Precision Ag News 3/12

Carrie Muehling

  • Growing Matters’ annual BeSure! campaign has returned for the 2025 planting and growing season to promote proper stewardship efforts around the safe usage of crop protection products. Since its 2019 inception, the campaign has educated growers and applicators about best management practices when using neonicotinoid products in both agricultural and urban settings.
  • Growers and retailers from across the U.S. and Canada joined the Azotic North America leadership team at the end of February to form the 2025 Envita Grower-Retailer Advisory Panel.
  • Lindsay Corporation, a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology, is honored to announce that FieldNET Advisor™ – Whole Farm Water Management has earned the 2025 AE50 award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). A whole farm water management solution, FieldNET Advisor simplifies irrigation decisions for growers with real-time data and a simplified subscription.
  • BioLumic, the world’s only company programming seed traits with light, has launched its first commercial Trait Activation System at Gro Alliance’s seed production facility in Cuba City, Wisconsin. This milestone brings the BioLumic proprietary light-based Genetic Expression Trait technology to the global seed industry, enabling new opportunities for enhanced crop performance.
  • Nutrien Ag Solutions is excited to announce the 2024 winners of its Sustainable Success Champion program and acknowledge Dyna-Gro Seed customers who placed in national and company-based high-yield contests.
  • SweetWater Technologies is proud to announce a powerful new addition to its crop input arsenal, DRONEZONE™ RECHARGED. As a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered* plant growth regulator, DRONEZONE RECHARGED can provide up to 30 days of natural defense and abiotic stress resistance compared to the traditional two-week standard for stress mitigation. When added to SweetWater Technologies’ two-pass drone application program, row crop growers can see up to 60 days of defense, extending yield fortification, providing operational efficiency, and maximizing return on investment.
  • Gro Alliance and Dymaxion Labs are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration to enhance the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) Seed Treatment Trials. Beginning this season, the trials will be hosted on Dymaxion Labs’ Good Seed platform, introducing advanced data analytics and streamlined trial management to provide deeper insights for participants.
  • Four new research and outreach projects have been funded with $5.1 million through the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program, a partnership among Michigan State University, the Michigan Plant Coalition, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).
  • Verinomics, a leader in agricultural genomics and gene editing, today unveiled two breakthrough platforms designed to accelerate specialty crop innovation: Genesis™, a transgene-free gene editing platform, primarily for vegetatively propagated crops and Genova™, a genomic-driven breeding acceleration platform for both seed and vegetatively propagated crops. Together, these technologies streamline trait discovery and product development, delivering high-value, market-ready crops faster than ever before.
  • Just one season into its commercial release, NewLeaf Symbiotics’ EPA-registered bioinsecticide TS201 – scientifically-proven to repel corn rootworm – is turning heads and yield monitors. Planted on nearly 450,000 acres in 2024, this first-of-its-kind biocontrol option delivered an average 9 bu/A* yield advantage over Grower Standard Practice. These results demonstrate the data-backed, performance-driven biologicals the industry has come to expect from NewLeaf’s industry-leading PPFM technology (Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs).
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Meister Media Launches CEAg World Industry Reports

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Meister Media Worldwide has announced the launch of its newest product, the CEAg World Industry Reports.

    Each of the four quarterly reports will provide a deep dive into the most critical topics for growers in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry. The first issue, focused on vertical farming, is available in print and digital editions via CEAgWorld.com, and will be distributed at major industry events and through direct outreach.

    The new CEAg brand offers several products including enewsletters, the CEAg World Conference & Expo to be held on Nov. 19-21 in Durham, N.C., and Meister Custom Business Solutions.

    CEAg World recently launched the 2024 Global CEA Census in partnership with Agritecture, a top-tier advisory and agriculture technology firm. The census, with nearly 1,000 downloads to date, features 450 participants across 75 countries with significant representation and perspectives from North America, Europe and Asia.

    indoor farming, Media, Meister Media

    Syngenta Partners with Planet for Precision

    Cindy Zimmerman

    A new partnership between Syngenta and Planet Labs PBC will allow farmers around the world to have comprehensive access to near-daily satellite imagery of their fields.

    The multi-year expansion of their strategic partnership enables farmers to remotely monitor crop health, detect pest infestations, and identify disease outbreaks. The high-resolution, commercially available satellite imagery is delivered to farmers globally as part of Syngenta’s Cropwise digital agriculture platform.

    Satellite imagery today plays an essential role in precision agriculture, allowing farmers to monitor plant growth across large areas, identify signs of stress earlier and manage their crops to deliver better yields and outcomes.

    The collaboration will expand the current integration of Planet’s advanced satellite imagery into Syngenta’s Cropwise platform, giving farmers a further powerful tool in their precision agriculture arsenal.

    The Cropwise digital platform includes a variety of tools to help farmers, from imagery and commodity applications, to financial and sustainability programs. At Commodity Classic last week, Liz Hunt, Head of North America Sustainability for Syngenta, talked about the sustainability piece.

    “What we’ve tried to do is just simplify sustainability,” said Hunt. “So we actually have an app that’s available for farmers to download for free and you go through a self-assessment on sustainability for your operations. And it shows you kind of how you are scoring against six sustainable outcomes gives you some ideas…It’s nonprescriptive, but it gets you thinking about, hey, I’m already doing a lot of these things on my farm.”

    Classic 25 - Liz Hunt, Syngenta 2:51

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Precision Agriculture, Sustainability, Syngenta

    Azotic Technologies Launches Grower-Retailer Advisory Panel

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Growers and retailers from across the U.S. and Canada joined the Azotic North America leadership team recently to form the 2025 Envita Grower-Retailer Advisory Panel.

    The panel convened seven participants both in person and virtually to discuss challenges and opportunities for Envita in 2025 and beyond. Each panelist provided a unique perspective based on their geographical location of operation and role within the agriculture industry. The group discussed product performance, opportunities and the climate for soil and plant biology-based products, marketing, technology and agricultural challenges both at present and on the horizon.

    “Feedback is good, even if it’s not always what we want to hear, it’s what we need to hear to continue improving not just Envita but the service we are providing our customers,” Azotic® National Sales Manager, Scott Bishop told the panel. “Forming this panel is our commitment to providing what the industry needs.”

    Panelists discussed the boom in biological products as well as the abundance of products on the market today to address the difficult decisions farmers and retailers have in deciding which products to trial. Both growers and retailers shared their insights on the importance of consistency and longevity, sharing that the more than 20 years of research backing Envita, sustained results year after year, and a direct line of communication to leadership were key drivers in both their use and promotion of the product.

    The advisory panel will meet again in Indiana over the summer to tour Envita-advantaged fields and reflect on the planting and growing season. To learn more about Azotic Technologies Limited and Envita, visit Azotic.com/USA.

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Food and Ag Groups Express MAHA Concerns

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Over 300 agricultural and food organizations have signed on to a letter calling for sound science and data to be used by the Make America Healthy Again Commission in upcoming evaluations for products essential to food and agriculture.

    The letter, sent to the heads of Health and Human Services, USDA, and EPA, specifically focuses on the importance of pesticides, biotechnology, and food and feed ingredients for farmers and consumers, and it highlights how these products are already well regulated to ensure their safe use.

    Pesticides are called out by the signatories as being essential to protect crops and ensure U.S. consumers can continue to access a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. Biotechnology is important for improving crop yields and sustainability while also improving nutritional outcomes for consumers. Food and feed products are subject to a robust regulatory framework to certify any ingredients permitted for food use are safe for consumers. If access to any of these products is undermined, it could result in higher food costs for consumers or a greater reliance on foreign imports that may be less safe.

    Groups who signed the letter include the American Soybean Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers, Corn Refiners Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, and just about every state or national organizations representing almost every crop grown in the U.S.

    Ag Groups, Crop Protection, EPA

    ZimmCast 743 – Syngenta at Commodity Classic

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

    In this episode I’m going to share some Commodity Classic which was almost at the highest attendance ever. We were in the Mile High city of Denver, CO. The weather was mostly perfect but we did have some wind, rain and snow at the end. Next year the event will take place in San Antonio.

    Once again Syngenta made my trip to Classic possible. You can find photos interviews and more in our virtual ag newsroom. So, in the program I have with me the following:

    Eric Boeck, Regional Director of North America Seeds, Syngenta
    Jeff Cecil, Crop Protection Marketing Head, Syngenta North America
    Steve Sterchi, Product and Commercial Strategy Lead, Syngenta North America
    Kramer Farney, GHX Marketing, Golden Harvest
    Justin Welch, Head of Decision Agronomy, Golden Harvest

    Coming up next for me on the agriblogging highway is the Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit in Washington, DC followed with the National Ag Day Activites. Then it’s Cindy turn to go to DC for the ACE Fly-in. Things start to settle down but I’ll be in KC, MO for the Agri-Marketing Conference in April.

    Listen to the episode here:
    ZimmCast 743 - Syngenta at Classic (26:13)

    That’s the ZimmCast for now. Please let us know if you have ideas for a future podcast. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

    We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

    Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

    Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, Syngenta, ZimmCast

    2025 Ag Day Essay Contest Winners

    Chuck Zimmerman

    National Ag DayThe Agriculture Council of America (ACA) has announced the 2025 National Ag Day video winners. The winners were chosen based on the theme: Agriculture: Why Food Security Equals National Security.

    The first-place winner, Tuongvy Nguyen of Saint Petersburg, Florida, receives a $1,500 prize. The second-place winner, Kristen Dallas from Las Vegas, Nevada will receive $1,000. Isabella Newell from Waltonville, Illinois is the third-place winner, and she receives $500. All three winning entries will be played during the Ag Day event at USDA on National Ag Day, March 18. All three winning entries can be viewed online at https://www.agday.org/2025-contest-winners.

    Honorable Mentions – receive $100​ – Ayaan Shaikh, Burlington, MA; Lilly Sondergeld, Genoa, OH; Alexis Washington, West Columbia, SC; Madelyn Berkenhoff, Brookings, SD

    The Ag Day Essay Contest is sponsored by CHS Inc., National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Farm Progress and Successful Farming.

    Ag Day, Ag Groups

    Animal Ag News 3/10

    Carrie Muehling

  • The 2025 World Pork Expo, hosted by the National Pork Producers Council, is set to bring the pork industry’s leading producers, suppliers and innovators together for two days of education, networking and business opportunities. Taking place June 4-5 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, this year’s event promises a fresh lineup of industry insights, new programming and expanded opportunities for producers to connect.
  • While a biosecurity manager plays a key role in creating and maintaining biosecurity plans, everyone on a cattle operation has a part to play in protecting cattle health. Collaboration between team members simplifies biosecurity measures and ensures effective contingency planning. Dr. Molly Lee will provide a new tool kit for biosecurity managers that builds on the Secure Beef Supply plan and producers will provide personal experiences on developing and implementing biosecurity plans on their cattle operations during the next National Cattlemen’s Beef Association webinar on Tuesday, March 11.
  • Two members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) testified before two separate congressional committees on policy priorities for the cattle industry and to share their personal experience with dangerous predator reintroduction. Troy Sander, a Kansas cattle producer and president of the Kansas Livestock Association, appeared before the House Agriculture Committee urging policymakers to pass a Farm Bill, pass tax legislation to protect family farms and ranches, and strengthen policies that protect our food security. Kent Clark, a Washington rancher and member of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association, addressed the House Natural Resources Committee to explain his experiences with the reintroduction of dangerous predator species in rural communities throughout the West.
  • The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) has released its 2024 Impact Report. Unlike previous annual reports, this format includes the Cattlemen’s Beef Board’s annual financial statement and Beef Checkoff program evaluations—all in one document.
  • Dairy MAX, a regional dairy council, is proud to announce the launch of Better With Dairy, a dynamic new initiative designed to inspire and engage Gen Z consumers by showcasing the benefits of dairy. This bold new brand is backed by two years of comprehensive research into dairy consumption trends across Dairy MAX’s eight-state region: Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming and Montana.
  • The Dairy Business Association, in collaboration with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, honored Duane Ducat of Deer Run Dairy yesterday with the association’s second annual Community Outreach Award. This award recognizes farmers who are active in their community and share the stories and positive messages of dairy farms and products. It was presented during DBA’s 2025 Dairy Strong conference at the KI Convention Center.
  • Dairy farmers from across the nation celebrated fairer milk prices for farmers and pledged to work together to meet challenges on labor, trade and other issues at the National Milk Producers Federation’s Board of Directors meeting.
  • MBK Farms in Colcord, Okla., was one of three farms across the U.S. to receive the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s (USPOULTRY) Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award during the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta. USPOULTRY sponsors the annual awards for exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production.
  • During the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), four researchers presented their findings from recently completed research projects funded by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and its Foundation as part of the TECHTalks sessions offered during the Expo. All the researchers’ presentations have been made available on USPOULTRY’s YouTube channel and can be viewed at youtube.com/USPOULTRY.
  • As part of the USPOULTRY Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting the recruitment and training of top students while promoting careers in the poultry and egg industry, National FFA Officer Candidates were invited to attend an all-expense paid trip to the 2025 International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The National FFA Officer Candidates had the opportunity to take part in the USPOULTRY Foundation College Student Career Program, where they could interview for internships with poultry and egg industry companies and exhibitors. They also explored the wide-ranging opportunities within the industry, including the vast IPPE trade show floor showcasing the technology driving today’s modern, sustainable poultry industry. Additionally, they enhanced their knowledge and skills by attending educational programs offered during Expo week.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Victrato® Registration Expected This Year

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Syngenta’s Dale Ireland and Katie Jaeger

    Registration is expected in 2025 for Syngenta’s new seed treatment for soybeans and cotton called Victrato®.

