2025 Agri-Marketing Conference

ZimmCast 741 – Clean Fuels in 2025

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCastHello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

While Cindy was home during the major snow storm in Florida I was attending the Clean Fuels Conference in San Diego, CA. The weather was delightful for the conference. However, in the Pensacola, FL area there was eight to ten inches of snow, something that hasn’t happened in over 150 years! But it has all melted and we’re mostly back to normal.

So, let’s talk about clean fuels. We created a virtual ag newsroom once again for the conference that used to be named the National Biodiesel Conference. It was the first one we created many years ago. You can find that newsroom with photos, interviews and session audio right here.

In this episode I’m going to share some of the interviews I did. So, let’s get started. First up I interviewed Kent Engelbrecht, ADM, serving as Chairman of the Clean Fuels Alliance America. Following him is Kurt Kovarik, VP of Government Affairs, Clean Fuels; then Tom Verry, Director of Outreach and Development; and to close things up I interviewed Donnell Rehagen, CEO, Clean Fuels.

In addition to the virtual ag newsroom on AgNewsWire we also posted content onto the Clean Fuels Conference Blog which you can find here.

Now that I’ve been catching up I’m getting ready for the CattleCon 2025 working with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. At the same time Cindy will be at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau annual meeting. It’s just that busy time of the year.

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 741 - Clean Fuels in 2025 (18:01)

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, Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, Energy, ZimmCast

Animal Ag News 1/29

Carrie Muehling

  • Alltech is pleased to announce the expansion of its mycotoxin testing program Alltech® RAPIREAD™, which now includes a new collaboration with Waters™ | VICAM® and the connection to its analytical tool, Vertu™ TOUCH. Offering simple touch-screen operation, the Vertu TOUCH lateral flow strip test reader works in concert with VICAM’s Vertu strip tests to deliver full-range quantitative results for up to six major mycotoxins, including aflatoxin, fumonisin, vomitoxin (DON), zearalenone, ochratoxin A and the combination of T-2 and HT-2 toxins.
  • Recognizing the vital role that four-legged friends often play on family farms and ranches, Farm Bureau launched the Farm Dog of the Year contest several years ago – now a popular feature of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Convention. The winner of the 2025 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award is Sirius, a 6-year-old Maremma sheepdog owned by Florida Farm Bureau members Jorge and Debbie Garcia-Bengochea. AFBF, with support from Nestlé Purina PetCare, recognized Sirius and a People’s Choice Pup at its convention.
  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) hailed the House passage of two significant land management bills that are strongly supported by America’s livestock producers: the ACRES Act and the Fix Our Forests Act.
  • The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) recently initiated a research project to analyze the potential impacts that vitamin and amino acid supply chain disruptions could have on livestock health and food security. This project aims to identify the critical supply thresholds and inclusion rates at which animal health and livestock production would be adversely affected from shortages of key diet nutrients. The research will be completed by Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS), working in collaboration with Lobo Consulting Solutions.
  • Innovation in the dairy community was the central theme of Dairy Strong, a conference focused on the dairy industry held at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis. More than 400 people attended Dairy Strong, which featured two keynotes and multiple breakout sessions focused on a broad range of topics from sustainability to how the new presidential administration may affect dairy stakeholders.
  • The Dairy Business Association honored Paul Fetzer of Fetzer Farms with the association’s Advocate of the Year award for his contributions to Wisconsin’s dairy community. The award, sponsored by Vita Plus Corporation, was presented during DBA’s Dairy Strong conference at the KI Convention Center. This annual award honors farmers who excel in managing their farms while actively engaging with their local communities and taking on agricultural leadership roles.
  • Grotegut Dairy Farm of Newton, Wisc. was recognized as the 2025 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, Grotegut Dairy is a cutting-edge operation with an impressive herd of 3,500 milking cows and a host of contemporary solutions that put the farm ahead of its time.
  • Zoetis announced that it recently received an expanded label approval from the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) for Synovex® Primer™ and Synovex Choice® to increase weight gain in growing beef steers and heifers on pasture.
  • Cattle producers, veterinarians and industry professionals attending NCBA CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio are invited to visit booth #2807 to learn about Tauramox® (moxidectin) Injectable Solution and the comprehensive antibiotic portfolio from Norbrook®, including Norfenicol® (florfenicol) Injectable Solution.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    MyLand Secures $23 Million to Transform Soil Health

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Soil health company MyLand has secured $23 million in funding in a round led by Proterra Investment Partners LP with the goal of supporting MyLand’s growth across the U.S. and into international markets to transform soil health.

