AgNewsWire

Pivot Bio Launches the Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour, a more than 1,500-Mile Tractor Tour to Celebrate America’s Farmers and Highlight the Need for Investment in America’s Most Important Industry

Cindy Zimmerman — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:40:06 +0000

CEO Chris Abbott to travel across America’s Heartland, thanking the farmers who feed the world while joining them and industry leaders to explore the innovations, technologies and partnerships helping strengthen the future of American agriculture.

Farm Ambassadors Kick-off the Tour
4th Generation Missouri Farmer – Tom Boedeker, Boedeker Brothers Farm
5th Generation Alabama Farmer – Kyle Bridgeforth, Bridgeforth Farms

ST. LOUIS, MO and MINNEAPOLIS, MN, July 20 – A year ago, during an investor conference, the conversation turned to a question that has become increasingly common across boardrooms and business forums: What industries will have the greatest impact shaping the future?

Chris Abbott, CEO of Pivot Bio, listened to the conversations. Topics such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, robotics, American competitiveness, domestic security and global markets dominated the discussions.

As Abbott listened, he realized that not once did the conversation turn to one of the world’s most essential industries—one that touches every person on the planet every single day, yet is too often overlooked.

“That conversation stayed with me,” Abbott said. “I spend every waking moment thinking about how we can better support farmers. Agriculture isn’t simply another industry, it’s absolutely foundational to every community and economy. Farmers are solving some of the world’s biggest challenges every day, yet their voices aren’t always part of the broader conversation. Certainly, their work doesn’t attract the level of investment that other industries attract. I left with a mission to do my part to change that.”

That conversation became the inspiration for the Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour.

Beginning July 20 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and over the course of the next 12 months, Abbot will travel more than 1,500 miles across America’s rural communities with a working family tractor, meeting with farmers in their fields and communities to listen to their experiences, celebrate their contributions and explore the ideas that will shape the next generation of agriculture.

Most importantly, he’s bringing along some friends. Innovators, technologists, business leaders, policymakers and academic leaders will take a turn in the buddy seat to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture—and the investment and technology focus needed to bring the same level of innovation to America’s most critical industry.

The Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour is built around a simple belief: the best ideas for agriculture begin with the people who live it every day.

Just as importantly, the tour is intended to spark action.

By bringing together farmers with leaders from business, government, academia and the broader agricultural community, Pivot Bio hopes the conversations will identify practical partnerships and solutions that can help farmers address today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.

Chris Turners, Pivot Bio’s Chief Commercial Officer has seen it all in his decades long career with some of the most notable companies in agriculture. “I’ve spent my entire career working alongside farmers, and I can honestly say I’ve never been part of a company that has invested in them the way Pivot Bio has. Whether it’s developing breakthrough technology, standing beside farmers during fertilizer uncertainty, investing in the next generation through Pivot Pathways, or moving our operations closer to the people we serve, everything we do starts with one question: ‘How can we better support farmers?’ That’s what makes this tour so meaningful to me.”

A Tractor That Carries More Than One Story

Every journey needs the right vehicle. For a journey as impactful as the Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour, that meant finding more than simply a tractor to make the trip. It meant finding one that represents the resilience and spirit of American agriculture. The search led to 69-year-old Missouri farmer Tom Boedeker of Boedeker Brothers Farm, a fourth-generation family operation near Elsberry, Missouri, whose roots date back to 1936.

Together with his brother, Joe and cousins and Jim and Bert, Tom has spent a lifetime helping lead Boedeker Brothers Farm through decades of change, caring for the land while embracing new technologies that improve productivity and strengthen environmental stewardship. His journey has not been without extraordinary challenges. Known as an early adopter of conservation practices and new equipment, Tom has always believed in leaving the land better than he found it.

For generations, Boedeker Brothers Farm has also served as a cornerstone of its rural community, opening its gates to thousands of students through school field trips, FFA and 4-H events, livestock and dairy judging contests, soil science competitions and other educational experiences that have introduced young people across eastern Missouri to agriculture and inspired future generations of farmers.

Like many farm families, Boedeker Brothers Farm has faced difficult seasons and extraordinary decisions over the years, including closing the dairy chapter of the operation in 2018 after generations of milking. Tom’s own journey has also tested him, from surviving a grain bin accident and a combine fire during harvest to overcoming serious equipment accidents and a life-threatening medical emergency. He is the definition of resilience.

Yet through every setback, he has remained committed to the work he loves, the community he serves and the farm his family has built together.

Starting this summer, Tom’s own working tractor will be part of the journey. Dubbed the Grati-tractor One, it is only fitting that it comes from a multi-generational working farm. It will take a break for harvest, but will be back on the road after, and may be joined by other tractors along the journey.

Rather than a showpiece built for display, this tractor will be a symbol of the perseverance, innovation and optimism that define farming families across America.

Tom Boedeker will be the first ambassador of the tour and will join Abbott driving the tractor to Busch Stadium for the journey’s official kickoff on July 20.

Farm Ambassador – Kyle Bridgeforth, Bridgeforth Farms

In addition to Tom Boedeker, the tour also features a second Farm Ambassador – Kyle Bridgeforth, Bridgeforth Farms .

As a fifth-generation farmer, Bridgeforth is carrying forward a family legacy that began in 1877, when his formerly enslaved great-great-grandfather, George Bridgeforth Sr., began purchasing farmland in North Alabama following the Civil War.

For nearly 150 years, generations of the Bridgeforth family have broken barriers, advanced agricultural education and built one of America’s most respected Black-owned farming operations.

Today, as an owner and operating partner of Bridgeforth Farms – one of America’s largest Black-owned farming operations, Kyle Bridgeforth is helping shape the future of agriculture both on and off the farm. In addition to leading initiatives focused on crop traceability, farm efficiency and business development, Bridgeforth serves on the boards of several organizations including the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, the International Fertilizer Development Center, and works closely with organizations like the American Soybean Association and National Black Growers Council to advance farmer success. Whether he’s in the field, the boardroom or at the policy table, Bridgeforth is helping shape conversations about the future of American agriculture.

“Our Founding Honorary Ambassadors remind us that every farm has a story,” Abbott said. “These two farm families represent the resiliency that is on display every day across rural America. Some stories are measured in generations. Others are measured by perseverance through adversity. Together, they represent the many faces of American agriculture and the people whose work makes life possible for all of us.”

The Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour will conclude at the A Million Thanks Festival – Live from the Heartland next year, where all 15 Founding Honorary Ambassadors will be recognized as part of Pivot Bio’s 15th anniversary celebration and a nationwide expression of gratitude to America’s farmers.

“For 15 years, Pivot Bio has been inspired by farmers and driven by their determination to leave the land better than they found it,” Abbott said. “This tour is our opportunity to give something back, not just by saying thank you, but by listening, learning and helping build the partnerships and ideas that will support agriculture for generations to come.”

About Pivot Bio
Pivot Bio is one of the world’s leading agricultural biotechnology companies, delivering breakthrough crop nutrition technologies that help farmers improve productivity, profitability and sustainability through the power of science. Guided by its purpose of improving the lives of farmers and the health of the planet, Pivot Bio partners with farmers to advance innovation, strengthen food security and help shape the future of agriculture. Currently available in North America and soon in Brazil, the company’s products represent a breakthrough innovation and one of the agriculture industry’s most promising solutions. Pivot Bio has been recognized three times by TIME magazine on its annual list of Best Inventions, by Fast Company on its World Changing Ideas and World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies lists, by CNBC on its Disruptor 50 list, by Fortune on its Impact 20 list, and by MIT Technology Review as one of 15 climate tech companies to watch. For more information, visit PivotBio.com.

Media Contact:
Erin Loesing
573-629-8049

As U.S. Farmers Struggle with Fertilizer Access and Affordability, Denali Offers Natural Alternative to Reduce Input Costs

Cindy Zimmerman — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:40:08 +0000

RUSSELLVILLE, AR – July 16, 2026 – U.S. farmers continue to face fertilizer price volatility amid ongoing disruptions to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. While global shipping conditions have improved slightly, fertilizer markets do not rebound overnight and are set back even further with on-again, off-again stoppages. Product availability, transportation timelines and pricing often lag behind geopolitical events, leaving farmers to make critical planting decisions while navigating persistent pricing pressures.

Earlier this spring, according to American Farm Bureau Federation data, nearly 70% of farmers said they could not afford the fertilizer they needed this season. This underscores the challenges farmers have faced, and will continue to face, as supply chain disruptions continue to impact U.S. producers this summer.

“Times are tough enough as it is and if we can do something that is good for the soil and good for our bottom lines at the same time, it’s just common sense,” said Jess Daniels, owner of Bar D Bar Cattle & Grain, with land in Kansas and Missouri. “This is natural fertilizer that comes from organic materials, so it’s about being good stewards of the land and growing successful crops. This is an alternative to other fertilizers that won’t break the bank so we can put more toward our bottom line.”

As the nation’s largest food and organics recycler, Denali transforms organic materials from food businesses into agricultural nutrients, creating a stable, cost-effective alternative that does not depend on global supply chains that have contributed to recent price volatility. For farmers caught between rising input costs and tight margins, Denali’s approach offers practical relief rooted in domestic resources, while building the kind of soil resilience that pays dividends over multiple growing seasons.

What Denali Delivers
Denali offers farmers a low-cost, natural fertilizer solution. To quantify the value its natural fertilizer provides, Denali analyzed what farmers would pay for equivalent nutrients using synthetic fertilizers at current market prices across three key agricultural regions. Looking at nitrogen, phosphate, and potash pricing, the analysis shows Denali can save farmers:

Kansas: $244 per acre
Louisiana: $236 per acre
Georgia: $246 per acre

These figures represent what farmers would spend to purchase and apply the same nutrients using conventional fertilizers. They don’t account for the additional micronutrients or organic matter that Denali delivers – benefits that improve soil health over time and that other fertilizers simply don’t provide.

“Even though global shipping conditions have improved, farmers are still making decisions with fertilizer prices above historical norms,” said Lauren King, Denali’s vice president of Environmental. “Our goal is to help producers stretch their input dollars while improving their soil health with nutrients generated right here in the United States. This fertilizer is available at a low cost and offers a stable supply for our farmers.”

Real-World Application
During fall 2025 and spring 2026, Denali provided natural fertilizer to a 400-acre farm in northwest Tennessee. Based on the current conventional fertilizer pricing, the company delivered approximately $100,000 in nutrient value to that operation – value the farmer didn’t have to pull from an already-strained input budget.

“With fertilizer prices as unpredictable as they are, partnering with Denali has allowed us to better manage costs without compromising the nutrient program our operation relies on,” said Jamie Marion, an Arkansas farmer who grows award-winning hay using natural fertilizer.

Denali also creates nutrient-rich animal feed from inedible food, in addition to compost, and biofuel. Learn more about Denali’s natural fertilizer and how it works here.

About Denali
Denali is the leading organic recycling company on a mission to unlock the power of unused food and organics by diverting them from landfills and transforming them into renewable resources to feed, fuel, and fertilize the earth. Our work is essential to keeping water clean, reducing the need for new landfill capacity, building soil fertility, helping farmers be more resilient, and reducing society’s reliance on fossil fuels. Denali provides meaningful and measurable change for any business that handles food, creating value with our scalable solutions across the nation. Our services and products touch thousands of acres and businesses, millions of tons of organic material, and nearly every person who purchases and consumes food in the U.S.

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Media Contact:
Marika Kelly
Marika.Kelly@padillaco.com

Diamond K Gypsum Launches New Agricultural Water Management Technologies for Improved Irrigation Water Efficiency and Drought Resilience

Cindy Zimmerman — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:55:48 +0000

Richfield, UT July 16, 2026 – As drought conditions intensify across the West, farmers and crop consultants are facing reduced irrigation allocations and potential water delivery cutbacks. Diamond K Gypsum introduces a new suite of agricultural water saving products and an online tool that improve irrigation water use efficiency, soil performance and crop resilience in drought conditions.

Aqua-Drive Elite is designed to improve water infiltration and soil moisture distribution by reducing surface tension of the water droplet and the soil. It allows irrigation water and precipitation to penetrate deeper into the root zone rather than being lost to runoff or evaporation. Key benefits include:
– High performance block polymers
– Faster water penetration into hydrophobic soils
– Better lateral and vertical movement of irrigation water
– Reduced chronic dry spots
– Reduced runoff and ponding

Diamond K Bio Algae is a concentrated soil amendment derived from beneficial algae compounds that support root growth, microbial activity in the soil and carbon cycling. Key benefits include:
– Deeper root development
– Larger root masses
– Increased plant tolerance to environment stress
– Reactivation of dormant soil microbes
– Greater drought resilience

Aqua-Drive Elite Bio combines the water management benefits of Aqua-Drive Elite with soil advantages of Diamond K Bio Algae in a single application. In recent water deficit turf research completed at University California, Bermuda grass treated with Aqua-Drive Elite Bio showed no visible negative impacts despite a 40% reduction in irrigation water during the five-month test. Key benefits include:
– Improved water infiltration
– Enhanced root growth
– Increased soil microbial activity
– Improved crop performance under drought stress

“Western crop consultants and growers know there is no silver bullet when it comes to water shortages,” says Tom Tankersley, Diamond K Gypsum director of sales. “Instead, integrated programs that address both water and soil chemistry, physics and soil biology offer the best solutions. Growers who focus on improving infiltration, retention and root efficiency are in a much better position to protect yield when irrigation water is restricted.”

According to Tankersley, Diamond K also launched a new online tool called The Water Knowledge Hub. The new digital platform contains links to university research about combating drought with water testing and water quality improvements.

For more information, visit www.diamondkgypsum.com

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Media Contact:
Mason Allred,
mason@diamondkgypsum.com

ZimmCast 762 – AI Impact on R&D with Syngenta

Cindy Zimmerman — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:28:33 +0000

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

In this episode I’m going to share some comments and a question from the latest IFAJ Webinar. The topic was “Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on R&D for Agriculture.” Moderating was Steve Werblow, IFAJ President and Martin Clough, Syngenta Crop Protection’s R&D Head of Digital Collaboration and Sustainability and Andre Piza, Syngenta’s Group’s Global Head of Digital AgTech.

My question was, are there concerns about the cost of data centers and including issues like the climate and sustainability.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept for agriculture—it is already transforming how research and development are conducted. From accelerating scientific discovery and improving data analysis to supporting the development of more targeted and sustainable solutions for growers, AI is becoming an essential tool in agricultural innovation.

During this session, the speakers will provide practical insights into how AI is being integrated across agricultural R&D, the opportunities it creates for researchers and farmers alike, and the challenges that remain as digital technologies continue to evolve.

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 762 - AI Impact on R&D with Syngenta (25:23)

If you are not a member of IFAJ consider joining your local agricultural journalist guild. Find out more on the IFAJ website.

That’s the ZimmCast for now. I hope you enjoyed it and thank for listening.

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Land O’Lakes, Inc. Announces Investment to Expand High-Value Dairy Protein Production at Tulare, California Facility, Expanding Growth Opportunities for Farmer-Owners

Cindy Zimmerman — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:00:37 +0000

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — [July 9, 2026] — Land O’Lakes, Inc. today announced a strategic investment in its Tulare, California, dairy processing facility to expand capabilities into high-value dairy protein production, positioning the cooperative to meet rapidly growing global demand for protein-rich nutrition, while also creating new opportunities for its farmer-owners.

The investment will enable production of ultra-filtered milk; unlocking greater value from member milk, providing growth opportunities for farmer-owners and strengthening Land O’Lakes’ ability to compete in a changing food landscape increasingly centered on protein.

“At a time when protein is reshaping how consumers eat and how the food system operates, this investment positions Land O’Lakes, our Tulare facility and our farmer-owners to lead,” said Heather Anfang, EVP of Land O’Lakes and President of Dairy Foods. “We are continuing to build a more resilient, growth-oriented dairy business while creating new demand for member milk and laying the groundwork for long-term opportunity.”

Meeting the moment

Protein has moved beyond a niche health category to become a defining force in how consumers evaluate food. The moment is driven by rising nutritional awareness and new health trends such as GLP-1 medications that are shifting how and what people eat.

Against this backdrop, demand for dairy protein is accelerating globally and is expected to outpace supply through the remainder of the decade. Land O’Lakes’ expanded Tulare capabilities are designed to help close this gap while reinforcing dairy’s role as a trusted, functional source of high-quality nutrition.

Unlocking value for farmer-owners

As a farmer-owned cooperative, Land O’Lakes is focused on maximizing value for its member owners. This investment creates new demand for member milk and the opportunity to maximize member returns by adding production for higher-value protein applications that support expanded market access and long-term cooperative growth. The investment also recognizes the strength of the Tulare-area dairy community, including about 100 dedicated, innovative farmer-owners and farm families whose operations help make the region one of the most important dairy-producing areas in the country.

The Tulare facility, located in one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic milk sheds, offers existing scale, available capacity and strategic access to global markets, including high-growth regions that rely on imported dairy protein.

Investing in communities and the future of dairy

The Tulare investment reinforces Land O’Lakes’ long-term commitment to the region, supporting local jobs, strengthening the agricultural economy and ensuring the facility remains a critical hub in the cooperative’s dairy network.

“This is about more than a single upgrade. It’s about building the future of dairy,” said Anfang. “We are investing in innovation, in our members, and in meeting the evolving needs of consumers around the world.”

About Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2025 annual sales of $16 billion, Land O’Lakes is one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, ranking 273 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 100 years of operation, Land O’Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Animal Nutrition and WinField United. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O’Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

Media Contact:
Natalie Long
nlong@landolakes.com

NEW PROUD 4 ADDS NEMATODE CONTROL FOR 4-IN-1 PEST PROTECTION

Cindy Zimmerman — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:09:28 +0000

OMRI-listed product from Huma controls both above- and below-ground pests

Gilbert, Ariz., U.S., July 7, 2026 – Huma® introduces PROUD 4, a four-in-one nematicide, miticide, fungicide and insecticide, for broad-spectrum control of above- and below-ground pests. PROUD 4 is a strengthened formulation of Huma’s PROUD 3, a popular foliar pest treatment. Now growers can utilize the next-generation crop protector to also control nematodes and soil-borne diseases.

“PROUD 4 delivers best-in-class versatility and performance that can be applied any time during the year, including in-season,” says Fred Nichols, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Huma. “The level of control we’re seeing, along with an attractive price point, provides an unbeatable value for growers that’s OMRI-listed and safe for crops. Plus, ag retailers and farmers can stock just one product for multiple pest control needs.”

PROUD 4 is applied as a percentage of total spray solution, ranging from 0.5% to 2%. Growers can fine-tune application rates and timings depending on the species and prevalence of pests. Third-party testing shows PROUD 4 delivered excellent control of multiple nematode species – including root-knot, lesion and lance – at the lowest labeled rate. At higher labeled rates, it achieved complete inhibition of these nematodes.

“For specialty crop growers seeking alternatives to costly, environmentally harmful fumigants and synthetic nematicides, PROUD 4 is the eco-friendly alternative – eco as in both economic and ecological,” Nichols explains. “Similarly, Midwest corn and soybean growers can use it as a highly cost-effective foliar spray to control soft-bodied insects such as aphids, thrips, whiteflies, mites, and leafhoppers, as well as most fungal diseases.”

PROUD 4 provides fast-acting pest control on contact and is locally systemic. The secret sauce, explains Nichols, is Huma’s exclusive Micro-Carbon Technology (MCT).

“Carbon-rich MCT is the most efficient way to deliver crop inputs, including crop protection products,” Nichols says. “MCT speeds and enhances uptake of active ingredients, ensuring they reach their target in both the soil and leaves.”

PROUD 4 is safe to humans, plants, wildlife and the environment when used as directed. There’s a zero-day preharvest interval and zero re-entry restrictions.

To learn more about PROUD 4, visit www.Proud4.com.

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About Huma®
Huma®, Inc., is a global leader offering carbon-based humic solutions and biostimulants across the world. Founded in 1973, the three-generation, employee-owned company is headquartered in Gilbert, Arizona. Huma® is a fully integrated provider of dry and liquid humic products, operating mines in New Mexico and Idaho. The extensive Huma® product line accelerates regenerative ag systems, enhances beneficial microorganism activity, improves soil and crop health, increases nutrient availability and uptake, helps crops overcome abiotic or environmental stresses, and remediates or breaks down excess or toxic hydrocarbon and chemical compounds. Visit huma.us and follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube to learn more and stay connected.

Media Contact
Alison Stahle
480.410.6325
alison@huma.us

Web Resources
PROUD 4
Huma®
Micro Carbon Technology®

Ethanol Report on Energy Independence

Cindy Zimmerman — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:40:53 +0000

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to increase domestic renewable fuel production and enhance energy security. As we celebrate 250 years of our nation’s independence, more Americans than ever before are recognizing the important role the RFS plays in helping us be more energy independent.

In this Independence Day edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper and Communications Director Ken Colombini discuss a new poll that shows that support.

Ethanol Report 7-2-26 27:25

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Scanit Technologies Launches Iowa SporeWarn™ Network, Giving Growers Advance Notice on Airborne Crop Disease

Cindy Zimmerman — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:39:02 +0000

Powered by Scanit’s AI-enabled SporeCam platform and deployed with ag services partner MaxAg, the new service continuously tracks local airborne pathogen pressure ahead of disease outbreaks

DES MOINES, Iowa — July 1, 2026 — Airborne crop disease starts as a microscopic threat. It builds in the air long before it shows up in the canopy, sometimes weeks before symptoms of infection are spotted in the crop, leaving growers and agronomists with an incomplete picture of potential disease risk. Scanit Technologies has launched the Iowa SporeWarn Network to shed light on key disease pathogens in local fields, allowing any user to track the underlying, unseen pests behind yield robbers like corn tar spot and soybean white mold.

At the heart of the network is SporeCam, Scanit’s AI-enabled, autonomous airborne pathogen-detection platform. Deployed in fields throughout central Iowa, each SporeCam sensor acts like a smoke alarm for disease — sampling the air around the clock and catching the invisible spores that signal a building risk of outbreak. Weather-based models can tell growers when conditions might favor disease, but not if the pathogen is actually present or how fast pressure is climbing.

The SporeWarn Network closes that gap by measuring the pathogens themselves, in local fields, in real time — showing where pressure is rising across the area so growers know where to focus first. This can turn the season’s biggest spray decision into an informed one: focus scouting and treat where pressure is climbing toward high risk, or hold off when it stays low and potentially save a pass.

Iowa SporeWarn Network subscribers can access reports refreshed daily through an online portal that features summarized pathogen pressure data for each disease, a rolling 7-day history, risk and trend analysis, and heat maps to visualize pressure across the area. There is also a daily morning report delivered by text message that provides a quick read on changes in pathogen presence and disease risk.

Altogether, the service includes access to area-wide monitoring for five corn and soybean diseases of concern to central Iowa growers — tar spot, gray leaf spot, Northern corn leaf blight, and Southern rust in corn; white mold in soybeans — across roughly 500,000 acres of corn and soybean plantings in Story, Marshall, Polk, and Hardin counties. Because airborne disease pressure is constantly shifting across the region, growers in and around these counties can use the network’s daily readings to understand what could be present or moving into their fields.

MaxAg, an innovative, independent ag services provider based in Maxwell, Iowa, has partnered with Scanit to deploy the Iowa SporeWarn Network across its service area in central Iowa — selecting monitoring locations, maintaining the network, and sharing agronomic insights.

“Scanit’s technology could completely change how agronomists scout for disease and help our customers be proactive with treatment,” said Patrick Sheets, Agronomist at MaxAg.

Iowa SporeWarn Network – Site installation with MaxAg

“Charts on a screen only go so far for a grower’s understanding,” said Ryan French, Market Development & Sales Lead at Scanit Technologies. “Having a partner like MaxAg, with their agronomists who know these fields and walk them often, is what transforms pathogen readings into supportive advice for their customers. The ground-level insight they provide adds valuable context to the SporeWarn Network data.

Because pathogen pressure is a new kind of data for most growers, the SporeWarn Network service is built to make it usable from day one — with plain-language reports, local context from the field, and blog articles that explain what the numbers mean for spray and scouting decisions.

Access to the Iowa SporeWarn Network is available now for the 2026 growing season. Through July 15, growers can subscribe for season-long access for only $60 — half the regular $120 price — by entering code IOWA26 at signup. This is a one-time fee with no recurring charges. Growers can preview the network and sign up at www.scanittech.com/sporewarn.

Scanit also offers a SporeWarn Business Tier for agribusinesses, retailers, NGOs, drone operators, and other organizations seeking network-scale pathogen intelligence for the growers they serve. As the industry leans harder on forecasting tools to anticipate disease risk, SporeWarn data complements existing crop-disease models and internal tools by measuring the actual airborne pathogens in the field — not just the conditions that favor them.

“We’ve monitored challenging disease environments all over the globe, including millions of corn and soybean acres, and each season we are listening to growers, agronomists, and university experts to understand their needs from an airborne pathogen monitoring service. The Iowa SporeWarn Network is us putting that knowledge to work,” said Jaydeep Rane, CEO and Co-Founder of Scanit Technologies.

“Central Iowa is a great place for us to introduce a publicly available, accessible pathogen monitoring service to a wider audience of growers and industry stakeholders, so they can sign up and see what disease pressure is around their fields in a few clicks. This is just the start, and we’re already exploring expanding access to cover more acres in more regions.”

Listen to an interview with Rane and French to learn more:
Scanit Technologies - Jaydeep Rane and Ryan French 17:37

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Click here for multi-media assets including audio interview, logos, and photos.

About Scanit Technologies, Inc.
Scanit Technologies, Inc., based in Fremont, California, develops AI-enabled autonomous airborne pathogen detection technology for agriculture. Its SporeCam platform continuously captures, images, and analyzes airborne particles to give growers and agribusinesses an early, data-driven view of crop-disease pressure. The Iowa SporeWarn Network, launching for the 2026 season, is the company’s first subscription service for individual growers in the United States. Learn more at www.scanittech.com.

About MaxAg
MaxAg, Inc., of Maxwell, Iowa, is an independent, family-owned agricultural services provider that has served farms across Iowa and the Midwest for more than 25 years. Grown from a multigenerational family farming operation, MaxAg pairs hands-on agronomy with a track record of putting new technology to work in the field. As the deployment partner for the Iowa SporeWarn Network, MaxAg installs and maintains the network’s monitoring sites and combines the data with local agronomic insight for growers. Learn more at www.maxag.us.

Media Contact
Ryan French
Market Development & Sales Lead, Scanit Technologies, Inc.
rrfrench@scanit-tech.com | 515-410-4402

DWFI Podcast 53 – Validating the Future of Carbon Markets

Cindy Zimmerman — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:46:18 +0000

Five years ago, the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) was tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy to tackle a critical challenge: scientifically validating carbon sequestration in Midwest corn and soybean production.

With this $3 million project now in its final 120-day closeout phase, DWFI Director of Research Christopher Neale discusses this initiative at the intersection of energy, agriculture and policy. He shares insights with Frances Hayes, DWFI Director of Communications and Public Relations, into how the team translated rigorous field-level measurements into tools that bring credibility to carbon credit markets, discussing what carbon credits are, the importance of data-driven policy and how these markets can be a tool for producers.

DWFI podcast episode 53 26:29

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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Grounded in AgTM and AgCareers Partner, Creating The Ag Onboarding Academy

Cindy Zimmerman — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:44 +0000

St. Louis, MO and Des Moines, IA (June 29,2026) — Grounded in Ag^TM and AgCareers are partnering to address the experience and market knowledge gap that many employees and new hires have – fewer have lived on farms, studied agriculture in college or worked in the industry with the new Ag Onboarding Academy.

“The wide variety of careers in the agricultural industry today invites people from different experiences, education, and backgrounds who may not have agricultural knowledge,” said Bonnie Johnson, Marketing & Communications Manager, AgCareers. “Our latest analysis indicates nearly 40 percent of AgCareers.com’s job applicants do not have an ag-based education, and 30 percent of them are not currently working in agriculture.”

The Ag Onboarding Academy will expand access to practical onboarding resources that help agricultural businesses strengthen employee readiness, improve retention, and build more confident teams.

“Good onboarding is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help someone feel welcome, confident and capable in a new role,” said Janice Person, founder of Grounded in Ag. “Helping people understand and appreciate agriculture and the farmers many of us serve is the focus of our programming. Participants hear directly from trusted farmers and experts who impart expertise in the business, farm practices and culture as they deliver the lessons. This collaboration with AgCareers makes practical training tools more accessible so more businesses can add that industry lens, improve understanding, and set employees up for success.”

Audio soundbite from Janice Person

Johnson continues, “Employers are increasingly welcoming new hires from non-ag backgrounds and looking for opportunities to fill that knowledge gap. They are exploring better ways to support new hires, especially as more people enter the industry. By expanding access to onboarding resources, we can help employers enhance the experience for employees and strengthen their teams over time.”

With the Ag Onboarding Academy, farmers and ag professionals deliver lessons to provide an engaging and real-world connection with customers. There are a few course combinations offered that provide foundational knowledge about agriculture and farming, which can be augmented by optional courses in crops or livestock. All the courses are delivered via videos (web & app), which are paired with downloadables, quizzes and vetted resources. There are additional packages available via Grounded in Ag that provide greater depth of knowledge by focusing on specific commodities.

A free preview is available for people interested in learning more.

The collaboration comes as Person prepares to speak about upskilling at the AgCareers Agriculture and Food Roundtable Conference this summer, where workforce development, retention, and employee readiness will be among the topics of discussion.

About Grounded in Ag: Grounded in Ag helps agricultural businesses strengthen onboarding and employee success through practical training resources built for the realities of the industry. Trusted experts and vetted resources are core elements to every program. Grounded in Ag is developed by Grounded Communications, LLC, a communications & training firm based in St. Louis, Missouri.

About AgCareers: The AgCareers’ mission is to provide global talent solutions in agriculture and food. They strive to “Feed the World with Talent” in the industries they serve. AgCareers’ passion is agriculture, demonstrated through their investment in time and resources that engage candidates and employers in the industry. They work to build the pipeline of talent to the industry by expanding knowledge about the breadth of career opportunities in agriculture. For more information, visit www.AgCareers.com.

Media Contacts:
Janice Person contact@groundedinag.com
Bonnie Johnson bonnie.johnson@AgCareers.com

Media assets available to download