Retail Training

How Growmark’s New AI Agronomy Agent Turns Data Overload into Field-Level Wins

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:21:16 GMT

“When we look at who we need to be for our farmer customers in 2035, technology has to be at the core,” says Brendan Bachman, FS agronomy director. “I don’t think we see it as an option. We have to embrace technology for who we need to become in the next 10 years.”

As such, Growmark is embedding AI into the myFS Agronomy platform. The “AI Agronomy Agent” is a specialized tool built on the Anthropic Claude model, customized with Growmark’s proprietary data and Intelinair’s interface.

The Data Inflection Point

Agriculture has moved from a lack of data to “paralysis by analysis.” Growmark is acting now to turn decades of raw data into “decision aids” to manage risk and associate value.

The AI Agronomy Agent is designed to act as a digital assistant for the crop specialist, and will be exclusively available to FS crop specialists for 2026.

“It doesn’t take out the art of agronomy. Because it allows the FS crop specialists to create their own ecosystem of tools and technology to apply the agronomic recommendations that they’ve seen justified,” Bachman says. “And we’re training our team to be cautionary about just taking what the AI tools as the gospel and applying that to a farmer’s field without any critical thought process from a professional agronomic lens.”

The technology supports, rather than replaces, human expertise.

Speed to Insight

The “why” is driven by efficiency. Processes that previously took hours or days of manual data cleaning now take minutes, allowing agronomists to spend more time on strategy and less on spreadsheets. The AI tool uses planting, weather, environmental models, as-applied information, in-season crop insights, yield information, soil test information, as well as many different source materials on management practices.

Benefits from the tool include:

Automated Decision Insights.
The AI replaces the need for “hard-coded” software. For example, it can recreate the “FS Profit Maximizer” break-even analysis on the fly in minutes using real-time data.
Gap Analysis & Hybrid Positioning
The tool uses millions of acres of spatial data to perform “gap analysis"—showing farmers not just what performed best on their farm, but which hybrids in the region would have outperformed their current top choices by 10+ bushels.

(Growmark)

This AI announced is on the heels of the app’s Yield Estimation Tool, which can help predict yield within 5% at the field level yield in July-August and was also the result of a partnership with Intelinair. Bachman says the team has seen great benefits provided to farmers with that tool because it gives farmers another month or two-and-a-half months in their marketing strategy based on its yield prediction on their total production.

(Growmark)

Viewing 2035 As the Goal

The MyFS Agronomy app was launched two years ago with now 98% of FS companies using the platform and more than 5,000 users.

To remain relevant to the next generation of farmers, Growmark believes they must “disrupt themselves” today to build the technology-core required for 2035.

“As I look forward, what excites me the most is for people to really start to embrace the change because we are at a point of inflection, and how we have historically done agronomy is not going to change. Good agronomy is always going to be good agronomy. But what data we use to inform the right decision on that farming acre, just got accelerated,” Bachman says. “And it’s no longer about hard-coding features and functionalities, it’s about feeding the AI the model and asking the question, and having it bring about the value outputs that matter to the individual user.”

Bachman says the team at Growmark believes in their tech-forward strategy not as an optional add-on, but as a fundamental requirement for the future of the cooperative system. And for the 2026 season, this advanced AI functionality is being included at no additional cost to FS member companies, framed as a “progressionary add” or standard upgrade to their existing cooperative technology suite.

Top 5 Reasons Ag Retailers Lose Talent and How to Fix Them

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:14:34 GMT

Every year, The Scoop surveys its readers who are managers at ag retail businesses for insights on the salaries and benefits for two key roles: sales agronomists and applicator/machine operators. You can dive into the data and see how it reflects your own experience with your team.

Beyond the data, we asked respondents about what employers think retains people and what actually drives candidates away. There’s an interesting contrast: The top loss reason was hours/work-life balance, but the top retention tool cited is pay and benefits, suggesting there may be a gap.

TOP 5 REASONS COMPANIES LOSE CANDIDATES:

Hours and work-life balance — This is by far the most common concern. Long and unpredictable hours, especially in spring/summer peak seasons, are a major deterrent, particularly for younger candidates seeking a traditional schedule.

Benefits and compensation (non-salary) — Health insurance costs, retirement, bonuses and perks like company vehicles and equipment came up repeatedly as competitive gaps versus cooperatives or larger retailers.

Management and company culture — Politics, slow decision-making and poor management were cited as culture-level pushes that drive candidates elsewhere.

Location and geography — Being in a rural area, long commutes and candidates’ preference for local opportunities were consistent friction points, especially for independent/small operations.

Career growth and industry perception — Candidates (especially younger ones) perceive independents as having limited upward mobility compared to co-ops or national retailers, and some are simply leaving ag retail altogether.

TOP 5 BEST RETENTION TOOLS TO KEEP VALUABLE TEAM MEMBERS:

Competitive pay and benefits — The most cited tool, including salary, health insurance, pensions, profit sharing and bonuses. Many respondents specifically noted the importance of keeping up with co-ops and larger competitors.

Family culture and workplace environment — A strong second. Being a family-owned or family atmosphere business is seen as a genuine differentiator from corporate ag retailers, and many lean into that identity as a retention advantage.

Respect, recognition and communication — Employees who feel heard, valued and appreciated. This included active listening, consistent recognition, honest communication and avoiding micromanagement.

Flexibility and work-life balance — Seasonal flexibility, time off when needed and autonomy were highlighted, often framed as something a smaller independent can offer that a larger company cannot.

Equipment, tools and modern facilities — A smaller but notable group cited updated equipment and clean facilities as a tangible perk that signals investment in employees’ day-to-day experience.

Note how pay and benefits are the highest-ranked retention tool, which underscores the importance of benchmarking your position with the data from your peers.

Tick Safety Guide: Preventing Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Lyme Disease

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:49:28 GMT

Increasing reports of alpha-gal syndrome, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-related illnesses are a critical reminder why preparation is important before spending time outside in spring and summer, says University of Missouri and Lincoln University Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff.

Ticks are the most important vectors of disease in domestic and wild animals throughout the world, and are second only to mosquitoes in transmitting disease in humans. As temperatures rise and people begin camping, fishing and farming, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the health dangers posed by ticks, she explains.

What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)?

Bites from the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) or the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis, also called deer ticks) can trigger AGS. Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals. After eating mammalian meat, people who become allergic to alpha-gal may experience an hours-long delay in symptoms, which include hives, swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat, stomach pain and nausea, reports the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill . It can also cause restricted breathing and death.

deer_tick-Mizzou.jpg

(University of Missouri)

AGS diagnosis involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, allergy testing and symptom tracking.

Best Practices for Tick Prevention on the Farm

Although Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics, there is currently no cure for AGS. Because of this, tick prevention is the best defense. Here are three tips for tick prevention

Dress to defend.
Ticks frequently attach to the lower legs of people and then crawl upward before embedding themselves in the skin to feed. They thrive in the humid, cool layer at the soil’s surface and often locate hosts using an ambush strategy known as “questing.”
The right choice of clothing can help you prevent you from picking up ticks, Althoff says. Choose light-colored garments. Tuck your shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your socks.

“This is where duct tape comes in handy,” she says. Duct tape the bottom of the pant legs closed to prevent ticks from getting to your skin.
Use DEET.
Always apply DEET-based insect repellent when visiting wooded areas or working on farms, says MU Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. Apply DEET only as directed to exposed skin or clothing. Avoid eyes, mouth, injured skin and children’s hands. Be careful not to inhale the product, and do not use it around food, she cautions. Wash treated skin and clothing thoroughly once you’re back indoors.
Search and destroy.
When you come inside after spending time in the outdoors, perform a full-body tick check. Look inside and behind the ears, along the hairline, the back of the neck, armpits, groin, legs, behind the knees and even between toes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends showering within two hours of being outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it with sturdy tweezers.

How to Safely Remove a Tick

Removing a tick can be challenging, but do not wait to go to a healthcare provider. Grasp the tick at the front of its body, as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight out. Avoid squeezing the rear of the tick, as this can cause it to expel gut contents into your skin, increasing the risk of infection. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, iodine or soap and water.

If you develop a rash or fever within several days to weeks after removing a tick, see your doctor.
Contrary to popular belief, CDC warns not to use petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or other substances to try and make the tick detach from the skin. This may agitate the tick and force infected fluid from the tick into the skin.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Avoid Tick Testing

People who have removed a tick may wonder if they should have it tested to see if it is infected. CDC says testing is not recommended, even though some commercial groups offer it.

“Laboratories that conduct tick testing are not required to have the high standards of quality control used by clinical diagnostic laboratories,” CDC shares on its website. “Results of tick testing should not be used for treatment decisions. Positive results showing that the tick contains a disease-causing organism do not necessarily mean that you have been infected.”

If you have been infected, CDC says you will probably develop symptoms before results of the tick test are available.

If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Learn more here.

Read More:
Researchers Close in on Alpha-Gal Syndrome Meat Allergy Mystery Linked to Ticks

Grain Dust Explosions Declined in 2025, but Fatalities and Injuries Saw a Sharp Increase

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:40:17 GMT

According to Purdue University’s nationwide report, there’s a concerning trend where the total number of grain dust explosions decreased in 2025, but the severity of those incidents—measured by injuries and fatalities—increased significantly.

There were seven grain dust explosions reported in the U.S. in 2025, a slight decrease from the nine reported in 2024.

However, despite fewer incidents, the human toll was higher. The 2025 explosions resulted in four fatalities and 10 injuries, compared to zero fatalities and two injuries in 2024.

Facility Types: The incidents occurred across a variety of operations, including:

Two grain elevators
One farm-operated grain elevator
One seed processing facility
One feed mill
One flour mill
One biofuel plant

The explosions were concentrated in the Midwest and South, with Texas and Ohio reporting two incidents each, and Minnesota, North Dakota, and Nebraska each reporting one.

Grain dust was the most common fuel source noted from incidents in 2025 having caused five explosions. The primary ignition sources identified also included smoldering grain, equipment maintenance work, and overheated bearings.

As such Purdue’s Kingsly Ambrose emphasizes the critical need for:

Minimizing dust accumulation to prevent secondary explosions
Performing preventive maintenance on equipment (especially bearings) before peak handling
Properly aerating stored grain to prevent smoldering, which can act as an ignition source

The Purdue group has been collecting data related to grain dust explosions in the U.S. since 2012, and the initiative is supported by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).

Ag Retail Executive Search Trends: The New Must-Haves for 2026

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:30:52 GMT

Laura Blomme, owner and president of Hedlin Ag, works with agribusinesses and clients for leadership and executive searches and role placements.

Three trends she’s seeing in ag retail the industry:

Retirements are accelerating the leadership crunch in ag retail.
Finance skills are becoming table stakes for agronomy/grain/retail executives.
The leadership profile ag retailers want now: operational, strategic, and culture-first.

Blomme has been with Hedlin in executive recruiting for almost 10 years, and assists in filling roles including CEO, CFO, general manager, and division vice presidents.

“We really try to specialize and hone in on the relationship side of recruitment and working really closely with our clients to provide the best quality experience for them and for the candidates that we work with,” she says.

Regarding the wave of retirements, she says it’s creating an issue where a lot of experience is walking out of the door. Simultaneously, she says there’s an increased need for financial prowess in leadership. Those two factors are really upping the requirements for candidates in addition to their understanding of the grain, agronomy and energy sides of the business.

“At the end of the day, everybody’s looking for the folks that understand the operations and can really have a real strategic vision when it comes to their job, but also really strong people leaders,” she says.

Blomme says it’s important for businesses to be building a leadership bench from within, which includes professional development, cross training and other growth opportunities. With many businesses running lean, it’s become less of a priority to build leaders internally.

And when leaders step in new roles with expanded responsibility, she says the first year is often the most difficult.

“You’ve got to have a good support of people, and hopefully you have a really strong board that you can work with as well, and ideally, the outgoing a general manager or CEO is going to be helpful in that process, too, and available,” she says.

As such she gives these keys to success for a first-time GM/CEO transition:

Build a reliable network of peers/advisors you can call with questions.
Have a strong board relationship; board communication is “critical.”
Ideally get support from the outgoing CEO/GM during handoff.
Prior exposure/mentoring before the role (more responsibility, cross-functional exposure) improves success—especially in year one.

Additional tips for role seekers and hiring managers are available in the full interview:

ARA Honors 2025 Rising Stars and Announces Fan Favorite Video Contest Winner

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:56:32 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) today recognized a group of top performers and emerging leaders as part of its 2025 Rising Stars program, sponsored by Atticus, during the ARA Conference & Expo in Salt Lake City.

This year’s 14 Rising Stars were selected from ARA member companies across the country for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing the ag retail industry. Through participation in conference sessions, leadership workshops, and networking events, these stars gained valuable tools to strengthen their companies and careers.

“Each year, we’re inspired by the energy and vision of our Rising Stars,” said Daren Coppock, ARA President and CEO. “They represent the next generation of ag retail leadership, bringing fresh ideas and a deep sense of purpose to an industry that feeds and fuels the world.”

“These emerging leaders embody foundational ideals that empower agricultural retail, including cooperation, adaptability, and perseverance,” added Mike Henderson, Atticus Executive Vice President, Ag Division. “Their dedication to fostering passion, sustainable growth, and continuous improvement is a benefit to their organization and our entire industry.”

The Rising Stars program provides ARA member companies with a meaningful way to recognize and develop their top talent through professional development and industry recognition. As part of the program, each participant completes the ARA NAVIGATOR 360° leadership assessment, attends the ARA Conference & Expo at a reduced rate, and connects with industry executives and peers through exclusive networking opportunities.

See the full list of 2025 ARA Rising Stars here.

Fan Favorite Video Contest Winner Announced

As part of this year’s program, Atticus hosted the Fan Favorite Video Contest, allowing the public to vote online for their favorite video submitted by Rising Star nominees. Each video highlighted the participant’s personal story and perspective on leadership in ag retail.

ARA is proud to announce Paige Schanzmeyer with MFA Incorporated as the 2025 Fan Favorite Video Contest winner, receiving a $500 Atticus product bundle, including a Turtlebox speaker.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate Paige and all the 2025 Rising Stars,” Henderson said.

Ag Groups Launch New ESA Educational Resources for Farmers

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:55:28 GMT

CropLife America (CLA), the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), and the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) have released new educational tools to help farmers, agricultural retailers, and pesticide applicators understand and comply with pesticide labels that contain Endangered Species Act (ESA) language.

The resource suite includes an introductory ESA 101 presentation and a series of short instructional videos that help explain how to determine if any runoff and spray drift requirements need to be met, as well as how to use the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online compliance tools — Bulletins Live! Two and the Pesticide App for Label Mitigations (PALM).

“Our industry is committed to protecting endangered species and the ecosystems we all rely on,” said Alexandra Dunn, President and CEO of CLA. “By offering clear and practical resources for pesticide label compliance, we are showing our continued support for farmers and applicators. They need to have access to weed, pest, and disease control technologies for maintaining productivity, responsibly and sustainably.”

Federal agencies have long debated how to evaluate the impacts of pesticide use on endangered species under both the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the ESA, leading to EPA’s ESA Workplan. As EPA begins phasing in label language, CLA, ARA, and CPDA have joined together to support awareness and practical compliance across the pesticide supply chain.

“Understanding how ESA provisions will change pesticide label requirements is essential for retailers and applicators,” said Daren Coppock, President and CEO of ARA. “Working together, we can help ensure that everyone in the chain understands the changes and how to comply with them. We appreciate EPA’s efforts to provide clarity while maintaining flexibility and compliance with the law.”

The instructional videos are moderated by Dr. Stanley Culpepper, a leading weed science specialist with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, are designed to help provide field-ready guidance that supports pesticide use while protecting endangered species and their habitats.

“Growers are committed to doing things the right way, and that includes protecting endangered species,” said Terry Kippley, President and CEO of CPDA. “By using Drift Reduction Adjuvants and taking advantage of these new resources, farmers can meet ESA requirements with confidence while maintaining productivity in the field.”

The full resource series is available at: www.croplifeamerica.org/esa

ESA 101 Presentation: Foundation-level overview explaining how ESA requirements intersect with pesticide regulation and day-to-day application decisions.

Video Series: Four short videos demonstrating:

How ESA pesticide mitigations work.
How to determine location-specific restrictions using Bulletins Live! Two (BLT).
How to use PALM to evaluate and document runoff and spray drift mitigation practices.

Together, these resources provide growers, applicators, and registrants with practical tools for incorporating ESA requirements into application planning and recordkeeping. This effort reflects the organization’s shared commitment to stewardship, regulatory compliance, and sustainable agricultural practices.

7 Ways to Create Small Celebrations In The Crop Cycle

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:08:42 GMT

On The Scoop Podcast, Keith Byerly, commercial sustainability lead for Mosaic, says retailers need to celebrate their wins and take more credit for the recommendations they’ve made that have resulted in higher yields and profitability for their grower-customers. As farmers are harvesting their fields and thinking about their results, it is a great time for retailers to build their equity with their customers and humbly remind growers of how their recommendations helped grow a successful crop.

Here are seven ways to do just that:

1. Take the time to take a deep breath

“It’s this weird time where you’re trying to celebrate one production cycle coming to an end, and the good yields that are there or the okay yields that are out there, and it’s everything that we got from all the decisions that we made,” Byerly says. “At the same point in time, there’s not even a moment to catch our breath.”

He advises to make the space in your conversations with farmers to talk about the past year. Before jumping both feet into the year ahead.

2. Review the report card

Byerly recommends separating the production (the bushels) from the process (the decisions) that all culminated at the end of the season.

“Right after harvest, we jump into the decision-making process for the next cropping cycle,” Byerly says. “All of these decisions have started all over again, even though we don’t even get our report card back on the classes we just took. And it seems a little bit overwhelming, because it is.”

Byerly says a lookback at the season opens the conversation to build trust, improve on any oversights, and set a firm foundation for next year.

3. Maybe it’s more important now than ever

Byerly acknowledges the economic challenges in row crop agriculture, highlighting how a retailer’s job is beyond just agronomic products and services.

“It’s really important that the ag retailer is helping the grower celebrate, and being a little bit of that morale coach right now, helping find the good in everything that’s going on,” he says.

4. Problem-solve as a team

Things go wrong. Mistakes happen. Byerly offers how to keep any setbacks in perspective.

“It’s about getting the lows lifted up off the floor and helping keep those highs up there for our farmers right now,” he says. “But it’s also about building out that value right now, because we know that growers are faced with a lot of challenges as they look at this next production system. And the reality of it is most growers are probably going to have to find some places to reduce their expenses going into the next cropping system.”

5. Demonstrate value

Byerly spent 19 years in ag retailer, and he says a canon he returned to was providing value to the customer to the point where it was obvious how he differentiated his products and services to them.

6. Point out what went right

For Byerly’s geography in the western corn belt, he says there were more of a handful of things that went well for farmers this season.

“We have a lot of irrigation, but a lot of growers did not have to make those irrigation expenses at the same level that they’ve had to do in years past. The rainfall has been great. So, they’ve gotten some relief in that manner,” he says.

He also points to strong soybean yields, weed management, nutrient management and more.

7. Acknowledge you wear a lot of hats

“If we don’t step back from that retail side and take credit for the wins that we helped that farmer create, we really risk being compartmentalized as just, I guess, another salesperson that comes to the farm,” Byerly says.

On the list include: agronomist, data analyst, logistics coordinator, technology translator, financial strategist, and more.

“And at the same time, they’re the coach that’s keeping the team focused, that team of farmers that they’re working with, focused on what’s coming next, and that versatility that the ag retailer does on behalf of their growers is really what makes them indispensable,” he says. “But it’s also what makes it really easy to overlook when we do all of that work: the blocking, the tackling, the trench-level decisions, they just get lost in the shuffle,” he says.

Hear more on The Scoop Podcast

ARA Announces Final Selection of 2025 Rising Stars and Launch of Fan Favorite Video Contest

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:18:11 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has announced the final selection of fourteen Rising Stars as part of the 2025 Rising Stars Award Program, sponsored by Atticus . As part of this initiative, Atticus has also launched the Fan Favorite Video Contest to help highlight this year’s honorees. The Rising Stars Program provides ARA member companies with a valuable opportunity to recognize employees for their contributions to the industry. Selected individuals will be honored in front of hundreds of agricultural professionals at the annual ARA Conference & Expo, while also gaining opportunities to develop their leadership skills.

The 2025 Rising Stars are:

Aaron Burmeister - Kahler Automation
Daniel Lewis Miller - Southern States Cooperative
Ian McCormack - Grow West
Jenny Miller - Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc
Jess Weinkauff - Keystone Cooperative
Jordan Floarke - GROWMARK, Inc.
Levi Banner - MFA Incorporated
Macy Hoch - AgVend
Molly Blickensderfer - GROWMARK, Inc.
Noelle Hanson - ProPartners Financial
Paige Schanzmeyer - MFA Incorporated
Sara VanSoelen - New Century FS
Tim Hushon - The Mill
Trisha Rentschler - Kahler Automation

Starting today, the above Rising Stars will participate in the Fan Favorite Video Contest for a chance to win a $500 Atticus product bundle. The public can vote on their favorite video here until November 7, 2025 . The Fan Favorite winner will be announced on Friday, November 14, 2025.

The overall winner of the Rising Stars Program will be announced at the 2025 ARA Conference & Expo, taking place from December 2 - 4 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Early bird registration is currently open for all interested attendees until October 15. Learn more about and register for the 2025 ARA Conference & Expo here.

Learn more about the Rising Stars program here.

ARA Seeks Nominations For Rising Stars

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 19:22:13 GMT

ARA’s Rising Stars program is open for nominations.

This program, sponsored by Atticus, is a wonderful opportunity to recognize future leaders in agribusiness. The Rising Stars program is a meaningful way for ARA member companies to recognize employees for their work in front of hundreds of industry professionals at the annual ARA Conference & Expo and to explore new ways to hone their leadership skills.

This year’s award program theme is “Leading the Climb to the Summit of Success.”

Nomination Requirements:

A limit of two individuals from the same company may be nominated;
Nominee(s) must have 10 years of experience or less in the ag sector; and
Nominee(s) must be employed by an ARA member company in good standing.
Nomination forms are due by COB, September 19, 2025.

Additionally, each accepted Rising Star must submit a video related to the theme in order to participate in the award program. Video submissions are due by COB on September 30, 2025.

Nominees will have the opportunity to participate in the program’s Fan Favorite Video Contest for a chance to win a trip to the Atticus headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and experience another side of ag retail.

The 2025 ARA Conference & Expo will be held December 2-4 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Selected Rising Stars will attend the conference at a special discounted rate.

Why Participate?

When you invest in your team’s professional development journey, you increase the likelihood of retaining that top talent for years to come.

ARA Rising Stars will:

Hone skills tailored to your company with the ARA NAVIGATOR 360° online assessment, completed by Rising Stars at no cost;
Attend the ARA Conference & Expo at a reduced rate;
Create a video to share on social media and compete in the video contest for a chance to win a trip to the Atticus headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., and experience another side of ag retail;
Gain industry-wide recognition beyond the 600+ ag professionals cheering on Rising Stars as they take the main stage at ARA Conference;
Display an award at your company’s facility for customers & communities to appreciate;
Harvest applicable takeaways from Conference sessions;
Explore a first-class Expo with the latest innovations;
Expand their network among industry thought leaders at Conference receptions; and
Get more involved with ARA as the association representing your needs in Washington.

Important Details:

Rising Stars must submit a video to participate in the award program.
Rising Stars will be invited to a dinner with ARA Board members Tuesday evening during the ARA Conference to receive their awards; spouses will not be invited in order to encourage networking among Rising Stars and ARA Board Members.
The 2025 ARA Conference & Expo will be held Dec. 2-4 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Rising Stars will be announced via an ARA news release prior to the Conference; Rising Star companies will be encouraged to send their own announcements at this time.
Accepted Rising Stars will be notified by early October.

Illinois Governor Signs Bill to Improve Pesticide Applicator Process

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:06:29 GMT

Earlier this year, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation to improve the pesticide applicator licensing process, and on Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law.

An initiative of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA), the bill passed the Illinois Senate 50-4 and the state house 116-0.

Set to begin for the fall of 2027, the Illinois Department of Agriculture will adopt a continuing education credits (CECs) program for pesticide applicators meaning current valid license holders can renew their license with CEC credits.

“IFCA would like to thank Gov. Pritzker for signing SB783 into law,” said Kevin Johnson, president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association in its newsletter alert. “IFCA has always believed Illinois should utilize continuing education as an option to maintain an individual’s pesticide license.”

Johnson adds how continuing CEC is the best format for pesticide applicators to stay up to date, and it’s widely used by other midwestern states.

And he notes while the new process will slightly increase the pesticide applicator license fee in order for the Illinois Department of Ag to implement the program, the improvements to the process will be valuable to all stakeholders.

“We are excited for this new opportunity for members to recertify but want to stress that there are many moving parts behind the scenes in the creation of this new program and that it will take some time to get off the ground. We will continue to inform membership of the timeline of when continuous education credits will be rolled out as we move forward,” Johnson said.

The Scoop Podcast: Put The Right People In The Right Seat On The Bus

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 01:35:22 GMT

Tell us why you started Align Talent.
“I provide recruiting services as well as industry and market analysis for companies and individuals within the ag industry. I specialize in sales leadership and operational roles exclusively for agriculture and ag tech companies throughout the United States. My mission is to use my experience and knowledge of the industry having worked in the industry for 27 years and having worked in a lot of the positions that I recruit for.”

What’s your philosophy about recruiting?
“While recruiting has never been part of my title, it’s always been a large part of what I’ve done, and I found that very fulfilling to be able to put the right people in the right seat on the bus and watch them grow.”

How can companies create greater success through the recruitment process and employment tenure?
One of the best ways is to spend the time to talk about what’s in it for the candidate. The companies that have embraced that and take the time to explain the role in terms of what the progression is throughout their career are the companies that are being most successful. Everybody wants to continue to progress within the compensation ranks. But people stay where they feel like they’re respected, they’re heard and they’re supported.

What’s a key driver changing the roles needed in the ag industry?
“One of the biggest things that is having an impact on the roles within agriculture is technology. It’s rapidly transforming how we do business and also the skill sets that are needed within the professionals and employees that work within the industry. We’re hiring for jobs today that we didn’t even know existed, just a few years ago.”

What are the biggest pain points in the labor force for ag retail?
As long as I’ve been in agriculture a challenge is finding the people. There’s such a high demand for the services and things that retailers provide, and not everybody is willing or able to commit to that level of service that’s needed. Technology is one of the ways that we’re addressing that as we try to take labor out of out of every operation within ag retail. For example, the automation systems within the chemical buildings and fertilizer buildings are what used to take 2 to 3 people to operate, and now you can get by with maybe one or one and a half people.

What trends do you see in tenures across the industry?
We’re seeing a real trend in the aging of our demographic within ag retail. A lot of our operators and leadership, or within 5 to 10 years of retirement. There seems to be a real gap when it comes to those folks that have 5 to 10 years’ worth of experience to come back in and fill those shoes. When I first got into business, you could see building careers in the industry, staying throughout their career, or spending 9 to 10 years in their in their job. And now 2 to 3 years stints are usually pretty common.

How are you seeing businesses solve for these problems?
The leaders within the industry are looking outside of just the industry For example, if you’re a person who knows how to how to sell, they may not have sold chemicals and fertilizer and technology, but they can very well be taught. Or for an applicator role, if you’re bringing somebody from the outside who knows how to operate equipment and is mechanically inclined, they can very much be taught how to how to operate our equipment. The ones that are that are getting on board with this approach the quickest are the ones that are really starting to bridge that gap the fastest.

Is there a formula for higher retention?
High retention teams usually have a strong communication, clear expectation and supportive family like culture. Within that organization your brand as an employer is more visible than ever. Candidates are researching companies online and listening to what others have to say about them. Telling your story, whether through social media, employee spotlights or community involvement, those types of things also help attract aligned candidates.

New Regenerative Standard Aims at Flexibility

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 22:08:28 GMT

While interest in regenerative agricultural practices is growing, getting a handle on what it is, let alone how to do it is a challenge. But there are some guides out there.

On July 14, the Soil & Climate Initiative released the third version of its Soil & Climate Health Commitment & Verification Standard . This new version of the standard is more streamlined, according to the group, with increased flexibility and practical benchmarking for participating operations.

“Version 3.0 simplifies requirements while maintaining scientific rigor, making regenerative agriculture accessible to diverse production systems while giving consumers confidence in their food choices,” says Kristen Efurd, SCI’s verification director.

V3 focuses heavily on SCI’s seven pillars of regenerative agriculture:

Minimizing soil disturbance
Maintaining living roots in the ground year-round
Keeping year-round soil coverage
Maximizing diversity above and below ground
Reducing synthetic inputs
Continuous learning
Appropriate integration of livestock

A summary of the new standards

The seven pillars have always been core to SCI’s definition of regenerative agriculture, Efurd says.

“But what V3 represents is their maturation,” she continues. “What we’ve done now is we’ve detailed how farms can operationalize the pillars through what we call the pillar engagement levels.”

The pillar engagement levels replace earlier standards’ levels of verification. These levels are I through IV. Each pillar has its own engagement levels with benchmarked requirements, and these can differ as appropriate based on operation type. For example, within the “Maintaining living roots in the ground year-round” pillar as it applies to perennial crops and orchards, the engagement levels are:

Middle-row vegetation must be maintained during the growing season
Middle-row vegetation must be maintained year-round
Middle-row vegetation must be maintained year-round and must include a mix of grasses, forbs and legumes during the growing season
Middle-row vegetation must be a diverse mix of grasses, forbs and legumes that is maintained year-round

“The biggest change is going to be moving from the broad verification levels that we had to these more specific pillar engagement levels that are detailed with measurable requirements,” Efurd says. “[Participants] now have clear benchmarks to hit.”

Participating growers, farmers and ranchers are required to progressively advance their practices every three years within the program, “acknowledging regenerative agriculture as a journey of continuous improvement rather than a fixed destination,” SCI says.

Taylor Herren, Farm Program Manager at SCI, says the new standard is “an on-ramp” that provides for the wide differences in what regenerative agriculture looks like on a veteran operation versus one just starting the transition.

“The new standards acknowledges those differences while also still welcoming people who are at the beginning of that progress,” she says.

Variety of operations means flexibility is a must

Not only does regenerative ag look different across experience levels, but also across crops, operation systems and regions. All of this requires not only flexibility in the standards but also in the very definition.

“We at SCI, rather than having a rigid definition of regenerative agriculture, we’ve chosen to use more contextually based guiding principles that help farmers adapt practices and implement changes on their farm that makes sense for their specific region and their land and their goals on their farm and their operating systems,” explains Megan Tymesko, SCI’s senior manager of partner engagement. “Every operational region is so different, so our framework is built on the seven pillars of regenerative agriculture. It allows the farmers the flexibility to choose which practices make sense on their farms.”

Herren explains that when definitions of regenerative agriculture get too prescriptive — “It has to be no-till,” or “You must have cover crops,” for example — they stop working for all operations, let alone being scalable.

“The purpose of this work is to scale across landscapes, and that scaling is only as good as farmers actually being able to do it,” she says. “So, the seven pillars do define regenerative agriculture, they just define it loosely and fluidly, and that is the key to actually getting farmer adoption. And that is the path to impact and doing what we want to do on the land.”

For the regenerative-curious

Google Trends search timeline for “regenerative agriculture” over the past 20 years.

(Screencapture of Google Trends search response)

Interest in regenerative agriculture is growing.

For regenerative-curious growers, there are many potential entry points or on-ramps onto the change. Speaking in the language of the seven pillars, Efurd highlights maintaining living roots in the ground year-round through cover cropping, or keeping year-round soil coverage as low-hanging fruit to regenerative ag benefits.

“These practices are relatively straightforward and easier to implement. They provide immediate benefits for soil biology and structure,” she says. “A lot of times, from my perspective, both growers and grazers can often show quick economic return through reduced input costs and improved soil structure.”

Herren, herself a farmer in Cotton Plant, Ark., recognizes that it’s a really hard time financially to farm right now. She also recognizes how big a deal it is to change how someone farms, because that is ultimately what deciding to take steps toward regenerative agriculture is, she says.

“But I do say, genuinely, this can be a much better way to farm — much better for you financially,” she says.

Ferrie: Corn Growers are on High Alert for Tar Spot

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:07:10 GMT

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire – and smoke alarms are starting to go off to alert corn growers to the disease fire that’s already ignited in some parts of the Midwest: tar spot.

Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie is monitoring tar spot reports closely and working with growers to create and implement action plans for their specific fields to address the disease.

“We’re finding tar spot here on the bottom leaves, meaning it’s homegrown tar spot,” says Ferrie, who’s based south of Bloomington, Ill. “Finding tar spot here the last week in June means that the plants were infected already by the second week in June.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat this, guys. Tar spot showing up here in June means we’ll have hell to pay in August,” he adds.

The understanding of how the disease progresses quickly came at a cost to Illinois corn growers in June 2021, Ferrie recalls. Few agronomists or farmers understood the impact of what they were seeing unfold in cornfields.

“We weren’t sure what that meant at the time, but by the end of September, anyone in ‘tar spot alley’ realized just how devastating this disease could be. There were massive amounts of down corn with yield hits ranging from 20- to 60-bu. per acre,” Ferrie says.

“Northern Iowa farmers experienced something similar in 2022,” he adds.

You can listen to Ferrie’s complete Boots In The Field podcast, where he discusses how to effectively address tar spot here:

Here’s a look at where the Crop Protection Network has confirmed tar spot in 2025, so far. See county-level infections at Tar Spot of Corn Map :

(Crop Protection Network)

How Tar Spot Differs From Other Corn Diseases

Ferrie says most leaf diseases in corn are a problem because they destroy the leaf surface and tear up the plant’s solar panels – the leaves that fuel corn’s ability to make food.

“When managing most leaf diseases, we are usually concerned about the leaves above the ear. Those are our money makers,” Ferrie says. “When we start scouting, we’re looking one leaf below the ear leaf, and we also look up, looking for any disease lesion and the halos around it.”

With tar spot, the attack is coming from the bottom of the corn plant. “So that is where you need to look when you’re scouting,” he says.

Another way tar spot differs from most diseases in corn is it’s parasitic.

“When it infects the bottom leaves, it will pull nutrients away from the corn plant. So not only will it tear up the solar panels and damage the leaves, but it’ll rob nutrients,” Ferrie explains. “It’ll siphon nutrients off from the plant.”

Like extreme parasite levels in livestock that go untreated, a tar spot infection can pull corn plants down and kill them prematurely.

The plant essentially cannibalizes itself, contributing to reduced yields and standability issues at harvest.

Have Your Plan Of Attack Ready

Every corn grower needs to have a plan in place ahead of time for how to handle the tar spot issue. Farmers needing help in selecting fungicides can check out efficacy ratings and other information the Crop Protection Network offers here .

Ferrie says his standard recommendation for a fungicide application is to wait for brown silk, if disease pressure is not at threshold.

“You want more backend horsepower for those D hybrids – those hybrids that make a big portion of their yield in kernel fill,” he says. “However, if you’re at threshold, spray the field, don’t wait for brown silk.”

Here is a look at tar spot fungicide application recommendations from the Crop Protection Network:

(Crop Protection Network)

Ferrie shares two treatment scenarios for Illinois growers who are experiencing tar spot now – one for those growers in Scott County (where pollination is finishing up) and the other for Woodford County (where pollination is just starting).

“Our recommendation for the Scott County farmers is to spray as soon as the corn is done pollinating, which would be this week,” he advises.

“Throw a hard punch at these fields, because the tar spot and existing disease pressure is there. Then be ready to come back in 21 days with the second shot of fungicide, if warranted, of a cheaper pass. There’s where we throw the generics in, and that pass is to drive stability in your crop stand, so it’ll stand up.”

There are a couple of additional things guiding this application timing. For one thing, Illinois growers still have 60 days to go to protect grain fill in the crop. Another thing to keep in mind, he says, is that the curative factor of a fungicide only covers infections that have happened in the past 48 hours prior to application.

For those fields in Woodford County, Ferrie is telling farmers to wait for their fields to pollinate before pulling the fungicide trigger, because most fields are not at threshold with other diseases present above the ear leaf.

“Again, set up a plan to spray again in 20 to 30 days, and that’ll be weather and disease progression dependent. If we should have a drought – conditions that would slow the disease progress – we might not spray,” Ferrie says. “But If we get the weather pattern to give us a big crop, we most likely will need to spray.”

Ferrie says he understands, given the financial constraints this year, that many corn growers are struggling to spray a fungicide once much less doing so twice this season.

“For the cautious guys out there who are thinking, ‘it ain’t gonna happen, Ferrie; I am not spraying in a $4 corn market,’ this too is a plan. But you need to prepare to go early with your harvest, pre-book some dryer gas and look for pick-up reels,” he advises.

“The good news is we’re ahead of this, and we have experience to fall back on. We have time to react as this does or doesn’t unfold.”

Consider Getting Your Fungicide Applications Booked

Because fungicides need to penetrate the crop canopy and go lower on the plants to address tar spot, that can require adjusting how applicators spray the product.

“If you’re going by air, we need to narrow up the swath,” Ferrie says. “Bigger droplets being applied are the ones that penetrate that canopy, and this goes for planes, helicopters and drones.

“Be aware that when you ask an applicator to cut his swath width by a third, it will come at an increased cost, so be prepared for that. But this step will reduce the streaking issues we often see when spraying tar spot from the air.”

For ground applications to address tar spot, the thing to do is have conversations with your supplier now – plan ahead – as ground rigs cannot cover the same number of acres an aerial applicator can get across in a day. And note, your suppliers probably already had a full lineup of fields to spray before tar spot showed up.

“Remembering back to 2021, growers were waiting two weeks or more to get an application made. If 2025 is a repeat of 2021, we’ll need to go at this from multiple directions,” Ferrie says. “At the end of the day, we need to prepare and scout, scout, scout.”

Sign Up For Farm Journal Corn & Soybean College

Ferrie and his agronomic team at Crop-Tech Consulting are finalizing plans for the annual Farm Journal Corn & Soybean College, as well as the Crop-Tech events.

“These events been approved for 13 CEU credits across four different categories,” he says. “If you need some CEUs, this is a great place to get them.”

The theme for this year’s event is Making A Stand. Topics Ferrie and team are addressing during the two-day program, July 22-23, include:

planter add-ons that pay off
spray nozzle science
in-field planter diagnostics
ear count and rooting depth
bean stress and variety response
integrating soybeans for yield

You can sign up online here or call the Crop-Tech Consulting office to register at (646) 801-0591

Your next read: If You Have an Uneven Corn Crop Pollinating, Consider These 3 Next Steps

Tune In: Virtual Agronomy Conference Highlights 5 Marquee Topics

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:56:20 GMT

During the month of July, The Sustainable Agronomy Conference gives Certified Crop Advisers a front row seat to stay up-to-date on the latest trend setting topics. Live every Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. central, the free weekly sessions will give CCAs, agronomists, practitioners, and producers with science-backed, field-ready insights.

Five of the core topics are:

the role of AI and automation in precision agriculture
scaling regenerative agriculture and agroforestry
monitoring management changes through soil testing
water resilience and weed management in a changing climate
debunking agronomic myths and sharing top new discoveries

Full schedule is available here.

CCAs can earn 8 CEUs. Registration is free through the end of July, and registrants get access to all four recordings.

Is Water Quality Sabotaging Your Fungicide's Success?

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:27:03 GMT

You probably already know water quality can impact the performance of crop protection products, including fungicides. But do you take your aerial applicator the water needed for the application? World champion corn grower David Hula does.

“We take a load, either in shuttles, a tanker load or truck to the airport, and then the applicator is pulling out of that,” says Hula, who bought a 12,000-gallon tank for this purpose.

“The only thing our applicator does is add the crop protection portion to the water. Right now, that’s fungicide and insecticide, and I don’t want to leave those products in the tank very long [because they start to degrade],” he says.

The Crop Protection Network advises using fungicides soon after the agitation process, as product efficacy can start to decline soon after mixing. The Network adds that poor water quality can reduce fungicide performance and that of other crop protection products, too.

Control All The Controllables

Hula and Randy Dowdy, business partners in Total Acre , routinely tell the farmers they work with to know and use what the product labels recommend. That includes knowing what pH is needed in their water or carrier of choice.

“Ask your supplier and your sales representative what the carrier pH needs to be for maximum efficacy,” advises Dowdy, a national corn and soybean yield champion based in Valdosta, Ga.

“Most farmers don’t know what the pH is in their own water source,” Dowdy adds. “They certainly don’t know what the crop duster or the helicopter or drone is spraying and what their carrier pH is. It can be mind-blowing how ineffective a fungicide can be when it’s put in the wrong environment where the water pH is not correct.”

The ideal water pH for fungicide mixing is approximately 7.0, according to the Crop Protection Network . Fungicidal activity can be reduced if mixed with water with a pH that is too high (alkaline) or too low (acidic).

Acidic water is of particular concern. If the pH is greater than 8.0, the CPN advises using a pH buffer to correct unfavorable pH levels, adding the buffer to the tank before the fungicide.

It’s All About ROI

Hula focuses his efforts on the return-on-investment, always important and especially critical to corn growers this season.

“If you’re going to spend $15 to $20 an acre on a fungicide or other pesticide, I want it to work,” says Hula, who farms near Charles City, Va. “I don’t want to just be paying the applicator.

“I need to control all the controllables,” he adds. “I’m not making the application, but I’m going to make sure what goes in that tank on the plane is going to be right, so when that product works we get full benefit from it.”

Hula says Virginia corn growers routinely use fungicides to address issues including common and southern rust, anthracnose, northern and southern leaf blight and gray leaf spot.

“Those are some of our bigger issues in corn, but so far we haven’t had to deal with tar spot,” he says. “It’s not a matter of will we use a fungicide here in the South, it’s more of a question of how many applications we’ll need.”

Add Products To The Tank In Correct Order

If you’re including more than one product in the tank, consider whether the combination is compatible. In addition, make sure you add multiple products to the spray tank in the correct order.

The order CPN recommends follows:

1. Compatibility, buffering, or defoaming agents,
2. Wettable powders (WP) and dry flowables (DF),
3. Water-soluble concentrates (WSC or SC),
4. Emulsifiable concentrates (EC),
5. Soluble powders (SP), and finally,
6. Adjuvants or spray additives.

For more insights from Dowdy and Hula on getting the best ROI from your product applications, check out their Breaking Barriers with R&D podcast. Watch the latest episode here on Farm Journal TV or on YouTube .

The two yield champs challenge farmers to think differently to improve their corn and soybean performance. While known for growing record-breaking corn and soybean yields, their primary focus is maximizing profits on every acre.

You can also catch their latest discussion on AgriTalk with Host Chip Flory here :

Your next read: 3 Tips To Keep Corn Growing Strong Mid-Season

The Scoop Podcast: A Crop That Feeds The Soil and Feeds Livestock

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

As director of R&D and Innovation at Forge Genetics International, Emily Meccage has a lot to share about the breeding work being done for alfalfa.

“My team is responsible for the traited products like Roundup Ready alfalfa, plus we also have a very robust conventional breeding program as well. So we eat, sleep, breathe alfalfa products all day long,” she says.

So what’s next for the forage crop? Here are the top insights she shared on The Scoop Podcast:

1. Like many other crops, there’s a triple mandate on alfalfa.

“How do we increase our production, increase our efficiency, while still maintaining sustainability on farm,” she says. “Our team has been able to help contribute that that. And our research is geared in that way.”

2. The company has invested in its own research sites.

“Our two main locations are West Salem, Wis., and Nampa, Idaho. At both locations we are focusing on dormant alfalfa breeding and we have pathology labs. We also have a forage quality testing lab at West Salem,” she says.

Other smaller scale testing sites include in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, Garden City, Kansas, and in California, New Mexico and Arizona.

3. Collaborations are key to pushing alfalfa forward.

“We also do a lot of collaborative research with external groups–within USDA or across universities as well,” Meccage says.

In all, the company is currently working on 15 university or USDA projects.

4. There are evolving concerns around pests.

“We have recently hired, in the last year, at our Nampa Idaho location an entomologist and a nematologist. So we’re looking at how we can do more screenings against those types of pests,” she says.

5. Opportunities with alfalfa vary by geography.

“When we focus on the Midwest, that’s a heavy dairy area, and it’s also what we consider to be a dormant area for alfalfa,” she says. “So we want those alfalfa varieties that are going to have high quality that the dairy cattle need, but they’re also then going to be able to survive the harsher winter climate.”

She adds those varieties can also be ushed across the Midwest, northeast and Pacific Northwest.

“Then when we get a little farther south to the central part of the U.S., where our Garden City, Kansas research location is, we’re looking at semi or inter-dormant alfalfa varieties that are going to produce longer throughout the growing season but it doesn’t need to survive as harsh of a winter.”

She adds those varieties often have to perform in saline soils and drier climates.

“And in the southwest, that’s where we do our non-dormant breeding program,” she says. “In some cases they don’t have a winner; they don’t have alfalfa that goes dormant and grows 12 months out of the year. So again, it’s almost a completely different environment. You can think of it as a completely different plant, and of course, different diseases that might be present.”

6. There is a long list of agronomic benefits to alfalfa in the rotation.

“When we look at sustainability and the agronomic benefits, it maybe starts with being a perennial,” she says. “Unlike with our annuals, if we have a weather event, you’re done, right? If you get that late summer storm, with alfalfa, you’re generally gonna be able to grow back.”

She adds, alfalfa can grow in many different environments, it adds nitrogen back to the soil, improves overall soil quality, and helps with erosion control.

“Then, you flip to the animal side, and it’s a high quality protein source,” she says. “When we’re talking about protein per acre, alfalfa is generally going to be the top performer in that regard. It’s a high quality, digestible fiber source.”

She adds, “it’s just this really well rounded plant that has so many different things to offer, from animals to agronomy that I think really, truly fits in many scenarios of our cropping rotations.”

Illinois Legislature Passes Bill to Improve Pesticide Applicator Process

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:39:05 GMT

Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill to amend the pesticide applicator licensing process. In what’s expected to be in place by 2027, the current exam renewal required every three years will be replaced instead with continuing education requirements.

“It’s finally good to be on offense down at the Illinois State Capitol rather than being on defense,” says Kevin Johnson, president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, the organization which initiated the legislation.

The bill passed the Illinois Senate 50-4 and the state house 116-0.

“That’s not usual. Many ag bills in the state of Illinois don’t get those kind of kind of numbers, so we’re proud of that,” Johnson says. Now, it’s on to Gov. Pritzker’s desk for consideration to be signed into law; he has 90 days to act.

There are more than 36,000 registered pesticide applicators in Illinois — of which 11,000 are farmers.

In the potential new process, for the initial license issued by the state’s department of agriculture, a first-time applicant would need to pass the 100-question exam. Then, going forward, they could renew their status via the continuing education requirement.

“We have been an outlier for quite a few years. A lot of states have done this for 20 years,” Johnson says. “Our applicators are specifically asking for this, and so this has been a thing that we’ve worked on many years.”

Assuming the governor signs the bill, Johnson says it will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, but industry stakeholders should expect about a year for the entire process to be developed with the official availability in 2027.

Not only will the new structure provide an in-demand change by pesticide applicators, but it will also give the department of agriculture an opportunity to provide timely, ongoing training for industry professionals.

“The continuing education will focus on the general standards, but it does give us the opportunity to update some topics every year,” Johnson says. “So, for example, it could be about the herbicide and insecticide strategies for the Endangered Species Act, so in coming years more about tank clean out.”

Bridging the Gap: How Land O’Lakes Supports Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Career

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:54:35 GMT

Every year, many U.S. service members face the challenge of transitioning from military to civilian life. The life-altering change can be intimidating as they integrate into society and carve new career paths.

Among them is Col. Patrick Schlichenmeyer, who completed a 34-year career with the U.S. Air Force in 2023 and found himself facing a future he hadn’t initially focused on during his service years.

A Lifetime of Service

Schlichenmeyer’s journey began when he entered the Air Force Academy in 1989 at age 18. During his career he served as a pilot, participated in staff assignments and held command positions in combat. By summer 2022, as his mandatory service time came to an end, he started contemplating life outside the military.

“When I entered the military, I wanted to serve where my country needed me,” Schlichenmeyer says. “I served as long as I could, and then I had to transition to civilian life. I didn’t start thinking about my future until about a year before.”

Schlichenmeyer was certain about one thing: a desire to permanently return to Minnesota’s Twin Cities, where his wife resided in a suburb of St. Paul. While eager to reunite, the change also brought an element of uncertainty.

“I entered the academy at 18, so that was all I knew,” he says. “I had some idea of civilian culture through my spouse, but there were many unknowns.”

Discovering SkillBridge

Schlichenmeyer wouldn’t forge a new path alone. With a transition focused on the Twin Cities, he began exploring the SkillBridge program, which helps service members explore new career fields and gain experience. Land O’Lakes, which participates in the program, emerged as a potential destination for Schlichenmeyer’s skills.

SkillBridge offers a support system to help military personnel find civilian workforce opportunities. The program connects service members with corporate partners across the country and provides up to 180 days of “permissive duty” for them to get on-the-job training as interns for a company, with the goal of providing full-time job opportunities. SkillBridge helped nearly 8,500 service members find work with around 5,000 companies nationwide in the third quarter of 2024, according to the program website.

Once connected with someone at Land O’Lakes, Schlichenmeyer explored job openings and assessed if the company’s culture matched his aspirations.

“From there, I started looking at the employee website and was extremely surprised at how open Land O’Lakes is about their people, their mission, what the executive leadership team believes in,” he says. “The more that I read and understood what the company stood for, that’s something that I felt would be a good fit. I was surprised at how open Land O’Lakes is about their mission and values. The more I learned, the more it felt like a good fit.”

Embracing a New Role

Schlichenmeyer joined Land O’Lakes in February 2023 as a SkillBridge intern. He now serves as operational excellence manager at the company’s Melrose, Minn., dairy plant and was recently appointed as an expert project manager at headquarters.

Schlichenmeyer’s story is one example of the many benefits of SkillBridge. Julie Sexton, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Land O’Lakes, emphasizes the value veterans bring.

“It’s about recruiting broadly across diverse talent pools,” she says. “Post-COVID, we expanded our recruitment strategies.”

Sexton describes the partnership with SkillBridge as both successful and fulfilling, reflecting Land O’Lakes’ mission to support those who have served.

“It’s rewarding to help service members transition to the next phase of life,” she says. “It’s a way of giving back to valuable community members.”

Land O’Lakes’ involvement with the SkillBridge program has yielded numerous success stories, with 13 current interns and 25 veterans completing internships — seven of whom secured full-time roles.

“I was looking for some place where I could go to work with good people who care about each other that are doing something important for this country,” Schlichenmeyer says. “That’s Land O’Lakes.”

His journey from a seasoned Air Force colonel to a leadership role in the civilian sector not only demonstrates the adaptability and impact of programs like SkillBridge, it serves as inspiration for other veterans embarking on their own transitions.

Your Next Read: Finding Strength in Adversity: A Wisconsin Farm Girl’s Inspiring Journey

ARA Debuts LaborLink: A Smarter Way for ARA Members to Find Workers

Fri, 02 May 2025 20:01:49 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to announce the launch of LaborLink, a new member benefit designed to help agricultural retailers address one of their most urgent operational challenges: securing reliable labor. Through a partnership with másLabor, the nation’s leading provider of H-2 visa services, ARA members now have direct access to expert support in navigating H-2 visa processes.

“Our members are dealing with significant labor shortages that impact everything from product delivery to service capacity,” says Daren Coppock, ARA President and CEO. “LaborLink gives members access to a proven, legal workforce solution—and it comes at a critical time in the hiring cycle.”

The H-2 visa program enables U.S. employers to legally hire foreign workers for temporary, non-agricultural positions. For agricultural retailers—many of whom require help with logistics, custom application, and facility operations—the program offers a powerful tool for filling workforce gaps.

Crucial Timing

To be eligible for the spring workforce window, employers must begin the H-2 application process by June 1. By starting now, ARA members can bring workers in during the fall and rehire them in spring 2026 under a cap-exempt status, significantly improving their chances of success.

With LaborLink, ARA members receive:

Strategic consultation to determine H-2 eligibility and approach
Full-service filing and compliance support
Access to industry-leading tools and templates
A dedicated case manager from másLabor

másLabor currently represents more H-2 program clients across more sectors and states than any other provider, offering deep expertise in regulatory navigation, audit readiness, and workforce onboarding.

“This collaboration is another example of how ARA is working to deliver real, timely solutions to help members operate more effectively,” Coppock says. “We’re proud to offer this benefit and look forward to seeing the impact it makes across the industry.”

Get more information about ARA’s LaborLink .

Be A Good Neighbor: Check In and Watch for Signs of Stress

Thu, 01 May 2025 21:46:05 GMT

The pressure of farming and ranching today is real. The stress of managing a farm or ranch during challenging or not so challenging times can weigh heavily on an individual’s mental health.

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. from Kansas has shared his concern about the mental health of farmers and ranchers. During the recent Top Producer Conference hosted by Farm Journal, Marshall encouraged the audience to be good neighbors and look out for signs of depression, such as changes in appearance, sleep patterns or social withdrawal.

“We think about the farm-related accidents that we grew up trying to prevent,” he recalls. “This a bigger danger, a bigger risk. I just want to encourage farmers and ranchers to realize some of the signs and symptoms of depression.”

Marshall shared these tips for being a good neighbor and supporting the mental health of fellow farmers and ranchers. Look for these signs or symptoms of depression:
- Trouble sleeping at night and not being able to get back to sleep
- Giving away possessions or buying more life insurance
- Changes in appearance, like not shaving or combing their hair
- Withdrawing from social activities they used to participate in

He encouraged producers to reach out to friends and neighbors who might be struggling.

“Reach out to that neighbor of yours,” he says. “Be a good neighbor and say, ‘Hey, let’s go grab a cup of coffee and maybe a cinnamon roll.’”

Marshall says it is important to leverage your networks and connections in the community and look out for one another. He also encourages producers to recognize the resources available beyond just calling the 988 mental health hotline, such as local community health centers, which can provide support without the stigma of going to a mental health facility.

Marshall’s call to action is to be proactive, recognize the signs and then provide compassionate support to their friends, neighbors and fellow farmers who could be struggling with mental health challenges. Marshall emphasized the importance of the community looking out for one another during these difficult times.

Mental Health Resources

Your Next Read: The Time Is Now: Let’s Prepare Before ‘It’ Hits

Clarity For Ag Retailers: ESA Workplan Resource Revealed

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:11:13 GMT

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), CropLife America (CLA), and the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) are pleased to announce the release of a new resource designed to assist farmers and agricultural retailers in navigating the forthcoming changes to pesticide labels under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Endangered Species Act (ESA) Workplan.

To support our stakeholders, we have developed a decision guide that will facilitate the understanding and implementation of the updated label requirements. This tool aims to provide clarity on new label language so that farmers and retailers can effectively comply with the new regulations while maintaining a focus on both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.

“These label changes will bring challenges, but they also present an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to responsible pesticide use and environmental protection,” said Daren Coppock, president and CEO of ARA. “We are excited to collaborate with our industry partners to help farmers and retailers access the support they need.”

“Farmers and retailers play a crucial role in helping ensure pesticide products are used responsibly and effectively. By our associations coming together to create resources, we aim to meet a need that helps stakeholders feel confident in navigating new regulations,” said Alexandra Dunn, president and CEO of CLA.

“CPDA is committed to supporting our members and the agricultural community in adapting to evolving regulatory landscapes and providing ESA mitigation tools such as Drift Reduction Agents (DRA’s) to reduce the need for No Spray Buffer zones where possible,” said Terry Kippley, president and CEO of CPDA. “We believe that this crucial industry collaboration to create resources will empower our industry to meet the needs of both environmental stewardship and agricultural productivity.”

We encourage all industry participants to utilize this resource as we collectively uphold our commitment to responsible and effective pesticide use. Visit the ESA page on the CLA website for more information and other helpful resources.

Former CEO's Favorite Resources For Becoming A Better Leader

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:05:36 GMT

Doug Stark worked for Farm Credit Services of America for 37 years, eventually becoming the organization’s CEO until his recent retirement.

He joins the Ag Inspo podcast with hosts Ron Rabo and Rena Striegel to share the best ways to enhance your leadership skills.

“Leadership is learned, so you can teach leadership to other people,” Stark says. “I was in leadership roles before I knew what leadership was. I was a terrible leader, and I recognized that. I changed the way I was approaching things.”

He says attending conferences can be helpful, but are admittedly not his first pick.

“You can go to some good conferences and pick up some things on leadership. I pick more up from individual presenters or speakers here and there,” he says.

Stark’s favorite leadership development resource is more easily accessible: books.

“There’s tons of leadership books on the market - I was reading probably two or three a month,” he says. “Some of them would say the same things, just in a different way. But sometimes that would trigger a thought.”

He compares reading to taking a shower.

“It cleans my mind of all the challenges, created a positive mindset and started inspiring me with thoughts and ideas in which I could deploy to make myself and our team more effective,” Stark says.

Stark is even basing a university course on one of those books: The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.

“It’s based on research, not just a general philosophy,” he says. “They have five attributes of exemplary leaders, and that’s kind of been my Bible over the years.”

Starke has also found a lot of value in hiring leadership coaches, even if you’re already in a company’s C-Suite.

"[Employing a leadership coach] was one of the most powerful things I ever did,” Starke says. “Not only did he humble me, but he really taught me a lot of the things that I abide by today and on a daily basis.”

He believes good leaders create good culture, and that leads to satisfied employees who will go the extra mile.

“When you start respecting people, trusting them, treating them like adults and inspiring them with where you’re trying to go, things happen that you can’t even imagine,” Starke concludes. “They do things that make you go, ‘Wow, where did that come from?’”

7 Key Details To Know: New Endangered Species Act Herbicide Standards

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 21:02:33 GMT

“This topic is one that can get very technical very quickly. It can be a very deep topic, and there’s a lot of nuances,” says Kyle Kunkler, director of government affairs at the American Soybean Association.

He’s referring to EPA’s Final Herbicide Strategy, which puts forth new guidelines for herbicide registration and use per the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In order to simplify the ag industry’s understanding and therefore be in compliance, he and other industry pros are encouraging ag retailers and crop consultants to know the details of the work plan.

They shared more on a recent webinar hosted by ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Webinars are free and open to certified crop advisers, certified professional soil scientists, and tri-science society members.

“The Endangered Species Act is in and of itself nothing new. It was first enacted by Congress and signed into law in 1973, and it’s a very well intentioned law,” Kunkler says.

So how did we get to the Final Herbicide Strategy? And what does it mean for applicators, crop consultants and farmers? Here are seven key details to know:

1. Pesticides pose a unique challenge in how ESA is administered through the federal agencies.

“Pesticides could have dozens of crops registered for which it could be used on hundreds of millions of acres, and it may intersect with nearly all of the or most of the 1,700 listed species [overseen by U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service]. What further complicates the situation as well, is that there’s a requirement under FIFRA that pesticides have to be reviewed once every 15 years.”

He says this sets up an enormous workload for EPA.

2. In some cases, the litigation process was moving faster than regulatory process.

As Kunkler points out, “federal judges can issue rulings on these registrations that may not be compliant with the law, faster than the service can conduct a consultation. The farming community and the applicator community were losing pesticide registrations as a result of these lawsuits and ESA non compliances.”

So instead, EPA agreed to do this in a court settlement and work to find efficiencies in the process. Instead of going chemical by chemical, species by species, the agency agreed to develop a common set of mitigations for classes of chemicals. First, is the herbicide strategy (final in August 2024), next is insecticides (final version due March 2025), and third will be fungicides (final version due in November 2026).

3. These upfront mitigation menus will be relevant as new pesticides receive registration and existing products are reregistered through FIFRA.

“You’ll see changes on the labels, and online at Bulletins Live Two!,” says Leah Duzy, Agricultural Economist at Compliance Services International. She highlights how this is applied to agricultural uses which include cultivated land but not pasture grass or rangelands.

It is the responsibility of the users to check the label and the EPA website before application to be sure they are in compliance.

4. The development process of the rules has involved stakeholder and industry feedback.

“The strategies as a whole impact production decisions that are being made at an individual level and also at an operational level because agriculture is not simple, and there’s a lot of complexity,” Duzy says.

As such, there is a points system for runoff/erosion mitigation practices that growers can use to match the necessary points assigned to product (the maximum is 9). In the process of the herbicide rule going from draft to final, many are pointing to additional practices being added for increased flexibility necessary for successful adoption.
And these practices mirror others which qualify farmers for NRCS programs.

“To their credit, EPA and USDA did a great job of trying to harmonize these mitigations with those that are made available also through NRCS programs and practices, so that in instances where there might be cost share dollars available through NRCS programs,” Kunkler says.

5. In addition to the runoff/mitigation practices there are two additional considerations for herbicide application per the new regulations.

There are spray drift buffers outlined based on application method, landscape, and more.
And there are geographic considerations.

6. Two big questions remain around who is responsible for sharing this information and how it will be enforced.

“There’s a lot of confusion right now on who is actually going to be the ones responsible for educating and disseminating the information. Is that going to be your State Extension Service? Is it going to be your State Department of Ag? And nobody really has a solid understanding or has really taken ownership of that,” says Megan Dwyer, Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship at Illinois Corn Growers Association.

She’s also watching how it’s being revealed what the exact record keeping will be.

“The EPA has released a couple tools. There’s a PDF version. There’s also an Excel version. You can go to determine how many points you have in a field,” she says.

And while there is no written requirement outlining record keeping, Dwyer encourages crop consultants and farmers to have a proactive approach.

“You can get points for keeping records. And I would strongly recommend that where we’re going to see the challenge come in is when there there’s a question raised. So when there’s a concern about a discrepancy if they have enough points to apply a certain product, did something happen that shouldn’t have happened, and more. This is going to be a great place to start by saying, Oh, I printed off my Bulletins Live! Two, and I’ve got a copy of my point sheet that I filled out, and have that initial base record to back up what you were doing,” she says.

7. Another big unknown is if the Trump administration and newly confirmed EPA director Lee Zeldin will change the current trajectory of what is outlined.

“The idea of ever going back to a period of non-compliance like we had, I don’t think would be appropriate or ever acceptable. We don’t want to think back to a point where we’re losing pesticide registrations to court vacatures. But at the same time, we want to make this as workable for agriculture as possible,” Kunkler says. “Our hope is, is that an incoming administration would be receptive to our concerns, and we could find ways to continue to work together to make these the landing zone for these strategies, and any registrations that result from them even more workable for agriculture.”

NAICC Program Helps To Eliminate Redundancy In Technical Service Provider Training

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 21:08:34 GMT

By Daniel Fowler, NAICC president

USDA-NRCS has recently streamlined the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program by deleting certain AgLearn training modules from the required certification criteria.

The intent of streamlining the TSP certification is not to eliminate all AgLearn training or accept professional certifications as replacement for additional training. Instead, the intent is to eliminate redundancy in training that may already have been achieved through a professional organization certification curriculum and exam requirements.

In response, NAICC developed the Certified Professional Crop Consultant-Nutrient or CPCC-N program that has been approved by NRCS. USDA also determined that the CCA program requirements are acceptable as well.

The TSPs must take the two introductory courses, Field Office Technical Guide (NRCS-NEDC-000149) and TSP Orientation and Conservation Planning (NRCS-NEDC-000191). These were presented at the NAICC meeting in San Antonio, and plans are underway to present them at the upcoming annual meeting in Monterey.

Certified Professional Crop Consultant-Nutrient
In addition to the current requirements for CPCC, anyone who also wants to become a CPCC-N will be able to satisfy the new requirements by completing the following steps:

Take and pass the 4R certification program.
Send the completion certificate to the NAICC headquarters.
Become designated by the NAICC headquarters as a CPCC-N.
Sign up as a TSP using NAICC certification designations: CPCC-N for nutrient management programs or the CPCC designation for all other programs (i.e., IPM conservation programs).

The NAICC CPCC and CPCC-I program are listed as acceptable requirements for TSP under/over 40.

The CPCC-N program will satisfy the following modules:

Nutrient Management, Part 1, Track 1 (AgLearn NRCS-NEDC-000083)
Nitrogen Management and Concerns-No. 2 (AgLearn NRCS-NHQ-000039)
Phosphorous Management and Concerns-No. 3 (AgLearn NRCS-NHQ-000040)

The Scoop Podcast: What Is The Super Power Of Ag Retail Salespeople

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:32:40 GMT

As we head into a new calendar year, and frankly, a tougher economic environment for row crop producers, Greg Martinelli has 7 steps for every ag sales person to find success.

“It’s so important to the sales team, especially now, as times are getting tougher and it’s not as easy to call on farmers anymore, and they’re a little grumpy out there,” he says. “Are are some ideas for them to spur them on and spur on their customers.”

Martinelli puts it simply.

He says, “There is a need for what you do and how you help farmers become productive and try to stay above breakeven. And if they’re not about break even, its’ about how are they are going to survive until we are back above breakeven.”

As such, he gives 7 steps:

Don’t jump into the quick sand with them.
Keep them moving.
Provide perspective.
Shed light.
Show them a path.
Put your customer on your org chart.
Let them know they aren’t completely alone.

“First and foremost, quit jumping in the quicksand with them,” Martinelli says. “As much as you can try into the commiseration. Sometimes the sales people make it worse,” he says.

The perspective and positivity you can offer brings a unique level to your role as a consultant.

“Your superpower is that you go farm to farm, business to business, and you see what works and what doesn’t work,” he says. “Never underestimate the value of that. So you can shed some light on something that somebody’s doing that might be a fit for this person. And then, not only shedding the light, but you can also show the path to take.”

You can read about all 7 in this cover story from The Scoop , or you can listen to a recent Scoop podcast:

New ARA Benefit To Help You Get Ahead In Driver Training

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT

By Andrea K. Mowers

With 70% of the nation’s freight carried by commercial trucks and looming threats of rail and port strikes, the existing driver shortage is no small issue in the eyes of ag retailers.

As if that is not enough stress on our nation’s already-stretched-thin supply chain, the new entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements for new CDL Class A/B or hazardous material drivers were adopted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in February 2022. These requirements flagged a need for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) to provide its members with training resources to navigate the added regulatory burden.

By partnering with the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) administrative compliance experts (ACE), ARA has officially rolled out its ELDT member service to cut through the regulatory red tape of driver training and also help ag retailers save money while training more truck drivers to hit the road.

What To Expect
This ELDT service prepares drivers for FMCSA’s online curriculum and assessment as well as the in-person behind-the-wheel (BTW) training, allowing BTW training to be done by an in-house, qualified instructor.

“Obtaining CDL drivers in ag retail is becoming more challenging each year,” says Blake Griffin with GreenPoint Ag in Stuttgart, Arkansas. “Using the services available from our ARA membership offers a quick and affordable resource for training new drivers for our location. It allows existing employees to obtain a license without the challenges pertaining to work absence or the high schooling cost. We are able to keep the training internal and on our own schedule.”

NPGA’s ACE services recognize the high importance of getting drivers out on the road in a manner that is both cost-effective and timely. Since these new ELDT requirements originally went into effect, the curriculum has been able to provide training to more than 3,000 drivers through NPGA’s partner network, including several ARA member companies, spread throughout 42 states.

ARA members who decide to leverage this service may opt for a full-service package where NPGA:

Handles record keeping, filing and audits as a registered training provider
Offers training materials, checklists and white-glove support along the way

Alternatively, a basic package is available without record keeping, filing and audit support.

“Our company has had many drivers go through the program,” said Dale Beck, energy department manager with CHS Dakota Plains in North Dakota. “To me, signing up and using the program is a no-brainer. It provides simple, straightforward record keeping for a very reasonable cost. Why would any company want to do it any other way?”

Through the concise training resources and equipment guidance that are unlocked through this ARA member service, companies can save up to $3,000 per driver by eliminating the need to send driver-applicants to a driving school.

“New entry-level driver training requirements have increased operating costs on agribusinesses by nearly $8,000 per driver and serve as a barrier to entry for anyone who may be interested in obtaining a commercial driver’s license,” says Richard Gupton, senior vice president of public policy and counsel with ARA. “ARA’s main goal in launching this ELDT service for its members is to relieve some of the pressure on ag retailers already challenged by the shortage of drivers and other workers, especially during the busy spring and fall seasons.”

By enrolling drivers in ARA’s ELDT member service, companies are able to put their focus on training drivers while ACE focuses on all of the administrative and compliance matters that go on behind the scenes.

Driver Shortage Relief
According to a 2021 study by the American Trucking Associations, the driver shortage reached a record high of roughly 81,000 drivers—a number expected to grow to 160,000 by 2030 if no changes are made.

The ELDT member service is just one way ARA is taking aim at the driver shortage; ARA advocates for federal policies that relieve the pressure on ag retailers. In an industry like ours where trucking demand is outpacing the supply of available drivers, expanding the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program would mean more 18- to 20-year-old truck drivers could enter the labor pool to fill part of the workforce demand.

“We would like to hire qualified and interested young people right out of high school and begin them on a rewarding career,” said Mike Twining with Willard Agri-Service during his testimony on behalf of ARA to the House Committee on Agriculture.

During that February hearing, Twining also underscored the need for regulatory consistency, urging Congress to pass hours of service legislation that eliminates the “planting and harvesting” seasonal provisions. Since then, ARA and its members have worked together to manage through the driver shortage and many other issues impacting the bottom line of ag retailers nationwide.