2025 Tech Hub Live

Industry Ag News 6/14

Carrie Muehling

  • G&S, an award-winning independent agency, has acquired Morgan & Myers, Inc., dba MorganMyers, expanding its leading position in agribusiness marketing and increasing its portfolio of food and CPG brands. The MorganMyers team brings significant expertise and relationships with industry-leading clients in agricultural production and technology, farm and commodity organizations, as well as food and beverage. The firm has a 42-year history of success that reflects the team’s passion for award-winning strategy, creativity, innovation and the ability to help clients create meaningful brand connections. Moving forward, it will be a wholly owned subsidiary of G&S and go to market as MorganMyers, a G&S Agency.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced the selection of six interns for the prestigious George Washington Carver (GWC) Internship program for the Summer of 2024. Since its inception in 2001, the GWC Internship program has impacted over 350 students worldwide.
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce that Chloe Lovejoy is joining the media company’s editorial team as an associate editor, based in Sacramento. She will work with Brad Hooker to expand daily, weekly and special project coverage in California.
  • The International Agri-Center, World Ag Expo, and the Central Valley Toyota Dealers presented a check in the amount of $101,457.32 to Valley Children’s Healthcare during the All Guild Picnic held on May 22nd, in Madera, California. The donation marks another impactful milestone in the ongoing partnership, which began in 2015. Since then, over $730,000 has been raised to support Valley Children’s Healthcare.
  • From June 25-28, the National FFA Organization will be hosting its summer Next Gen Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The topic of the conference is “Food Products and Processing Systems” and high school student attendees will learn through informational sessions, panels and tours.
  • The Renewable Fuels Association is excited to welcome CF Industries and Separator Technology Solutions (STS) to its expanding group of associate members. The new members reflect RFA’s continuous commitment to growing its network of leading organizations and businesses driving technological innovation and environmental progress in the renewable fuels sector.
  • Rollin’ on the River is the theme for the 2024 Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Savannah, Georgia July 17-19. The three-day event provides farmers with information about peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions.
  • The next 30 days is the last opportunity to lock in your early bird pricing and hotel block rate for Agricultural Media Summit. Join us in Kansas City, MO, from August 3-6 to build connections, sharpen your skills and advance your career.
  • The National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Board has elected Jed Bower, of Washington Court House, Ohio, as the organization’s next first vice president for the new fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2024.
  • The American Sugar Alliance joined together with Ducks Unlimited, National Cotton Council, U.S. Rice Producers Association, Farm Credit Council, and Purina ahead of the Congressional Baseball Game to celebrate the strength and resilience of the winning team of farm families who help feed our nation. Founded in 1909, the Congressional Baseball Game brings together members of Congress and fans for a bipartisan game that raises money for local charities.
  • The 2024 American Agri-Women (AAW) Fly-In, a groundbreaking event that brought together women from across the agricultural and natural resource industries, took place in the nation’s capital. The AAW Fly-In was opened to all women in these fields for the first time in its history, offering a unique platform to engage with legislators, agencies, and professionals on critical agricultural issues and policies.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    AgGateway and ICAR Working Together

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Daniel Lefebvre, President, ICAR, and Brent Kemp, President and CEO, AgGateway

    Representatives from AgGateway and the International Committee on Animal Recording (ICAR) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designed to improve digital interoperability in animal agriculture applications. ICAR is a leader in livestock identification and associated data exchange.

    AgGateway has been facilitating a member working group around traceability data needs for feed inputs to dairy herds and member Phil Kibosh with Vita Plus says the MOU will allow the working group to maximize member value and build upon work already done. “ICAR does a lot of standards in Europe from a production animal standpoint,” said Kibosh. “Obviously AgGateway does standards in the U.S. and it was a good idea for the two entities to join forces.”

    Learn more in this interview.
    Phil Kubesh Interview 2:12

    2024 AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting Photo Album

    AgGateway, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, data, Livestock

    Farmers, Car Dealers and Oil Companies Sue Over EV Push

    Cindy Zimmerman

    An unlikely coalition of farmers, car dealers, and the oil industry have joined together to push back against the push for mandated electric vehicles.

    The National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation and six auto dealers representing 16 brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country joined the American Petroleum Institute today in filing a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s light-duty and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. The groups said EPA exceeded its congressional authority with the regulation and rendered a decision that values one tool for fighting climate change over others.

    NCGA and AFBF argue that the emissions standards, which require 68% of new passenger vehicles and 43% of new medium-duty trucks and vans to be electric by 2032, “ignore the proven benefits corn ethanol offers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions” and will hurt farmers by driving up the cost of farm vehicles and forcing farmers to “rely on a charging network that does not yet exist in rural areas.”

    AFBF, Corn, EPA, Ethanol, NCGA

    Jason Minton Joins Taranis as Chief Commercial Officer

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AI-powered crop intelligence company Taranis announces the appointment of former Bayer lead Jason Minton as Chief Commercial Officer.

    “Jason’s diverse leadership background within some of the most well-known agriculture companies will position him well to serve and lead Taranis’ commercial endeavors,” said Taranis Chief Executive Officer Opher Flohr. “His expertise in the field, along with his commitment to customer experience, will help advance the adoption and application of AI-powered insights within the agriculture sector. With the recent appointment of Syngenta’s Vern Hawkins to our Board of Directors in February, Taranis continues to bring on the industry’s best leadership and expertise.”

    Minton holds a degree in biology from Millikin University and says that a love of science and technology combined with a desire to advance crop health has helped drive his career. Beginning his career in the agriculture sector with Monsanto, Minton led operations for the company’s US Customer Centricity Program and managed both sales teams and dealer networks. During his career with Bayer Crop Science, he held pivotal roles in area business management and strategic account management with a focus on crop protection, seed portfolio management and customer experience. Most recently, he served as the Regional Business Lead for the Midwest.

    Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, AI, people, Precision Agriculture

    Precision Ag News 6/12

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced the winners of the organization’s 2024 Leadership in Agri-Biotechnology Awards — honoring Dr. Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health, as the recipient of the George Washington Carver Award and Sylvia Wulf, president and CEO of AquaBounty Technologies, as the recipient of the Rosalind Franklin Award. The two awards recognize biotechnology leaders who are driving cutting-edge breakthroughs in agricultural, environmental, and industrial biotechnology.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) opened registration with a rejuvenated schedule for its annual Conference & Expo, to be held Dec. 3-5 in Houston, Texas.
  • Discover how a digital agronomy approach can help your company thrive in a competitive landscape and position itself as a go-to partner for farmers seeking cutting-edge digital expertise and guidance. Work smarter, not harder and unlock digitally-driven business growth in your retail operation. Secure your spot for a live webinar on Thursday, June 20 at 2:00 p.m. EDT now.
  • The members of trade association CropLife International have issued an Industry Declaration renewing and reaffirming their commitment to the principles and standards of the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. The Declaration marks the first anniversary of the publication of their Guide to Industry on the Code’s implementation.
  • Campbell Tractor Co., a long-standing John Deere dealer since 1940, has partnered with Ecorobotix to introduce the ARA ultra-high precision sprayer to Idaho and Oregon. With six locations across these states, Campbell Tractor continues its legacy of offering quality agricultural products and services by incorporating this cutting-edge technology into its lineup.
  • A new genetically engineered potato developed by Michigan State University potato breeder Dave Douches has been granted exemption from the biotechnology regulations placed on genetically modified products by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). The Kal91.3 potato is bred from an MSU potato variety named Kalkaska. The newly developed potato can be stored in cool temperatures for long periods of time without sucrose, the compound that sugar is typically stored in potatoes as, converting into reducing sugars such as fructose and glucose. Without as many reducing sugars, off-color browning and caramelization can be minimized in the Kal91.3 potato, leading to healthier and higher-quality products, including potato chips. The Kal91.3 potato can also reduce the environmental impact of the growing process without as many fertilizers and pesticides needed to maintain the potato during storage.
  • Emergent Connext announced the launch of its groundbreaking Internet-of-Things (IoT) network solution for AgTech in California’s Central Valley, revolutionizing the way farming is done. In a new strategic partnership with Cal.net, headquartered in Shingle Springs, Calif., Emergent and Cal.net are closing the connectivity gap that exists in agricultural fields and rural communities with its low-cost network that enables smart IoT sensors & devices for AgTech. This will improve farm and ranch profitability by reducing labor costs, minimizing farm inputs and protecting against overuse of precious natural resources.
  • BASF Agricultural Solutions has introduced Nemasphere nematode resistance trait, the most groundbreaking innovation in soybean cyst nematode (SCN) management in over 60 years. Nemasphere is the first and only biotechnology trait for SCN, the number one yield-robbing pest in soybeans in the United States. Harnessing a completely novel mode of action, Nemasphere will be stacked with the Enlist E3 technology and available in a full range of the top-performing and best-yielding soybean seed varieties, allowing farmers unmatched SCN resistance without compromising yield potential.
  • Sollum Technologies, the pioneer behind the only 100 percent full programmable dynamic lighting solution, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Leaficient, a leader in precision plant measurement and lighting control technologies. The collaboration aims to advance lighting strategies and recipes by integrating precise plant growth data in Sollum’s advanced algorithms in order to learn, adapt, and optimize cultivation in real time.
  • In response to the severe challenges wrought by the ongoing war in Ukraine, EOS Data Analytics has unveiled ‘Harvesting Hope,’ an initiative designed to spotlight the crisis engulfing Ukraine’s agricultural sector. This comprehensive webpage features an interactive map that showcases historical and forecasted yields of main crops in Ukraine in 2021-2024. Additionally, the initiative contextualizes the current state of Ukraine’s agriculture and its impact on global food security.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    AgGateway Update at Mid-Year Meeting

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AgGateway President and CEO Brent Kemp provided a positive update on organization activities at the Mid-Year Meeting in Altoona, Iowa this week.

    “AgGateway’s been around the world this year,” said Kemp. “At the Wisconsin Dairy Expo, at the VISION Conference, at IPPE, at ASABE’s annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, we’ve been at Commodity Classic, at the ADSA Discovery Conference…we’ve been at the ICAR annual conference in Bled, Slovenia, and we’ve been at Agrishow in Brazil.”

    Kemp noted that AgGateway is heading into the final year of the current five year strategic plan. “I’m proud to say we are meeting or exceeding most of those goals,” said Kemp. “But this isn’t the close for AgGateway, we’ve kicked off our 2026 to 2030 strategic planning process.”

    Representatives from AgGateway and ICAR, which is the International Committee on Animal Recording, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month designed to allow both organizations to better utilize existing resources and more rapidly develop projects that improve digital interoperability in animal agriculture applications.

    Listen to Kemp’s report and interview below.
    Brent Kemp, CEO Report 16:42

    Brent Kemp, Interview 5:16

    2024 AgGateway Mid-Year Meeting Photo Album

    AgGateway, AgWired Precision, Audio, data

    DPH Biologicals Launches Microbial Nutrient Enhancer

    Cindy Zimmerman

    DPH Biologicals has launched EnvelixTM Prime, a patented, biological nutrient enhancer designed to uniformly cover bulk dry fertilizer in a single application.

    “Envelix Prime enables both retailers and growers to seamlessly unlock the value of biologicals on a broader scale,” said Mick Messman, DPH Bio President & CEO. “Just one pound of Envelix Prime evenly covers a ton of dry fertilizer, giving retailers a way to differentiate their fertilizer blends with biology while giving growers a single-purchase, single application route to enhanced performance and an increased return on their fertilizer investment.”

    Envelix Prime is applied with dry fertilizer across broad acre fields.

    Envelix Prime is DPH Bio’s first product to be powered by recently announced Prime™ technology to accelerate the germination of bacteria spores. In a recent corn trial, Prime enabled more than 70% of spores to germinate at temperatures as high as 98.6 degrees, while those without Prime germinated less than 10%.

    “We are excited to get Envelix Prime out on the broad acre this fall enabling many growers the opportunity to experience the benefits of biologicals for the first time. This integrated approach requires no change in practice for the grower and, with the addition of Prime, we are confident that growers will consistently see the benefits this dynamic product unlocks both in the field and to their bottom line,” said Messman.

    Envelix Prime is available now to retail partners and fertilizer blending facilities. For more information about DPH Bio’s technology platforms – RegenAphex™ and Prime, as well as DPH Bio’s expanded product portfolio, visit www.dphbio.com.

    AgWired Precision, Biologicals, Fertilizer, Precision Agriculture

    Animal Ag News 6/11

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing the rule Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems, to address a range of abuses that have occurred in relation to grower ranking (commonly known as “tournament”) payment systems and additional capital investment requirements that poultry companies commonly ask of their contract growers for broiler chicken. This rule is the third in a suite of Packers and Stockyards Act rules that USDA has undertaken to create fairer markets, which ultimately can lead to lower grocery prices for hardworking families. USDA is also announcing new publicly available cattle market transparency tools. These and previous actions are intended to enhance transparency, stop retaliation and discrimination, reduce costs, and support market fairness in a range of circumstances, furthering the Department’s efforts as part of President Biden’s historic Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.
  • USPOULTRY is offering a new training course entitled, “The Safe Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.” The course provides educational instruction to industry workers on what avian influenza is; safe response methods; safe usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); depopulation, decontamination and disposal methods; and general safety precautions. This training is intended to be a resource for workers and supervisors on safely responding to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) events. The hazards and issues covered in this training are dynamic and require vigilance and flexibility. Users must understand applicable rules and regulations. The new course is available free of charge to USPOULTRY members through USPOULTRY’s Learning Management System, which can be accessed by clicking here.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) condemned a Department of Defense (DOD) sponsored research grant that will fund the development of lab-grown meat products by manufacturing company BioMADE.
  • As we approach a herd rebuild, you need confidence to navigate today’s cattle market dynamics. This year’s Feeding Quality Forum (FQF) theme is just that, so attendees can leave ready to make more informed decisions at the ranch and feedyard to get more value for their cattle. FQF will be hosted at the Boot Hill Casino and Resort Conference Center in Dodge City, Kan., Aug. 20 and 21, 2024. Half-price registration is available now until June 30 for $125. From July 1 to Aug. 2, registration costs $250. Student registration is $50.
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the largest and oldest livestock association in the Southwest, announced applications are now open for the fall 2024 internship programs. Applications for the fall 2024 internship opportunities are due July 1.
  • Midwest Dairy is pleased to announce Trudy Wastweet has been named Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). Wastweet previously served as Midwest Dairy’s Chief Operating Officer (COO).
  • The National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors has selected five graduate students researching in areas that benefit dairy cooperatives and producers to receive scholarships as part of the 2024 NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program. The recipients were confirmed as part of NMPF’s Board of Directors meeting held in Arlington, VA, on June 5-6. To learn more about and contribute to the NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship program, please visit: www.nmpf.org/programs/scholarship.
  • National Milk Producers Federation leadership expressed confidence that farmers would soon see a fairer federal system for milk pricing and highlighted dairy farmers’ robust response to the challenge of H5N1 influenza in dairy cattle at the organization’s Board of Directors meeting.
  • The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) submitted comments to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) urging the panel to maintain and enhance dairy’s role as a core component of a recommended healthy diet for Americans. IDFA also urged the DGAC to restore dairy to its draft conclusions on dietary patterns associated with favorable outcomes for body weight and obesity in adults. The DGAC—a committee of 20 nationally recognized nutrition and public health experts—is currently reviewing the current body of nutrition science and developing a scientific report to inform the federal government’s development of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGAC is expected to publish their report in late 2024. In written comments, IDFA highlighted the latest science demonstrating dairy is a key component of healthy eating patterns associated with better health outcomes.
  • The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) hosted a policy panel discussion at the 2024 World Pork Expo, where producer-leaders and experts highlighted the need to work with both sides of the aisle to support America’s pork producers. Preparing for and preventing foreign animal diseases (FADs), navigating challenges posed by California Proposition 12, increasing market access programs for U.S. pork, and protecting herd health are the key priorities that NPPC has successfully advocated for within the farm bill.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Industry Ag News 6/7

    Carrie Muehling

  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced that it will send 14 students abroad for the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program at renowned international research centers and NGOs this summer. These exceptional students hail from Iowa, 10 other U.S. states and China. The 2024 Borlaug-Ruan interns will delve into issues related to global food security, sustainability and development during eight-week internships at leading international research centers and development organizations in Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Mexico, Peru and Taiwan.
  • For more than 50 years, thousands of FFA members from across the country have converged in our nation’s capital each summer to engage with legislators, hone civic engagement and leadership skills, and create community impact projects to take back to their cities and towns. The National FFA Organization’s Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) will take place from June 4-July 20 at the Omni Shoreham, with six, week-long sessions for FFA members to choose from. More than 1,700 FFA members from across the country are expected to attend the 2024 conference, the second-largest student experience that the National FFA Organization hosts each year, only behind the National FFA Convention & Expo which draws more than 70,000 attendees.
  • Agri-Pulse is pleased to announce that Lydia Johnson has joined the Agri-Pulse team in Washington as a writer and broadcaster. Johnson recently graduated from Iowa State University, where she studied Agricultural Communications, International Agriculture and Journalism. She previously interned for Agri-Pulse, Torrey Advisory Group, and the National Pork Producers Council.
  • Agritecture and CEAg World, a business venture of Meister Media Worldwide, are thrilled to announce their partnership on the world’s largest Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Census. This highly anticipated initiative, now in its fourth year, is an opportunity for growers across the globe to contribute to the most accurate and comprehensive census available in the industry. The findings will be shared through a keynote presentation by Henry Gordon-Smith, CEO of Agritecture, at the inaugural CEAg World Conference & Expo in Raleigh, N.C., August 26-28, 2024.
  • U.S. farmers’ outlook improved in May as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index rose to 108, marking a 9-point increase from April.
  • Rodney Johnson has been named associate dean for research and director of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His appointment will begin on June 16, 2024, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
  • The Kansas Legislature recently awarded Kansas State University a $25 million matching award for the university’s Agriculture Innovation Initiative. In January, the state Legislature challenged the university with a one-to-one matching opportunity: If K-State raised $25 million in private donations for the initiative, then the state would match that amount with a $25 million award. Earlier this year, K-State met the threshold, and the award was granted in May. To date, the university has raised $176 million out of its $210 million goal for agricultural infrastructure improvements.
  • America’s Cultivation Corridor is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of events and promotions recognizing a decade of significant innovation in Iowa’s agriculture, food and bioscience industries. Leaders of America’s Cultivation Corridor kicked off the anniversary celebration with a reception in the Iowa Pork Producers Hospitality tent at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines on Thursday, June 6.
  • Representatives from AgGateway and the International Committee on Animal Recording (ICAR) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designed to allow both organizations to better utilize existing resources and more rapidly develop projects that improve digital interoperability in animal agriculture applications. ICAR is a leader in livestock identification and associated data exchange.
  • Join the Agribusiness Council of Kansas City for a Summer Social Hour on Thursday, July 9, 2024 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Lidia’s Kansas City.
  • Biswanath Dari, Ph.D., assistant professor and natural resource specialist for the Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has received the American Society of Agronomy Environmental Quality Section 2023 Inspiring Early Career Scientist Award. The award celebrates his early career and research achievements.
  • The National Cotton Council (NCC) has scheduled tour dates and locations for the 2024 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program, sponsored by BASF through a grant to The Cotton Foundation. During the week of July 28-August 2, producers from the Mid-South and Southeast will see farming operations in California. The second tour, set for August 4-9, will enable Southwest and West producers to travel to the Southeast and observe farming operations in Georgia.
  • U.S. potato exports remained steady in the nine-month period from July 2023 to March 2024, with volume down just 1 percent from the same period last year. Export values increased 5 percent to $1.7 billion.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Controlled Environment Agriculture Census Underway

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Agritecture and CEAg World, a business venture of Meister Media Worldwide, are partnering to undertake the world’s largest Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Census.

    Focusing on a technology theme this year, the CEA Census survey launched May 31, 2024, with the aim to gather data for a global view of the industry. The findings will be shared through a keynote presentation by Henry Gordon-Smith, CEO of Agritecture, at the inaugural CEAg World Conference & Expo in Raleigh, N.C., August 26-28, 2024. The full report will also be available for download online in October 2024.

    The census survey takes only ten minutes to complete and will be available on-line until July 18. All growers — from high-tech CEA operations to more traditional outdoor setups using hoop houses, tunnels, nettings, and retractable roofs — are invited to participate.

    Survey respondents will receive six months of free access to Agritecture Designer, Agritecture’s award-winning farm planning software, and will be entered into a drawing to win one of five complimentary registrations to the CEAg World Conference & Expo. This premier event is a must-attend for anyone involved in CEA, offering unparalleled networking opportunities, expert presentations, and the latest innovations in the field.

    For more information and to participate in the census, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CEAGE001.

    AgWired Precision, controlled environment, indoor farming, Precision Agriculture