassed all previous records, reaching all-time highs of 6.5 pounds (butter) and 42.3 pounds (cheese) per person, respectively, in 2023. For context, a typical package of butter containing four sticks weighs 1 pound (16 ounces) and a standard bag of shredded cheese is half a pound (8 ounces).
  • Leading political analysts, ag experts, innovative farmers and business strategists will be among featured speakers at the Dairy Business Association’s 2025 Dairy Strong conference. The conference will be held at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay on January 15-16. It will kick-off with a party at Lambeau Field and conclude with the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin’s Master Cheese Reception and a special celebration for DBA’s 25th anniversary.
  • As dairies progress, so do their data and technology needs. Similarly, the dairy insights suite from Nedap, a global leader in automated dairy herd monitoring and management technology, is also advancing in depth and breadth. The SmartSort sort gate features one recognition point with an unmatched degree of accuracy, few moving parts to reduce cow stress, low maintenance and high-capacity operation. Based on specific goals, you can decide which cows need to be separated or routed and the location to where they need to be sent.
  • When Rosalind Kidwell said all she’s ever known is the beef industry, she really meant it. If the title of fifth-generation Angus breeder wasn’t enough, Kidwell recently earned the famous red blazer of Miss American Angus when she was crowned during the annual American Angus Association® Awards Dinner and Reception held Sunday, Nov. 3 in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of Angus Convention.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Syngenta’s Victrato® Getting Closer to Registration

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Syngenta Seedcare technical lead Dr. Dale Ireland has been working on developing TYMIRIUM technology for over a decade and it is finally approaching the finish line.

    “We’re nearing registration for soybeans and once it’s registered, it will be called Victrato®. And that’s for soybeans for nematodes, sudden death syndrome, red crown rot and several other early season diseases that it suppresses,” said Ireland during an interview at the recent NAFB Convention. “So we’re very excited about this product. It’s going to set a new standard of protection against nematodes as well as SDS and Red Crown rot of anything that’s on the market today.”

    Approval of Victrato® by EPA for both soybeans and cotton is anticipated by the 2025 growing season. Learn more in this interview.

    NAFB24 Dale Ireland, Syngenta (3:33)

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, Cotton, Crop Protection, Seed, Soybean, Syngenta, Technology

    AgGateway Latin America Outreach

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AgGateway Regional Director Jose Alexandre Loyola represented the Latin America region at the AgGateway North America Annual Meeting last month in Austin, Texas.

    Loyola, who is from Brazil, has been regional director since 2017. “Most of the people that participate in AgGateway in Latin America, especially in Brazil, they see a lot of value in the group that we form, the network, the discussions that we provide,” said Loyola in an interview at the meeting. “My goal now is to bring more people from Argentina, from Paraguay. We have a kind of barrier of language, but now with the technology we promote in our virtual meetings we have translation next year and this with this tool my expectation is to bring people in from other countries.”

    Loyola participated in several Working Group sessions to update members in the region on the status of ongoing projects, and accepted the AgGateway In Action Award for the Latin America region on behalf of member Flávio Barros of Proagrica.

    AgGateway Latin America Regional Director Jose Loyola (6:35)

    AgGateway, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, cover crops, data, International

    Industry Ag News 11/29

    Carrie Muehling

  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of new programs that will help farmers who grow fruits, vegetables, and nuts overcome market barriers for their products, and help producers access necessary pre-market storage for their crops following severe weather events, including recent hurricanes. Specifically, the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops initiative will provide $2 billion to assist specialty crop growers in maintaining a strong domestic supply and expanding market opportunities for their crops. USDA is also creating the Commodity Storage Assistance Program, which will provide $140 million to help producers gain access to a packinghouse, grain elevator, or other facility necessary for the marketing of agricultural commodities. This program is designed for farmers nationwide due to disaster-related challenges, and USDA anticipates high signup rates in the Southeast due to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Debbie, Helene and Milton.
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that registration is now open for the 101st Agricultural Outlook Forum. The event, titled “Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges, Today,” will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott on February 27-28, 2025. Additionally, all Forum sessions will be livestreamed on a virtual platform.
  • American Farm Bureau Federation and other industry coalition members achieved a crucial win that will help farmers across the country. AFBF and its partners were granted a preliminary injunction by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi barring the Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing its Worker Protection Rule extending unionization rights to H-2A visaholders.
  • Carah Hart, the elected 2024 National Association of Farm Broadcasting president, and her husband, Nick, welcomed a new baby to their family. Carah has started her maternity leave and her last day as NAFB president was on Wednesday. Jeff Nalley, the 2025 president-elect, is now acting president of NAFB through the end of this year.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) released its fourth-quarter Economic Update, reporting on everything from harvest season to the findings from a recent trade study.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed five new farmer-leaders to the United Soybean Board (USB) and reappointed 12 others. In total, 17 USB directors and alternates will begin three-year terms, and one director will begin a two-year term. These U.S. soybean farmers, representing 16 states, will be officially sworn in at the USB December Meeting in St. Charles, Missouri, on Dec. 11, 2024.
  • At their board meeting Nov. 14, 2024, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) directors elected Mike Spier, Vice President of Overseas Operations, as the export market organization’s next President and CEO, effective with the retirement of current President and CEO Vince Peterson on July 1, 2025.
  • The Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is championing a return to traditional food practices which has been driving a renewed interest in tallow, a nutrient-rich and sustainable fat rendered from beef or sheep. This shift not only supports health-conscious consumers seeking alternatives to industrial seed oils but also offers significant benefits for the rendering industry. Renderers, who transform animal by-products into valuable products like tallow, play a crucial role in reducing waste and promoting sustainability within the agricultural sector.
  • Representatives from the U.S. Peanut Federation (USPF) traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for assistance needed before the end of this year. During the trip, USPF representatives met with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, as well as senior agricultural staff, to engage in discussions on economic assistance, natural disaster assistance and the Farm Bill.
  • Join the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City on Wednesday, December 4, for the Council’s Annual Meeting at the Grand Street Café, featuring Mike Seyfert of the National Grain and Feed Association.
  • The Unexpected Acre, a docu-series featuring Bushel co-founder Ryan Raguse, has just released its latest episode, focused on harvest. The series, which launched in April 2024, follows Raguse as he takes over his family’s farm in Wheaton, MN. Now, with the release of the harvest episode, audiences are getting a firsthand look at the culmination of a season spent growing corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.
  • The Sustainable and Responsible Business team at Syngenta is excited to announce its collaboration with Ducks Unlimited (DU), highlighting employees’ commitment to conservation agriculture. In Spring 2024, Syngenta and DU developed a contest for sharing employee stories and recognizing their leadership in conservation. Qualifying employees had the opportunity to showcase a range of projects related to their personal, educational, on-farm, or operational projects, with the grand prize winner securing two tickets to experience a “Concert for Conservation” in Las Vegas, Nevada, a Ducks Unlimited exclusive event. Six other contest winners received a one-year DU membership and the opportunity to participate in a field tour with DU agriculture specialists – an experience for forging new relationships and deepening existing ones.
  • University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences announced the launch of a brand-new ACES Online website — a major step forward in making the exceptional educational opportunities from the College of ACES more accessible than ever before. ACES Online is designed with the needs of lifelong learners in mind, offering flexible and engaging programs that allow you to expand your skills and advance your career from anywhere in the world.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    DWFI Podcast 39 – Navigating Climate Change in Nebraska

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Navigating climate change: impacts on water stress and agricultural production in Nebraska

    Nebraska, located in the U.S. “Corn Belt,” is well known for its agricultural and livestock production, generating around $31.1 billion in agricultural cash receipts in 2023. But how will climate change impact long-term agricultural production, and how can we adapt to changes to ensure water security and food supply for future generations?

    In this episode, DWFI Communications Specialist Arianna Elnes talks to DWFI Research Assistant Professor Ivo Gonçalves, whose recent study explores the future of corn production in Nebraska. DWFI Senior Program Manager Renata Rimšaitė also joins to offer examples of sustainable water management strategies.

    Key takeaways from Ivo’s study, How can Future Climate Change Affect the Corn Production System in Nebraska, USA?

    • Climate change effects crop life cycle, growth and development
    • To adapt, new varieties will need to be developed (but they will likely require more water)
    • Efficient irrigation is essential to ensure consistent, high crop yields as temperatures and weather patterns change.
    • There is a need for innovation in water management for sustained food and water security

    Guests:
    Ivo Zuition Gonçalves, Ph.D, Research Assistant Professor, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute
    Renata Rimšaitė, Ph.D, Senior Program Manager, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI podcast episode 39 20:59

    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:

    Audio, climate, Corn, cover crops, Farming, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food

    AgGateway Tackles Environmental Reporting

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Environmental reporting was a big topic of discussion at the recent AgGateway annual meeting in Austin.

    The opening keynote session featured a panel discussion moderated by Executive Vice President Jeremy Wilson featuring three retail representatives working on the challenges and opportunities in data gathering for environmental reporting in sustainability and carbon programs. He was joined by Brian Henze from Growmark, Trey Colley from Greenpoint Ag, Caleb Smith from Keystone Cooperative, and Michael Gomes, Topcon vice president of sustainability.

    As a farmer, Wilson said he had just hoped he would not have to deal with environmental reporting. “I’ve got called about a carbon program, I’ve got called about a sustainability program. We’ve seen everything around climate, smart commodities, we’ve heard about regenerative AG. And for the longest time I took the approach that this stuff’s all going to go away,” said Wilson.

    But to take advantage of the high-value opportunities that will be available in the agriculture industry as we go forward, Wilson says we must overcome these data obstacles and be ready to deliver what companies and consumers are starting to demand.

    AgGateway Environmental Reporting panel (13:44)

    2024 AgGateway Annual Conference Photo Album

    AgGateway, AgWired Precision, Audio, carbon, climate, cover crops, Environment