Precision Ag News 4/3

Carrie Muehling

  • Join Conservation Technology Information Center, USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, and the American Seed Trade Association for the release of the eighth National Cover Crop Survey during a free webinar April 15, Noon Central Time.
  • Geoff Williams, associate professor, graduate program officer and longtime director of the AU-Bees Lab, is director of the new Auburn University Bee Center, effective Tuesday, April 1.
  • Funk Agriculture LLC, owned by Dan Funk, announces the formation of the Republic Regional Seed Network. Funk, son of legendary seedsman Don Funk, acquired Midwest Seed Genetics and NC+ from his family in 2023. Further investments and acquisitions now form Republic. Republic comprises NC+ in the West, Midwest Seed Genetics in the Central and Upper Corn Belt, and Crow’s in the East, and offers entrepreneurial growers and seed professionals the freedom to operate across an independent seed network, focused on elite, high-value products.
  • Proof of a new agricultural revolution was on full display during a recent agricultural technology field day in the Central Valley. Co-hosted by Emergent Connext and Cal.net, the event drew farmers from across one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions to demonstrate how they can glean real-time production data insights to boost efficiency in even their remotest fields, orchards, and vineyards.
  • With the growing season underway, the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council (ACRPC) is urging farmers to take action against aflatoxin contamination by applying AF36, a biological solution that reduces risks in crops, feed, and food production. Backed by over 25 years of research and field success, AF36 is an integral tool for improving soil health, food safety, and economic sustainability for farmers and dairy producers.
  • Terraform Tillage announced it has received a U.S. patent (U.S. Patent No. 12,216,096) for its SmartProbe System, a technology that helps measure and map yield-robbing soil compaction.
  • Agragene and Associates Insectary have announced a partnership to advance the delivery of Agragene’s first sterile insect technology, KNOCKOUT™ SWD to address fresh berry growers’ number one management issue and pest – Spotted Winged Drosophila. Associates Insectary will rear sterile male insects at their Santa Paula, California facility as part of this agreement and will leverage its expertise in high-volume insect production to support this innovative approach to pest management.

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    AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    President Trump Targets Tariffs to Help Farmers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Announcing reciprocal tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners Wednesday, President Donald Trump stressed the importance of fairness in export markets for agriculture.

    “With today’s actions, we’re also standing up for our great farmers and ranchers who are brutalized by nations all over the world, brutalized,” said Trump, singling out countries such as Canada for its tariffs on dairy products, the European Union for barriers to U.S. poultry, Australia for beef, and Japan for rice. “When you look a little bit, it’s not a pretty picture, and we don’t like it and it’s not fair. It’s not fair to our farmers. It’s not fair to our country…And I say, why are we doing this? Why are we doing this? I mean, at what point do we say you’ve got to work for yourselves and you’ve got to, this is why we have the big deficits.”

    President Trump announces reciprocal tariffs - agriculture 3:15

    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane attended the president’s announcement at the White House. “For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world,” said Lane. “President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world and optimize opportunities for exports abroad.”

    Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president of trade and workforce policy at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), qualified their support for the President’s actions. “IDFA supports the Trump Administration’s efforts to hold trading partners accountable and expand market access for U.S. dairy. However, broad and prolonged tariffs on our top trading partners and growing markets will risk undermining our investments, raising costs for American businesses and consumers, and creating uncertainty for American dairy farmers and rural communities. We urge the administration to engage directly with dairy stakeholders and swiftly pursue resolutions with our trading partners that strengthen U.S. dairy’s global competitiveness.”

    President Trump announced a 10% tariff baseline and will impose an “individualized reciprocal higher tariff on the countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits” effective April 9.

    Audio, Beef, Dairy, Exports, NCBA, Trade

    Registration Open for 2025 Ag Media Summit

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Agricultural Media SummitRegistration opened today for the Agricultural Media Summit, July 27-30, 2025 in Rogers, AR. You can find it here.

    Got questions? Here are some FAQs for you. Stay at the Embassy Suite Northwest Arkansas Hotel, Spa & Convention Center.

    THE AGRICULTURAL MEDIA SUMMIT began in 1999, and is the largest gathering of the agriculture industry’s top writers, editors, photographers, publishers and strategic communicators in the U.S. Providing opportunities for professional development and industry networking, Ag Media Summit is brought to you by the Livestock Publications Council (LPC), the Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN), and the Connectiv Ag Media Council.

    Ag Groups, Ag Media Summit, Agencies, Media

    Arizona Cotton Urges Use of AF36 Against Aflatoxin

    Cindy Zimmerman

    With the growing season underway, the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council (ACRPC) is urging farmers to take action against aflatoxin contamination by applying AF36, a biological solution backed by over 25 years of research and field success that reduces risks in crops, feed, and food production.

    ACRPC is launching a nationwide campaign highlighting AF36’s success and urgency during the critical pre-harvest period to further extend the reach of this vital information.

    ACRPC Director Mark Killian, former head of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, emphasized the significance of AF36 in protecting Arizona’s food supply and economy. “Aflatoxin contamination is a serious issue that affects not just individual farms but the entire supply chain,” said Killian. “AF36 is not just a solution, it’s a necessity for farmers looking to protect their crops, their herds, and their livelihoods”

    Crops most susceptible to aflatoxin include cotton, corn, figs, and tree nuts such as almonds and pistachios.

    Aflatoxin contamination is a persistent issue for growers and dairy producers, as it can severely impact feed quality, milk safety, and overall food supply integrity. Aflatoxin is a major concern for corn silage production, especially in hot, dry regions where contamination levels often exceed regulatory limits. Recent USDA research confirms that field-applied biocontrol strains, including AF36, effectively displace aflatoxin-producing fungi from soil to harvest and beyond, significantly reducing contamination risk in dairy feed. The study found that treated fields maintained aflatoxin levels below 10 ppb, reinforcing AF36’s value in long-term, area-wide aflatoxin management.

    Pistachio growers in Arizona—the nation’s second-largest producer—are particularly vulnerable during peak fungal growth periods between June and August. AF36 functions by introducing a non-toxic strain of Aspergillus flavus that naturally outcompetes harmful aflatoxin-producing fungi, reducing contamination levels in soil and crops.

    To learn more about AF36, contact the Arizona Cotton Research and Protection Council at 602-438-0059 or visit https://cotton.az.gov/af36-program.

    Biologicals, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, specialty crops

    Animal Ag News 4/1

    Carrie Muehling

  • As of Mar.1, there were 74.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down slightly from March 2024 and down one percent from Dec. 1, 2024, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
  • Genetic improvements within the U.S. dairy herd are fueling historic gains in key milk components needed to produce cheese, butter and a variety of other popular dairy foods. While U.S. fluid milk production has remained relatively flat in recent years, butterfat and protein levels within the nation’s milk supply are growing at a record pace as more producers are employing genetics to optimize milk composition. According to new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the historic pace of change in U.S. milk composition is poised to continue as genetic gains and market incentives will drive butterfat and protein production higher for the foreseeable future.
  • Downtown Nashville, Tennessee, will host CattleCon 2026, Feb. 3-5, 2026. The largest cattle industry event of the year will be held in the heart of Music City, home of honky-tonks, history and hearty food. Thousands of cattlemen and women will gather to learn, conduct business, network and enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors in the “songwriting capital of the world.”
  • Attend a Stockmanship & Stewardship event this year to experience premier cattle industry education. As technology changes and improves, these regional events will help you learn more about the latest stockmanship and biosecurity practices to help your farm or ranch stay safe and keep cattle healthy. Experts Ron Gill, Curt Pate and Dean Fish travel the country to provide live demonstrations on chute-side handling, horsemanship and cattle hauling.
  • Certified Angus Beef (CAB) is awarding $100,000 in scholarships through the 2025 Colvin Scholarship Fund to support students pursuing careers in food and agriculture. Applications are open through April 14 across three categories, with top winners receiving $7,500 and a trip to the CAB Annual Conference.
  • Meat sales hit a record high of $104.6 billion in 2024, pounds sold increased 2.3 percent compared to 2023, and consumers, on average, purchase meat more than once per week (Circana) – keeping meat the largest fresh department in grocery, according to the 20th annual Power of Meat report released at the Annual Meat Conference by the Meat Institute and FMI—The Food Industry Association.
  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting nominations for the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award through July 1. The purpose of the award, which has been presented since 2013, is to recognize outstanding completed research projects, funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation, that have had a transformative effect on the poultry industry. The nominee may be recognized for multiple completed USPOULTRY research projects, all focused on the same subject area. Nominations are open to universities and research institutions involved in poultry research, as well as to individuals within the research community, including USPOULTRY members, staff and sponsored committee members. Self-nominations are also allowed. While nominations should primarily highlight research projects finished within the last five years, projects completed above five years may still be considered if their significant impact has only recently come to light. Additional information about the award can be found here.
  • A campaign has been launched to establish an endowment fund for the Nelson A. Cox Graduate Student Scholarship in Poultry Food Safety in honor of the late Dr. Nelson Cox. The Nelson A. Cox Graduate Student Scholarship in Poultry Food Safety will support a graduate student every year so that Dr. Cox’s legacy in poultry food safety can continue to impact future generations. The logistics for this scholarship are being handled through the USPOULTRY Foundation.
  • The benefits of grazing management plans that are written or kept digitally are unparalleled for U.S. ranchers and include boosts to profitability, efficiency and resilience as well as aiding ranchers in efforts to protect the land, water and plants that cattle depend upon. U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef has set an ambitious target of 385 million acres managed under written grazing management plans by 2050.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Ag Secretary Visits Iowa

    Cindy Zimmerman

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited Iowa Monday, starting the day at an ethanol plant where she was joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

    Rollins also toured a hog farm, and met with soybean producers and agriculture leaders from across Iowa, before capping off the day by delivering the keynote speech at the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner.

    Rollins’ main announcement was that USDA will release obligated funding under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for 543 projects totaling $537 million in 29 states. The funding had been included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

    In a press availability at the Elite Octane ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa, Rollins addressed a number of issues including trade policy, the farm bill, and avian flu. Gov. Reynolds, Elite Octane CEO Nick Bowdish, Sen. Ernst, Rep. Nunn and Rep. Miller-Meeks also make comments in the press conference.

    USDA Sec. Rollins at Elite Octane 16:17

    Audio, Ethanol, USDA

    DWFI Podcast 42 – 15th Anniversary of DWFI

    Cindy Zimmerman

    This special episode of the Water for Food Podcast commemorates the 15th anniversary of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute by sharing the story of its origin. You can read the full historical account here.

    The 15th anniversary year will be highlighted by a celebration reception at the upcoming 2025 Water for Food Global Conference, held in Lincoln, Nebraska, April 28-May 2. Learn more at waterforfood.nebraska.edu.

    Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
    DWFI podcast episode 42 6:53

    The Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) at the University of Nebraska was founded with the mission to have a lasting and significant impact on achieving more food security with less pressure on scarce water resources by conducting scientific and policy research, using the research results to inform policy makers, and sharing knowledge through education and communication.

    How to subscribe:

    Audio, Food, Irrigation, Podcasts, Water, Water for Food

    Industry Ag News 3/31

    Carrie Muehling

  • Farm Journal and The Packer have announced plans for an all-new East Coast Produce Expo (ECPE), which was formerly known as GOPEX, set for Jan. 12-13, 2026, at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort in Aventura, Fla.
  • The Kansas House Legislature announced, during its 2025-2026 Legislative Session, an historic Resolution declaring August 22nd, 2025 Antique Tractor Preservation Day, to be observed ANNUALLY throughout the State of Kansas. The Resolution received 56 Legislative Co-Signers and was awarded to Michael Hinton, Founder, Antique Tractor Preservation Day, and Owner/CEO of www.TalkingTractors.com.
  • Agriculture and food employers remain focused on the ongoing need for talent. AgCareers has launched a series of Compensation Summit Workshops for industry employers. These full-day in-person workshops provide a deep dive into everything compensation-related in the agriculture and food industries. Expert facilitators guide participants, ensuring they acquire critical takeaways related to compensation, salary, incentives, bonuses and more. The first summit will be April 8th, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, with educational sessions on creating effective sales compensation plans, foundational compensation programs, salary benchmarking, and total rewards. AgCareers will also host a summit in St. Louis, Missouri on August 5th, in conjunction with the 23rd Annual Roundtable Conference. One more Compensation Summit is scheduled for October 15th in Ames, Iowa.
  • Brownfield Ag News is excited to announce that Kellan Heavican will be rejoining the team as the Anchor/Reporter for Nebraska and Kansas. His first day back is March 31, 2025.
  • Biotalys, an agricultural technology company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for sustainable crop protection, announced the proposal to appoint Toni Bucci as independent director to its Board of Directors. Ms. Bucci’s appointment will become effective immediately upon election at the upcoming Biotalys shareholders’ meeting on April 22, 2025. She will succeed Markus Heldt, who will retire from the Board.
  • Bayer announced that Dr. Mike Graham will become the new Head of Research & Development (R&D) for Bayer’s Crop Science division and serve as member of the Leadership Team. He will succeed Dr. Robert Reiter who has decided to retire after 27 years with the company and 34 years in the industry. In his current role, Mike Graham is leading the company’s Plant Breeding organization and has profound expertise in R&D and agriculture. The change will become effective as of April 15, 2025.
  • CLAAS of America, a leader in high-performance harvesting equipment, tractors, and precision farming solutions, has selected Minneapolis-based CLUTCH to be their partner in driving growth and expanded revenue initiatives.
  • Join FAPRI at the 2025 Womack Missouri Agriculture Outlook Conference on April 9, 2025 at Missouri University’s Bradford Research Farm in Columbia. Registration is FREE but required.
  • Keystone Cooperative is proud to announce that Tim Burke has been named the 2025 Farmer Cooperative Director of the Year by the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC). This prestigious award recognizes Tim’s outstanding leadership, dedication to the cooperative model, and unwavering commitment to serving farmer-owners.
  • Potatoes USA, the national marketing, research and promotion board for the potato industry, elected Steve Elfering of Boise, Idaho, as Chair of the Board at its annual meeting. Potatoes USA also announced its Executive Committee members to lead the organization through 2025-2026.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    2025 Agri-Marketing Conference Preview

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAMA PaloozaIt’s almost time for the 2025 Agri-Marketing Conference. To get a preview of all the activities I spoke with Carrie Isaacson, Broadhead, Chair for this year’s conference.

    You can listen to my conversation with Carrie here: 2025 Agri-Marketing Conference Preview (11:06)

    FUEL YOUR FUTURE AT ​NAMAPALOOZA

    Get ready for the 2025 Agri-Marketing Conference — your front-row seat to the future of agri-marketing! This high-energy event is packed with fresh insights, expert-led sessions and networking opportunities designed to keep you ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Learn from the best and make connections in the industry that last long after the conference ends!

    Schedule
    Register

    Agencies, Audio, NAMA

    Precision Ag News 3/28

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Mosaic Company Foundation announced its re-launch as The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems. The Foundation brings together two decades of philanthropic work developing the practices, tools, and partnerships to advance sustainable agricultural practices in the United States, India, and Brazil.
  • An April 29 Heuermann Lecture will focus on the theme of “Nourishing a Healthy Future: The Role of Irrigation in a Changing World.” The free lecture, part of the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference and sponsored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be held 4:30-6 p.m. at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive, in Lincoln, Neb., and livestreamed online.
  • Reinke Manufacturing, a global leader in irrigation systems and technology, today announced the general availability of its most advanced remote irrigation management solution to date, ReinCloud® 3, to drive operational savings and yield increases for growers tasked with managing water efficiency.
  • Nutrien Ag Solutions® is ushering in a new chapter at its Innovation Farm location in Champaign, Illinois, with a new facility that showcases the Nutrien Agronomy team’s commitment to research at the scale of farming.
  • Following World Water Day on March 22, CNH brands – Case IH and New Holland – continue to lead the way in breaking new ground in precision agriculture. As part of the Drops of the Future initiative, CNH has teamed up with Italy-based agri tech company, xFarm, to develop a pilot project in Uzbekistan to show how precision technology and data from our machines can help farmers increase productivity and save water. The Drops of the Future initiative is tackling water scarcity in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan by empowering young professionals through innovation and collaboration. It has been set up by The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which focuses on addressing a wide range of security-related concerns that include economic, environmental and human aspects. It is the first time OSCE has worked with private companies on the topic of water, agri-food production and energy to increase environmental efforts around water use, while improving production efficiency.
  • Nitricity Inc., a California startup electrifying the production of nitrogen fertilizer, today announced $10 million in project funding from a strategic mix of capital providers that includes Elemental Impact and Trellis Climate to build a first-of-a-kind (FOAK) organic fertilizer facility in Delhi, California.
  • Syngenta Group reported full-year sales 2024 of $28.8 billion, down 10 percent year-on-year. Sales were impacted by adverse weather conditions and the reduction of channel inventories in crop protection across multiple markets, a process that is now largely complete. Price pressure, particularly in the commoditized segments of the crop protection portfolio, and lower grower profitability also affected demand.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection has signed an agreement with Agrauxine by Lesaffre to private label and exclusively distribute Syngenta’s products STROVEQ® and SPREXIMA®. STROVEQ is a systemic resistance inducer and SPREXIMA, is a biofungicide. These products will be sold and distributed in the ornamental market in the US. This agreement further strengthens the collaboration between Agrauxine and Syngenta.
  • Sakata Seed America, Inc. representatives proudly attended the grand opening of the newly renovated Howard C. Brown Horticultural Greenhouse Complex at California Polytechnic State University, following the company’s $50,000 pledge to help modernize the greenhouse complex. The grand opening ceremony, held on March 21st, 2025, unveiled enhancements and restorations of the 18,000-square-foot ornamental horticulture facility, which initially opened in 1969. Updates to the complex include the installation of new shade and thermal curtains, advanced fog, cooling and steam-sterilization systems, new concrete flooring, and more. The improved complex aims to provide hands-on learning to Cal Poly students, with an emphasis on landscape and horticulture installation and design, vegetable production, floral production and design, and disease and pest control management.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture