· Arkansas/Missouri – Dane Coomer, Piggott Arkansas; re-elected
· Kentucky – Amanda Gajdzik, Shelbyville, Kentucky; newly elected
· Ohio – Rachael Vonderhaar, Camden, Ohio; re-elected
· Tennessee – Ben Neale, Columbia, Tennessee; newly elected
In the 43rd episode of the Water for Food Podcast, host Frances Hayes speaks with Claudia Ringler of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) about the crucial link between irrigation and global health, expanding on Ringler’s recent Heuermann Lecture as part of the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference and previous episodes in this podcast. Together they explore how irrigation can improve health outcomes while also addressing potential unintended negative impacts and how to avoid them when designing irrigation solutions.
The conversation highlights successful irrigation projects, strategies for ensuring access to irrigation for beneficial outcomes like decreased malnutrition and improved hygiene, and necessary policy changes and international collaborations to maximize positive health impacts globally.
Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
DWFI podcast episode 43 41:23
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.
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Virginia farmer Jeb Cullipher and NCBA past President Kevin Kester (left) with President Trump at White House event
President Donald Trump welcomed National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Past-President Kevin Kester from California and Virginia Cattlemen’s Association member Jeb Cullipher to represent those in the agriculture industry who will benefit from provisions in the legislation.
“The one big, beautiful bill will also be an incredible victory for American farmers, another group that we did great with, especially family farmers,” said President Trump. “Our bill will provide 100 percent expensing so they can buy a new farm, new farm equipment. And by the way, the expensing is good for everybody, not just farmers. And it will virtually eliminate the so-called estate tax or the death tax.”
Kester raises cattle with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Over 30 years ago, he inherited the ranch from his grandfather and faced a $2 million Death Tax from the IRS.
“It was an incredible honor to stand with President Trump and echo his message that America’s family farmers and ranchers need tax relief now,” said Kester. “When I was hit with the Death Tax 30 years ago, I couldn’t hire new employees, invest in equipment, or make improvements to the ranch. My family and I had to stretch every dollar and sacrifice basic purchases so that we could pay off that tax bill. To protect our food security and national security, we need to make sure no other farming family experiences that same burden, which is why Congress must pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and deliver lasting tax relief.”
The Cullipher family has been farming in the area for almost 200 years and Jeb added cattle to the farm. For his business to thrive, farmers like Cullipher need Congress to support small business tax deductions, credits, and other provisions that help farmers invest in the success of their operations.
Listen to Trump’s comments here.
Pres. Trump on bill's benefits for farmers 1:53
Women in Ag Tech (WiAT) returns to Tech Hub LIVE next month in Des Moines, offering a full afternoon of inspiring conversations, actionable insights, and meaningful networking for women working in every corner of agriculture and ag tech. The event will take place Monday, July 21, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
Hosted by Meister Media Worldwide, WiAT brings together forward-thinking professionals working across precision agriculture, R&D, digital platforms, crop protection, financial services, ag retail, and farm management technologies.
Now in its third year, WiAT has become a cornerstone of Tech Hub LIVE, delivering content that’s smart, strategic, and grounded in real-world experience. From crop input innovation to data science, farm finance, and digital tools, Women in Ag Tech is built for professionals leading and shaping the future of the industry.
The agenda this year begins with a keynote address from Susan Olson, Ph.D., a former aerospace engineer who now leads ag tech startup Action Intel. Other highlights include a panel discussion on getting more value out of ag tech investments by addressing data gaps and infrastructure challenges, and a presentation from Sarah Canada with Corteva Agriscience on how innovation moves from the whiteboard to the field inside one of agriculture’s largest R&D organizations.
The program will also explore how ag tech is reshaping farm credit and insurance, from underwriting to digital documentation, and what that means for producers navigating a shifting landscape and Iowa farmer and ag advocate April Hemmes will host an open-floor Q&A, inviting attendees to ask anything—from cover crops to carbon markets to career pivots.
The Women in Ag Tech event is supported by a group of committed sponsors who continue to champion leadership, innovation, and inclusion in the sector. Corteva Agriscience returns as Signature Sponsor, joined by Agri-Access as Visionary Sponsor and Faegre Drinker as Sustaining Sponsor.
“Creating space for women to thrive in ag tech is essential to the future of the industry,” said Kristin Utterback, Innovation and Engagement Strategy Leader, R&D for Corteva. “We’re proud to support initiatives like WiAT that encourage innovation and inclusion.”
Learn more here and in the Tech Hub LIVE preview interview below with conference organizer Magda Gibson.
2025 Tech Hub LIVE preview - Magda Gibson (11:12)
This year’s Fourth of July cookout will cost slightly less than last year’s record, but the federal government’s broader Consumer Price Index report for food at home still shows an overall increase of 2.2% compared to a year ago.
According to the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation annual summer survey, holiday cookout for ten will cost $70.92, down only 30 cents from last year’s record-high cost, making it $7.09 per person, the second-highest cost since Farm Bureau began the survey in 2013.
“Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America’s families,” said AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub. “High prices don’t mean more money for farmers, however. Farmers are price takers, not price makers. Their share of the food retail dollar is just 15%. The cost of running their farm is up, from labor and transportation, to taxes.”
The survey included prices for a meal with cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, among other favorites. It shows an increase this year in the cost of beef, potato salad and canned pork and beans, while prices are lower for pork chops, chips and hamburger buns.
The retail price for 2 pounds of ground beef increased 4.4% to $13.33. Pork and beans will cost $2.69, up 20 cents from 2024. Potato salad is up 6.6% to $3.54. Several factors influence these increases, reflecting the sort of challenges farmers regularly face. Fewer cattle are available for processing, which is affecting supplies. Steel and aluminum tariffs mean increased prices on canned goods. The cost of eggs – used in potato salad – is still elevated, although they are much lower than record highs earlier this year as egg-laying chicken populations are recovering from avian influenza.
Our survey found a reduction in cost for six cookout staples. Among them is a 3-pound package of pork chops, which is down 8.8% from last year, at $14.13. Chips average $4.80 a bag, a dime less than 2024. Hamburger buns are 2.6% less expensive, at $2.35. The amount of pork available to stores is up, which is pushing prices down. The demand for potatoes has eased, helping bring down the cost of chips. Wheat prices are still much lower than record highs of three years ago, contributing to the slight decrease in the cost of buns.
The fifth annual Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo returns to the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines July 21-23 with the theme “TECH THAT WORKS: Driving Efficiencies for Retailer Success and Farmer Resilience.”
Powered by the CropLife Media Group™, in partnership with the Global AgTech Initiative and AgriBusiness Global brands, Tech Hub LIVE continues to grow as the industry’s largest gathering of ag retailers, dealers, agronomists, distributors, manufacturers, consultants, and tech providers committed to advancing practical innovation in agriculture.
Conference organizer Magda Gibson says the whole purpose of the event is to create great business, learning, and networking opportunities. “The idea is to bring together leaders across agronomy, data, automation, digital platforms to explore how technology is transforming the business and practice of agriculture,” said Gibson.
The conference officially kicks off with the Welcome Party Monday evening, sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, which will be held this year at Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs. Prior to that will be the co-located Women in Ag Tech (WiAT) event, which continues to grow in popularity.
Tuesday will include a welcome from Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, and a fifth anniversary celebration with awards, followed by the keynote address from Jeff Blair, President and CEO of GreenPoint Ag, and multiple educational and networking opportunities. “We have a great and ever-expanding expo floor, we have the Tech Talks, the Fireside Chats, conference sessions…all of our programming is focused on helping retailers do more with less but continue to innovate and grow as every dollar counts,” Gibson said.
Wednesday includes sessions on artificial intelligence, Purdue University’s Bruce Erickson with the latest Precision Ag Adoption survey, and concluding with the popular farmers panel.
Learn more about the 2025 Tech Hub LIVE in this preview interview and click here for registration.
2025 Tech Hub LIVE preview - Magda Gibson (11:12)