    “This will be the first product that’s federally labeled for Red Crown Rot as a seed treatment,” said Seedcare Technical Product Lead Dale Ireland at last week’s Commodity Classic. “This will set a new level of protection against early season foliar diseases as well as sudden death syndrome, so it’s really an exciting innovation and it’s going to set a new new standard.”

    Katie Jaeger, Seedcare Product Lead, says registration this year means a full commercial launch in 2026 at the latest. “We’re preparing for a 2025 launch of the product, registration-dependent,” says Jaeger. “Worst case scenario, we’ll have it for 2026, but at this time we’re still preparing to have it in the market in the 2025 season.”

    Learn more in these interviews from Classic.

    Dale Ireland, Seedcare Technical Product Lead, Syngenta
    Classic 25 - Dale Ireland, Syngenta Seedcare 3:49

    Katie Jaeger, Seedcare Product Lead, Syngenta
    Classic 25 - Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare 3:16

    2025 Commodity Classic Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Commodity Classic, Cotton, Soybean, Syngenta

    Industry Ag News 3/7

    Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins praised President Donald J. Trump’s action to make adjustments to tariffs imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico that fall under his historic United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in addition to a reduction of tariffs on potash, a key ingredient in fertilizers that farmers depend on.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation and Alabama Farmers Federation presented Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) with the Outstanding New Member of Congress Award. This award recognizes a member of Congress who is in, or has recently completed, their first term and has already proven to be a reliable partner for agriculture.
  • A letter signed by nearly 9,000 corn growers and advocates from 47 states was sent to House and Senate leadership calling for action to remove an obsolete federal policy that prevents the sale of fuel with 15 percent ethanol blends, often referred to as E15, during the summer months.
  • Building upon the stewardship of forefathers who were ahead of their time, Benjamin and Shannon Ellis have crafted a conservation legacy amid farming in the environmentally sensitive and highly regulated Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The American Soybean Association presented the Ellises with the 2025 National Conservation Legacy Award during the annual ASA Awards Celebration event at Commodity Classic in Denver.
  • CNH announces a key leadership transition in its Human Resources function. Effective May 1, 2025, Francesco Tutino will assume the role of Chief Human Resources Officer, joining the Company’s Global Leadership Team. His future base will be at the Company’s North American headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA.
  • Farm Journal has expanded its reach to serve audiences with the launch of Farm Journal TV, a video streaming service dedicated to agriculture. Farm Journal TV debuted at Commodity Classic in Denver, giving attendees a firsthand look at what the service offers.
  • National Association of State Departments of Agriculture members passed an action item at NASDA’s Winter Policy Conference supporting the United Nations’ resolution declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
  • The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City will recognize Greg Krissek, CEO Emeritus of Kansas Corn, and Don Nikodim, the retired Executive Vice President of the Missouri Pork Association (MPA) with the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence.
  • Kevin Kuper, an experienced executive leader with 25 years of experience in the Farm Credit System, has joined Farm Credit Mid-America’s executive leadership team as chief credit officer. Kuper will lead the credit function for the financial cooperative, overseeing sound credit processes and decisions are made across all loan portfolios while mitigating risk, managing credit quality, and adhering to regulatory compliance.
  • After an exceptional 43-year career in the cooperative system, Jeff Troike has announced his retirement which will officially take effect on August 31, 2025. A steadfast advocate for agriculture and a visionary leader in agribusiness, Troike leaves behind a legacy of innovation, servant leadership, and unwavering commitment to farmer-members. Troike’s leadership culminated in the historic 2024 merger of Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance, forming Keystone Cooperative. In his current role as Executive Vice President, he has continued to influence policy and strategic initiatives to benefit cooperative members and the broader agricultural industry.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers welcomes Anthony Peña as the new Policy Manager. Anthony brings valuable experience from his nearly three-year tenure as Government Relations Manager at the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association.
  • The National Association of Wheat Growers welcomed its new officer team at Commodity Classic 2025 in Denver, CO. These officers will begin their one-year terms, continuing NAWG’s mission to promote the needs of our nation’s wheat growers. Pat Clements of Kentucky will serve as President, Jamie Kress of Idaho will serve as Vice President, Nathan Keane of Montana will serve as Treasurer, and Chris Tanner of Kansas will serve as Secretary. Keeff Felty of Oklahoma will take on the role of Past President.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation announced that Sydney Maras has joined its staff as a Senior Manager I, Communications.
  • March is National Peanut Month, a time to celebrate one of America’s favorite foods! The Georgia peanut industry kicked off the celebration by hosting the 2025 Georgia PB&J Day in Atlanta, Georgia. During the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud donated 7,200 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
    • Zimfo Bytes