Animal Ag News 4/8

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) a $2.99 million grant, using FY2025 funding appropriated by Congress, to expand SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) projects across 169 SNAP-authorized retail stores in nine states. The award includes 75 new HFMI locations in Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma, along with the renewal of 94 existing sites in Alabama, California, and South Dakota. By scaling this targeted SNAP incentive, USDA is equipping more retailers to help SNAP households purchase fluid milk—one of the most under-consumed, nutrient-dense foods identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans—while reinforcing the critical role dairy plays in improving diet quality and advancing public health. Since 2020, HFMI has expanded to more than 1,270 retail stores in 33 states. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) welcomed the announcement, highlighting HFMI as a proven approach to encouraging healthier food choices through the SNAP program.
  • USPOULTRY will hold its annual Poultry Processor Workshop on May 20-21 in Greenville, S.C. This year’s program will focus on leadership and operational excellence, along with a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service update and discussions on retained water and overall operational efficiencies, including preventive maintenance and the use of data analytics to enhance plant performance. The program will also address packaging considerations, including producer responsibility and sustainability.
  • The Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program is now accepting applications from poultry industry facilities that have demonstrated exceptional safety programs. This award program is open to members of the National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). Eligible facilities include poultry processing plants, further processing facilities, egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills, animal support services and rendering facilities. To qualify, applicants must have implemented innovative and effective safety programs as well as have maintained injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years. Award program rules, regulations and application forms can be accessed here. The application deadline is May 15.
  • Public lands ranchers joined Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as the secretaries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch their Grazing Action Plan. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) leaders and members then participated in a roundtable discussing cooperative work to address longstanding challenges for federal lands grazing permittees.
  • Zinpro Corporation, the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of high-performance organic trace minerals and animal nutrition solutions, announced the release of its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting meaningful progress across environmental stewardship, innovation, social impact and industry collaboration.
  • DairyKind, the UC Davis CLEAR Center and Alltech have collaborated to develop a pair of educational videos focused on clarifying what sustainability means within the cattle industry. The videos deliver the same core content, with one presented in English and the other in Spanish. This ensures greater accessibility and provides a valuable educational resource for Spanish-speaking audiences across the industry.
  • Applications are being accepted for college scholarships that are awarded by America’s dairy farmers and importers through the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB). Eleven scholarships worth $2,500 each will be awarded, in addition to a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding recipient. NDB funds, in part, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff program. Applications can be found at dairycheckoff.com/about-us/scholarship. Completed applications must be received no later than May 15 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
  • The National Pork Producers Council elected new officers and board members to lead the organization through the 2026-2027 term. These experienced leaders will guide NPPC’s advocacy efforts, advancing policies that support the growth, sustainability, and long-term resilience of the U.S. pork industry.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Industry Ag News 4/2

    Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Journal Foundation marked National Ag Day in Washington D.C. with a groundbreaking celebration at the Voice of the Farmer Garden exhibit, located at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s headquarters on the National Mall. The Voice of the Farmer Garden is a permanent learning exhibit that showcases the major crops grown in America and teaches visitors about agriculture’s contribution to U.S. food security, nutrition, economic growth, and more.
  • Reps. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) introduced H.R. 8137 the Biobased Materials Investment and Production Act to incentivize the production of biobased chemicals and materials, which will create new markets for American farmers.
  • The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is excited to announce the hiring of Madison Sifford as communications coordinator. In this role, Sifford will help advance the organization’s communications strategy and increase the visibility of state departments of agriculture’s work. She will develop digital and print communications, including managing NASDA’s social media platforms and website.
  • The AgCareers Agriculture and Food Roundtable Conference is coming to Champaign, Illinois, August 4–6, hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This three-day event brings together agriculture and food industry leaders, employers, educators, and recruitment professionals to connect, collaborate, and explore the latest trends shaping the future of industry talent.
  • Registration is now open for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference July 21-23, 2026 at Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. View the conference schedule and register online.
  • Join FAPRI at the 2026 Womack Missouri Agriculture Outlook Conference on April 8, 2026 at MU’s Bradford Research Farm in Columbia. Registration is FREE but required so we have enough food for attendees. Register now.
  • The California Antique Farm Equipment Show™ is returning to the International Agri-Center, with a weekend full of history and family-friendly entertainment. For more than 30 years, the event has celebrated antique farm equipment with fun for attendees of all ages.
  • The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has released its 2026 U.S. Public Policy Agenda, a comprehensive framework for advancing the fresh produce and floral industry’s priorities across six critical areas at a time of significant legislative and regulatory activity in Washington.
  • The International Agri-Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Lausten as Assistant General Manager. In this new role, Lausten will continue to lead the organization’s marketing efforts while taking on expanded leadership responsibilities across the organization.
  • Idea Ranch has been selected as agency of record for Nutrena, a trusted name in animal nutrition serving livestock, poultry, equine, pet, and lifestyle animal owners across North America. The partnership aligns Nutrena’s proven leadership in animal nutrition with Idea Ranch’s approach to smart strategy, strong creative, and results driven marketing. Idea Ranch will support Cargill® Animal Nutrition and Health across brand strategy, creative, paid and earned media, and performance focused execution across key species and retail channels.
  • The ARC Annual Meeting will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the TractorWorks building, home of Curious Plot. The former home of the Deere & Webber tractor factory has the perfect meeting space for ARC members. Save the dates and watch for more details on preferred hotels in the area and booking information. June 16 will be all-day education featuring a welcome from Thom Petersen, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture, and so much more. On June 17, the famous ag tour day will be held.
  • It’s time for the 2026 LPC awards contest! Find rules, fees, deadlines, entry instructions and other information HERE. All categories now include more specific descriptions, which can be found here.
  • A scientist who led a global food safety movement that prevented millions of cases of foodborne illness, dismantled barriers to trade and humanitarian aid, and reduced food loss and waste has been named the 2026 World Food Prize Laureate. Huub Lelieveld, a humanitarian and food safety expert from the Netherlands, has been recognized for marshaling a movement across 113 countries to deliver the scientific evidence for modern regulations, legislation and international standards that safeguard the world’s food supply. Through six decades of research, institution-building and tireless advocacy, he has united scientists, industry leaders and policymakers around a commitment to safe and nutritious food for all.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Precision Ag News 4/1

    Carrie Muehling

  • Case IH proudly represented American farmers at the White House, bringing an enduring symbol of the industry’s strength and legacy to the nation’s capital. Displayed on the South Lawn during a presidential “Celebration of Agriculture” event, the Case IH Heartland Magnum™ tractor stood as a tribute to the farmers who power American agriculture and to the generations of manufacturing expertise rooted in Racine, Wisconsin.
  • Agtools will partner with seasoned commodity risk management expert Tim Andriesen to unlock new opportunities in specialty crops agricultural commodities. Andriesen is a highly respected expert in commodity risk management, with an extensive career spanning over 40 years. He has held various leadership roles at prominent institutions, most recently, he ran CME Group’s agricultural commodities futures product line.
  • Innovation, profitability, and technology in conservation agriculture will take center stage during the 19th annual Conservation in Action Tour June 3-4 in and around Raleigh, N.C. The Conservation Technology Information Center’s flagship event brings farmers, agriculture professionals, and conservation leaders together for immersive learning and producer perspectives focused on systems that reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and remain productive and profitable.
  • Synsus Private Label Partners, LLC, an industry leader renowned for delivering end-to-end, custom-formulated solutions to agricultural, turf, and consumer lawn & garden brands and retailers globally, today announced the acquisition of Emerald Bioagriculture, a respected innovator in biostimulant technologies. This strategic move is set to expand Synsus’ diverse portfolio of technologies to drive the advancement of eco-friendly solutions for growers, turf managers, and homeowners worldwide.
  • Bushel Plus Ltd., a global leader in harvest optimization solutions, has been named the recipient of the New Technology Innovation Award at Canada’s Farm Show, one of the country’s premier agricultural events, held March 17-19, 2026, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Bushel Plus earned the award for its newly released X9 Split Frame MAD Concaves™, a state-of-the-art modular concave system for John Deere X9 Series Combines that reduces concave changeover time while improving grain quality and overall combine performance.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced the appointment of Mark Gee, genomic prediction and phenotyping engineer at Beck’s Hybrids, to the Foundation’s Council of Advisors, filling one of two seats reserved for early career professionals.
  • Stimera, the crop science company formerly known as BioAge, announced the appointment of Lon E. Kreger as Chief Executive Officer. The leadership transition marks an important step in the company’s evolution as it moves from product validation and early market traction toward broader commercial scale.
  • With a new direct-to-retailer distribution model, Performance Nutrition is pleased to announce the addition of Lance Eipperle as Midwest Ag Territory Manager.
  • BinSentry, the global leader in AI-powered feed inventory management, today announced the launch of Control Tower, a real-time software platform designed specifically for feed mills and grain elevators.
  • Bayer Crop Science has joined the efforts to modernize AGDISP, the pesticide spray drift model developed by the U.S. Forest Service in the 1980s. AGDISP is used by EPA and other global regulators and stakeholders to evaluate a variety of potential spray drift conditions and off-site deposition from liquid pesticide applications to determine application method and application parameters on a pesticide’s label. The modernization will seek to update AGDISP with current computing technologies and enable incorporating current and emerging environmental stewardship technologies and precision‑agriculture practices into the EPA’s pesticide registration regulatory process.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    NAMA 2026 Next Gen Awards Winners

    Chuck Zimmerman

    National Agri-Marketing AssociationThe National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is proud to announce the recipients of the Next Gen Awards, recognizing emerging leaders who are shaping the future of agricultural marketing.

    The Next Gen NAMA Award was created to celebrate rising professionals who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and leadership within their organizations and across the industry. Honorees are nominated by their companies or through chapter and national leadership. The awards will be presented at the 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference, April 15-17 in St. Louis.

    Ann HorackAnn Horack
    Marketing Communications Lead, Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health
    Ann Horack has built a dynamic career spanning agency, cooperative, and corporate roles within agriculture. With deep roots in farming and expertise across both row crop and dairy sectors, she brings a strategic, insight-driven approach to marketing. She led the launch of Cargill’s dairy consulting brand campaign, “The Originals,” a research-based initiative that has already earned Regional Best of NAMA recognition. Known for her collaborative leadership, Ann aligns cross-functional teams across the U.S. and Canada while mentoring emerging professionals and contributing actively to NAMA initiatives.

    Andrew LevensonAndrew Levenson
    Vice President & Managing Director, Root+Beta
    Andrew Levenson has played a pivotal role in Root+Beta’s growth, rising quickly to lead a team of nearly 40 employees. His entrepreneurial mindset and strategic leadership have driven a 100% client retention rate and expanded the agency’s capabilities through innovations such as CRM platforms, marketing automation, and advanced digital tools. A strong advocate for collaboration, Andrew fosters team development and industry engagement, serving on the MidSouth NAMA board and helping grow membership and participation.

    Ryan SiegelRyan Siegel
    Marketing Communications Manager, Missouri Soybean
    Ryan Siegel has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation during his tenure with Missouri Soybeans, earning two promotions in four years. He transformed the Missouri Soybean Farmer magazine into a leading communications platform and drove a 300% increase in social media engagement. Ryan has also modernized digital communications through CRM integration and data-driven strategies. A dependable leader, he mentors team members and actively contributes to NAMA as an awards judge and collegiate competition supporter.

    NAMA

    Animal Ag News 3/30

    Carrie Muehling

  • As of March 1, there were 74.3 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, up slightly from March 2025 but down 1% from Dec. 1, 2025, according to the latest Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Breeding inventory, at 5.89 million head, was down 1 percent from last year, and down slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 68.4 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, but down 2 percent from last quarter.
  • American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on USDA’s decision to delay the effective date of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule until Dec. 31, 2027. “Farm Bureau has been a consistent voice advocating for America’s contract poultry growers. The Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule would address longstanding issues our growers have seen with tournament pay and requirements to make significant capital investments to their operations without any information or guarantee that they will recoup the cost of that investment. The decision by the administration to tell contract poultry growers to take a back seat by delaying the effective date by a year and a half is disappointing.”
  • The dairy checkoff’s new online tool is designed to help dairy farmers and their advisors more easily identify grants and funding opportunities for conservation and on-farm improvements. The Funding Opportunities Database, available through the Dairy Conservation Navigator, organizes federal, state and private funding programs into a single searchable platform tailored to dairy operations.
  • Envu® announced the introduction of Marshal™ Imazapic herbicide, a new product in their growing Range & Pasture portfolio. Marshal Imazapic, featuring the active ingredient Imazapic, targets invasive annual grasses which are largely prominent in the Western U.S. Tank-mixing Marshal Imazapic with existing Envu herbicide Rejuvra® gives ranchers and land owners a more flexible application window.
  • Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative will once again offer $10,000 in secondary education scholarships to its membership, the cooperative announced today. Edge is proud to award the children of its members who exemplify the voice of milk through their education, career aspirations and future goals. Applications are now being accepted and will remain open until April 17. Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to current students pursuing a degree in a four—or two-year program, and three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors. The application portal will remain open until April 17, and applications must be submitted by that date.
  • New research at Kansas State University aims to tackle one of the most significant threats to global animal health and food security — highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI — by using mealworms, a supplement of poultry feed, as a vaccine-delivery method. A multidisciplinary research team from the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Entomology is developing the unique vaccination strategy to help protect the nation’s poultry supply, where the disease moves with devastating speed.
  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting nominations through July 1 for the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award, which recognizes outstanding completed research projects funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation that have had a transformative impact on the poultry industry.
  • The National Pork Board (NPB) adjourned the National Pork Industry Forum (Forum) last week, where industry leaders passed two producer-developed advisements related to pork quality and swine health. Pork Act delegates also endorsed the Checkoff assessment rate, determined the return-to-state percentage and recommended board members to the U.S. secretary of agriculture for appointment. NPB President Gordon Spronk and CEO David Newman reinforced the industry’s commitment to the three-year strategic plan, which outlines three priorities.
  • The Stockmanship & Stewardship events are the perfect place to build upon your cattle handling and chute-side skills. You’ll have the chance to network with producers in your area, ask questions of experts like Curt Pate, Dr. Ron Gill and Dean Fish, and hear industry updates on policies and animal diseases that could affect your herd. Each event is unique, and each one offers the chance to learn more about the Beef Quality Assurance program.
  • In 2023, Americans ate 19.1 pounds of seafood per capita, with Salmon and Alaska Pollock showing an uptick in consumption. While that growth stands out in a list that illustrates a 1.7-pound decline from the previous year, experts say the drop is due, in large part, to the National Marine Fisheries Service’s use of more complete data to adjust the previously reported 2022 per capita consumption from 19.7 to 20.8 pounds.
  • Leaders and members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) joined a White House event Friday celebrating the Working Families Tax Cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. NCBA played a key role in advancing this legislation, advocating for its passage and building on years of effort to expand the estate tax exemption, also known as the Death Tax, to help preserve family-owned cattle operations.

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    AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health

    White House Celebrates Farmers and Ranchers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Hundreds of farmers and ranchers representing various regions and commodities joined President Donald Trump on the south lawn of the White House Friday to hear him make several announcements related to agriculture, including addressing Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system complaints, and finalizing historically high Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations.

    With a gold tractor on one side and a red, white and blue tractor on the other, Trump announced EPA was removing the DEF sensor requirement for all diesel equipment. “We had a ridiculous Washington restriction called the diesel exhaust fluid requirement… It was a basic disaster,” said Trump. “Today, we’re announcing new guidelines drastically limiting these ridiculous DEF rules, saving farmers and consumers billions and billions of dollars.”

    EPA’s new guidance, which removes DEF sensors, will provide immediate relief and save billions of dollars in repairs and lost productivity. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this guidance will save farmers $4.4 billion a year and this action will provide $13.79 billion a year of savings to Americans.

    “I’m also announcing a dramatic update to the Renewable fuel standards for 2026 and 2027,” said President Trump. “We will now be requiring the highest volumes of renewable fuels in history. These new standards will generate over $10 billion of rural economic benefit, create an estimated 100,000 new jobs, and massively increase our nation’s energy supply. It’ll come right out of the farms.”

    EPA is also finalizing a 70 percent partial reallocation of the 2023–2025 exempted Renewable Volume Obligations for the 2026 and 2027 compliance years. This approach will balance a number of factors that come into play when considering volume requirements and the impacts of SREs, including protecting biofuel demand while maintaining a stable and functioning credit market.

    EPA is announcing that starting in 2028, foreign fuels and feedstocks will receive half the RFS compliance value compared to American-made products, providing American biofuel producers with time to prepare for the change while ensuring that American farmers benefit from the RFS program and American energy independence.

    Listen to all of Trump’s comments to farmers and ranchers here:
    President Trump speaks to farmers at White House 35:47

    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, EPA, Equipment, Ethanol, Technology, Tractor

    Student Panel at National Ag Day 2026

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Ag Day Student Panel DiscussionA diverse group of students participated in a panel at the National Ag Day Activities. Here’s who participated:

    Moderated by Dr. Jaye Hamby, NIFA

    Students:

    • AFA
      Chloe Ecord
    • FFA
      Chloe Zittergruen
    • 4-H
      Karli Abbott
    • MANRRS
      Ruth Fennell
    • Tribal Agriculture Fellowship
      Sydney Ivey

    Listen in to the discussion here:
    Student Panel Discussion (32:14)

    Ag Day, Audio

    Trump Promises Farmer Announcements Today

    Cindy Zimmerman

    During a cabinet meeting Thursday, President Donald Trump talked about the White House gathering later today of farmers and ranchers from across the country.  

    “So tomorrow we will be announcing a variety of actions that we’re taking to support American farmers, who we never forget,” Trump said.

    “We love the farmers. We gave them $12 billion out of tariff money. We had a tremendous amount of tariff money come in and we continue to have… because the tariff money has been so substantial, we gave our farmers who have been mistreated by some countries, we gave them $12 billion and they’re extremely happy. And they deserve it. They’ve been great. They never complain. They just go out and they farm and they wouldn’t do anything different…I like their job better, actually. I love the farmers.”

    Very few details have been revealed about the gathering today. The White House schedule has President Trump delivering remarks to farmers at 12:30 pm and departing from the White House at 12:45 to fly to Miami.

    The event is billed as a “celebration of agriculture” on the White House South Lawn, with hundreds of invited farmers and ranchers representing various regions and commodities. South Dakota rancher and ag advocate Amanda Radke is one who posted about attending the event, describing it as an honor to join President Trump and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins while bringing “a little bit of cowboy culture” and messages from farm and ranch country. She plans to report from the event.

    President Trump on farmers 2:31

    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio

    Survey Reveals Cotton Farmer Concerns

    Cindy Zimmerman

    U.S. farmer competitiveness in the global marketplace, the cost-price squeeze of inputs and commodity prices, and market consolidation and corporate power, are top concerns of farmers responding to a survey conducted by the Southern Cotton Ginners Association at the recent Mid-South Farm & Gin Show.

    The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show created a forum for producers and industry representatives to come together around the concerns identified in the survey. A panel of ag lenders, seed, crop protection, and marketing specialists outlined ways they are working with producers and ginner. Featured speakers also highlighted efforts that can help address some of the issues facing farmers.

    “Farmers are usually optimistic in the spring with planting, but we’re seeing cautious pessimism about the future,” said Tim Price, Southern Cotton Ginners Association Executive Vice President and Mid-South Farm & Gin Show manager. “In the survey, expert presentations and in conversations throughout the event, people pointed to the need for improved competitiveness in a dynamic global market.”

    Among key findings in the survey:
    – More than half of respondents (52.1%) expect to be worse or much worse off over the next two years and only 9.0% expect improvement.
    – More than 75 percent responded that U.S. agriculture has declined in competitiveness over the past 5 years. Multiple respondents cited – More than 80 percent of respondents identified commodity prices as a top concern, and 60.1% flagged input costs creating an unprecedented margin squeeze.
    – A major recurring theme was the concentration of market power among agricultural input suppliers.
    – A quarter of respondents identified land going out of production as a top concern.

    Other concerns: global trade challenges – 39%; legislation/regulatory policy – 29%; farm labor shortages – 29%; stress and mental health – 20%, which is especially notable given the farming culture; and succession planning – 19%. An executive summary is posted on the Southern Cotton Ginners Association website.

    Cotton, Farm & Gin Show, Farming

    Outstanding Young Farmer During National Ag Day

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Brody StapelDuring the 2026 National Ag Day activities we got to listen to the Outstanding Young Farmer, Brody Stapel, Stapel Farm. This program is managed by the Outstanding Farmers of America. Brody did a speech about his farm and what it means to him and his family. You can listen to the full speech below.

    I’m honored to be here representing the outstanding Farmers of America, as well as the dairymen of Wisconsin and my family, who is also here at home in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, I have the privilege of working side by side with my dad and my brother every day, as well as my my children.

    I’m optimistic about agriculture’s future, especially after connecting with fellow young farmers through Future Farmers of America. This next generation is thoughtful, innovative, and committed to soil health, efficiency, and direct-to-consumer models. As we celebrate 250 years of agricultural progress, we honor past generations while carrying forward our shared responsibility. Agriculture is about all of us—farmers, partners, researchers, educators, and families—working together to feed people, build trust, and leave something better behind.

    Brody Stapel Speech (5:27)

    Ag Day, Audio, Farming