AgNewsWire

2026 Agri-Marketing Conference Preview

Chuck Zimmerman — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:34:48 +0000

The 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference is coming up next week. For a preview I talked with conference chair, David Jones, Bader Rutter. We run through a variety of questions about the theme for the conference, keynote speakers, best of NAMA, Connection Point, breakouts, awards and student competition. As the theme says, people are Hungry For More.

Of course you can still register if you haven’t yet. You just have to go this link on the NAMA website. David said it this way.

“Nama.org is the place to go for registration or for more information, and yes, sir, we will absolutely take those last-minute registrations, no problem at all. If you’re on the fence, go ahead and jump in there and register. You do not want to miss this one.”

You can listen to my interview with David here:
Agri-Marketing Conference Preview (10:00)

ZimmCast 758 – About ZimmComm

Chuck Zimmerman — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:33:05 +0000

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I’m Chuck Zimmerman.

In this episode the tables have been turned. We thought it would be fun for Laura McNamara, one of our very early freelancers, to interview Cindy and me, about the how, what and why we created ZimmComm and all its elements. We’ve had people ask about this over the years, but as you will hear, from the start it has continued to develop and pivot when needed.

As many know, Cindy and I took a big step to stop traveling this year. We’re really happy to be working with Laura as some of the events we’ve worked on for years still want to use good photography and interviews to make content with a target audience of ag journalists. So, this step toward retirement for most people is as easy as just walking away and going fishing. But when you’ve built a business over 20-plus years it’s a little more difficult. We’re still working at the ZimmComm World Headquarters so stay tuned.

Listen to the episode here:
ZimmCast 758 - About ZimmComm (42:04)

That’s the ZimmCast for now. If you have some exciting news in the agrimarketing world, feel free to contact me for the next episode. Just email Chuck at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

We hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

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Ethanol Report on EPA Announcements

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

The Trump administration hit two home runs for the ethanol industry during the last week of March amidst National Agriculture Month celebrations – announcing waivers to allow sales of E15 through the summer, in lieu of Congressional action to make it permanent, and finalizing the long-delayed renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses the actions by the administration and why the industry is still pressing for permanent nationwide E15 to be passed by Congress yet this year.

Ethanol Report 4-1-26 26:26

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.

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White House Celebration of Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:07:47 +0000

Hundreds of farmers and ranchers representing various regions and commodities joined President Donald Trump on the south lawn of the White House Friday to hear him make several announcements related to agriculture, including addressing Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system complaints, and finalizing historically high Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations.

President Trump speaks to farmers at White House 35:47

Rising Costs and Global Competition Push U.S. Agriculture Toward Breaking Point

Cindy Zimmerman — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:00:38 +0000

New survey shows U.S. farmers highly concerned about future competitiveness in a changing global market

Memphis, Tennessee – March 26, 2026 – U.S. farmer competitiveness in the global marketplace, the cost-price squeeze of inputs and commodity prices, and market consolidation and corporate power, were top of mind concerns for most individuals responding to a recent survey conducted by the Southern Cotton Ginners Association of attendees to the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show.

The survey was just one component of efforts to take the pulse of producers at a critical time in the agriculture cycle. The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show created a forum for producers and industry representatives to come together around the concerns identified in the survey. A panel of ag lenders, seed, crop protection, and marketing specialists outlined ways they are working with producers and ginner. Featured speakers also highlighted efforts that can help address some of the issues facing farmers.

“Farmers are usually optimistic in the spring with planting, but we’re seeing cautious pessimism about the future,” said Tim Price, Southern Cotton Ginners Association Executive Vice President and Mid-South Farm & Gin Show manager. “In the survey, expert presentations and in conversations throughout the event, people pointed to the need for improved competitiveness in a dynamic global market.”

The top concerns and potential solutions to what many call an expanding crisis in American agriculture were crystallized through the feedback in our survey, Price says. “Even with substantial federal aid and significant movement toward much-needed legislation, more must be done to correct the inequity in global agriculture.”

