Animal Ag News 9/30

Carrie Muehling

  • Consumer demand for products like cheese, butter and yogurt that rely on protein and butterfat content continues to drive dairy sales growth in the U.S. and abroad. Over the past decade, milk delivered to U.S. dairy processing plants has become more nutrient-dense with higher levels of the two key components to meet rising demand. However, the pace of growth in butterfat content has far exceeded protein, which creates challenges for U.S. cheddar and American-style cheesemakers that rely on a more balanced ratio of the two. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, excessive butterfat levels can impact cheese quality. In the EU and New Zealand, the two largest dairy exporters, the protein-to-fat ratio has remained far steadier, averting the issues U.S. cheese makers are facing.
  • The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) began accepting nominations for the fifth Cohort of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders. NIAA will begin accepting applications and nominations on October 1 until January 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
  • As of Sept.1, there were 74.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down one percent from September 2024 but up one percent from June 1, 2025, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is set to begin data collection efforts for the quarterly Milk Production survey. The information collected in this survey allows NASS to accurately measure and report conditions and trends in the U.S. milk industry over the course of the year.
  • CattleCon 2026, the largest cattle industry event of the year, is heading to the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3-5. New for 2026: all registration options include access to Cattlemen’s College education sessions and demonstrations.
  • The dairy checkoff has introduced “Smart Swaps,” a dairy-focused initiative designed to help schools meet evolving nutrition standards and student expectations. The farmer-founded National Dairy Council (NDC) created Smart Swaps for school nutrition professionals to include dairy on breakfast menus and adapt to evolving meal standards. The program offers training resources along with kid approved breakfast recipes featuring dairy.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has opened registration for its annual Equipment Manufacturers Conference (EMC), to be held Nov. 5-7 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. This year’s theme is “Winning Strategies for Workforce Protection and Management.”
  • At the Public Lands Council (PLC) Annual Meeting, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced winners of the 2025 Rangeland Stewardship and Rangeland Innovation awards to recognize exemplary management and outstanding accomplishments in restoring and maintaining the health of public rangelands. The bureau will present the awards on Sept. 17, at a ceremony during PLC’s 57th Annual Meeting, held this year in Flagstaff, Ariz., and via Zoom from 12-1:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
  • The Meat Institute announced it has joined the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, expanding its access to food safety best practices and other efforts to prevent foodborne illness on behalf of meat and poultry companies. The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness is a nonprofit program of Stop Foodborne Illness. It brings together consumer advocates, leading companies, and like-minded organizations committed to the goal of preventing foodborne disease. The Alliance comprises 20+ members from around the globe working together to share best practices and advance food safety culture.
  • The National Pork Producers Council is accepting applications for the 2026 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship. Each year, ten $2,500 scholarships are awarded to college students preparing for careers in the pork industry and aspiring to become future industry leaders. The program is made possible through support from CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation. The application deadline for this year is December 12. Full eligibility and application requirements can be found here.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Prepare for National Nematode Day

    Cindy Zimmerman

    National Nematode Day is just a week away, named by the SCN Coalition to be October 6 this year, with the goal to increase soybean farmers’ awareness of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) – the No. 1 yield-grabbing pathogen of the soybean crop in North America.

    As part of the effort, Syngenta Seedcare and The SCN Coalition will be holding a webinar called Nematode U on October 9 at 1:00 pm Central time. The webinar will be a chance for soybean farmers to learn about key nematode yield threats and upcoming management tools, such as Victrado seed treatment, which is expected to receive registration this fall for the 2026 season.

    The webinar will feature:
    Dylan Mangel, Asst. Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Nebraska- Lincoln
    Dale Ireland, Ph.D, Syngenta Seedcare Technical Product Lead
    Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare Product Lead

    Jaeger was at the recent 2025 Farm Progress Show where she talked about the highly anticipated approval of Victrado, which protects soybeans against a number of threats.

    “We’re seeing a step change in performance against sudden death, which we know is the number two issue that our growers are facing. It will be the first federally labeled product for red crown rot. We’re also getting high efficacy on broad spectrum protection against nematodes. And then lastly, we are seeing some early season suppression of some key foliar diseases,” said Jaeger. Combining it with a base fungicide and insecticide like CruiserMaxx Apex will also combat early season insects.

