Syngenta Cropwise AI

Carrie Muehling

Those attending the 2025 Farm Progress Show had the opportunity to learn more about Cropwise AI from Syngenta.

“It’s like putting a Rolodex of agronomic information about our products right in the palm of their hands,” said Justin Welch, head of agronomy for Syngenta Seeds.

The uniqueness is around predictive product placement that will help service providers to recommend products that will best serve their customers. This technology helps protect the performance of products with real time answers to questions that will arise throughout the course of the growing season.

“This is an integrative farm management technology platform that offers tools and services that enable you and your advisors to optimize your operation. You’re going to boost efficiency across the operation. It’s going to help you track field observations and react to economic challenges, but really it’s more than that,” said Kirt Durand, Syngenta North American Digital R&D Manager. “Cropwise is designed to allow you to make timely management decisions across your operation.”

Durand said there are well established tools already available to growers, but the effort will be ongoing as Syngenta enhances and further develops Cropwise AI.

Syngenta Seeds Agronomy Head Justin Welch – Cropwise AI
FPS25 Interview with Justin Welch, Syngenta Seeds (4:36)

Syngenta North American Digital R&D Manager Kirt Durand – Cropwise AI
FPS25 Interview with Kirt Durand, Syngenta (4:13)

AgWired Precision, AI, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta

Industry Ag News 9/16

Carrie Muehling

  • Corn production is up, while soybean and cotton production is down from 2024, according to the Crop Production report issued by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Corn production is up 13 percent from last year, forecast at 16.8 billion bushels; soybean growers are expected to decrease their production 2 percent from 2024, forecast at 4.30 billion bushels; cotton production is down 8 percent from 2024 at 13.2 million 480-pound bales.
  • More than 260 agriculture organizations, representing constituencies in all fifty states and Puerto Rico, signed a letter urging Congress to further support America’s farmers and ranchers through the passage of a Farm Bill 2.0.
  • Kim Chipman, an award-winning journalist with more than two decades of experience covering markets, companies, policy and politics with Bloomberg News, is joining Agri-Pulse as congressional editor.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) welcomes Brandon Pachman as the organization’s new Director, Government Affairs. Pachman joins ASTA from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, where he served as a Legislative Analyst.
  • National Farmers Union (NFU) concluded its annual Legislative Fly-In, which brought more than 250 family farmers and ranchers to Washington to meet with members of Congress and demand quick, decisive action to reverse the crisis in farm country.
  • Farm Credit Bank of Texas, a cooperatively owned wholesale bank for agricultural and rural financing, announced that chief executive officer, Amie Pala, has decided to retire after 38 years of dedicated service to the bank. Pala has agreed to remain in her role as chief executive officer as long as necessary to ensure a smooth and effective transition to her successor.
  • Join Colson Steber, Co-CEO of Ag Access, as he shares groundbreaking insights into the power of emotional intelligence in food marketing. The National Agri-Marketing Association webinar is called Shaping Tomorrow’s Plate: Driving Market Leadership with Emotional Intelligence Research in Food Marketing and it is scheduled for September 25, 2025 11 a.m. central. Register here.
  • Keystone Cooperative announced that Kevin Still has informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026. The Board has initiated the search for the next CEO and will consider highly qualified candidates from both within and outside the organization. Until a successor is appointed, Mr. Still will continue to lead Keystone, overseeing its strategic direction, profitability, and growth. Once a successor is named, Mr. Still will work closely with the new CEO to ensure a smooth and effective leadership transition.
  • Denali, the nation’s leading recycler of organics, announced that it collected and transformed organic materials into 12 billion pounds of high-quality agriculture-grade products, which helped build resilience for American agriculture, supporting healthy soils, nourishing livestock, and reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers, according to its 2024 Sustainability Report.
  • From its roots in China to commercial fame in New Zealand, kiwifruit has landed in Clanton, Ala. where researchers are now digging into its potential as a specialty crop. Kiwifruit is a high-value specialty crop with great potential to work for Alabama commercial fruit producers or even small-scale cultivation. Jay Spiers, Auburn University associate professor in horticulture leads the project and has high hopes for the future of kiwifruit production in the state.
  • Sixteen farmers were recently recognized by the University of Georgia Peanut Team for their high yielding peanuts in 2024. The high yields ranged from 4,145 to 6,095 pounds per acre. The winners were recognized at a dinner in August which was sponsored by the University of Georgia Peanut Team, the Georgia Peanut Commission, American Peanut Shellers Association, National Peanut Buying Points Association, AMVAC, Bayer, BASF, Fine Americas and Nichino America.
  • Illinois Agri-Women has established the “Generations of Women in Agriculture Across America” event and awards. This nationwide initiative will honor three families involved in production agriculture and the agriculture industry for three or more generations. Monetary awards of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 have been established to recognize the remarkable family legacy of the best three families respectively based on their application scores.
  • Prominent national leaders in food and agriculture, including Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, will speak at the 11th Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City Sept. 24-25. In addition, we’ve invited Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas to discuss the Make America Healthy Again movement.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Cotton Council Promotes Plant Not Plastic for Clothing

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The National Cotton Council (NCC) has just kicked off a new campaign called “Plant Not Plastic” Campaign in an effort to educate consumers on how to choose natural fibers in their clothing to reduce microplastic pollution and its potential health implications.

    NCC Vice President of Council Operations Marjory Walker says a survey conducted for the Council revealed that consumers are largely unaware of microplastic pollution, particularly in their clothing. “Our research clearly indicates that while consumers are concerned about microplastic pollution, they are largely unaware of the significant role their clothing can play in this issue, and crucially, they don’t know what specific actions to take,” says Walked. “The survey revealed that ‘lack of clear information/guidance’ (34%) and being ‘unsure what specific actions to take’ (32%) are the biggest barriers preventing consumers from taking more action.”

    Recent studies have found that microplastics have been detected in critical organs, including the brain, kidneys, lungs, and uterus, and that people inhale or ingest on average 74,000 to 121,000 microplastic particles per year. Some research suggests individuals can accumulate up to 130 microplastics per day in their lungs from inhalation.

    “When consumers realize that the tiny plastic fibers shedding from their clothes can end up in the food they eat, the water they drink, and even within their own organs, the issue becomes incredibly personal,” Walker added. “This direct health dimension is a powerful motivator, but it also amplifies the need for clear, actionable solutions that empower individuals to protect themselves and their families.”

    Walker says the “Plant Not Plastic” campaign will enhance consumer knowledge of microplastic and empower them to choose clothing made from natural fibers like cotton as an easy, effective way to reduce microplastic pollution and its potential health impacts.

    Learn more about the new campaign in this interview.
    Marjory Walker, National Cotton Council (7:12)

    Audio, Cotton

    Precision Ag News 9/12

    Carrie Muehling

  • As the agricultural industry continues to navigate complex market fluctuations and shifting weather patterns, Agtools is proud to announce its latest innovation: Crop Shoulder Insights. This cutting-edge technology harnesses the power of real-time data analysis to provide market stakeholders with unparalleled accuracy and precision.
  • The Yield Lab Institute announced the launch of a new platform called H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech, the next generation of a proven incubator that will further accelerate technical resources and funding for the global agtech startup community. H.A.R.V.E.S.T. (Harnessing Agricultural Research and Venture Ecosystems for Sustainable Technology) builds on the strong foundation of the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator’s (IN2) agtech track. IN2 is funded by Wells Fargo & Company and co-administered by NREL, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory.
  • Four start-up companies offering agricultural innovations have advanced to compete for a top prize of $100,000 in the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues to elevate the importance of entrepreneurship in agriculture through the contest.
  • Nutrien Ag Solutions celebrated the completion of its new infrastructure project at its Tipton, Indiana, retail facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 9, 2025. The Tipton location is one of many Nutrien Ag Solutions retail facilities across North America included in the company’s capital improvement initiative, designed to modernize operations and enhance service in regions experiencing rapid agricultural growth.
  • T-L Irrigation Co. takes their commitment to continuous movement and convenience in irrigation to the next level with the new Auto-Reverse Hose Drag Linear System for single-tractor, 4-wheel T-L Irrigation units. The sturdy upgrade fully automates a labor-intensive and time-consuming linear irrigation task—reversing direction at the end of the field. Available on new units or as a retrofit kit, the design positions the hose on the side of the linear tractor at a slight angle. At the end of the field, a rotating mechanism forces the hose to push away from the tractor, creating a loop that clears the path for the tractor to reverse direction.
  • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), in collaboration with the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, CropLife America and National Corn Growers Association, announced the release of an updated study highlighting the wide-ranging benefits of precision agriculture across the United States. The new report, The Benefits of Precision Ag in the United States, published on AEM’s Insights page, underscores how technology adoption on farms is improving yields, reducing inputs, and strengthening the resiliency of America’s food supply chain. The updated analysis expands on AEM’s landmark 2020 study and provides quantifiable evidence of how farmers using precision ag technologies are achieving significant gains in productivity, input efficiency, and environmental stewardship.
  • Seitec Genetics, an independent seed company dedicated to delivering rare and uncompromising value to farmers, is pleased to announce that long-time Nebraska seed professional Brian Kopecky has joined the company’s management team. Kopecky, who will be based in the Seitec Genetics headquarters in Fremont, Nebraska, was at the 2025 Husker Harvest Days farm show; to meet with farmers and bring his deep seed industry and Nebraska farming expertise to bear to as they plan for a successful 2026 season.
  • The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is proud to announce the launch of the Conservation Connector, available now at Connector.ag. This innovative online platform is the first and only tool that allows farmers, ranchers, and farm advisers to easily evaluate conservation incentive programs and connect with technical support in one place.
  • The Sustainable Agriculture Summit is where the entire value chain comes together—from producers to retailers, innovators to NGOs, manufacturers to researchers, and everyone in between—to tackle the future of ag sustainability. Don’t miss your chance to join us November 19-20 in Anaheim, California, to learn from world-class experts and fellow attendees as you explore new ideas and approaches to advance shared action toward a more sustainable and resilient U.S. food system.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    ACN Selects Corner Window Communications

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Agricultural Communicators NetworkKristin Harner will be Corner Window’s team lead on ACN.

    The Ag Communicators Network has selected Corner Window Communications of New Prague, Minnesota, as its management group. The Board made the decision in August, following a round of interviews at the Ag Media Summit.

    “As we looked at our organization’s mission to provide superior professional development and member services, plus cultivate new members and grow our sponsorship network, it was clear that Corner Window Communications checked all those boxes,” says Pam Caraway, ACN past president.

    Corner Window CommunicationsCorner Window is led by owner Kristy Mach, a veteran in the association management profession. For her, ACN is a familiar entity; she worked at Gardner and Gardner Communications, the ACN management team nearly two decades ago. Mach has also worked in television news, marketing and public relations.

    “It’s a bit like coming home,” Mach says.

    Corner Window has eight clients, including the Agricultural Relations Council, with a team of nine staff members to support those clients.

    “We have an amazing team, and we are really excited to come back to ACN,” Mach adds.

    ACN, Media

    Syngenta Farm and Trade Policy Watch

    Carrie Muehling

    Syngenta’s Head of Public Affairs said the company continues to invest billions of dollars each year into new tools for farmers to make them more competitive in the global marketplace.

    “These are challenging times for American farmers now,” said Val Dolcini. “Prices are not great. Yields are going to be pretty big this fall, so I think that combination is going to make for some significant economic challenges for farmers. There are also trade issues, too, to be considered. There is a lot going on and what Syngenta is all about is helping farmers grow safe and plentiful food. That’s really our mission, and the work that we do on innovation issues really helps American farmers become more competitive.”

    Dolcini said a Farm Bill is not likely this year, but shared that the reconciliation package that recently passed contained about $66 billion worth of farm spending over the next decade, a lot of which would have been in the Farm Bill. He said that will help to give farmers some of the certainty they typically gain from a Farm Bill. However, he recognized plenty of challenges remain for farmers.

    “We need to expand the toolbox for American farmers these days, and whether it’s biofuels or other uses of commodity crops, that’s a way to go to make operations pencil out and at the end of the day be as economically sustainable in many ways as they are environmentally sustainable,” he said.

    Dolcini said there are lots of examples of innovations Syngenta is working to bring to American farmers, some of which were on display at the 2025 Farm Progress Show.

    Syngenta Head of Public Affairs Val Dolcini – farm and trade policy
    FPS25 Interview with Val Dolcini, Syngenta US (6:42)

    Audio, Farm Policy, Farm Progress Show, Syngenta

    2025 NAFB Convention Registration in Progress

    Chuck Zimmerman

    2025 NAFB LogoThe NAFB Convention is the place to be in November! Have you registered yet? Early Bird registration closes on Sept. 30.

    Convention planners are adding some great professional development and education sessions to the program that you won’t want to miss.

    Here is a preview:

    • Artificial Intelligence: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
    • Women in Agribusiness
    • Professional Coaching
    • “Hey! Whatcha Got There!”
    • Young Professionals Training: “Rooted & Resonate”

    You can find the tentative agenda here. And here is where you go to make hotel reservations.

    Don’t miss this annual event that brings together hundreds of farm broadcasters, ag media management & sales, allied industry, ag students and other industry influencers for three days of educational events, networking and collaborating on common issues and trends facing our industry.

    From Trade Talk, professional development and Newsmaker sessions to the NAFB Hall of Fame, Foundation auction and networking with hundreds of ag professionals – it’s all in Kansas City on November 19 – 21!

    Media, NAFB

    Yield Lab Institute Launches H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Yield Lab Institute (YLI) in St. Louis today announced the launch of H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech, the next generation of a proven incubator that will further accelerate technical resources and funding for the global agtech startup community.

    H.A.R.V.E.S.T. (Harnessing Agricultural Research and Venture Ecosystems for Sustainable Technology) builds on the strong foundation of the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator’s (IN2) agtech track. IN2 is funded by Wells Fargo & Company and co-administered by NREL, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory. Since 2014, IN2 has supported 77 startups working across the built environment, agtech, and infrastructure sectors. To date, the 26 agtech companies have raised nearly $290 million in follow-on funding, and five have exited via acquisition or merger. These companies worked with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to validate and de-risk their technologies.

    With today’s announcement at a joint event in Denver, Colorado, YLI is joining IN2 to carry the agtech programming into its next chapter. By continuing the shared mission of empowering the global agriculture startup community through research collaborations, field testing, and direct funding opportunities, promising innovations can reach the market faster. H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech will be administered by YLI in St. Louis, Missouri.

    YLI also welcomed two new technical partners for H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech: North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (NC PSI) and University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources (UC ANR), which spans all campuses associated with the UC system.

    In addition, YLI announced the launch of its inaugural Ecosystem Partner Network, which will collaborate with AgTech Nation to engage 12 regional ecosystems across the United States and expanding for the first time into leading international innovation hubs in Argentina, Brazil, Israel, and the United Kingdom.

    Breakthrough Energy Discovery and NREL Foundation have joined as founding partners, providing critical support for H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech. In addition, the Missouri Technology Corporation provided early funding to ensure Missouri-based IN2 alumni can remain actively engaged in this next chapter.

    More information about the H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech program will be shared in the coming weeks online at: www.harvestagtech.org.

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Research, Technology

    Animal Ag News 9/10

    Carrie Muehling

  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the release of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s second report. In May, the MAHA Commission’s first report highlighted the positive role beef plays in a healthy diet. The second report expanded on the benefits of high-quality protein like beef and the critical role cattle producers play in helping make America healthy again.
  • Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, issued a statement on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s Make Our Children Healthy Again strategy report.
  • The MAHA Commission has released its “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy, which aims to address childhood chronic disease but also has potentially heavy impacts on farmers, sound science, and healthy food. These impacts remain a concern, but the strategy shows signs of progress from the initial “Make America Healthy Again” report released in May. The National Pork Producers Council shared recommendations to the MAHA Commission leading up to the strategy’s release.
  • Poultry industry safety professionals attending the 2025 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry were presented with solutions to an array of current and emerging issues. The three-day event included speaker presentations, discussions, and small group breakout sessions, all of which provided opportunities for attendees to get answers to their valuable questions. Suggestions for short-, medium- and long-term safety culture improvement were provided, with accessible strategies that can be implemented immediately. The conference also recognized outstanding achievements with the announcement of the 2025 Safety Award winners.
  • The 2025 USPOULTRY Women’s Leadership Conference brought together industry leaders, innovators and visionaries for two days of insight, inspiration and forward-thinking discussions. From sessions on artificial intelligence (AI) and strategic decision-making to panels on effective communication and women leading with resilience, attendees explored how to navigate today’s dynamic workplace while fostering inclusion, productivity and personal growth. The event set the stage for actionable takeaways and meaningful connections that will shape leadership and innovation in the years ahead.
  • A new name for an insect manufacturing center at Texas A&M University reflects a shift by the National Science Foundation Industry–University Cooperative Research Center, IUCRC, to focus on closer collaboration with industry and increasingly ambitious and comprehensive research.
  • Registration is now open for the 2026 Dairy Strong conference, set to take place at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay on Jan. 14-15. Don’t miss your chance to attend the leading dairy business conference and trade show.
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced the appointment of Clay McKinney as executive director of law enforcement, brand and inspection services. McKinney has been serving in this role on an interim basis since earlier this year and assumes the permanent position effective immediately.
  • Cattle keep getting better, but that doesn’t mean producers should slow down progress. That’s what attendees took home from the 2025 Feeding Quality Forum, Aug. 14 and 15 in Rochester, Minn. It’s call to action for the entire beef industry. Better cattle, yet new and old challenges for each segment.
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus testified at a Section 301 investigation hearing regarding Brazil’s trade practices. The hearing, convened by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and held at the U.S. International Trade Commission, examined the Brazilian government’s trade policies and actions for unreasonable, discriminatory harm to U.S. commerce. NCBA focused attention on Brazil’s restrictions on U.S. beef and our long-standing concerns with the Brazilian government’s track record of food safety and animal health.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has released “Our Industry, Our Promise,” its 2024-25 State of the U.S. Animal Food Industry Report, spotlighting the industry’s economic footprint, policy priorities, safety, sustainability efforts and international trade initiatives.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Bites, Animal Health

    Denali Makes Waste into 12 Billion Pounds of Feed and Fertilizer

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Denali continued to lead the nation as a recycler of organics in 2024, transforming organic materials into 12 billion pounds of high-quality feed and fertilizer.

    According to Denali’s newly released 2024 Sustainability Report, the recycled agriculture-grade products fed nearly 50,000 cattle and enriched more than 100,000 acres of farmland, which helped build resilience for American agriculture, supporting healthy soils, nourishing livestock, and reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers.

    Denali’s work delivered significant impact for farmers across the U.S., including:
    ● Nourishing more than 50,000 head of cattle by creating 360 million pounds of animal feed;
    ● Creating 9.6 billion pounds of natural fertilizer that supported more than 100,000 acres of farmland across the U.S. – equivalent to 75,757 football fields;
    ● Avoiding an estimated 750,000 MTCO₂ metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent through the total impact of creating 2.4 billion pounds of nutrient-rich compost, mulch, and soil amendments; and
    ● Significantly lowering fertilizer costs for farmers, which comprises 40% of a farmer’s total operating costs for growing corn, according to the National Corn Growers Association.

    Denali works with grocers, food manufacturers, municipalities, and foodservice operators to collect organics that would otherwise be sent to the landfill and uses one of the largest mechanical depackaging technology networks in the country, to recover the most clean, recyclable organic material and convert it into agriculture-grade products.

    To learn more and review Denali’s 2024 Sustainability Report, click HERE.

    AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Feed, Fertilizer, Food, Sustainability, Technology