Key findings in the survey included:

Cautiously Pessimistic Outlook – More than half of respondents (52.1%) expect to be worse or much worse oﬀ over the next two years and only 9.0% expect improvement. Part of the reason for pessimism was stated clearly by an ag banker who said, “Many farmers are not going to get operating loans this year.”
U.S. Agriculture Losing Global Competitiveness – More than 75 percent responded that U.S. agriculture has declined in competitiveness over the past 5 years. Multiple respondents cited Brazil’s competitive advantages – double-cropping capability, lower input costs, fewer regulations, and aggressive expansion. One landowner who recently visited Brazil reported: “Just spent two weeks in Brazil during their soybean harvest and cotton and corn planting season. Amazing what they are doing. And really scary when you look at their scale and advancements.”
The Cost-Price Squeeze is presenting an existential crisis. More than 80 percent of respondents identified commodity prices as a top concern, and 60.1% flagged input costs creating an unprecedented margin squeeze. “Don’t foresee us farming in 10 years, no money to be made. Will probably auction off everything and file bankruptcy,” according to one respondent.
Market Consolidation and Corporate Power – A major recurring theme was the concentration of market power among agricultural input suppliers. One respondent said: “Big fertilizer companies need to be investigated heavily for market manipulation.”
Rural Communities in Decline – The economic hits are taking a toll on local economies and services. A quarter of respondents identified land going out of production as a top concern. A cotton farmer said “We are losing local farmers at a fast pace and our communities are dying off… larger producers swoop in and rent it up. They aren’t from our state and have no investment into our communities that is why our communities are failing.”

Other concerns: global trade challenges – 39%; legislation/regulatory policy – 29%; farm labor shortages – 29%; stress and mental health – 20%, which is especially notable given the farming culture; and succession planning – 19%. An executive summary is posted on the Southern Cotton Ginners Association website.

“There was rich dialog among attendees at the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show on how to address the current agriculture situation, and what it means for the future,” Price says. “There were recommendations specific for the cotton industry. For example, the Buying America Cotton Act (BACA), bipartisan legislation introduced in January, would establish a tax credit to incentivize the consumption of products made with American-grown cotton. Additional opportunities include incentivizing domestic cotton use over synthetic fibers, addressing the technology fee burden on U.S. cotton farmers, and restoring the cotton gin infrastructure.”

The Trump administration is considering several other remedies, Price says, including additional financial aid. “Even with the substantial financial support already distributed and movement toward much-needed legislation, that will not make us whole,” he says. “The entire cost of production structure needs to be evaluated in view of the U.S. farmer’s competitiveness. That is the larger question coming out of the survey responses, presentations, and farmer-to-farmer discussions.”

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About Southern Cotton Ginners Association
Southern Cotton Ginners Association (SCGA), a non-profit organization founded in 1967, fosters and advances the educational, scientific, civic, commercial and business interests of its members and allied industry associations and organizations. SCGA is comprised of five state Cotton Ginners Associations: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

2026 National Ag Day

Cindy Zimmerman — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:38:22 +0000

The National Ag Day activities took place in Washington, D.C. today with an impressive slate of speakers, starting with USDA Secretary Agriculture Brooke announcing a new “Product of USA” consumer campaign.

Brooke Rollins Ag Day Remarks (19:03)

Today, on National Agriculture Day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign to inform meat, poultry, and egg producers of the “Product of USA” voluntary labeling standard which went into effect on January 1, 2026, and increases consumer understanding of what the label means.

“Our great patriot ranchers and producers grow, raise, and harvest the world’s safest, most affordable, and abundant food supply. American consumers want to support America by buying American and this label will strengthen our food supply chain through transparency, fairness, and trust,” said USDA Secretary Rollins. “This new standard policy ensures producers who invest in a fully American supply chain can compete fairly, and it gives consumers the confidence they deserve about the food they bring home.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spoke next, stressing the importance of American agriculture to a healthy diet.

“Our farmers and ranchers are essential to putting real food back at the center of the American plate and delivering on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy.

“‘Product of the USA’ labeling puts American producers first, gives families clear, honest information, and empowers them to choose food raised right here at home.”

Robert F. Kennedy, JR Ag Day Remarks (5:40)

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin spoke about some of the issues important to agriculture that his agency is working on right now, including one he hopes to put to rest forever.

“We are in the process of finalizing right now a new definition of Waters of the United States. It’s important for our farmers, our ranchers, our landowners to have a definition that is simple,that no longer requires you to hire an attorney or a consultant to tell you whether or not water on your property is a water of the United States. It is important to appropriately limit the power of the federal government so that there is no longer over-regulation, understanding that our state and local leaders know their land, air, and water better than federal bureaucrats. We want to get it right.”

Lee Zeldin Ag Day Remarks (7:05)

U.S. Small Business Agency Administrator Kelly Loeffler also joined in on the Ag Day festivities

“When we choose to purchase from American producers, we get a superior product while supporting the hardworking family farms who put it all on the line every day to feed, clothe, and fuel our nation,” said SBA Administrator Loeffler. “Amid President Trump’s work to end years of unfair competition and eliminate the massive red tape that has crushed domestic agriculture, Made in America is finally making a comeback.”

Kelly Loeffler Ag Day Remarks (6:15)

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) thanked Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for their efforts to support farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

“U.S. producers are the best in the world, and produce the highest-quality products,” said Hoeven. “And this product of USA is going to be helpful to our ranchers. And you know, right now our ranchers are doing better, but they’ve come out of a long, long cycle where they were really suffering. And they’re out there and they’re working dawn to dark and raising the absolute best beef anywhere in the world, …And this labeling is so important because people want to know.”

John Hoeven Ag Day Remarks (5:38)

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall has been leader of the nation’s largest general farm organization for 11 years, and has been part of National Ag Day activities for 10 of those.

He started his remarks by saying, “You know, being on the stage with these cabinet members and a President that talks about farmers being his friend and he mentions agriculture almost daily. It’s historical.”

Zippy Duvall Ag Day Remarks (10:11)

The final speaker was Mehmet Oz, Administrator, CMS.

He talk about the value of good quality food being produced by farmers. He says, “In rural America where our food is grown where our health can culminate and originate can also be a place where we also have a crisis.”

Mehmet Oz Ag Day Remarks (4:05)

Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit

Cindy Zimmerman — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:49:36 +0000

As U.S. agriculture faces incredibly strong economic and trade headwinds, the 2026 Agri-Pulse Ag and Food Policy Summit was held March 23 in Washington D.C., with the theme “Profit, Policy, and Possibility: Mapping the Future of Market Expansion for U.S. Agriculture.”

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin confirmed that the agency will finalize Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Set 2 regulations before the end of the month, providing much-needed certainty to the biofuels industry.
Agri-Pulse Summit Lee Zeldin 31:30

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) say they are working toward swift passage of a “Farm Bill Part 2” that ties up loose ends from last summer’s budget package.
Agri-Pulse Summit Sens. Klobuchar and Boozman 43:06

Mapping out a comprehensive U.S. renewable fuels strategy
Ben Kruger, Roeslein Renewables
Louis Sola, Thorn Run Partners
Anne Steckel, Ardent Strategies
Tom Michels, United Airlines
Devin Mogler, National Oilseed Processors Association
Agri-Pulse Summit panel one 43:37

New uses to drive value-added demand
Gregory Jaffe, Jaffe Policy Consulting LLC
Sean Arians, National Corn Growers Association
Amy France, National Sorghum Producers
Lindsay Fitzgerald, Gevo
Agri-Pulse Summit panel two 40:25

Ethanol Report on Girls Auto Clinic

Cindy Zimmerman — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:11:40 +0000

The Renewable Fuels Association is a proud sponsor of Girls Auto Clinic (GAC) to expand ethanol education and outreach to a growing audience of women who are actively engaged in car buying, maintenance, and repair.

