Agri-Pulse Kicks Off 2nd Great Tomato Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

2024 Great Tomato Challenge winner California Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer with Agri-Pulse Publisher Sara Wyant, Bayer tomato breeder Chad Jorgensen, Chef P.J. Mulvaney, and Bayer’s Jenny Maloney.

Agri-Pulse is kicking off its second “Great Tomato Challenge” today in Sacramento.

The competition is open to members of the California Senate and Assemblymembers and their staff members, who are picking up their tomato plants for the challenge today. The winner will be announced prior to the Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit in Sacramento on June 10.

Agri-Pulse will make a $1,000 donation to the winner’s choice of a California Food Bank, as well as a $500 donation to a California food bank in honor of the 2nd place winner.

“Thanks to Senator Melissa Hurtado’s leadership and our generous sponsors, we are offering a fun competition that educates participants about the challenges of growing delicious tomatoes in the Golden State while also helping those most in need of fresh, local food,” said Agri-Pulse Founder Sara Wyant.

The Great Tomato Challenge is made possible by a collaboration between Agri-Pulse and several sponsors who are involved with growing and processing fresh fruits and vegetables, including Vegetables by Bayer, Bonnie Plants, California Women for Agriculture, DiMare Fresh, and Morning Star.

The idea for the challenge came out of Wyant’s desire to inspire people to raise a tomato plant while learning something new about food production and helping those most in need of fresh, local food. In the early 1900’s, Sacramento was the heart of the state’s canning industry and nicknamed “The Big Tomato.” Tomatoes are grown in 20 California counties and growers produce an average of 50,800 tons, creating a big economic impact across the state.

“We can’t wait to see how the Vegetables by Bayer Seminis® brand Early Girl variety performs with the California State Assembly and Senate and staff,” noted Jenny Maloney, Global-Americas Strategic Accounts Manager at Bayer CropScience Vegetable Seeds.

Last year, California Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer was the winner of the first Great Tomato Challenge with a tomato plant his staff affectionately named Stanley.

Agri-Pulse, specialty crops

Industry Ag News 4/4

Carrie Muehling

  • Producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2025, up five percent from last year, according to the Prospective Plantings report released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Planted acreage intentions for corn are up or unchanged in 40 of the 48 estimating states. Acreage increases of 400,000 acres or more from last year are expected in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. If realized, the planted area of corn in Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, and South Dakota will be the largest on record. Soybean growers intend to plant 83.5 million acres in 2025, down four percent from last year. Acreage decreases from last year of 300,000 or more are expected in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Record high acreage is expected in New York and Ohio.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching agricultural trade promotion programs for 2025 and accepting applications for four export market development programs. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has opened funding opportunities for the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and Emerging Markets Program (EMP) that will help U.S. agricultural producers promote and sell their goods internationally. This action follows U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ Friday announcement detailing six international trade trips in the next six months to promote U.S. agricultural exports. The Secretary will visit Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation is proud to announce that CEO Thomas Vilsack will now also serve as Chair of the Council of Advisors, replacing Paul E. Schickler who has led both the Foundation’s Board of Directors and its Council of Advisors with dedication and vision. Ambassador Terry Branstad, former Foundation President and Iowa Governor, will transition to a member of the Board of Directors.
  • Every journalist has a story they’re proud of; that one article, photo, or broadcast that truly made an impact. Now, it’s time to share it with the world. The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Star Prize 2025 is your chance to have your work recognized among the best agricultural journalism worldwide. Whether you bring stories to life through words, images, or sound, this competition celebrates the passion, skill, and dedication that drive our industry. Deadline: June 15, 2025 – No late or incomplete entries will be accepted!
  • Looking for a fantastic opportunity to be right at the heart of communication? Join Cooperative Communicators Association at the 2025 CCA Institute for COMMUNICATIONS AT ITS PEAK held June 1-3, 2025, in Colorado Springs. The CCA Institute is a great platform for networking, learning and engaging with experts in the field.
  • The Livestock Publications Council has officially launched a refreshed logo and updated style guide. This update reflects LPC’s commitment to staying modern, authentic and attractive to current members and those they hope to recruit.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) announces a completely upgraded and redesigned website (nafb.com) to deliver the compelling story of ag radio and the association that serves members and the agriculture industry. Added features and a more modern navigation also provide members with an enhanced user experience and easier access to professional development tools and other resources.
  • As conversations around seed oils grow, U.S. soybean farmers can feel confident that their investment in the edible oils market is backed by strong, peer-reviewed science. Research continues to reaffirm the health benefits of seed oils, particularly soybean oil, emphasizing its value in the food industry and strengthening consumer trust in U.S. Soy. This Soy Foods Month, the United Soybean Board is highlighting the essential role of soybean oil in American diets. This product continues to benefit consumer health and drive profitability for U.S. farmers.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) announced that its CEO, Chandler Goule, will be stepping down from his position in July 2025.
  • Lesly Weber McNitt, a longtime leader in Washington agricultural and policy circles, started this week as vice president of public policy at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
  • Registration is now open for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference July 23-25, 2025 at Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. View the conference schedule and register here.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) board of directors has approved $764,189 in research project funding for the 2025-26 research budget year. This action was taken during the commission’s March board meeting. The research projects approved include 40 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Kennesaw State University, North Carolina State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Southern Peanut Growers to Meet in Panama City

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Peanut farmers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi will be heading back to Panama City Beach for the 26th Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference, July 23-25 at the Edgewater Beach Resort Conference Center with the theme “Riding Out the Storm.”

    The three-day event provides farmers with information about peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions. Visit the conference blog to see speaker and sponsor interviews as well as photos from past conferences. Watch the video below for a preview of the conference.

    Peanuts, SPGC, Video

    Precision Ag News 4/3

    Carrie Muehling

  • Join Conservation Technology Information Center, USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, and the American Seed Trade Association for the release of the eighth National Cover Crop Survey during a free webinar April 15, Noon Central Time.
  • Geoff Williams, associate professor, graduate program officer and longtime director of the AU-Bees Lab, is director of the new Auburn University Bee Center, effective Tuesday, April 1.
  • Funk Agriculture LLC, owned by Dan Funk, announces the formation of the Republic Regional Seed Network. Funk, son of legendary seedsman Don Funk, acquired Midwest Seed Genetics and NC+ from his family in 2023. Further investments and acquisitions now form Republic. Republic comprises NC+ in the West, Midwest Seed Genetics in the Central and Upper Corn Belt, and Crow’s in the East, and offers entrepreneurial growers and seed professionals the freedom to operate across an independent seed network, focused on elite, high-value products.
  • Proof of a new agricultural revolution was on full display during a recent agricultural technology field day in the Central Valley. Co-hosted by Emergent Connext and Cal.net, the event drew farmers from across one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions to demonstrate how they can glean real-time production data insights to boost efficiency in even their remotest fields, orchards, and vineyards.
  • With the growing season underway, the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council (ACRPC) is urging farmers to take action against aflatoxin contamination by applying AF36, a biological solution that reduces risks in crops, feed, and food production. Backed by over 25 years of research and field success, AF36 is an integral tool for improving soil health, food safety, and economic sustainability for farmers and dairy producers.
  • Terraform Tillage announced it has received a U.S. patent (U.S. Patent No. 12,216,096) for its SmartProbe System, a technology that helps measure and map yield-robbing soil compaction.
  • Agragene and Associates Insectary have announced a partnership to advance the delivery of Agragene’s first sterile insect technology, KNOCKOUT™ SWD to address fresh berry growers’ number one management issue and pest – Spotted Winged Drosophila. Associates Insectary will rear sterile male insects at their Santa Paula, California facility as part of this agreement and will leverage its expertise in high-volume insect production to support this innovative approach to pest management.

    • 

    AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    President Trump Targets Tariffs to Help Farmers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Announcing reciprocal tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners Wednesday, President Donald Trump stressed the importance of fairness in export markets for agriculture.

    “With today’s actions, we’re also standing up for our great farmers and ranchers who are brutalized by nations all over the world, brutalized,” said Trump, singling out countries such as Canada for its tariffs on dairy products, the European Union for barriers to U.S. poultry, Australia for beef, and Japan for rice. “When you look a little bit, it’s not a pretty picture, and we don’t like it and it’s not fair. It’s not fair to our farmers. It’s not fair to our country…And I say, why are we doing this? Why are we doing this? I mean, at what point do we say you’ve got to work for yourselves and you’ve got to, this is why we have the big deficits.”

    President Trump announces reciprocal tariffs - agriculture 3:15

    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane attended the president’s announcement at the White House. “For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world,” said Lane. “President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world and optimize opportunities for exports abroad.”

    Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president of trade and workforce policy at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), qualified their support for the President’s actions. “IDFA supports the Trump Administration’s efforts to hold trading partners accountable and expand market access for U.S. dairy. However, broad and prolonged tariffs on our top trading partners and growing markets will risk undermining our investments, raising costs for American businesses and consumers, and creating uncertainty for American dairy farmers and rural communities. We urge the administration to engage directly with dairy stakeholders and swiftly pursue resolutions with our trading partners that strengthen U.S. dairy’s global competitiveness.”

    President Trump announced a 10% tariff baseline and will impose an “individualized reciprocal higher tariff on the countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits” effective April 9.

    Audio, Beef, Dairy, Exports, NCBA, Trade

    Registration Open for 2025 Ag Media Summit

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Agricultural Media SummitRegistration opened today for the Agricultural Media Summit, July 27-30, 2025 in Rogers, AR. You can find it here.

    Got questions? Here are some FAQs for you. Stay at the Embassy Suite Northwest Arkansas Hotel, Spa & Convention Center.

    THE AGRICULTURAL MEDIA SUMMIT began in 1999, and is the largest gathering of the agriculture industry’s top writers, editors, photographers, publishers and strategic communicators in the U.S. Providing opportunities for professional development and industry networking, Ag Media Summit is brought to you by the Livestock Publications Council (LPC), the Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN), and the Connectiv Ag Media Council.

    Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, Agencies, Media

    Arizona Cotton Urges Use of AF36 Against Aflatoxin

    Cindy Zimmerman

    With the growing season underway, the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council (ACRPC) is urging farmers to take action against aflatoxin contamination by applying AF36, a biological solution backed by over 25 years of research and field success that reduces risks in crops, feed, and food production.

    ACRPC is launching a nationwide campaign highlighting AF36’s success and urgency during the critical pre-harvest period to further extend the reach of this vital information.

    ACRPC Director Mark Killian, former head of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, emphasized the significance of AF36 in protecting Arizona’s food supply and economy. “Aflatoxin contamination is a serious issue that affects not just individual farms but the entire supply chain,” said Killian. “AF36 is not just a solution, it’s a necessity for farmers looking to protect their crops, their herds, and their livelihoods”

    Crops most susceptible to aflatoxin include cotton, corn, figs, and tree nuts such as almonds and pistachios.

    Aflatoxin contamination is a persistent issue for growers and dairy producers, as it can severely impact feed quality, milk safety, and overall food supply integrity. Aflatoxin is a major concern for corn silage production, especially in hot, dry regions where contamination levels often exceed regulatory limits. Recent USDA research confirms that field-applied biocontrol strains, including AF36, effectively displace aflatoxin-producing fungi from soil to harvest and beyond, significantly reducing contamination risk in dairy feed. The study found that treated fields maintained aflatoxin levels below 10 ppb, reinforcing AF36’s value in long-term, area-wide aflatoxin management.

    Pistachio growers in Arizona—the nation’s second-largest producer—are particularly vulnerable during peak fungal growth periods between June and August. AF36 functions by introducing a non-toxic strain of Aspergillus flavus that naturally outcompetes harmful aflatoxin-producing fungi, reducing contamination levels in soil and crops.

    To learn more about AF36, contact the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council at 602-438-0059 or visit https://cotton.az.gov/af36-program.

    Biologicals, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, specialty crops

    Animal Ag News 4/1

    Carrie Muehling

  • As of Mar.1, there were 74.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down slightly from March 2024 and down one percent from Dec. 1, 2024, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • Genetic improvements within the U.S. dairy herd are fueling historic gains in key milk components needed to produce cheese, butter and a variety of other popular dairy foods. While U.S. fluid milk production has remained relatively flat in recent years, butterfat and protein levels within the nation’s milk supply are growing at a record pace as more producers are employing genetics to optimize milk composition. According to new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the historic pace of change in U.S. milk composition is poised to continue as genetic gains and market incentives will drive butterfat and protein production higher for the foreseeable future.
  • Downtown Nashville, Tennessee, will host CattleCon 2026, Feb. 3-5, 2026. The largest cattle industry event of the year will be held in the heart of Music City, home of honky-tonks, history and hearty food. Thousands of cattlemen and women will gather to learn, conduct business, network and enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors in the “songwriting capital of the world.”
  • Attend a Stockmanship & Stewardship event this year to experience premier cattle industry education. As technology changes and improves, these regional events will help you learn more about the latest stockmanship and biosecurity practices to help your farm or ranch stay safe and keep cattle healthy. Experts Ron Gill, Curt Pate and Dean Fish travel the country to provide live demonstrations on chute-side handling, horsemanship and cattle hauling.
  • Certified Angus Beef (CAB) is awarding $100,000 in scholarships through the 2025 Colvin Scholarship Fund to support students pursuing careers in food and agriculture. Applications are open through April 14 across three categories, with top winners receiving $7,500 and a trip to the CAB Annual Conference.
  • Meat sales hit a record high of $104.6 billion in 2024, pounds sold increased 2.3 percent compared to 2023, and consumers, on average, purchase meat more than once per week (Circana) – keeping meat the largest fresh department in grocery, according to the 20th annual Power of Meat report released at the Annual Meat Conference by the Meat Institute and FMI—The Food Industry Association.
  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting nominations for the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award through July 1. The purpose of the award, which has been presented since 2013, is to recognize outstanding completed research projects, funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation, that have had a transformative effect on the poultry industry. The nominee may be recognized for multiple completed USPOULTRY research projects, all focused on the same subject area. Nominations are open to universities and research institutions involved in poultry research, as well as to individuals within the research community, including USPOULTRY members, staff and sponsored committee members. Self-nominations are also allowed. While nominations should primarily highlight research projects finished within the last five years, projects completed above five years may still be considered if their significant impact has only recently come to light. Additional information about the award can be found here.
  • A campaign has been launched to establish an endowment fund for the Nelson A. Cox Graduate Student Scholarship in Poultry Food Safety in honor of the late Dr. Nelson Cox. The Nelson A. Cox Graduate Student Scholarship in Poultry Food Safety will support a graduate student every year so that Dr. Cox’s legacy in poultry food safety can continue to impact future generations. The logistics for this scholarship are being handled through the USPOULTRY Foundation.
  • The benefits of grazing management plans that are written or kept digitally are unparalleled for U.S. ranchers and include boosts to profitability, efficiency and resilience as well as aiding ranchers in efforts to protect the land, water and plants that cattle depend upon. U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef has set an ambitious target of 385 million acres managed under written grazing management plans by 2050.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Ag Secretary Visits Iowa

    Cindy Zimmerman

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited Iowa Monday, starting the day at an ethanol plant where she was joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

    Rollins also toured a hog farm, and met with soybean producers and agriculture leaders from across Iowa, before capping off the day by delivering the keynote speech at the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner.

    Rollins’ main announcement was that USDA will release obligated funding under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for 543 projects totaling $537 million in 29 states. The funding had been included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

    In a press availability at the Elite Octane ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa, Rollins addressed a number of issues including trade policy, the farm bill, and avian flu. Gov. Reynolds, Elite Octane CEO Nick Bowdish, Sen. Ernst, Rep. Nunn and Rep. Miller-Meeks also make comments in the press conference.

    USDA Sec. Rollins at Elite Octane 16:17

    Audio, Ethanol, USDA

    DWFI Podcast 42 – 15th Anniversary of DWFI

    Cindy Zimmerman

    This special episode of the Water for Food Podcast commemorates the 15th anniversary of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute by sharing the story of its origin. You can read the full historical account here.

    The 15th anniversary year will be highlighted by a celebration reception at the upcoming 2025 Water for Food Global Conference, held in Lincoln, Nebraska, April 28-May 2. Learn more at waterforfood.nebraska.edu.

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI podcast episode 42 6:53

    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, Food, Irrigation, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food