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Join us in congratulating the recipients of the third round of the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp Challenge Grant! Launched in 2024, the Challenge Grant program aims to attract and grow ag-tech and food-based businesses in Lexington and across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The first two funding rounds, announced in August 2024 and September 2025, awarded a combined $925,000 to 10 companies. That funding has helped generate more than $12 million in follow-on investments in those companies, which support 72 jobs and have facilitated nearly 100 farm engagements. This year, the program received applications from more than 30 companies. Following a competitive review process, six were selected to receive a combined $550,000 in grant funding. Meet the 2026 Challenge Grant recipients: FarmSense is commercializing an affordable soil-moisture sensor developed in collaboration with Kentucky farmers. In field testing, the sensor led to improved crop quality and a 40–48% reduction in water use. At FarmSense, the Challenge Grant funds will support Kentucky-based manufacturing and optimization of the sensor's calibration, as well as the initiation of a 15- to 20-farm pilot program ahead of its commercial launch. Lepidext is revolutionizing insect pest control by developing biopesticides that help manage populations of the corn earworm and other destructive lepidopteran pests. The company'ss biopesticides are designed to be safe, effective, species-specific and easy to use. Need More Acres Farm is a Kentucky-based farm and regional food hub connecting locally grown food with healthcare systems, schools and community partners through Food is Medicine, Farm to School and home delivery programs. Additionally, the farm's Food is Medicine work integrates clinical referrals and participant data collection, allowing healthcare partners to prescribe local produce and track outcomes. Pascal Tags is adapting its proven Barcode 2.0™ platform — already deployed with customers that include GE Appliances and the Defense Logistics Agency — for agricultural applications, replacing failure-prone paper records and traditional barcodes with durable, automated asset tracking for farm inputs, harvested products and reusable agricultural equipment. Silver Fern is a software company based in Lexington, Kentucky, that helps greenhouse and nursery growers forecast demand, plan production and fulfill orders. Silver Fern will utilize the Challenge Grant funds to support RESTOCK, its AI demand-forecasting module, which uses machine learning to predict store-level plant demand and cut the losses that come from narrow, weather-dependent selling windows. Sunnyside Egg Co. is scaling regenerative, mobile egg production to give Kentucky farmers a lower-cost path into pasture-raised eggs. These grant funds will support the expansion of the company’s packing facility, as well as increasing production to 45,000 hens and the development of carbon credit software.

As the average age of cow-calf producers in the U.S. continues to rise, the beef industry must ask itself an important question: How can we make ranching both financially viable and personally sustainable for the next generation? While the next generation of beef producers is entering a moment of real opportunity, profitability alone may not be enough to secure the future of the cow-calf industry. In his latest article for Progressive Cattle, Bryan Sanderson, Alltech's U.S. beef business manager, explores the challenges and opportunities facing young and future ranchers, from strong calf prices and potential herd rebuilding to succession planning, rural isolation, labor competition, work-life balance, and the mental and social realities of life on the ranch. Click the link in the comments to read the article.

Does pork have a brisket? Yes. In this clip from a live carcass fabrication at World Pork Expo, Dr. David Newman, CEO of the National Pork Board, encourages the audience to think differently about pork cuts — including valuable cuts, some of which consumers are already familiar with through beef, inspiring new opportunities for pork. 🔗 Find the link to the blog in the comments for more insights from the seminar.

What will it take for pork producers to remain profitable and resilient in a rapidly changing industry? Ahead of World Pork Expo, Farm Journal's PORK Business asked four industry leaders — including Mark Hulsebus, general manager of Alltech's U.S. Pork team — to share their perspectives on animal livability, emerging technologies and the agility required for businesses to succeed in the long term. Read their insights: https://lnkd.in/e9ZQ5y8g

Ridley Block Operations, an Alltech company and a leader in livestock nutrition, has appointed Paul Kropp as executive vice president. Kropp brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the agricultural and animal-health industries to the role. Throughout his career, he has driven revenue growth, expanded markets, developed strategic partnerships and built high-performing teams focused on delivering long-term customer value. “His knowledge and experience will enable our team to deliver even more value for our customers,” said Kevin Levi, president of Ridley Block Operations. Please join us in welcoming Paul to the team.

Aquaculture continued to grow in 2025 — but the story is shifting. Global aquaculture tonnage rose 4.7% to 55.47 million metric tons, driven by recovery in the shrimp and salmon markets and the growing commercialization of inland aquaculture systems. Looking ahead, growth is expected to moderate as supply and demand normalize — and the sustainability conversation will expand beyond environmental impact to include long-term economic viability.

With both growth and volatility appearing among the latest feed-production trends, achieving success will depend on resilience, adaptability and data-driven decisions. The top feed producers are adopting strategies that keep them ahead of the curve. This article explores the tactics helping them stay competitive.

Pork is going far beyond pork chops. During a live carcass fabrication at World Pork Expo, Alltech and the National Pork Board highlighted how modern pork cuts can help bring more variety, value and excitement to the meat case. In this clip, Neal Hull, director of domestic market development for the National Pork Board, explains the Coppa steak — a flavorful cut from the pork shoulder that is gaining popularity and is currently being featured by a major retailer. Watch to learn more about this pork cut on the rise, and read the full blog for more insights from the World Pork Expo seminar. 🔗 Find the link to the blog in the comments.

Alltech has been recognized by TIME and Statista as one of America’s Best Private Companies 2026. As a family-owned company, this recognition is especially meaningful. For more than four decades, Alltech has grown by staying close to the people who make progress possible: our team members, customers, partners and communities. America’s Best Private Companies 2026 recognizes 500 privately held companies in the United States for strong performance across two key areas: employee satisfaction and company impact, including contributions across society, knowledge, health and the environment. We’re proud to be included among these organizations and grateful to everyone who continues to shape Alltech’s story.