AI Revolution in Ag and Scaling Tech for the Next Gen of Farming

Why Ag Retailers Must Fight Back plus a MAGIE 2026 Preview

In this episode of Retail Week, CropLife Editor Eric Sfiligoj is joined by Nate Pearce, Acting Chairman of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association (IFCA), to break down the wins for ag retailers in 2026 — including defeating the school pesticide application buffer bill and blocking the state-level ban on paraquat. Plus, get a sneak peek at the 45th Annual Midwest Ag Industries Exposition (MAGIE) coming to Bloomington, IL this August, featuring the latest high-tech drones and the Custom Applicator of the Year awards! Stay up to date with the latest insights in crop protection, ag retail, and agricultural innovation from CropLife Magazine. We bring you expert interviews, product spotlights, and in-depth coverage of precision ag, sustainable farming, ag tech, and more. Visit our website: https://www.croplife.com [https://www.croplife.com] Subscribe for more ag retail news and updates. 0:00 - Introduction & IFCA Legislative Update 1:11 - Defeating Ag Restrictions & The Paraquat Fight in Illinois 4:46 - Global Fertilizer Supply Chain Disruptions (Strait of Hormuz) 6:46 - Phosphate & Micronutrient Market Forecast 9:32 - What to Expect at MAGIE 2026 (Drones & Ride & Drive) 12:46 - Ag Industry Awards & Event Details #AgRetail #FertilizerSupply #PesticideLaws #MAGIE2026 #AgricultureNews

The Supreme Court Roundup Case, UP/NS Rail Merger & AI Drone Scouting

In this week's episode of CropLife Retail Week, CropLife Editor Eric Sfiligoj and Amy Asmus, Co-Owner of Asmus Farm Supply, break down the highly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Monsanto v. Durnell (glyphosate) case and what it means for FIFRA and state-level warning labels. Plus, we dive into the massive pushback regarding the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern rail merger. Finally, Asmus Farm Supply’s Agronomist Nate Eitzmann joins the show to discuss how AI-powered drone scouting platforms are transforming in-season data collection. - Stop the Rail Merger Coalition: https://stoptherailmerger.com/ [https://stoptherailmerger.com/] - USDA Soil Moisture & Crop Analytics Tool https://www.drought.gov/data-maps-tools/crop-condition-and-soil-moisture-analytics-tool-crop-casma [https://www.drought.gov/data-maps-tools/crop-condition-and-soil-moisture-analytics-tool-crop-casma] - National Weather Service Seasonal Drought Outlook https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php [https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php] - NPN Accumulated Growing Degree Day Products https://usanpn.org/data/maps/AGDD [https://usanpn.org/data/maps/AGDD] Stay up to date with the latest insights in crop protection, ag retail, and agricultural innovation from CropLife Magazine. We bring you expert interviews, product spotlights, and in-depth coverage of precision ag, sustainable farming, ag tech, and more. Visit our website: https://www.croplife.com [https://www.croplife.com] Subscribe for more ag retail news and updates. 00:00 Introduction & Welcome 00:44 Supreme Court Glyphosate Case: Monsanto v. Durnell 02:08 The Fate of Pesticide Labels Under FIFRA 05:17 Proposed Union Pacific & Norfolk Southern Rail Merger 06:17 Skyrocketing Shipping Costs & Input Bottlenecks 10:07 Midwest Drought Analytics & Soil Dryness Maps 16:14 Hidden In-Season Field Data vs. Harvest Numbers 18:46 Taranis AI Drone Crop Scouting Platforms 19:46 Critical Crop Data to Save This Season 21:33 Why Smart Farming Data Adoption Remains Low 23:32 Is In-Field AI Moving Faster Than Office AI? 25:17 Tech Hub Live Preview & Wrap Up #CropLife #AgRetail #Agribusiness #PrecisionAg #CropProtection #AgTech #FarmingNews #PrecisionAg #SupremeCourt #SupplyChain #glyphosate #monsanto

Trends in Automation and Predictive Data for Cost Savings

In what ways can ag tech be used to bring down costs for ag retailers and growers? In this segment, CropLife’s Eric Sfiligoj and Frenchman Valley Coop’s Jeff Wessels look at several topics including: balancing high input costs with underutilized equipment features; how automation handles inventory trends and research analytics; and using predictive data to avoid high interest holding costs. They will also explore results from the annual precision ag adoption study conducted with Purdue University to uncover why cost and ease-of-use remain massive hurdles for ag retailers.  Also, a quick teaser for TechHubLive.com. https://techhublive.com/ [https://techhublive.com/] Stay up to date with the latest insights in crop protection, ag retail, and agricultural innovation from CropLife Magazine. We bring you expert interviews, product spotlights, and in-depth coverage of precision ag, sustainable farming, ag tech, and more. Visit our website: https://www.croplife.com [https://www.croplife.com] Subscribe for more ag retail news and updates. #CropLife #AgRetail #Agribusiness #PrecisionAg #CropProtection #AgTech

2026 Farm Bill Update, Atrazine and Corteva’s New Spinoff Company

In this episode, CropLife Editor Eric Sfiligoj and Amy Asmus, Co-Owner of Asmus Farm Supply, tackle the House passage of the 2026 Farm Bill (H.R. 7567) and what it means for your regulatory safety nets. Other topics covered are the major storm brewing around atrazine following the latest IARC classification, look at the standalone push for year-round E15 ethanol, zapping weeds, and the break down a chaotic spring weather season across the Corn Belt.  Catch the CropLife team in person at Tech Hub LIVE in Des Moines, IA (July 20-22, 2026)! https://techhublive.com/ [https://techhublive.com/] Stay up to date with the latest insights in crop protection, ag retail, and agricultural innovation from CropLife Magazine. We bring you expert interviews, product spotlights, and in-depth coverage of precision ag, sustainable farming, ag tech, and more. Visit our website: https://www.croplife.com [https://www.croplife.com] Subscribe for more ag retail news and updates. #AgTech #FarmBill2026 #WeedControl #CropProtection #AgRetail

AI and the Future of Ag Retail, Biologicals, and the Power of Storytelling

In this episode of CropLife Retail Week, CropLife Editor Eric Sfiligoj sits down with Mike Twining, Vice President of Innovation at Willard Agri-Service, to analyze the state of ag retail in 2026. From the staggering pace of AI adoption to the shift toward soil biologicals, Twining shares why the industry must ditch boring PowerPoint presentations and master the art of storytelling. Plus, learn how local advocacy can save your business from being left behind. 📍 Catch Mike Twining live at Tech Hub Live in Des Moines, IA (July 20-22, 2026)! http://www.TechHubLIVE.com [http://www.TechHubLIVE.com] Stay up to date with the latest insights in crop protection, ag retail, and agricultural innovation from CropLife Magazine. We bring you expert interviews, product spotlights, and in-depth coverage of precision ag, sustainable farming, ag tech, and more. Visit our website: https://www.croplife.com [https://www.croplife.com] Subscribe for more ag retail news and updates. #CropLife #AgRetail #Agribusiness #PrecisionAg #CropProtection #AgTech