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Syngenta and Vivent Biosignals are working on a new way to help farmers catch crop problems earlier—by listening directly to the plants themselves. While the concept may sound hokey, it is grounded in well-established plant physiology.Plants don’t have nerves like animals, but they do use electrical signals to move information internally. Every plant cell maintains …

NEW Technology Could Allow Farmers to “Hear” Soybeans Crying Read More »

NEW FARMCON PODCAST… Kevin Van Trump and Todd Loechler sit down with special guests Gary Lezak, Founder and CEO of Weather 20/20, to discuss the upcoming planting and growing season weather forecasts and how Gary and his team is bringing unparalleled weather data and predictive analytics to the world of agriculture. Kevin and Todd also …

FARMCON Conversations 03–25-2026 Read More »

A “snow drought” in the upper Colorado River Basin is breaking records. Ski and winter recreation businesses have already been feeling the impact. However, the real pain may come later this spring to farmers and communities that rely on the critical waterway. The Colorado River basin spans parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, …

“Snow Drought” Imperils Already Dwindling Colorado River… Could Impact Agriculture in a Big Way Read More »

Regenerative agriculture is shifting from simply a marketing slogan to a hard requirement in many supply chains, and that change is slowly starting to reshape American agriculture. Coming out of Natural Products Expo West 2026, an event that drew roughly 60,000 attendees and +3,200 exhibitors, it’s clear that regenerative and regenerative organic (ROC) are no …

How Regenerative Supply‑Chain Battles are Reshaping Our Conventional Row-Crop Fields Read More »

Economists are worried about fossil fuel supplies as the military conflict in Iran continues to engulf the Middle East. But some are raising alarms about what they see as underappreciated risks to the world’s food supply stemming from the region’s dominance over global fertilizer flows. The conflict has already pushed fertilizer benchmarks higher, with nitrogen …

How Fertilizer Trapped in the Middle East Could Threaten Global Food Supplies Read More »

NEW FARMCON PODCAST… Kevin Van Trump and Todd Loechler sit down with special guests Jay Felton, Partner at Lathrop GPM LLP, and proud fifth-generation Missouri farmer, to discuss the future of AI on the farm and the workplace. Deeper discussions about the future of glyphosate and where herbicides and pesticides are headed. The group also …

FARMCON Conversations 03–18-2026 Read More »

This week, we officially celebrate “National Ag Week.” The celebration this year runs March 15-21. In addition to National Ag Week, we will celebrate National Ag Day on March 24th, which is next Tuesday. The theme for National Ag Day 2026 is “Agriculture: Together We Grow: Celebrating 250 Years of Progress in Agriculture.” Both celebrations …

Thinking More About “National Ag Week” Read More »

Weather forecasters see increasing indications that  “El Niño” could emerge later this year, with some models predicting it could become one of the strongest in history. Depending on the timing, the weather pattern could be a significant influence on developing 26/27 crops. El Niño is part of a larger back‑and‑forth cycle with its opposite phase, …

Forecasters Warn Possible “Super El Niño” Could Develop Later This Year Read More »

USDA’s move to require electronic identification (EID/RFID) ear tags for certain cattle and bison has become one of the most contentious policy battles in U.S. livestock. The debate pits animal‑health and export arguments against concerns about cost, control, and consolidation. Now, the issue will be decided by the courts after a lawsuit brought by ranchers …

The Debate Over Mandatory EID Ear Tags…What You Need to Know Read More »

NEW FARMCON PODCAST… Kevin Van Trump and Todd Loechler sit down with special guests Tom Willis, CEO, Conestoga Energy Holdings to discuss important developments in the biofuel (RVO’s, E15, 45Z, 45Q, SAF, etc..) and ag sectors. The group also discusses current corn, soybean, wheat, and cattle markets. The recent USDA report and what 2026 might …

FARMCON Conversations 03–11-2026 Read More »