    “This funding, secured in a highly challenging market and at an incremental valuation, is a testament to the growing recognition that soil health is foundational to agricultural success,” said Dane Hague, Co-Founder and CEO of MyLand. “The proven results of our service—delivering strong economic returns to farming partners across geographies, soil types, and crops—demonstrate the critical role MyLand plays in modern agriculture. Soil is an essential natural resource, and our unique ability to rapidly rebuild it has far-reaching benefits: improved water and nutrient efficiency, enhanced nutrition, greater climate resilience, and better livelihoods for the farmers and ranchers who provide the food on our tables.”

    MyLand’s innovative Soil as a Service™ uses live, native microalgae to rejuvenate soil health and improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability for growers, integrating seamlessly into existing farm operations. MyLand’s solution offers a simple and scalable path for farmers to improve soil health and produce more with fewer resources, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable food system.

    This $23 million financing follows a $20 million Hardware as a Service loan facility from PaceZero Capital Partners in October 2024. Additional investors in the round included existing shareholders, namely Climate IC and the Borden Family Trust, multiple Climate IC LPs, and FarmClub Investments. Collectively, this funding will enable MyLand to scale operations and expand its reach in key agricultural regions. With a strong presence in California, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, and Alberta, MyLand is poised to deepen its impact on North American agriculture while exploring opportunities for growth in new markets.

    Read more from MyLand.

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Soil

    Vilsack Named CEO of World Food Prize Foundation

    Cindy Zimmerman

    He just turned 74 last month, but former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has a new job already, as CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation, located in Des Moines. Beginning March 1, “Vilsack will leverage his extensive leadership and diplomatic experience to enhance the Foundation’s global impact in food security and sustainable agriculture.”

    Vilsack’s appointment builds on his longstanding relationship with the Foundation, where he served on the Council of Advisors and Board of Directors, offering invaluable insights that have shaped its mission and initiatives. He has served two terms as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and two terms as governor of Iowa, in addition to involvement with several organizations focused on agricultural trade and sustainable food production. His exposure and collaboration with the Foundation over the past two decades reflects his life-long dedication to advancing agriculture and food security.

    “The World Food Prize Foundation has a phenomenal and important history of advancing innovation to address global food security,” said Vilsack. “I am honored to have the opportunity to build on that legacy, working closely with Mashal Husain and the talented team to extend the Foundation’s impact worldwide. I look forward to forging new partnerships, helping bring to life new solutions in the fight against hunger and championing efforts to ensure a sustainable and equitable food system for future generations.”

    people, World Food Prize

    Clean Fuels Chair Confident Moving Forward

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Kent Engelbrecht serves as director of North American Biodiesel Trade Policy for ADM, one of the world’s leading biodiesel producers, oilseed crushers, and suppliers of soy and canola feedstocks for the renewable liquid fuels industry.

    Engelbrecht is also Chairman of the Clean Fuels America Alliance, and he is Chairman of the California Advanced Biofuels Alliance (CABA), as well as Advanced Biofuels Canada (ABFC). He was chair of the National Biodiesel Board in 2017 before it became Clean Fuels at a time that was very similar to today.

    “It was another difficult time in the industry,” he said in remarks at the Clean Fuels Conference in San Diego last week. “In many ways, it was similar to what we’re facing now. We’ve got headwinds generated by issues that aren’t entirely within our control. Back then we had issues with tax credits, RFS, and we weren’t really sure what to expect with the new president for the next 4 years. Sound familiar?”

    Engelbrecht says it created a situation where the industry had to go beyond soybeans and build a coalition of complimentary feedstocks and technologies.

    “And we’ve created our path forward. We’ve established renewable diesel as an important part of the country’s energy supply and laid the groundwork for sustainable aviation fuel. Dozens of states across the country have added new clean fuel incentives,” said Engelbrecht. “I look forward to working together as we write this next chapter together.”

    Listen to Engelbrecht’s remarks and interview:
    Clean Fuels remarks - Kent Engelbrecht, ADM (14:04)

    Clean Fuels interview - Kent Engelbrecht, ADM (2:37)

    2025 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

    Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance

    Industry Ag News 1/24

    Carrie Muehling

  • Corn production declined, while soybean production increased from last year, according to the 2024 Crop Production Annual Summary released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. U.S. corn growers produced 14.9 billion bushels in 2024, down 3 percent from 2023. Corn yield in the United States is estimated at 179.3 bushels per acre, 2.0 bushels above 2023 and a record high. Area harvested for grain, at 82.9 million acres in 2024, is down 4 percent from 2023. Soybean production for 2024 totaled 4.37 billion bushels, up 5 percent from 2023. The average soybean yield is estimated at 50.7 bushels per acre, 0.1 bushel above 2023, and 1.0 bushel below the Nov. 1 forecast.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development is excited to announce the launch of a new Clean Energy website, a proactive approach to promote clean energy projects in rural America. The website is a platform for identifying federal funding opportunities and transforming, developing, or procuring clean energy production in these areas.
  • President Donald J. Trump designated Jeffery S. Hall as board chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration. Chairman Hall is the longest-serving member of the current FCA board, having been appointed by President Barack Obama on March 17, 2015. He succeeds Vincent Logan, who has served as FCA board chairman and CEO since Oct. 21, 2022.
  • Because not everyone is able to join us in San Antonio for the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention, selected sessions from the Convention agenda will be available to stream live online. All three General Sessions and the activities on the Cultivation Center Stage will stream live on FB.org as well as on the Convention Website. President Duvall’s speech will also stream live during Opening General Session on Sunday, January 26 starting at 9:30 a.m. CST.
  • Glen R. Smith of Iowa was elected as chairman of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation board of directors. He succeeds Jeffery Hall, who served as chairman of the FCSIC board of directors from November 2016 until he was designated board chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) on Jan. 20, 2025.
  • Attention college students with a passion for agricultural communications and desire to network with hundreds of professionals. Apply by February 21 for the Forrest Bassford Student Award. The top winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship and a $500 travel award to attend Ag Media Summit. Up to three additional $750 travel scholarships may be awarded to finalists to attend the event. Get details and download the application here.
  • The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board of directors elected new officers for the organization’s 2025/26 fiscal year (July to June) at their meeting January 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Mike Carstensen of Almira, Wash., was newly elected as the organization’s next Secretary-Treasurer and will take office July in 2025. At the July board meeting in Boise, Idaho, current Secretary-Treasurer Gary Millershaski of Lakin, Kan., will succeed to Vice Chairman and current Vice Chairman Jim Pellman of McClusky, N.D., will take office as Chairman. Current Chairman Clark Hamilton of Ririe, Idaho, will become Past Chairperson.
  • Two exceptional college students pursuing careers in agriculture will be awarded $2,500 each this semester from the National Wheat Foundation (NWF), with sponsorship from BASF. NWF selected Teagan Macy, a junior at the University of Idaho pursuing a degree in crop science. Ryland Peters, a sophomore at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, was also selected. College students are encouraged to apply for this scholarship next year. The deadline is December 31, 2025. More details can be found on the National Wheat Foundation website, www.wheatfoundation.org.
  • The Western Farm Show and Missouri Farmers Care are joining forces for the second year to make a difference in the lives of families facing food insecurity in Missouri and Kansas. The Western Farm Show’s annual Unite Against Hunger “Battle Of The Border” event will collaborate with the Drive to Feed Kids for an opportunity for Western Farm Show attendees and FFA chapters to make a difference.
  • The Georgia Peanut Commission is seeking candidates for the position of executive director. The GPC Board of Directors seek candidates to oversee the management of Commission resources and serve as the staff team leader. During the recent Georgia Peanut Farm Show, Don Koehler, current GPC executive director, announced his plans to retire Aug. 1, 2026.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    USDA Nominee Faces Senate Ag Committee

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The Senate Agriculture Committee hosted the confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Agriculture on Thursday.

    Brooke Rollins is the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute and worked in the previous Trump administration in the White House Office of American Innovation and United States Domestic Policy Council. Prior to that, she was the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

    In her opening statement, Rollins outlined her key priorities for day one if she is confirmed. “First, we must ensure the disaster and economic assistance authorized by Congress is deployed
    as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Rollins. “Second, we must work to immediately and comprehensively get a handle on the state of animal-disease outbreaks,including H5N1 and New World Screwworm.”

    Other priorities including working to “realign and rethink” the USDA, and providing the “timely and technical assistance” to ensure a farm bill that moves forward.

    Rollins hearing - priorities (2:21)

    Audio, USDA

    Precision Ag News 1/23

    Carrie Muehling

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 36 members to serve on the newly formed Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council, informally referred to as to the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council.
  • As a testament to the growing commitment of major players in agricultural machinery and agri-equipment, New Holland confirms its participation to World FIRA for the second time, announcing the signing of a multi-year agreement with the FIRA events, the leading field-based exhibitions for agricultural robotics and autonomous solutions in Europe and the United States. At the 9th edition of the World FIRA, taking place from February 4 to 6, 2025, in Toulouse, New Holland will showcase its brand-new T4 FNV specialty tractor, equipped with an advanced guidance system and the winner of the EIMA 2024 Technical Innovation award.
  • Greeneye Technology, the pioneer of precision spraying technology that is proven to reduce non-residual herbicide use in farming by an average of 87 percent, announced the expansion of its cutting-edge system to include cotton crops. This advancement follows extensive research and development field trials conducted last year to tailor the Greeneye system for cotton, building on its proven success with corn and soybean.
  • Pivot Bio announced a retail distribution partnership with Logan Agri-Service, Inc., an independently owned and operated supplier of agricultural crop inputs headquartered in Griggsville, IL. Through this partnership, PROVEN® 40, a microbial nitrogen solution powered by Pivot Bio’s patented gene-edited technology, will be available across all of Logan Ag’s locations, providing corn farmers throughout the network with an advanced nitrogen solution that complements Logan Ag’s trusted lineup of products and services.
  • According to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), U.S. sales of Ag tractors and combines fell in December 2024 compared to the year before. U.S. Sales of Ag tractors fell 11.3 percent while combine sales fell 26.4 percent in December 2024 compared to 2023.
  • At the World Economic Forum (WEF), Jeff Rowe, CEO of Syngenta Group, presented the five key trends in AI that will define agriculture in 2025. During a panel discussion at Bloomberg House on the topic “From Soil to Silicon: How Advanced Technologies are Cultivating the Future of Sustainable Ag”, he outlined how 2025 will mark the first year AI truly revolutionizes agriculture – from lab to field.
  • The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is proud to announce that Illinois farmers have set a new soybean production record. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Illinois farmers produced 688 million bushels of soybeans in 2024, surpassing the state’s previous record of 666.75 million bushels, set in 2018.
  • Meister Media Worldwide, the leading agriculture media and events company, and Agritecture, a top-tier advisory and agriculture technology firm, announced the results of the 2024 Global CEA Census, available for download at CEAgWorld.com/CEAcensus. The controlled environment agriculture (CEA) survey was a collaborative effort between Meister Media’s CEAg World brand and Agritecture.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Dr. Jonathan Wendel Receives Cotton Genetics Research Award

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Dr. Jonathan Wendel, Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University was announced as the 2024 Cotton Genetics Research Award recipient last week during the 2025 Beltwide Cotton Conferences in New Orleans. Wendel, who was not present to accept the award, was selected by the Joint Cotton Breeding Committee and received a plaque with a monetary award.

    Dr. Wendel earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his master’s and Ph.D. from University of North Carolina. His career began in 1983 working as a geneticist for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in North Carolina. In 1986, Dr. Wendel transitioned to academia and has been heavily involved with research, teaching, and mentorship at Iowa State University since. During his time with Iowa State University, Dr. Wendel has collaborated with researchers internationally as well as held administrative roles.

    Over his career, Dr. Wendel has authored or co-authored 340 scientific journal articles and book chapters to date with over 54,000 citations and a Google Scholar h-index of 112. A majority of Dr. Wendel’s research and subsequent publications has been related to cotton genetics. His early work helped to explain the genomic underpinnings of cotton domestication and diversification and more recent research efforts have led to more practical tools for improving cotton as an agricultural crop.

    Beltwide Cotton, Cotton

    Clean Fuels Celebrates Conference in Important Market

    Cindy Zimmerman

    The 2025 Clean Fuels Conference is being held this week in a very important market for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel – California.

    “Biodiesel and renewable diesel have displaced 75% of all diesel sold in the state,” said Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen in his opening remarks Tuesday. “It’s now harder to find diesel fuel in California than our fuels. Our industry is responsible for 45% of California’s progress under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard so far.”

    However, Rehagen says the accelerating growth in the industry has created a unique challenge, the need for more feedstock.

    “Our industry’s rapid growth, more than doubling production capacity in the last four years, has outpaced domestic feedstock availability – at least for now. By our calculations, current volumes of domestic feedstocks would support about 3.3 billion gallons of fuel production,” said Rehagen. “As we’ve seen growing amounts of imported feedstocks coming in to fill the demand, it has generated angst with domestic feedstock growers and processors.”

    Rehagen says it will be an active and challenging year for the clean fuels industry. “We must remain unified…We will need engagement from this industry as the impacts of 45z begin to take effect, and RVOs are set…all under a new administration. We’re going to need everybody to participate. If we win on these two things, 2025 and 2026 could be among our finest years yet.”

    Listen to Rehagen’s comments:
    Clean Fuels opening remarks Donnell Rehagen, CEO (27:21)

    2025 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

    Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance