California Rancher Kevin Kester Remarks at Republican Press Event
NCBA Past-President and California rancher Kevin Kester, spoke at a House Republican Conference press event yesterday on the importance of the One Big Beautiful Bill for America’s cattle farmers and ranchers. Kester thanked House Leadership and President Donald J. Trump for securing tax relief and Farm Bill provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill. The items Kester speaks to include the estate tax exemption, the death tax, the Section 197A of the Income Tax Act and 199A, as well as some farm bill provisions and the funding of conservation programs. He says that all these have helped keep his ranch viable and is good for the environment, ranchers and for tax payers.
Kester was joined at the press conference by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Congressman Tony Wied. California ranchers and NCBA members Tony Toso and Mike Williams, along with Iowa cattle producer Eythan Blair attended the press conference as well. You can find the full event here. Kester spoke after Congressman Wied.
You can listen to Kester’s remarks here: Kevin Kester, California Rancher Remarks at Press Event (1:44)
Syngenta Cropwise AI
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)
Industry Ag News 9/16
Cotton Council Promotes Plant Not Plastic for Clothing
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)
Precision Ag News 9/12
ACN Selects Corner Window Communications
Kristin 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 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.
Syngenta Farm and Trade Policy Watch
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)
2025 NAFB Convention Registration in Progress
The 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!
Yield Lab Institute Launches H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech
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.