Founder Patrice Banks spoke at the recent National Ethanol Conference about her efforts to help women gain the knowledge and confidence to take charge of their automotive experiences and how her audience has been very receptive to information on the benefits of higher ethanol blends.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report, we hear from Banks and also from RFA Membership and Marketing Manager Kendra Coulson about how the RFA partnership with Girls Auto Clinic started and how its going.

Ethanol Report 3-19-26 13:19

Ask Patrice anything tonight at 7:00 pm Eastern time. RFA is pleased to sponsor a free online Ask-Me-Anything with Patrice Banks, founder of Girls Auto Clinic, creator of the Shecanic movement and ethanol advocate. Click here for details.

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

ACE 15th DC Fly-in

Cindy Zimmerman — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:07:31 +0000

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) hosted its 15th Washington, DC Fly-in and Government Affairs Summit March 17-18, 2026, bringing ethanol producers, farmers, and industry stakeholders to Capitol Hill to engage directly with federal policymakers. One of the biofuels industry’s longest-running and most impactful advocacy events, the Fly-In provides a critical opportunity for grassroots voices to help shape federal energy and agriculture policy.

“With so many ethanol priorities hanging in the balance, direct engagement with Congress and the administration has never been more important,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “Both chambers will be in session, and in an election year, timing matters. We encourage ethanol supporters to join us in Washington this March to reinforce the need for timely action on E15 year-round, 45Z clean fuel production tax credit implementation, and final Renewable Fuel Standard volumes.”

ACE 2026 DC Fly-In Marks 15 Years of Grassroots Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Photos

2026 ACE Fly-in Photo Album

Audio

Interviews and presentations

ACE 2026 Fly-in preview with CEO Brian Jennings
Brian Jennings - ACE Fly-in preview (4:43)
ACE VP of Government Affairs Katie Muckenhirn
Katie Muckenhirn - Fly-in kick off (3:12)

Fly-in participants
Troy Knecht, ACE Board President, South Dakota farmer representing Redfield Energy
Troy Knecht, Redfield Energy (4:33)
Jackie Hayes, Business Development Manager, Whitefox Technologies
Jackie Hayes, Whitefox Technologies (9:22)
Kim Herzog, Chief Commercial Officer, Encore Energy
Kim Herzog, Encore Energy (5:31)
Scott McPheeters, KAAPA Ethanol, ACE board member
Scott McPheeters, KAAPA Ethanol (7:00)
Harmon Wilts, Chairman, Chippawa Valley Ethanol Company, MN
Harmon Wilts, CVEC Chairman (9:49)

Wrap up interview with Brian Jennings
Brian Jennings, ACE CEO (8:34)

Reservoir Turns Vision for Specialty Crop AgTech Innovation Center into Reality

Cindy Zimmerman — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:59 +0000

Partners Create High-Density Hub of Innovators and Growers to Accelerate R&D and Field-Ready Technology for Food Production

Salinas, CA, March 17, 2026 – Reservoir today officially opened Reservoir Farms – Salinas, its flagship on-farm innovation hub for specialty crops, turning its vision for an on-farm agtech innovation center into a working reality. The new site features multiple innovation barns and 24 acres of dedicated commercial test fields, creating the most concentrated ecosystem of technology leaders, growers, and startups anywhere in agriculture to rapidly scale solutions for global food production challenges.

“From our early days, Reservoir listened intently to partners to understand where innovation in agriculture was stuck,” said Danny Bernstein, founder and CEO of Reservoir. “Once our vision to create an on-farm innovation center was clear, we worked relentlessly with partners across the industry to bring the energy, focus and skills necessary to manifest the space and people necessary to make this a reality. With the doors open, the focus turns to execution and impact – in the form of real-world solutions for growers, upskilled jobs for rural communities, and a more secure food supply for American consumers.”

More than 300 growers, ag leaders, federal and state officials, community partners, investors and media attended the grand opening of Reservoir Farms – Salinas. Throughout the afternoon, guests met with partners and saw prototype- and early-stage innovations from nearly a dozen resident startups and scaleups focused on specialty crops.

“High‑value crops are some of the most dynamic systems in agriculture. Each crop requires its own unique production system, and their perishable nature makes precision not optional, but essential,” said Jason Brantley, vice president of production systems, small ag & turf at John Deere. “Our partnership with Reservoir ensures our front‑row seat with growers and startups to advance next generation technology. As part of the Reservoir community, we are building upon our long-standing commitment to our customers and investing in practical, scalable solutions that fit day‑to‑day farm operations.”

Visitors toured newly opened collaboration spaces and prototyping studios in multiple barns, along with test fields on farmland leased from Tanimura & Antle. Reservoir partners—including John Deere, Western Growers, the State of California, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Netafim, Tanimura & Antle, Naturipe Berry Growers, Hartnell College, and others—are contributing equipment, agronomic expertise, workforce programming, and R&D support to help turn promising ideas into tools that work on commercial farms today. The initial Reservoir Farms – Salinas, cohort includes Agtom, Beagle Technology, BHF Robotics, Bonsai Robotics, Cropr, Farmblox, Lumo, Neuralzome, Numanac, and TRIC Robotics, demonstrated technologies ranging from in-field sensing and AI-driven insight platforms to autonomous harvest and novel crop protection methods.

Reservoir and Western Growers Form Multi-Year Partnership

At the event, Reservoir discussed the continuation of its strategic partnership with Western Growers that formalizes WG’s continued role in connecting the hub’s work with the needs of specialty crop producers across the West.

“Growers have been at the heart of Reservoir from day one,” said Walt Duflock, senior vice president of agtech innovation at Western Growers. “Through Western Growers’ partnership, our members have had a seat at the table from the very beginning to make sure this isn’t innovation for innovation’s sake, but rather innovation focused on solving the labor, cost, and sustainability pressures they feel every season. Our new multi-year partnership with Reservoir is designed to take this model from Salinas into more crops and regions, and to turn promising technologies into rugged tools growers can trust.”

Multi-Region Expansion and Venture Fund Milestones

Last summer, Reservoir announced plans to expand its on-farm innovation center model across California, Arizona, and other major growing regions, with each hub anchored by leading academic and R&D institutions. As part of this multi-region strategy, Reservoir startups were invited to run pilots over the winter months at the University of Arizona’s Yuma Agricultural Center, testing technologies in commercial desert vegetable production.

Reservoir also announced that it will break ground on Reservoir Farms – Central Valley in Merced, this June and is moving toward the first close of its venture capital fund, Reservoir VC. These milestones mark the next phase of a platform designed to support agtech startups from early R&D through on-farm validation and commercial scaling.

“Through all our efforts, our mission remains ‘Technology as Resilience’ – to help derisk and accelerate R&D through on-farm testing in commercial operations across the country’s largest permanent, bedded, and other high-value specialty crops,” said Bernstein. “We’re building a network of places where growers, innovators, and investors can work side by side to bring solutions to market faster. And we are just getting started.”

Event Photo Library Available Upon Request

ABOUT RESERVOIR:
Reservoir is an agricultural innovation center and venture capital fund focused on helping agtech startups succeed where agriculture happens—in the field. Reservoir Farms are the world’s first on-farm robotics innovation centers, starting in the Salinas Valley and expanding to other key regions across California and the American West. Reservoir VC backs startups solving real problems in high-value crops and the rugged physical AI stack. By combining R&D space, hands-on grower input, and early-stage capital, Reservoir helps turn promising ideas into tools for the growers who feed the world. Learn more at https://reservoir.co.

Media Contact
Jennifer Goldston
jennifer@agtechPR.com