2025 Tech Hub Live

Industry Ag News 2/2

Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that most farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially for producers who may have limited time during the planting or harvest seasons to visit a local FSA office; modernize and improve customer service; provide additional customer self-service tools; and expand credit access to assist more producers.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments designed to support the U.S. specialty crops industry. The launch of the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative will provide $65 million for projects that will help the specialty crop sector increase global exports and expand to new markets. Additionally, USDA is announcing $72.9 million in grant funding available to support the specialty crops industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
  • U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jim Costa (D-CA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) announced the launch of the bipartisan Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus to advance and promote policies vital to U.S. agriculture, including boosting agricultural exports, facilitating food and agriculture trade, and knocking down unnecessary trade barriers.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation and West Virginia Farm Bureau presented Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) with the highest honor the organization gives to sitting members of Congress, the Golden Plow award.
  • Individuals across the country can make a difference in the lives of the more than 945,000 FFA members next month by participating in Give FFA Day during National FFA Week. For the eighth year, during National FFA Week, individuals will have an opportunity to step up and support FFA and agricultural education through Give FFA Day on Thursday, Feb. 22. Funds raised support various programs on local, state and national levels. During the 24 hours of giving, donors can donate to the National FFA and the state FFA associations of their choice.
  • Protect The Harvest, the 501(c)3, not-for-profit, educational and advocacy organization founded in 2011 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, has a new look for 2024 with an updated logo, new tagline – A Free and Fed America and revamped website.
  • From research to stories from the field, the 2023 GAP Report explores the opportunities and barriers to farmer access and adoption of proven, appropriate tools for sustainable agricultural productivity growth. The full report is available now.
  • The National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) new Fields-of-Corn.com photo contest site attracted new participants as well as seasoned contest alumni, resulting in a record-breaking number of entrants and high-quality photo submissions.
  • Mary Stratton joined Association of Equipment Manufacturers as the Public Relations Manager and will work with the PR team on many things including, serving as the point of contact for media registration for our tradeshows, working with internal staff to schedule and plan media interviews, drafting press releases for distribution.
  • Beekeepers now have a valuable resource at their fingertips with the release of the latest comprehensive Honey Bee Nutrition Guide from the Honey Bee Health Coalition. The guide is a review and manual for supplemental feeding in bee hives, giving beekeepers a simple approach to the complex and nuanced world of honey bee nutrition.
  • Joe Boddiford, peanut farmer from Sylvania, Georgia, was elected chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission during the January monthly board meeting. This is Boddiford’s third consecutive term serving as chairman. He previously served as chairman in 2000.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    CIRB Celebrates 60 Years Serving Farmers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    At it’s annual meeting this week in Scottsdale, Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) is celebrating 60 years of serving farmers with safety net products to help them keep feeding the world.

    The numbers show that crop insurance is more important than ever for farmers. “A four billion dollar industry 15 or 20 years ago is now an 18 billion industry,” said CIRB Chairman Brian Young with Great American Insurance Group. “There’s been a big push to try to get insurance available to all farmers who wish coverage for the crops that they grow.”

    While CIRB always works to protect crop insurance from detractors, it’s especially important during farm bill negotiations, so Young says they will be very busy on Capitol Hill this year.

    In this interview, Young also talks about CIRB’s very successful Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) which has 20 participants this year.

    Interview with Brian Young, Great American 6:07

    2024 CIRB Annual Meeting

    Audio, CIRB, Crop Insurance

    2024 CattleCon Attendees Enjoying the Sunshine State

    Chuck Zimmerman

    2024 CattleConIt’s winter but Florida has whipped up sun and warmer temps for cattle producers at the newly named CattleCon. We had a great sunset yesterday and today has been a busy one as sessions have started and the trade show will open with a welcoming reception.

    I have started a virtual newsroom for NCBA that will include my photo album along with interviews and selected session audio. You can find it here on AgNewsWire. I’ll be uploading the content throughout the week so check back when you can.

    Here’s an example of what you’ll find.

