AgWired

Pivot Bio Launches Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour

Cindy Zimmerman — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:49:36 +0000

Today at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Pivot Bio launched the “Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour,” which will travel more than 1,500 miles around the country to celebrate America’s farmers and highlight the need for investment in the nation’s most critical industry.

Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott will personally travel on the tour of 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. “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,” said Abbott.

Pivot Bio kicks off The Year of One Million Thanks Buddy Seat Tour in St. Louis

During the tour, Abbott will be inviting innovators, technologists, business leaders, policymakers and academic leaders to take a turn in the buddy seat to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture and the investment and technology needed to continue moving forward.

Fourth generation Missouri farmer Tom Boedeker and 5th generation Alabama Farmer Kyle Bridgeforth are also part of the tour, joining Pivot Bio for the kickoff in St. Louis.

“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.

Industry Ag News 7/17

Carrie Muehling — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:32:15 +0000

The Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year state winners have been announced for 2026.

AgCareers is calling on agriculture and food employers across the United States to help shape the 2026-2027 Agriculture and Food HR Review, one of the industry’s most comprehensive sources of human resources benchmarking data and workforce insights. The Agriculture and Food HR Review gathers information directly from employers to identify emerging workforce trends, hiring challenges, compensation practices, retention strategies, employee development initiatives, AI tools, and other critical human resources priorities impacting the agriculture and food sectors.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recognized Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) with the President’s Award during its summer Corn Congress meeting in Washington.

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has announced that 2.34 million U.S. cotton planted acres now provide field-level data through the program for the 2026 crop year, representing nearly one in four of the 9.85 million total acres planted this season across the Cotton Belt.

Bayer enters an exclusive licensing agreement with RAGT, a leading company in the European wheat seed market, advancing its plans to sell hybrid wheat seeds in Europe and North America simultaneously by the early 2030s. Hybrid wheat represents a large, untapped opportunity in the world’s most widely grown food crops and Bayer targets annual revenues of up to 1 billion euros after just over a decade after launch. The move is part of Bayer’s growth ambitions beyond its current blockbuster launches by expanding its core portfolio to hybrid wheat as a key franchise.

Syngenta Group announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Hengde Qin as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2026, following a thorough nomination and succession process. Qin, currently Chief Operating Officer and Head of Seeds, succeeds Jeff Rowe, who will remain in the role through August 1 before returning to the United States after nearly 10 years with the company.

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) elected its 2026-27 officers at the 2026 ASTA Leadership Summit, which took place in Milwaukee, WI June 9-11, 2026. In his remarks during the ASTA Leadership Summit, Chair Bryan Gerard expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the year ahead. He spoke about his hope for this year, with a theme of Back to the Future.

The Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Chelsey Robinson to its board of directors.

United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) Executive Director Norma Ritz Johnson has informed the organization’s Board of Directors of her decision to retire from that role at the end of 2026, following a distinguished career in agriculture, organizational management and community leadership.

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) announced that RJ Karney has joined the organization as Vice President, Head of Government Affairs, effective immediately.

Denali Offers Natural Fertilizer Alternative to Reduce Input Costs

Cindy Zimmerman — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:47:50 +0000

As U.S. farmers continue to face fertilizer price volatility amid ongoing disruptions to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Denali offers a natural alternative to reduce input costs.

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 offers 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.”

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.

Diamond K Gypsum Launches New Water Management Tech

Cindy Zimmerman — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:53:09 +0000

As drought conditions intensify across the West, Diamond K Gypsum has introduced 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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

The new online tool, called The Water Knowledge Hub, includes links to university research about combating drought with water testing and water quality improvements.

2026 ACN PIF Fundraiser

Chuck Zimmerman — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:03:01 +0000

It’s close to 2026 Agricultural Media Summit. And that means there are a variety of activities. Here’s one for the PIF fundraiser.

Feeling lucky? Here’s your chance to win incredible prizes while supporting the Agricultural Communicators Network’s Professional Improvement Foundation (PIF)!

Every ticket purchased helps fund PIF-supported programs that strengthen and advance agricultural communications.

The drawing will be held during the 2026 Ag Media Summit (AMS).

Ticket Details:

Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100
Only 300 tickets available
Winners will be drawn in order of: 1st Prize, 2nd Prize, 3rd Prize
You do not have to be present to win

Here are more details.

Precision Ag News 7/13

Carrie Muehling — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:22:18 +0000

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of the $500 million Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program, a new initiative administered through USDA Rural Development to expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing, strengthen America’s fertilizer supply chain, and improve long-term affordability for American farmers.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will host a roundtable on the herbicide paraquat this summer, convening scientists, subject-matter experts, farmworker and community advocates, and other stakeholders to discuss the documented safety challenges associated with the chemical, examine the latest science, and explore potential solutions and alternatives.

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.

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.

The Monsanto Company and its subsidiary Ruveon LLC, filed a petition with the International Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce calling for anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of glyphosate. Bayer is the parent company of Monsanto.

Stratovation Group has launched Stratovation Agriculture Growth Exchange (the SAGE Exchange), a structured platform designed to help early- and growth-stage innovators in the agricultural and ag-adjacent food sectors to gain investor-ready positioning, establish market pathways, and connect with a trusted network of senior industry leaders. SAGE Exchange was developed in response to a clear and persistent challenge across the ag sector: promising companies with innovative ideas, including strong technology, products, or models, often lack access to the right strategic guidance, investor relationships, and go-to-market infrastructure needed to scale. SAGE Exchange addresses that gap directly.

Syngenta Group China announced plans to partner with McDonald’s China and McCain China in building a more resilient and sustainable potato supply chain in China, so consumers can enjoy fries of the highest quality. The three parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to transform local potato farming, supply and processing through scaling sustainable practices and smart technologies, at the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo.

Farmers are invited to deepen their agronomic knowledge at Precision Planting’s free, full-day summer sessions — the Confluence Genetics announced the launch of Cas-CLEAR, Collaterally Enhanced Activated Ribonuclease, a new CRISPR technology platform for the treatment of cancers carrying defined genetic signatures, with lead programs in development for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unlike gene editing CRISPR systems that cut and modify DNA at a single site, Cas-CLEAR uses Cas12a2 nucleases to recognize cancer-specific genetic signatures and trigger broad collateral cleavage of cellular DNA and RNA, resulting in the selective elimination of cells carrying the targeted signature. The launch coincides with two independent Nature publications validating the platform’s selective cancer cell-killing mechanism: a peer-reviewed publication from the laboratory of Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna at the University of California, Berkeley featuring in vivo mouse model data, and another led by researchers at Utah State University and University of Utah Health.

Ten for the Next Gen: IFAJ’s Young Leaders 2026

Chuck Zimmerman — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:07:01 +0000

The IFAJ ten Young Leaders will participate in a unique ‘Boot Camp’, held prior to the annual IFAJ Congress – the organization’s flagship event.

They’ll be the ones keeping information flowing to the world’s farmers well into the second half of the 21st century: the future of agricultural journalism is safe in the hands of this year’s IFAJ Young Leaders.

Ten up-and-coming agricultural journalists, drawn from ten countries across four continents, have been selected by an international jury to participate in the 21st edition of the select programme.

Sponsored by Alltech, a global leader in the agriculture industry and long-term supporter of IFAJ’s work and mission, the Young Leaders initiative seeks to identify and support the most promising new and recent entrants to the profession, to hone and encourage their potential.

“The IFAJ Alltech Young Leaders programme is not just about recognising and nurturing individual talent, important though that is, but also to bring together those with the ability to apply that talent to lead and develop the wider profession,” says IFAJ Secretary General, Adrian Bell.

The ten 2026 IFAJ Alltech Young Leaders are:

Juan Ignacio Alaise, Argentina
Kaitlin Berger, Canada
Katrin Bremer-John, Germany
Andrew Castillo, United States of America
Job Hiddink, The Netherlands
Milliam Murigi, Kenya
Breifne O’Brien, Ireland
Josiah Pailay, Liberia
Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe, Ghana
Emelie Werme, Sweden

Passing of Roddy Peeples

Chuck Zimmerman — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:56:30 +0000

Roddy Peeples passed away on July 7, 2026. I took this photo of Roddy at the 2016 NAFB Convention. He was one of many farm broadcasters that I learned from during my career. Roddy was always happy to chat and provide ideas. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Here is his Memorial Service info:

Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery – At the Memorial Chapel
13005 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75243
www.restlandfuneralhome.com
Friday, July 17, 2026, 2:00pm

Here is some information about Roddy’s career from Gardner Hatch, Executive Director, NAFB:

Roddy Peeples passed away on July 7, 2026. He was born on July 3, 1932, and raised on a cotton, cattle and grain farm near Tehuacana, Texas. He graduated from Mexia High School, attended Texas A&M and received a bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 1953. His agricultural radio career began at WTAW in College Station during his senior year at the university.

Roddy was a broadcaster in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri in the 1950s before joining KWFT in Wichita Falls, Texas, as associate farm director, in 1959. Five years later, he established the Voice of Southwest Agriculture (VSA) radio network, which grew to 60 stations throughout Texas. After 31 years as founder and owner of VSA, Peeples sold the network in 1995 to Clear Channel Communications of San Antonio.

The voice of Southwest agriculture was also a pilot and flew his own plane from 1974 to 2002 to attend farm and ranch events across Texas. He served in multiple leadership roles at NAFB, including president in 1982. In 1992, he was named NAFB Farm Broadcaster of the year and nine years later was inducted into the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He also received numerous other ag industry awards from soil and water conservation districts, the Texas Farm Bureau, 4-H, livestock associations, and other organizations.

ZimmCast 762 – AI Impact on R&D with Syngenta

Chuck Zimmerman — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:02:12 +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.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Animal Ag News 7/9

Carrie Muehling — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:04:15 +0000

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Program that will provide temporary support for eligible beef processing establishments. Under SPUR, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide up to $500 million in payments to eligible entities to support stronger and more stable market opportunities for American ranchers.

As of June 1, there were 73.7 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down slightly from June 2025 and down slightly from March 1, 2026, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The American Livestock Markets and Dealers Association (ALMDA) has named Dale Sandlin as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 6, 2026.

Jace Thompson, a 23-year-old from Billings, Mont., was named the 2026 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion. With his victory, Jace and his father, Ty Thompson — the 2009 champion — became the first father-son duo to ever win the prestigious title.

The Meat Institute announced the promotion of Michael Schumpp to Vice President of International Affairs.

American Farmland Trust’s Beef Grazing Network is launching a redesigned Beef Producer Economic Resilience Initiative, now part of USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers program. The $42-million project, with $30 million provided by NRCS, will support 700 beef producers across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Texas in their transition to profitable, resilient operations through sustainable grazing systems, reduced inputs and stronger market access. The network will build market power through producer-led mentorship, peer networking and beef marketing groups.

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to announce that Meghan Dicks will transition from her current role as director of membership and engagement to director of regulatory affairs effective Sept. 1, following the retirement of Louise Calderwood. In her new role, Dicks will bring her strong background in regulatory affairs and association operations to the AFIA’s policy team, providing strategic leadership on regulatory, legislative and scientific issues affecting the animal food industry, with primary responsibility for animal food safety, pet food, equine and scientific regulatory affairs.

WiseLake, a Korean agritech company, launched PigOS, a free AI-assisted early-warning platform for pig farms — a new global service built on the company’s 27 years of experience running PigPlan. The moment a producer enters a farrowing, weaning, or mating record, PigOS compares it against country-level KPI (key performance indicator) reference ranges and flags loss risks — such as stillbirth, return-to-estrus, and pre-weaning mortality — before the month closes.

Safety professionals from across the poultry and egg industry will gather Aug. 17-19 for the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla. Sponsored by the Georgia Tech Research Institute/ATRP and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the conference is designed for facility and corporate safety professionals seeking practical strategies, regulatory updates and innovative solutions to strengthen workplace safety programs.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced Heather Soubra has rejoined the association as senior vice president, strategic initiatives and industry relations. In this role, Soubra will lead IDFA’s highly successful NextGen Leadership Program, deepen collaboration with IDFA members and board leaders, and drive execution of the association’s new strategic plan, Vision of the Future 2.0. She will report to Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA.