Celebrating Ag Day Every Day
Old and young alike celebrated National Agriculture Day yesterday in the nation’s capitol with the theme “Together We Grow.” The annual event at the start of spring brought together students interested in agriculture careers and those who have been in the industry their entire lives, like American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
“The future lies in the the lives of these young people who are here today and the innovation and hard work that they’re going to bring back to the farms so that we can continue to be sustainable,” said Duvall. “Let’s celebrate National Ag Day every day, every time we pick up a fork or spoon to enjoy something. Let’s think about some hard working farmer. He or she works so hard to provide that for us and for our families.”
2025 Ag Day Zippy Duvall remarks 18:442025 Ag Day Zippy Duvall interview 5:07
The student panel discussion for National Ag Day included:
Taylor Rogers, National Grange Youth Ambassador
Lance Williams, AFA advisor
Caroline Groth, FFA Eastern Region Vice President
Matias Habib, National 4H
Listen to their conversation here:
2025 Ag Day Student Panel Discussion 19:42
National Agriculture Day at USDA
It is officially National Agriculture Day in Washington D.C. and leaders across the industry are gathered to celebrate this morning at the USDA.
Deputy Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Brooke Appleton greeted attendees at the department Tuesday morning with the news that Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins would be making a big announcement.
“Secretary Rollins will be announcing that USDA is expediting up to 10 billion dollars in direct assistance payments through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program for the 2024 crop year,” said Appleton. “That means relief is coming and farmers will have the resources necessary to manage rising expenses and secure financing for next season. President Trump and Secretary Rollins have made it clear we are cutting through the red tape and getting these payments out the door as quickly as possible. Farmers and ranchers need certainty, and we’re making sure they have it so you can focus on what you do best, feeding, clothing and fueling America.”
2025 Ag Day - remarks from Brooke Appleton, USDA 5:52Animal Ag News 3/17
Industry Ag News 3/17
Pivot Bio Unveils PROVEN G3
Agtech leader Pivot Bio just launched a new product in its line of innovative ag solutions for growers in the U.S.
Pivot Bio PROVEN® G3 joins the company’s Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 nitrogen-fixing solution, which has been successfully used by growers on millions of acres to date. PROVEN G3, the company’s third-generation nitrogen solution for corn, will be commercially available in 2026, pending state registrations. Corn farmers had a chance to learn about the new product at the recent Commodity Classic in Denver.
“Built to enhance our industry-leading and proprietary gene-edited nitrogen-fixing technology, PROVEN G3 adds an exclusive microbe blend that increases nutrient uptake and nitrogen-use efficiency. PROVEN G3 consistently drives improved nitrogen production, seamlessly enhancing farmers’ current nitrogen programs and yield potential,” said Ryan Van Roekel, Ph.D., commercial agronomy leader for Pivot Bio.
“Pivot Bio realizes every farm presents unique challenges, including varying soil types, field conditions and nutrient-management approaches,” said Van Roekel. “PROVEN G3 was designed by some of the top scientists and agronomists working side by side with growers to adapt to these differences, allowing farmers to customize timing and placement to maximize efficiency, productivity and profitability across their diverse acres. As a weatherproof and most efficient source of nitrogen per pound, PROVEN G3 seamlessly integrates into current fertility programs.”
Listen to an interview with Ryan Van Roekel from Commodity Classic.
Classic 25 - Ryan Van Roekel, Pivot Bio 3:09
Ireland Ambassador Kicks Off Agri-Pulse Summit
Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason kicked off the annual Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit at the National Press Club this St. Patrick’s Day morning in Washington, D.C., welcoming all celebrating her country’s national holiday.
“As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we’re also reminded that the story of Irish and American agriculture is also entwined,” said Nason, who was in the Oval Office last week when Ireland’s premier Micheal Martin presented President Trump with a bowl of shamrock. She stressed the importance of trade relations between the two countries.
“Ireland remains committed to the principles of free trade, which have underpinned our economic success,” she said. “We believe that free trade brings economic opportunities, creates well-paid jobs, fosters innovation and builds economic resiliance. And that’s all done, as we see it, best with certainty and a degree of forward planning within the framework of a rules-based international trading system. And we will continue to work with our colleagues, certainly at the European level and with the government here in the United States, to advocate for fair and free trade for agricultural communities.”
Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason 13:14Join Agri-Pulse on St. Patrick’s Day
Agri-Pulse Founder Sara Wyant at 2024 Summit
Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason will kick off the event with a special St. Patrick’s Day greeting from an important trading partner for the U.S., as the theme of the summit this year focuses on “Navigating Taxes, Trade and Technology: What’s Ahead for Food & Agriculture?”
Registration is still available on-line for the in-person event on Monday, March 17, starting at 8:00 Eastern at the National Press Club, and there is also an option to attend virtually.
Learn more about what’s in store at the 2025 Ag & Food Policy Summit in this interview with Agri-Pulse Founder and Publisher Sara Wyant.
Agri-Pulse Policy Summit preview - Sara Wyant (12:24)
Zeldin Says EPA Will Revise WOTUS Rule
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin promised Wednesday that the definition of “Waters of the United States” will be revised “once and for all.”
“The previous Administration’s definition of ‘waters of the United States’ placed unfair burdens on the American people and drove up the cost of doing business,” said Zeldin during a press event Wednesday morning. “Given the U.S. Supreme Court’s watershed decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, it is time for EPA to finally address this issue once and for all in a way that provides American farmers, landowners, businesses, and states with clear and simplified direction.”
EPA will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure that a revised definition follows the law, reduces red-tape, cuts overall permitting costs, and lowers the cost of doing business in communities across the country while protecting the nation’s navigable waters from pollution. “It needs to be simple, it needs to be durable, totally consistent with Sackett, and built to withstand the test of time,” said Zeldin.
EPA will start its review by obtaining input from stakeholders, seeking targeted information on the key challenges that Americans are facing. The agency will also undertake a rulemaking process to revise the 2023 definition of WOTUS while at the same time provide guidance to those states implementing the pre-2015 definition to ensure consistency with the law of the land.
Zeldin was joined for the announcement by Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman (R-AR), Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Katie Britt (R-AL), Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), and American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall.
Listen to that press event below:
EPA to revise WOTUS definition 40:47
Precision Ag News 3/12