    D.C. Issues Update: Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane will provide a State of the Industry update; Expert policy speakers will share updates on tax policy, animal health, conservation, trade, supply chains, and more; NCBA’s Political Action Committee will report on the impact of your financial contributions that are helping to elect pro-cattle industry members of Congress across the country.
    NCBA D.C. Issues Update Session 1:34:33

    Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Farm Policy, NCBA

    Precision Ag News 1/31

    Carrie Muehling

  • For years, farmers have had to navigate a complex landscape of digital tools to harness the power of their on-farm data. Corteva Agriscience and John Deere announced a partnership to make it easier for farmers to access Corteva’s industry-leading agronomic recommendations through the John Deere Operations Center.
  • Azotic Technologies Ltd announced that Envita SC has received certification from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program.
  • Agriculture technology innovator Terra Vera announced the launch of Brawndo TS, a portable system that utilizes the company’s proprietary biomimicry solutions for protecting crops and delivering nutrients – without harmful chemicals and synthetic fertilizers.
  • At the end of each growing season, AgriGold ranks its Field GX genetic families by overall performance. Family H topped the list for 2023, but don’t take that as a nudge to go all in on Family H in 2024. AgriGold ranks its hybrid families not to point farmers toward any one family, but rather to showcase how much the leaderboard changes from year to year.
  • Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC)’s Eco-Harvest is one of only two agricultural carbon programs to achieve 3rd party SustainCERT validation and verification for project Impact Units. SustainCERT conducted a rigorous audit of Eco-Harvest project outcomes for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and removals to be used for corporate partner agricultural supply chain reporting. Eco-Harvest Impact Units, and supporting programmatic documentation, are listed on SustainCERT’s VIVID platform.
  • The proposed combination of the legacy companies Novozymes and Chr. Hansen is successfully completed, establishing the company Novonesis. Novonesis is a world-leading biosolutions partner for better business, healthier lives, and a healthier planet. The combined company brings together 10,000 people worldwide and an expertise that spans more than 30 different industries. Novonesis is already assisting companies around the world in meeting both business needs and the needs of the planet.
  • U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Don Beyer (D-Va.), and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) introduced the Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act, bipartisan legislation to improve soil health on farms and support sustainable alternatives to annual agriculture by improving United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs to ensure they are better able to support farmers who incorporate perennial systems and agroforestry into their operations.
  • AcreShield, a developer of innovative agricultural solutions focused on helping farmers achieve profitable operations, introduces Yield Optimizer, the first independent seed selector program that arms farmers with objective seed performance data and helps them choose the best hybrids for their farms backed by an industry-first warranty program.
  • HELM, a leading provider of agricultural solutions, announced the expansion of its Plant Advantage portfolio with the introduction of two groundbreaking products designed to reshape the soil and unlock the full potential of plant growth. With the addition of Contour and UpLink, these technologies can help unlock that potential in the plant creating additional yield through nutrient utilization.
  • RhizoSorb is setting a groundbreaking industry standard for phosphorus fertilizer efficiency. To help growers adopt RhizoSorb 8-39-0 in 2024, corn growers who purchase a minimum of 200 acres will receive a warranty that will reduce their risk of adopting the new fertilizer technology. The RhizoSorb Grower Guarantee is designed to empower growers to embrace “The Next Generation of Phosphorus Fertilizer” TM with confidence.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Envita® SC Receives OMRI Certification

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Azotic Technologies announces that Envita® SC has received certification from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program.

    Tom Tregunno, Global Business Development for Azotic, says OMRI certification introduces Envita SC to one of the fastest growing segments in agriculture. “Growers supplying bio-rational and organic products will now be able to take advantage of the many benefits of nitrogen fixation in a variety of crops and growing environments.”

    Envita SC is a unique nitrogen-fixing biological based on the microbe Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd), originally discovered in sugarcane. This highly effective solution was introduced to the North American market in 2019. Since then, it has experienced phenomenal uptake by farmers around the world as it has consistently delivered exceptional results in a multitude of crops.

    AgWired Precision, Nutrient Management, Organic, Precision Agriculture

    AgGateway Part of VISION Conversations

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AgGateway CEO Brent Kemp (right) chats with Jacob Koelin, MentorMate, at the VISION Conference

    AgGateway is one of the organizations that supports the work of the VISION Conference because CEO Brent Kemp says its important for them to be involved in conversations about interoperability and ag tech adoption.

    “The conversations have been great, the networking is outstanding, the panel discussions have been particularly insightful,” said Kemp about the conference this year. “Sparking the discussion, sharing ideas around issues like AI and integration and infrastructure in new ways.”

    Kemp said the theme of the conference was really centered around adoption, and that’s what AgGateway is all about. “And it allows organizations to build value for their customers, and whoever their customers’ customers may be.”

    Listen to this interview with Kemp at the VISION conference.
    2024 VISION interview with Brent Kemp, AgGateway 2:22

    2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

    AgGateway, AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    AquaSpy Shares Ag Tech VISION

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AquaSpy is a small company with a big vision for the future of ag tech.

    Kathleen Glass is Vice President of Marketing for AquaSpy, which is a soil moisture monitoring company based in California, and also one of the main sponsors of the VISION Conference and Women in Ag Tech (WiAT), as well as one of the founding members of the Global Ag Tech Alliance. Glass is personally involved in all of that and was active on panels, leading working groups, and behind the scenes preparations at the WiAT meeting and VISION Conference last week.

    “This was a personal mission of mine,” said Glass during an interview at the conference. “I’m new to ag tech. I come from IoT and AI and telecom, so I’ve been a marketer in helping different industries adopt technologies.”

    Glass said she enjoyed being able to lead the Ag Tech Adoption Strategic Solutions Teams Challenge, or Tiger Team, during the conference because she believes working together is the way to advance adoption. “I was very happy to see the diversity of representation of growers, investors, retailers, manufacturers, and ag tech here at VISION. That’s something we have to strive for is having all those constituents in the room.”

    Listen to this interview from VISION:
    2024 VISION interview with Kathleen Glass, AquaSpy 8:24

    2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, Technology

    Animal Ag News 1/29

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed almost 450 new-crop samples from across the U.S., and the results show regional variation in mycotoxin risk. Samples showed lower risk in the upper Midwest and higher risk in the East. A combination of drought and untimely rains led to much of the risk.
  • International Dairy Foods Association released the first ever State of Women in Dairy report to provide IDFA members and dairy industry with data-based metrics and recommendations to support gender equality across the entire supply chain.
  • Schreiber Foods Inc. was recognized with the first annual IDFA Workplace of the Year Award at IDFA’s Dairy Forum in Phoenix, Ariz. The award, co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Processing magazine, is given each year to an outstanding IDFA member company that has created policies to promote a positive workplace experience for employees.
  • Bateman’s Mosida Farms of Mosida, Utah was recognized as the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. As detailed by Dairy Herd Management in its feature story on the award-winning farm, Mosida Farms is a labor of love for generations of the Bateman family, and today is owned and operated by the four families of Steve, Brad, Jason and the late Lance Bateman.
  • The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) Board of Directors announces Melissa Gerharter has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO). A registered dietitian, Gerharter joined UDIM eight years ago, serving on the sports nutrition marketing team and health and wellness team before becoming Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Interim CEO.
  • Innovative Solutions, a division of KENT Nutrition Group, introduces HUMISYN, a synergistic blend of organic acid sources that shows great promise in helping to reduce the effects of a common disease in poultry by improving overall gut health.
  • The International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) announced the launch of a comprehensive set of educational training modules designed to complement its Key Welfare Indicator (KWI) Guides. Developed in collaboration with Fresno State’s Center for the Optimization of Poultry (COOP), these training modules aim to enhance industry knowledge and promote best practices in poultry welfare.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is providing multiple internship opportunities for students to learn about different aspects of the cattle industry. Internships are offered in NCBA’s offices in Denver, Colorado and Washington, D.C. New this year, NCBA is launching a Producer Education and Sustainability Internship focused on implementing the cattle industry’s sustainability goals, supporting the Beef Checkoff funded Beef Quality Assurance program, and providing educational resources to cattle producers to improve land management, animal health, and profitability. The internship will occur summer 2024.
  • The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association recognized Richard Thomas, Madison, Missouri, with its “Pioneer Award” at the 56th Annual Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show on January 20, 2024. The award is the highest honor given by the association and is comparable to a lifetime achievement award.
  • A collaborative study between animal agtech startup MyAnIML and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) successfully corroborated the technology’s predictive ability to proactively manage devastating disease outbreaks in cattle production.
  • Thousands of cattlemen and women will gather in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 for CattleCon24, the largest cattle industry event in the country. Registration is available online or on-site, so make plans to join the excitement in the Sunshine State.
  • The Animal Agriculture Alliance is seeking applicants to join the rankings of Animal Ag Allies in 2024. The Animal Ag Allies program, launched in 2020, is a development program to empower farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and industry professionals to be outspoken advocates for agriculture online and in person. The enrollment deadline for the next class is February 2. Apply here!
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Revolutionizing Ag Tech Adoption

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Increasing adoption of new technology was a recurring theme at the VISION Conference last week in Glendale, AZ. The first panel at the event delved into some of the strategies and success stories on proving ROI to farmers in ways that encourage ag tech adoption.

    Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Innovation for the International Fresh Produce Association, moderated the panel which included Chad Hertz, Hertz Farm Management; Tim Bucher, Agtonomy; and Ben Voss, Raven Industries.

    A specialty crop farmer in Northern California as well as an ag tech entrepreneur, Bucher says labor is a big concern for most farmers and important when determining ROI for ag tech. “When you think about automation and robotics, there’s still supervisors needed,” said Bucher. “So if you can scale from one operator to many pieces of equipment that are automated, that’s where ROI is a no-brainer.”

    Bucher’s company Agtonomy, just recently partnered with Bobcat to do that very thing. “We call it multi-vehicle,” he said. “If you can take this new Bobcat tractor and you can have one operator managing ten of them, now you’re talking about serious ROI impact.”

    Listen to this interview with Bucher from the VISION conference.
    2024 VISION interview with Tim Bucher, Agtonomy 5:59

    2024 VISION Conference Photo Album

    AgWired Precision, Audio, Precision Agriculture, robotics, Technology

    Industry Ag News 1/26

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) announced March 19, 2024, will be National Agriculture Day with the theme of “Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.” Activities planned for March 19 feature a virtual Ag Day program, and in-person events in Washington DC. ACA will invite students to interact virtually with legislators and agency representatives, delivering the Ag Day message. A core leadership team of college students will participate in the DC events, along with representatives of national farm and commodity organizations, representatives of the food, fuel, and fiber communities.
  • The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) announces a new member service to help effectively train more drivers to meet the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
  • More than 70 current and past state FFA officers started the new year by exploring Australia and the various types of agriculture the country offers. It was part of the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers, ILSSO, supported by FFA corporate donors Bungee and John Deere.
  • The United States hosted the 59th International Grains Council Session and 2024 Grains Forum in New Orleans, Louisiana this week. The IGC discusses current and prospective world grain market developments, and monitors changes in national grain policies and their market implications. IGC provides critical grain and oilseed market information and analysis to its members, promoting transparency and stability in international trade.
  • Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention in Salt Lake City adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2024. Key topics ranged from artificial intelligence, to labor, to crop insurance. For the second year, delegates were polled at the beginning of the voting session regarding their farms and 99% of those who cast votes operate family farms and nearly two-thirds represent small to mid-size farms as defined by USDA. Delegates voted to create new policy to address the growth of artificial intelligence in agriculture. AI has the potential to enhance farming practices and conserve resources, but privacy rights must be respected.
  • The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its 17th “Book of the Year” award to author Roxanne Troup for “My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me.” The award was presented at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention. “My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me” follows Grandpa as he tenderly cares for each tree in his orchard, including his favorite – a pecan tree, planted for his granddaughter on the day she was born.
  • Global futurist and best-selling author Jack Uldrich will do a follow up to his October 26 webinar. This webinar will feature a moderated Q&A. Come armed with your questions! FREE for NAMA members, $50 for non-members. Register here.
  • Developing the next generation of talent remains a top priority for AgCareers.com, evidenced by the release of the second edition of the U.S. Classroom Implementation Guide. This essential resource for teachers, educators, advisors, and leaders helps students prepare for their future while they discover and explore careers in agriculture and food.
  • The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has named Martina Graf, an agrologist and copywriter based in British Columbia, Canada, the organization’s new Global Manager. Graf will transition to her new role with the help of long-time Global Manager Hugh Maynard of Quebec, Canada, who is retiring.
  • The crop insurance industry is actively working to increase the diversity in its workforce to reflect the diversity of the farmers it serves, and National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) is proud to be part of this effort by supporting deserving students at the historically Black 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. For more than a decade, NCIS has helped qualified students at 1890 Land Grant Institutions complete their education and prepare them for careers in agriculture through two-year scholarships offered through the NCIS 1890 Scholarship Program.
  • To keep you up-to-date and in-the-know about crop insurance, National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) has launched “Keep America Growing,” a new monthly podcast hosted by NCIS President Tom Zacharias.
  • Ag Management Solutions (AMS) has secured several National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) regional awards on behalf of their clients. A full-service, Mankato-based group specializing in executive management, accounting, administrative services and marketing and communications expertise, AMS accepted four awards on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), two awards on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and one award on behalf of Minnesota Wheat.
  • E. Michael Castle II has been appointed chief operations and financial officer at Alltech. Castle has been with Alltech for 19 years, most recently serving as chief operating officer and CEO of the Alltech Feed Division. He has deep experience in the business globally, having also served as chief administrative and legal officer, among other roles.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is committed to the future of agriculture, and to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture, NCGA has partnered with BASF to offer scholarships to students enrolled in qualifying institutions. NCGA is proud to support three scholarship programs for three distinct audiences.
  • Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioner Max Vekich and Michelle Schultz, with the Surface Transportation Board (STB), are confirmed to speak at Transportation Go! on March 14 in Toledo, Ohio. Hosted by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA), Transportation Go! is the premier conference for soybean and grain transportation and trade issues in the Upper Midwest.
  • Merck Animal Health has named AdFarm, North American agricultural marketing leader, as the agency of record for its U.S. beef cattle division. AdFarm will provide strategy, branding, research and insights, creative, media and digital marketing services to support beef cattle biopharmaceutical, animal identification and technology solutions for Merck.
    • Zimfo Bytes