    FPS25 Interview with Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare (3:37)

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Crop Protection, Farm Progress Show, Seed, Syngenta

    Sen. Marshall Pleased With Ag Input on MAHA Report

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse, and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) at Ag Outlook Forum

    Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) is pleased that the most recent Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report on the Strategy to Make Our Children Healthy Again included a lot more input from the agriculture sector.

    “I think the first rendition of MAHA was written without much input from agriculture,” said Sen. Marshall during the Ag Outlook Forum last week in Kansas City. “But between the first one and the second one, over 250 agriculture groups went to the White House and spoke with the people writing that – Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, who’s just been an incredible voice for agriculture – having more influence on what that second report was going to look like. And so it was an educational process of explaining, you know, the difference between organic farming versus regenerative farming and some of the great things that we are doing in agriculture as well.”

    During an on-stage conversation with Agri-Pulse Founder and Publisher Sara Wyant, Marshall also commented on trade deals, farm bill prospects, and the need for year-round E15. “Anyone that cares about agriculture, that should be the number one ask of the White House right now is to support a year-round E15 bill,” said Marshall. “And it’ll pass if the president just says go.”

    Sen. Roger Marshall at KC Ag Outlook Forum (34:05)

    Agri-Pulse, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farming, Food

    Industry Ag News 9/26

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is awarding $8.3 million in funding to help 11 U.S. recipients address trade barriers and expand international market access for U.S. specialty crops. The funding is provided through USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, which manages the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. TASC helps U.S. specialty crop producers combat trade barriers, as well as promote and sell their goods internationally.
  • FAPRI-MU has released a report entitled Impacts of Selected Agricultural Provisions of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. It is now available on https://fapri.missouri.edu.
  • The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is proud to announce Dr. David L. Ortega, Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at Michigan State University, as the recipient of the 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award (BCCA).
  • Mary Kay Thatcher, one of the nation’s foremost authorities on agricultural policy and advocacy, has joined Stratovation Group’s Board of Advisors. In her advisory role, Thatcher will provide strategic counsel through her unique public policy and grassroots advocacy lens. She continues to lead her own independent, professional consultancy business, advising organizations and clients navigating the intersection of agricultural policy, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Three people responsible for making major contributions to the past, present and future of American agriculture – former USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, pork industry innovator Wendell Murphy and antique tractor preservationist Michael Hinton – will be inducted into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame on Oct. 23 at the National Agricultural Center in Bonner Springs, Kansas.
  • Citing near-record production costs in a low-price environment, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently launched a task force to identify solutions to bring costs more in line with today’s commodity prices. Corn growers nationwide are in the third consecutive year of net negative returns, with 2026 projected to be the fourth year of negative returns.
  • Cross Plains Solutions and the United Soybean Board were on hand as SoyFoam™ was honored with the prestigious Green Chemistry Challenge Award for its ability to deliver high-performance firefighting power while reducing hazardous substances, conserving resources, and supporting a more sustainable, cost-effective future. Check out the video now!
  • The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is proud to share that Commissioner Amanda Beal has been elected by her peers to serve as the 2025–2026 President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), a role that underscores both her leadership and Maine’s growing voice in shaping the future of American agriculture.
  • The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) released The Harvest Economy, a new economic impact study highlighting the vital role the U.S. grain and feed industry plays in powering jobs, tax revenues, and economic growth across America.
  • A new report commissioned by the Corn Refiners Association shows changes in state food labeling laws could cost consumers billions of dollars and hit budget conscious consumers the hardest. According to the analysis, out-of-pocket expenses faced by consumers could increase by $2,200 per household in Texas and $900 per household in Louisiana.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    GreenLight Bio Launches RNA-Based Treatment for Varroa Mites

    Cindy Zimmerman

    GreenLight Biosciences is pleased to announce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) registration of NorroaTM, the first-ever nature-based treatment specifically designed to combat varroa mites, the leading threat to honey bee colonies.

    The registration comes at a time when data from the Honey Bee Health Coalition reveals staggering honey bee colony losses of 1.7 million colonies and commercial beekeepers sustaining an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and March 2025. USDA researchers have discovered this alarming trend is related to the declining efficacy of existing miticides as varroa mites have developed resistance to once reliable chemical treatments.

    “The EPA registration of Norroa marks a pivotal moment in protecting honey bee colonies that are essential to our food system,” said Andrey Zarur, Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Bio. “By harnessing the precision of our proprietary technologies, we’re providing beekeepers with an environmentally conscious solution that specifically and effectively targets one of the most devastating threats to honey bee health.”

    Norroa’s active ingredient, vadescana, leverages RNA interference (RNAi), a natural biological process that precisely targets varroa mites and ultimately stops their reproduction. It is part of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee‘s (IRAC) Group 35, offering beekeepers a brand-new mode of action in the fight against these mites. The nucleic acids in the product are found in nature, and vadescana breaks down quickly in the environment.

    Varroa mites can double their population every 30 days and have evolved resistance to many chemical treatments. Without significant intervention, experts warn of dire consequences for U.S. agriculture, which relies on honey bee pollination for more than 100 crops valued at an estimated $20 billion annually.

    Norroa will be available for sale exclusively through Mann Lake Ltd. and its authorized dealer network. Beekeepers and agricultural professionals can learn more at norroa.com.

    AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Bees, pollinators

    Ag Secretary at Ag Outlook Forum

    Cindy Zimmerman

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins headlined the 11th annual Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City this week, highlighting how the Trump Administration is taking action to address the crisis in American agriculture.

    Rollins outlined the administration’s five point plan to help farmers and ranchers. “Number one, prioritizing farmers by delivering relief. Eight weeks into my tenure as Secretary, we rolled out the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, the ECAP, which is helping farmers recover from the economic hardships of 2024….and today, I’m excited to announce that the remaining $2 billion of ECAP funding will be delivered within the week.”

    Rollins’ second point is working to drive down farmer input costs. “To that end, USDA and the Department of Justice signed a memorandum of understanding…to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by a high and volatile input costs, such as feed, fertilizer, fuels, seed equipment, and other essential goods, while ensuring competitive supply chains, lowering consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the food supply. The antitrust division of DOJ will work hand in hand with USDA, effective immediately, to take a hard look and scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.”

    The third point is expanding markets, including through new trade agreements. “The Philippines and South Korea, for the first time, opening their markets to our ag products. The EU, finally, amongst other things, agreeing to address restrictive non-tariff barriers on American pork and dairy. Indonesia, removing 99% of tariffs on American exports, including for all agricultural products. Japan, where I’ll be next week, agreed to increase U.S. rice imports by 75% and spend $8 billion in American agricultural products…And of course, reaching the deal with the UK where we were last week, committing some great ethanol business that will move into effect very quickly (and) better access for our American beef.”

    The fourth point is strengthening domestic demand and new uses for biofuels, and fifth, secure and protect U.S. farmland. In addition, Rollins gave an update on the New World Screwworm in Mexico and the cattle inventory issue. “We are developing a robust plan to revitalize and diversify the U.S. beef industry alongside our great partners in that industry,” said Rollins. “But to be clear, and there’s been a lot of speculation about this in the news in the last couple of days, we have no current plans to offer any payment to beef producers. We see how the government getting involved can completely distort the markets. And so currently there will be no plan, no plan is even under consideration to insert ourselves through payments into the beef cattle industry.”

    Listen to Rollins’ full comments at the event presented by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse here:
    USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins at KC Ag Outlook Forum (35:04)

    Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio

    ADM and Alltech Form Animal Feed Joint Venture

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Two global agribusiness leaders – ADM and Alltech – signed an agreement this week to launch a North American animal feed joint venture, bringing together their decades of experience to create new advantages for customers.

    Alltech will contribute its U.S.-based Hubbard Feeds and Canada-based Masterfeeds businesses, including 18 feed mills in the U.S and 15 in Canada, and ADM will contribute its 11 U.S. feed mills. The joint venture will be majority-owned by Alltech and governed by a board with equal representation from each parent company.

    “As the animal nutrition industry continues to reshape itself to support a growing global population, Alltech and ADM are bringing together passionate teams, proven products and shared values to ensure enhanced advantages for our customers,” the companies said in a joint statement. “We’re evolving with purpose to offer an industry-leading range of products and solutions for livestock, equine, backyard and leisure animals.”

    ADM and Alltech have a longstanding relationship, tracing back to ADM being Alltech’s first customer. The new venture will offer an opportunity to align their complementary North American feed strengths, including the expertise of their teams, extensive manufacturing capabilities, deep experience in nutrition science, and well-recognized and respected existing product portfolios. The venture will be supported and strengthened by the parent companies’ leading-edge technology and R&D, broad logistical capabilities, and connections across the broader ag and feed value chains.

    AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Animal Health, Feed

    Precision Ag News 9/23

    Carrie Muehling

  • Registration is now open for the 37th Independent Professional Seed Association Annual Conference set for January 12–14, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year’s theme, SHIFT, is all about moving perspectives, strategies, and innovations forward in the independent seed industry. Click here to register.
  • Corn growers will soon benefit from more accurate species data that helps guide EPA’s new pesticide strategies. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is working with experts to submit new “core maps” to the EPA that show where endangered species are actually found today, not everywhere they’ve ever been seen.
  • New Holland was a winner at the 2025 Agritechnica Innovation Awards, receiving two silver medals for its Corn Header Automation and ForageCam™ – both industry-first technologies. These awards recognize the most innovative industry solutions and will be given out this November at Agritechnica, the world’s leading agricultural trade fair in Hanover, Germany.
  • Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and Heritable Agriculture announced the signing of a collaboration to harness artificial intelligence (AI) technology to determine the best vegetable varieties to offer growers. Leveraging historical data on geographical conditions and crop trialing, Heritable will use AI-tools with Syngenta’s global product portfolio, with the goal of better predicting the best-performing commercial varieties in different regions to ensure growers have the best possible product offering from Syngenta.
  • Intelinair, a leading provider of AI-powered crop intelligence, announced that it has been named the winner of the 2025 IoT AgTech Advancement Award by IoThinkTank for its innovative AGMRI platform.
  • Now in its 43rd year, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is proud to welcome 12 new corporate members to our growing coalition of leading organizations and changemakers. They join CTIC’s coalition of 50+ member organizations, partners, and individuals who are working toward our shared mission to accelerate the adoption of conservation management practices across America’s farmlands.
  • At the Bio Innovations Midwest Event in Omaha, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced the winners of the Consider Corn Challenge V and the $300,000 prize pool. Three winners were chosen, each with a unique way to improve a product or process using corn to produce biobased materials.
  • Farmers put in long hours and endless dedication to feed and support their communities, and Shell Rotella is proud to spotlight these farmers with the fifth annual SuperTractors competition. Coinciding with National Farmer’s Day, the virtual event invites farmers across North America to share photos of their most impressive tractors for a chance to win prizes and recognition. Inspired by the long-running Shell Rotella SuperRigs® truck beauty contest, SuperTractors has become an exhilarating way to showcase the pride farmers take in their equipment and work. From September 15–25, farmers across North America can enter their unique farm equipment in the SuperTractors competition for a chance to win $250, 10,000 MyMilesMatter points, and a custom Shell Rotella-branded Carhartt jacket. To participate, farmers can submit a photo along with a brief explanation of why their tractor deserves to win at super-tractors.mymilesmatter.com/peopleschoice.
  • Keystone Cooperative, Inc. is proud to announce the full acquisition of the Whitesville Fertilizer Hub located in west-central Indiana. Previously operated as a joint venture between Keystone, its predecessors, and CHS Inc. for the past 14 years, this strategic move marks a significant milestone in Keystone’s commitment to enhancing service and value for its farmer-owners.
  • Biobest’s new portable mite and insect dispenser, the Entomatic™ Handheld, is engineered for precision, speed, and user comfort – offering growers an efficient new tool for targeted biological applications. Developed in partnership with Hortiworld, the Entomatic™ Handheld has been designed for use in confined or irregular growing environments. Its compact and ergonomic design makes it ideal for linear crops such as strawberries, greenhouses with narrow paths or rolling benches, ornamental nurseries with variable layouts, and small-scale operations ranging from high-tech facilities to low-tech systems.
  • John Deere will showcase its next generation of autonomous and precision ag technologies at FIRA USA 2025 October 21-23 in Woodland, California,. From orchard tractors to intelligent spray systems, John Deere is helping growers tackle labor challenges, reduce input costs and increase efficiency, all while improving productivity and profitability.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Intelinair Wins 2025 IoT AgTech Advancement Award

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AI-powered crop intelligence provider Intelinair has been named winner of the 2025 IoT AgTech Advancement Award by IoThinkTank for its innovative AGMRI platform. The award annually recognizes companies shaping the future of connected technologies that deliver measurable impact at the field level.

    “AGMRI is a category-defining, data-rich platform that clearly demonstrates how IoT and AI can drive better, faster, and more sustainable decisions in agriculture,” said Jordan Hayes, IoThinkTank Awards Coordinator. “Intelinair has delivered a solution that brings true operational clarity to the farm, and we’re proud to recognize them as the 2025 IoT AgTech Advancement Award winner.”

    AGMRI provides growers with field-level insights to make timely, informed decisions that protect yields and optimize resources. By integrating advanced IoT and AI technologies, the platform enhances efficiency and sustainability across farming operations.

    “This award underscores the impact AGMRI delivers in shaping on-farm decisions,” said Tim Hassinger, CEO of Intelinair. “By not only identifying issues but also revealing how factors like planting dates, hybrid selection, and input timing influence yield, our platform enables growers and ag retailers to fine-tune strategies and achieve stronger, more consistent results.”

    AgWired Precision, AI, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Animal Ag News 9/17

    Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire in calendar years 2023 and 2024. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits. Sign-up begins on Monday, September 15. Livestock producers have until October 31, 2025, to apply for assistance. A list of approved counties is available at fsa.usda.gov/elrp.
  • CattleCon 2026 registration, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, is open! Register early for best hotel selection with CattleCon’s housing blocks. Register here.
  • J. David Carlin, senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), recently announced his plans to retire at the end of 2025 following nearly four decades in leadership positions across the food and agriculture sector, including 11 years with IDFA. The association has begun a national search for Mr. Carlin’s successor to lead IDFA’s Government Relations team.
  • More than 100 pork producers from 20 states traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to call on Congress to deliver an urgent legislative fix to California’s Proposition 12, which is driving up costs for consumers, threatening small family farms, and disrupting interstate commerce. During their time on Capitol Hill, producers met with Members of Congress and staff to share firsthand accounts of how Prop. 12’s costly requirements are forcing sweeping changes across the pork supply chain. Producers emphasized that without federal action, family farms will be left behind, and pork prices could continue to rise. As part of the fly-in, the National Pork Producers Council rolled out a food truck on Capitol Hill, serving breakfast to lawmakers, staff, and media. Branded with the message “Breakfast is Essential. So is Fixing Prop 12,” the truck spotlighted how a patchwork of state laws, spurred by Prop. 12, threatens affordable access to everyday staples like bacon, ham and sausage.
  • The organizations within the Voice of Milk — Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Dairy Business Association and Minnesota Milk Producers Association — along with Farmers for Sustainable Food have embarked on a new strategic plan to provide more relevant, reliable and innovative programs and resources to their members and other stakeholders.
  • The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) and American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) are excited to welcome two new staff members who will support both organizations in their respective roles. Yuan-Tai Hung, Ph.D., joins the IFEEDER team as the senior manager of research, and Marisa Halbstein joins the communications team as the marketing and program development specialist.
  • The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have started the process to rescind the illegal, Biden-era “Public Lands” rule. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) challenged the rule in a 2024 lawsuit because it violated the multiple use mandate and would have paved the way for the federal government to remove family ranching operations and other uses from these working lands.
  • The International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) invites students from aroundnthe world to submit their original research for the 2026 Student Award of Excellence, a competition designed to showcase innovation and leadership in poultry welfare.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has opened applications for spring 2026 semester internships in the association’s Colorado headquarters and Washington, D.C. office. Internships are available for public policy, producer education and sustainability, and meetings and events. All internships run from January to May 2026 and are paid positions. Applications are due by October 6, 2025. For more information and to apply, please visit ncba.org and click on the careers tab.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites